Mechanics of Materials

Tutorial 1: Introduction into Mechanics of Materials

(Q1) An 80-m-long wire of 5-mm diameter is made of a steel with
E = 200 GPa and an ultimate tensile strength of 400 MPa. If a
factor of safety of 3.2 is desired, determine
(a) the largest allowable tension in the wire, (b) the corresponding elongation of the wire.
(Q2) A steel control rod is 5.5 ft. long and must not stretch more than
0.04 in. when a 2-kip tensile load is applied to it. Knowing that
E = 29 x 106 psi, determine:
(a) the smallest diameter rod that should be used,
(b) the corresponding normal stress caused by the load.
(Q3) An 18-m-long steel wire of 5-mm diameter is to be used in the manufacture of a pre-
stressed concrete beam. It is observed that the wire stretches 45 mm when a tensile force
P is applied. Knowing that E = 200 GPa, determine:
(a) the magnitude of the force P,
(b) the corresponding normal stress in the wire.
(Q4) A polystyrene rod of length 12 in. and diameter 0.5 in. is subjected to an 800-lb
tensile load. Knowing that E = 0.45 x 106 psi, determine:
(a) the elongation of the rod,
(b) the normal stress in the rod.
(Q5) A 4-m-long steel rod must not stretch more than 3 mm and the normal stress must
not exceed 150 MPa when the rod is subjected to a 10-kN axial load. Knowing that
E = 200 GPa, determine the required diameter of the rod.