BIRLA INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY AND SCIENCE, PILANI

FIRST SEMESTER 2012-2013

COURSE: ME F211/ MF F211 - MECHANICS OF SOLIDS

ASSIGNMENT: Chapter 1: Fundamental Principles Of Mechanics

1) Refer Fig 1. The box wrench used to tighten the bolt at A. If the wrench does not turn when the load
is applied to the handle, determine the torque or moment applied to the bolt and the force of the
wrench on the bolt. [ans: 5N, 74N, 32.6 N-m]

2) Refer Fig 2. The lever ABC is pin supported at A and connected to a short link BD (pin jointed at B
and D) as shown. If the weight of the members is negligible, determine the force of the pin on the
lever at A. [Ans: 1.07kN at 60.3 degree with horizontal]

3) Refer Fig 3. Determine the minimum cable force T and critical angle Θ which will causethe tow
truck to start tipping , i.e., for the normal reation at A to be zero. Assume that the truck is braked
and will not slip at B. The truck has total weight of 39340 N and mass centre at G(marked at 1.25
m above the ground and 2m from the front wheel). [Ans: 63.4, 29.2 kN]

4) Refer Fig 4. The thin rod of length l is supported by the smooth tube. Determine the distance a
needed for equilibrium if the applied load is P.

5) Refer Fig 5. Determine the force in each member of the double scissors truss in terms of the load P
and state if the members are in tension or compression.

6) Use the method of sections (suitable sections are marked in the fig.) to determine the force in
member EB of the roof truss shown in the fig 6. Indicate whether the member is in tension or
compression. [Ans: 2000N]

7) If a force of P = 100 N is applied to the handle og the toggle clamp, determine the horizontal
clamping force NE that the clamp exerts on the smooth wooden block at E. Refer Fig 7. [ans:187N]

8) The uniform stone in the figure below has a weight of 4905 N and is held in the horizontal position
using a wedge at B. If the co-efficient of static friction is µs=0.3 at the surfaces of contact,
determine the minimum force P needed to remove the wedge. Assume that the stone does not slip at
A. Note that the wedge angle is 7°.Refer Fig 8. [Ans:1.15kN]

9) A circular log of weight 1200 N and radius 18cm is supported by a pair of bracket, one of which is
shown in Fig 9. Bar PN hinged at P and held by string MN is 57cm long. To induce minimum
tension at MN, determine the value of 2Θ, as shown, for the equilibrium. Consider all contact
surfaces smooth. Also find the value of minimum tension. [ans: 60 degree, 757.89N]

10) Determine the magnitude and direction of the smallest force P required to start the wheel over the
block. Refer Fig 10. [Ans: 5.73kN, 71.4 degree]
11) Determine the forces in the members AC, DE and GH of the truss loaded and supported as shown in
the Fig 11. [Ans:35 kN, 10 kN and 35kN]

12) Using the method of section, determine the forces in the members marked 1, 2 and 3.Refer Fig 12.
[ Ans: -70N, 49.52N and 62.51 N]

13) Determine the forces in the six members of the truss shown. Refer Fig 13.

14) Determine the forces in the bars DC, DH & FH of the truss loaded and supported as shown in Fig
14.

15) Block A weighing 150 N on a rough inclined plane at 45° as shown in Fig 15.A is connected to
block B weighing 450 N resting on a rough horizontal plane, by a weightless rigid bar inclined at
30° to the horizontal. Find the horizontal force required to be applied at B to just move A in the
upward direction. Assume µ = 0.2679 for all rough surfaces.

16) A block of weight W1 = 200 N rests on a horizontal surfaces and supports on top of it another block
of weight W2 = 50 N. The block W2 attached with vertical wall by a string AB as shown in Fig 16.
Find the amount of horizontal force P, applied to the lower block necessary for impending slipping.
The co-efficient of friction for all contiguous surfaces is 0.3.
 Fig 10.

Fig 9.
Fig 12.