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SCE5321 Theory of Structures 2

Final Exam

Date : 16th Dec 2019

Time : 18:30 – 22:30

Time Allowed : 4 hours

~ IMPORTANT NOTICES ~

1. Please read the instructions on page 1 and 2 carefully.

2. This question paper has Eight(8) page.
3. Answer any FOUR questions in this paper. The questions can
be found on page 3 – 8.
4. Write down the assumption(s) if it is necessary.
5. Write down the calculation steps clearly.
6. Your student ID (SID) will be used to define the parameters in
all questions. Some examples are shown on page 2.
7. Note that the figures given in the questions may not be in scale.
8. Write down the question number clearly in your solution. E.g.
Question 1(a) or Q1(a)

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Some examples about the use of SID numbers as shown below for reference. Write down your
numbers clearly in the solution.

 Example 1: 123456789
Last Four Digits of your SID number [in kN], including zero = 6789 kN
First Four Digits of your SID number [in kN], including zero = 1234 rad/s
Last Three (non-zero) Digits of your SID number [in kN] = 789 kN
Last Two (non-zero) Digits of your SID number [in rad/s] = 89 rad/s
The Last (non-zero) Digit of your SID [in m] = 9 m

 Example 2: 120700500
Last Four Digits of your SID number [in kN], including zero = 500 kN
First Four Digits of your SID number [in kN], including zero = 1207 rad/s
Last Three (non-zero) Digits of your SID number [in kN] = 275 kN
Last Two (non-zero) Digits of your SID number [in rad/s] = 75 rad/s
The Last (non-zero) Digit of your SID [in m] = 5 m

 Example 3: 140008807
Last Four Digits of your SID number [in kN], including zero = 8807 kN
First Four Digits of your SID number [in kN], including zero = 1400 rad/s
Last Three (non-zero) Digits of your SID number [in kN] = 887 kN
Last Two (non-zero) Digits of your SID number [in rad/s] = 87 rad/s
The Last (non-zero) Digit of your SID [in m] = 7 m

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Answer any Four Questions

Chapter 1 – Stiffness Method

1. (25 marks) Fig. 1-1 shows a steel truss structure that composed of three members. Take E
= 200 GPa, A = 8000 mm2 and α = 12x10-6 /oC. The truss structure is subjected to the
following actions:
i. An inclined force P is acting at node 3 with an angle of 30 degrees to y-axis.
ii. Member 2 was made ΔL to long before it was fitted into place.
where the values of P and ΔL are defined in Fig. 1-1.

Answer the following problems:

a. Determine the stiffness matrices for member 1, 2 and 3. Show the code number diagram
on your solution. (5 marks)
b. Formulate the global force-displacement equation (Q = KD + Q0). Write down the Qk,
Dk, Q0 vectors. Show your calculation steps clearly. (5 marks)
c. Determine the unknown displacement and force vectors Du, and Qu. (5 marks)
d. Take the yield strength of material as 460 MPa. Which member(s) reach or exceed their
yield strength under the mentioned actions?? (5 marks)
e. Comment on the performance of the following truss structure when the loading P
increases gradually from zero. (5 marks)

30o
3 P
2 3

ΔL
1 4m

y 2

x 6m

P = The Last Four Digits of your SID number [in kN], including zero
ΔL = The Last Two (non-zero) Digits of your SID number [in mm]

Fig. 1.1 Truss structure

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2. (25 marks) Fig. 1-2 shows a steel frame structure under the actions of uniformly distributed
load w [kN/m] on member 1 and an applied moment Q [kNm] at joint 2. The loading w and
Q are defined in Fig. 1-2. The steel beam (member 2) is rigidly connected to the steel
column (member 1). Take E = 200 GPa, A = 10(103) mm2 and I = 200(106) mm4 for all
members. Ignore the self-weight of members.
a. Formulate the global force-displacement equation (Q = KD + Q0) and write down the Qk,
Dk, Q0 vectors. Show the code number diagram on your solution. Show your steps
clearly. (5 marks)
b. Compute the nodal displacement at joint 2. (5 marks)
c. Compute the reactions at joint 1 and 3. (5 marks)
d. Draw the axial force, shear force and bending moment diagrams for the following frame
structure. (5 marks)
e. If pinned connection is adopted between the beam and column (i.e. simple construction),
sketch the shape of the axial force, shear force and bending moment diagrams for the
frame structure. You don’t need to compute the exact values again. (5 marks)

2
Q [kNm] 3

w [kN/m]
5m

Beam-column
1
connection
y

x 1
6m

w = The Last Two (non-zero) Digits of your SID number [in kN/m]
Q = The Last Three (non-zero) Digits of your SID number [in kNm]

Fig. 1-2 Frame structure

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Chapter 2 – Structural Dynamics

3. (25 marks) Fig. 2-1 shows a cantilever beam supporting an object with mass m = 1000 kg
via a spring with spring constant ks = 1000 kN/m. The flexural rigidity of beam EIb is 30000
kNm2. The object is subjected to a dynamic load 𝑝(𝑡) = 𝑝𝑜 sin 𝜔 ̅𝑡 [in kN], as shown in Fig.
2-1. Take system damping ratio as 5%. Assume that the system is initially at rest. You may
ignore the mass of beam in this question. The problem can be modelled as SDOF system.
Put down assumptions in the solution if it is necessary.
a. Formulate the equation of motion for the system shown in Fig. 2-1. Write down the
values of dynamic properties (m, c and k) clearly in the equation of motion. What is the
natural frequency of system?? (5 marks)
b. Determine the steady-state displacement function u(t) of the system. What is the
maximum and minimum vibration amplitudes of the object?? Assume that the spring is
long enough so that the object is always below the beam under vibration. (5 marks)
c. Determine the maximum and minimum equivalent static forces for the SDOF system at
steady state. Draw the envelopes of bending moment and shear force diagrams for the
cantilever beam at steady state. (5 marks)
d. Describe one method to measure the damping ratio of a structure. (5 marks)
e. Assume that the loading p(t) is now replaced by an arbitrary loading acting at the same
position. Describe one method to determine the responses of the structure. Detail
calculation is not required. (5 marks)

Force-displacement relationship for cantilever beam under a point load at the free end is
3𝐸𝐼𝑏
𝑃= 3 Δ
𝐿

A EIb = 30000 kNm2 B

ξ = 5% ks = 1000 kN/m

m = 1000 kg
L = 2.0 m

Object u(t)

𝑝(𝑡) = 𝑝𝑜 sin 𝜔
̅𝑡

𝑝0 = The Last Three (non-zero) Digits of your SID number [in kN]
𝜔
̅ = The Last Two (non-zero) Digits of your SID number [in rad/s]

Fig. 2-1 Cantilever beam supporting an object at the free end

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4. (25 marks) Fig. 2-2 shows a two-storey shear building modelled using 2-DOF system with
the consideration of translational DOFs only. The total masses and total storey stiffnesses
(k1 and k2) are given in the Fig. 2-2. The structure is subjected to harmonic loading p2(t)
acting at the 2nd storey, as shown in Fig. 2-2. Assume that all modal damping ratios are 5%.
a. Write down the mass and stiffness matrices. (2 marks)
b. Determine the modal frequencies and mode shapes of the structure. (6 marks)
c. Decouple the MDOF equation of motion. Write down the modal mass matrix 𝐌 ̅,
modal stiffness matrix 𝐊 ̅ , modal damping matrix 𝐂̅, and the generalised force vector 𝐏
̅
clearly in the solution. (6 marks)
d. Determine the steady-state displacement function u(t) under the actions of harmonic
loads using modal superposition. (6 marks)
e. Comment on the pros and cons of modelling a practical building using MDOF system
rather than using SDOF system. (5 marks)

𝑚2 = 5 ton
𝑢2 (𝑡) 𝑝2 (𝑡) = 𝑝𝑜 sin 𝜔
̅𝑡 [in kN]

3m 𝑘2 where
𝑚1 = 10 ton 𝑝0 = 100 kN
𝑢1 (𝑡) 𝜔
̅ = 10 rad/s

3m
𝑘1

Damping ratio = 5% for all modes

𝑎 = The Last Four Digits of your SID number [in kN/m], including zero
𝑏 = The First Four Digits of your SID number [in kN/m], including zero
𝑘1 = The largest value among a and b
𝑘2 = The least value among a and b

Fig. 2-2 Two-DOF shear building

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Chapter 3 – Plastic Theory and Collapse Analysis

5. (25 marks) Answer the following questions

a. Draw the moment-curvature (M-ϕ) relationship for a simply supported steel beam
under bending and describe the bending behaviour of beam in elastic, elasto-plastic
and fully plastic stages. Draw the stress and strain profiles for the mentioned stages
and indicate them on the M-ϕ graph. (5 marks)
b. Fig. 3-1(a) shows a steel frame with inclined members subjected to lateral loads W
and vertical load P. The steel frame is characterised by four parameters a, b, c and d,
which are defined in the same picture. (1) Draw the steel frame on your answer sheet
and label the dimensions clearly. (2) Determine the collapse loads P and W in the
form of interaction diagram (i.e. P-W plot) using upper bound theorem. Consider any
three possible failure mechanisms. Take plastic moment Mp = the Last Three (non-
zero) Digits of your SID number [in kNm]. (8 marks)
c. Consider the frame structure shown in Fig. 3-1(a) again. If W = 0.1Mp [in kN], what is
the required value of P so that the frame will fail? (2 marks)
d. Fig. 3-1(b) show a two-bay steel frame under vertical and horizontal loads P. Use
upper bound theorem to estimate the collapse load by considering any three possible
failure mechanisms. Take plastic moment Mp = the Last Three (non-zero) Digits of
your SID number [in kNm]. (6 marks)
e. Explain the effects of axial force on the behaviour of plastic hinge. Draw the moment-
axial force interaction diagram to explain the effects (if any). (4 marks)

 Next Page

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C
d
B D

W W
b 3m
c

A E

𝑎 = The Last Two (non-zero) Digits of your SID number

𝑏 = ξ𝑎 [in m]
𝑐 = The Last (non-zero) Digit of your SID number [in m]
𝑑 = ξ𝑐 [in m]

Fig. 3-1 (a) Steel frame with inclined members

P P
2m 3m
P
5m

4m 6m

Fig. 3-1 (b) Two-bay rectangular steel frame

--- End of Paper ---

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