Tutorial Sheet no: 3

SUB: Introduction to Aircraft Structure

Q.1 Find the support reactions in the beam ABC shown in fig.1 using the
principle of virtual work.
Q.2 Calculate the force in the members FG,GD and CD of the truss shown in
fig.2 using the principal of virtual work.All horizontal and vertical members are
1 m long.
Q.3 Use the principle of virtual work to calculate the virtual displacements at
the quarter and mid span points in the beam shown in fig.3.
Q.4(a) A simply supported beam AB of span L and uniform section carries a
distributed load of intensity varying from zero at A to 0 /unit length at B
according to the law
=

20

(1 )

Per unit length.If the deflected shape of the beam is given approximately by the
expression
= 1

+ 2

evaluate the coefficients 1 and 2 and find the deflection of the beam at midspan.
Q.4(b) A uniform simply supported beam,span L, carries a distributed loading
which varies according to the parabolic law across the span.The load intensity is
zero at both ends of the beam and 0 at its mid point.The loading is normal to
a principle axis of the beam cross-section and the relevant flexural rigidity is
EI.Assuming that the deflected shape of the beam can be represented by the
series

=
=1

Find the coefficients and the deflection at the mid span of the beam using
the first term only in the above series.

Q.5 The plane structure shown in fig.4 consists of a uniform continuous beam
ABC pinned to a fixture at A and supported by a framework of pin-jointed
members.All members other than ABC have the same cross-sectional area
A.For ABC,the area is 4A and the second moment of area for bending is
A2 /16.The material is the same throughout. Find(in terms of w, A, a and
Youngs modulus E)the vertical displacement of point D under the vertical
loading shown.Ignore shearing strains in the beam ABC.
Q.6 The fuselage frame shown in fig.5 consists of two parts,ACB and
ADB,with frictionless pin joints at A and B.The bending stiffness is constant in
each part,with value EI for ACB and xEI for ADB.Find x so that the maximum
bending moment in ADB will be one half of that in ACB.Assume that the
deflections are due to bending strains only.
Q.7 The rectangular frame shown in fig.6 consists of two horizontal members
123 and 456 rigidly joined to three vertical members 16,25 and 34.All five
members have the same bending stiffnesEI.
The frame is loaded in its own plane by a system of point loads P which are
balanced by a constant shear flow q around the outside.Determine the
distribution of the bending moment in the frame and sketch the bending moment
diagram.In the analysis take bending deformations only into account.
Q.8 A circular fuselage frame shown in fig.7 of radius r and constant bending
stiffness EI,has a straight floor beam of length r 2,bending stiffness EI,rigidly
fixed to the frame at either end.The frame is loaded by a couple T applied at its
lowest point and a constant equilibrating shear flow q around its
periphery.Determine the distribution of the bending moment in the
frame,illustrating your answer by means of a sketch.In the analysis ,deformation
due to shear and end load may be considered negligible.The depth of the frame
cross-section in comparison with the radius r may also be neglected.
Q.9 Fig.8 shows two cantilevers, the end of one being vertically above the
other and connected to it by a spring AB.Initially the system is unstrained.A
weight W placed at A causes a vertical deflection at A of 1 and a vertical
deflection at B of 2 .When the spring is removed the weight W at A causes a
deflection at A of 3 .Find the extension of the spring when it is replaced and the
weight W is transferred to B.

Q.10 A uniform,semi-circular frame is pin-jointed to a rigid portion of the

structure and is subjected to a given temperature distribution on the inside as
shown in fig.9.The temperature falls linearly across the section of the frame to
zero on the outer surface.Find the values of the reactions at the pin-joints and
show that the distribution of the bending moment in the frame is
=

0.59 0

Given that:
(a) The temperature distribution is

= 0 cos 2

for < <

=0
>

(b) bending deformations only are to be taken into account:

=coefficient of linear expansion of frame material
EI=bending rigidity of frame
h=depth of cross-section
r=mean radius of frame.

Fig.1

Fig.2

for >
4

Fig.3

Fig.4

Fig.5

Fig.6

Fig.7

Fig.8

Fig.9