Tutorial Problems

1. The identity tensor is written in index notation using the Kronecker delta symbol, defined
by 
1 (i = j)
ij =
0 (i 6= j)
Verify the following identities by expanding out the expressions in component form.

(i) ti = ij tj
(ii) ij jk = ik
(iii) ij ij = 3

2. Two prismatic steel bars of equal length and cross sectional areas A1 and A2 are bonded to
each other and arranged between rigid walls as shown in figure. Perfectly elastic behavior
is assumed for steel with Youngs modulus E. An axial load P is applied as shown and
the internal reactions in the bars are to be determined.

P
l l

(i) Is the problem statically determinate?

(ii) List the equilibrium, compatibility, boundary conditions and constitutive equations
for the system.
(iii) Solve for the internal reactions in the bars.

(Note: Assume frictionless contacts and ignore the Poisson effect.)

3. Consider a state of plane stress in the e1 e2 plane given by the stress tensor
 
11 12
[ ] =
E
12 22

expressed in coordinate frame E.

(i) Write down the characteristic equation for [ ] .

E
0
(ii) Write down the components of the stress tensor
in another coordinate system E
rotated by an angle with respect to the fame E.
(iii) Write down the characteristic equation for [ ] 0 and show that the coefficients of the
E
characteristic equation are invariants.
4. Consider a rectangular plate of dimensions 10 mm 3 mm and thickness 1 mm subjected
to equal tensile loads P = 300 N along the e1 and e2 directions as shown in figure.

P = 300 N

P P
3 mm
e2 10 mm

e1 P

(i) Assuming that the forces are uniformly distributed along the edge faces, construct
the stress tensor for the state of stress in the plate.
(ii) If the material fails when the shear stress on any plane exceeds a critical value of 50
MPa, what is the maximum load P that the plate can take?

5. Consider a prismatic bar of rectangular cross-section (5 mm 2 mm) subjected to an

axial load P = 200 N (assumed to be uniformly distributed over the end faces).

(i) Determine the components of the stress tensor in a coordinate system with base
vector e2 oriented along the axis of the bar.

(ii) Determine the traction vector on a section plane with unit normal (e1 + e2 + e3 )/ 3.
(iii) Determine the magnitudes of the normal and shear stresses on the above section
plane.