LDEPARTMENT OF CIVIL ENGINEERING

AHMADU BELLO UNIVERSITY, ZARIA

CVEN 502: THEORY OF STRUCTURES IV

REVISION/TUTORIAL

PART ONE EXAMPLES (REFER TO THE LECTURE NOTE ON FINITE

ELEMENT METHOD)
Example 1:

1
2
Example 2:
The following axially-loaded structure has loads applied as shown:

3
The individual member properties are:

Find the displacements of the connections and the forces in each

member.

Solution
Our first step is to model the structure with elements and nodes, as
shown:

4
Calculate the spring stiffnesses for each member:

Next, we calculate the individual element stiffness matrices :

We expand and add the element stiffness matrices to get:

(11.0)

Notice how each member contributes to the global stiffness matrix:

5
Notice also that where the member stiffness matrices overlap in
the global stiffness matrix that the components (or entries) are
added. Also notice that zeros are entered where there is no
connection between nodes, e.g. node 1 to node 3.

We cannot yet solve equation 11.0 as we have not introduced the

restraints of the structure: the supports at nodes 1 and 4. We must
modify equation 11.0 in such a way that we will obtain the known
results for the displacements at nodes 1 and 4. Thus:

(12.0)
What we have done here is to ‘restrict’ the matrix: we have
introduced a 1 on the diagonal of the node number, and set all other
entries on the corresponding row and column to zero. We have

6
entered the known displacement as the corresponding entry in force
vector (zero). Thus when we now solve we will obtain u1 = u4 = 0.

For the remaining two equations, we have:

(13.0)

To find the forces in the bars, we can now use the member stiffness
matrices, since we know the end displacements:

Member 1:

Thus Member 1 has a tension of 4.8 kN, since the directions of the
member forces are interpreted by our sign convention:

Also note that it is in equilibrium (as we might expect).

Member 2:

7
Member 2 thus has tension of 54.8 kN.

Member 3:

Thus Member 3 has a compression of 45.08 kN applied to it.

Example 3:

8
9
10
PART TWO EXAMPLES (REFER TO THE LECTURE NOTE ON FINITE
DIFFERENCE METHOD)
Example 4:

11
12
13
14
15
16
17
PART THREE EXAMPLE (REFER TO THE EXAMPLES OF LATERITE
BLOCK IN THE OPTIMISATION/OPERATION RESEARCH LECTURE
NOTE AND SOLVE THIS PROBLEM)
NOTE: GRAPH SHEETS ARE REQUIRED FOR EXAMPLES 5 AND 6
Example 5:

18
19
20
Example 6:
 A lateritic block manufacturer wishes to produce two types of
blocks: type-A will result in a profit of N1.00 Naira, and type-B
in a profit of N1.2 Naira.
 To produce a type-A block requires 2 minutes on machine I
and 1 minute on machine II.
 A type-B block requires 1 minute on machine I and 3 minutes
on machine II.
 There are 3 hours available on machine I and 5 hours available
on machine II.
 How many blocks of each type should the company make in
order to maximize its profit?
Solution:

21
22
23
24
25
26
27
PART FOUR EXAMPLES (REFER TO THE LECTURE NOTE ON
STRUCTURAL STABILITY)
Example 7:
RIGID BAR SUPPORTED BY ROTATIONAL SPRING

28
Example 8:
RIGID BAR SUPPORTED BY TRANSLATIONAL SPRING AT END

29
30