ME 4405 COMPUTER-AIDED DESIGN METHODS

Practice MIDTERM EXAM - SUMMER 2002

Name: ______________________
1.

You are allowed one sheet of notes.

Consider the horizontal BAR element with cantilevered support

conditions. Is the stiffness matrix singular (i.e. can you solve for the
displacements)?

F
A, E

L
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2.

A 3 node rod element has a quadratic shape

function matrix:
2

N = 1

3x 2 x
+ 2
L
L

4x 4x
2
L
L

x 2x
+
L L2

E, A1

u1

u2

A3

L/2

For L = 1 m, E = 200x109 Pa, u1 = 0, u2 = 5x10-6 m, and u3 = 15x10-6, find:

a. The displacement u at x = 0.25 m.
b. The strain as a function of x.
c. The strain at x = 0.25 m.
d. The stress at x = 0.25 m.

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u3

3.

Derive the elemental stiffness matrix for a rod element with 3 nodes, quadratic shape
function and linear variation of cross-sectional area.

E, A1

u1

u2

N ( x) = 0 + 1 x + 2 x 2

u3
A3

L/2

A( x ) = A1 + ( A3 A1 )

x
L

L
That is:
a. Sketch the shape functions (set each of u1, u2 and u3 = 1, one at a time)
b. Find the shape function matrix N (if you get stuck, use the one from question 2.)
c. Find the strain-displacement matrix B
d. Show, but do not perform the integration to find the elemental stiffness matrix k

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