Assignment Problems

Chapter 6
 Question 1
A simply supported wood beam of rectangular cross section and span length 1m
carries a concentrated load P at midspan (see figure). The cross section has
dimensions 150mm x 200mm. Calculate the maximum permissible value of the
load P if allow=7 Mpa and allow=1 Mpa.
Ans: 43.8 kN
 Question 2
A wood beam ABC with simple supports at A and B and an overhang BC is
subjected to loads 3P and P acting as shown in figure. The beam has actual
dimensions of 90mm x 286mm. (a) Determine the maximum permissible
load P based upon an allowable bending stress in the wood of 8 MPa. (b)
Determine the maximum permissible load P based upon an allowable
shear stress in the wood of 0.7 Mpa. (Disregard the weight of the beam).
Ans: (a) P=4.09 kN , (b) P=6.67 kN

286mm

90mm
 Question 3
A hollow square aluminum box beam has the cross section
shown in the figure. Calculate the maximum and minimum
shear stresses max and min in the webs of the beam due to a
shear force V=60 kN.
Ans: max=7.63 MPa , min=5.53 MPa
 Question 4
The T-beam shown in the figure has cross sectional
dimensions as follows: b=220mm, t=15mm, h=300mm and
h1=275mm. The beam is subjected to a shear force V=62kN.
Calculate the maximum shear stress max in the web of the
beam.
Ans: max=19.5 MPa

z
 Question 5
A projecting arm in a mechanical device is modeled as a cantilever beam
AB (see figure). The arm is loaded at the free end by a force P=900N. The
cross section has the dimensions shown in figure. If the length L is 0.15m,
what are the maximum normal stress max and maximum shear stress max
due to load P? (Hint: Consider both xy and xz.)
Ans: max =56.2 MPa max=1.50 MPa
 Question 6
A beam of T cross section is formed by nailing together two
boards having the dimensions shown in the figure. If the total
shear force V acting on the cross section is 1600N and each
nail carry 750N in shear, what is the maximum allowable nail
spacing s?
Ans: s = 85.1mm
 Question 7
A hollow wood beam with plywood webs has the cross-sectional
dimensions shown in the figure. The plywood is attached to the flanges by
means of small nails having an allowable load in shear of 130N. Find the
maximum allowable spacing s of the nails at cross sections where the
shear force V is equal to (a) 900N and (b) 1350N.
Ans: (a) s = 66.5mm, (b)s = 44.3mm
 Question 8
A sign for an automobile service station is supported by two aluminum poles of hollow
circular cross section, as shown in the figure. The poles are being designed to resist a
wind pressure of 75 lb/ft2 against the full area of the sign. The dimensions of the poles
and sign are h1=20 ft, h2=5 ft, and b=10 ft. To prevent buckling of the walls of the
poles, the thickness t is specified as one-tenth the outside diameter d.
(a) Determine the minimum required diameter of the poles based upon an allowable
bending stress of 7500 psi in the aluminum.
(b) Determine the minimum required diameter based upon an allowable shear stress
of 2000 psi.
ANS: (a) d 10.52 in.; (b) d 2.56 in.
 Question 9
Abridge girder AB on a simple span of length L=14 m supports a distributed
load of maximum intensity q at midspan and minimum intensity q/2 at
supports A and B that includes the weight of the girder (see figure). The
girder is constructed of three plates welded to form the cross section shown.
Determine the maximum permissible load q based upon (a) an allowable
bending stress allow 110 MPa and (b) an allowable shear stress allow 50
MPa.
ANS: (a) qmax 184.7 kN/m;
(b) qmax 247 kN/m
 Question 10
A simple beam with an overhang supports a uniform load of intensity q=1200
lb/ft and a concentrated load P 3000 lb at 8 ft to the right of A and also at C
(see figure). The uniform load includes an allowance for the weight of the
beam. The allowable stresses in bending and shear are 18 ksi and 11 ksi,
respectively.
Select from Appendix C available, the lightest I-beam (S shape) that will
support the given loads.
(Hint: Select a beam based upon the bending stress and then calculate the
maximum shear stress. If the beam is overstressed in shear, select a heavier
beam and repeat.)
 Question 11
A hollow steel box beam
has the rectangular cross
section shown in the
figure. Determine the
maximum allowable shear
force V that may act on
the beam if the allowable
shear stress is 36 MPa.
Ans.: Vmax = 273 kN
 Question 12
The nails are on both sides of the beam and each can
resist a shear of 2 kN. In addition to the distributed
loading, determine the maximum load P that can be
applied to the end of the beam. The nails are spaced 100
mm apart and the allowable shear stress for the wood is
allow = 3 MPa.
Ans.: P = 3.7 kN
 Question 13
Knowing that a given
vertical shear V causes a
maximum shearing
stress of 75 MPa in the
hat-shaped extrusion
shown, determine the
corresponding shearing
stress at (a) point a, (b)
point b.
Ans.: a= 41.4MPa
b= 41.4MPa
 Question 14
A plate of 2-mm thickness is
bent as shown and then used as
a beam. For a vertical shear of 5
kN, determine the shearing
stress at the five points
indicated, and sketch the shear
flow in the cross section.
Ans.: a= 10.76MPa
b= 0MPa
c= 11.2MPa
d= 22MPa
e= 9.35MPa