CE 621A

ASSIGNMENT # 4
(Due November 23, 2017)

1. A rectangular beam of unit width and 2L length carries a uniformly distributed load
of q per unit length as shown in Figure 1. The beam is supported by the shear force
V at each of the ends. List the three boundary conditions related to stresses and three
boundary conditions related to stress resultants for this beam. Consider the stress
function V = 21 A2 x21 +D3 x32 + 12 B3 x21 x2 +D5 x21 x32 +F5 x52 (together with the six boundary
conditions) and
2show that the corresponding stress components are as follows: 11 =
3 3 2
6D3 x2 + D5 6x1 x2 4x2 , 22 = 2D5 x2 + B3 x2 + A2 and 12 = 26D
5 x1 x2 B3 x1 ,
1 L
with A2 = q/2, B3 = 3q/4c, D5 = q/8c3 and D3 = 3q 15 6c 2 /4c.

2. In the cantilever problem discussed in the lectures with the help of the stress function
V = Axy + Bxy 3 , consider the support conditions at x = L such that u = v = 0 at y =
0 and uh = 0 at y = h. Show
i that the deflection at the loaded end becomes v(0, 0) =
3 1 h2
W L 1 + 2 (4 + 5) L2 /3EI. Sketch the deformed shape of the supported end (i.e.,
at x = L) and indicate how this mode of support can possibly be realized.

3. A semi-infinite elastic body bounded by the plane y = 0 is subjected to uniform normal

pressure p over the surface strip AB extending to infinity in both directions
2 perpendicu-

lar to the section shown in Figure 2. Let the stress function be V = p r1 1 r22 2 /2.
(i) Find xx , xy and yy , and (ii) show that the following boundary conditions are
satisfied: (a) xy = 0 at y = 0, (b) yy = p for |x| a and y = 0, (c) yy = 0 for
|x| a and y = 0, (d) xx , xy , yy 0 at infinity, i.e., when 1 2 6= 0.

4. Consider the problem of plate with circular hole and subjected to the uniform tension
S per unit area in the x-direction, as considered in the lectures. Use the expressions for
rr , r and obtained with the help of the stress function V (r, ) = f (r)+g(r) cos 2
to find the stresses in an infinite plate with a hole when the (undisturbed) stress at
infinity is S in both the x- and y-directions. Show whether and how these results
correspond to the expressions for rr and obtained in the lectures for the Lames
problem of thick-walled cylindrical shell which is subjected to uniform pressure on the
inner and outer surfaces.

5. Consider the problem of the shaft with equilateral-triangle cross-section and warping
function (x, y) = y 3 3x2 y /6a, as discussed in the lectures. Show that the torsional

rigidity is D = 9 5 3 Ga4 and the maximum shearing stress is max = 3Mt Ga/2D at x
= a and y = 0 for the shaft.
2
6. Consider the function (y) = c4 y 2 obtained in the lectures for the shafts with thin
rectangular sections by using the membrane analogy. An approximate function (x, y)
may be obtained for the torsion of a slender elliptical section by assuming that at any
level x the membrane has the parabolic form of (y) appropriate to the width at that
2 2
level. Assuming that the ellipse is described
by the equation xa2 + yb2 = 1 with a > > b,
2 2
show that (x, y) = b2 xa2 + yb2 1 , D = ab3 G and max = 2Mt Gb/D. Check that
these values of D and max are consistent with those obtained exactly in the lectures
for the elliptical sections.

7. Find expressions for the shear stresses in a thin-walled tube of the section shown in
Figure 3, the wall thickness being uniform, when the tube is twisted.
Figure 1

Figure 2

Figure 3