CE2E41

Faculty of Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics

School of Engineering

Department of Civil, Structural and Environmental Engineering

Senior Freshman Semester 1, 2022

Sample Examination Paper

2E4 Solids and Structures

Dr. Brendan O’Kelly and Dr. Dermot O’Dwyer

ANSWER ALL 20 QUESTIONS CORRECTLY FOR FULL MARKS

ANSWER SHEET WITHOUT ID NUMBERS CAN NOT BE PROCESSED

FOLLOW ALL INSTRUCTIONS ON THE ANSWER SHEET

If your computed answer does not match any of the listed answer values in this
exam paper, then select the closest of the possible answers listed, with correct
units.

The use of non-Programmable calculators is permitted for this examination. Please

indicate the make and model of your calculator on answer sheet.

Log tables and graph paper are available from the invigilators, if required.

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Q1. Calculate the magnitude of the vertical support reaction at C for the beam
shown in Figure Q1. The beam is symmetric and there are two hinges in the beam
in the span B – C.

100 kN
2m 2m
A B C D

5m 9m 5m

Figure Q1

A B C D E

Q2. Calculate the magnitudes of the bending moment in the frame shown in Figure
Q2 at B and the shear at C. Note the load of 80 kN is applied at an angle of 45° to
the horizontal.

80 kN

B C
4m

4m

Figure Q2

A B C D E

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Q3. The truss shown in Figure Q3 is constructed using 80 x 80 x 5 SHS with a

cross-sectional area of 14.7 cm2. Calculate the magnitude of the vertical deflection
at the node at which the load is applied.
0.5 m 10 kN

1.2 m

Figure Q3

A B C D E

Q4. The equation for the shear in the beam shown in Figure Q4 in kN is given by

Calculate the magnitude of the maximum moment in the beam.

200 kN/m

100 kN/m

A C

8m
Figure Q4

A B C D E

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Q5. The moment in the cantilever shown in Figure Q5 is given by the equation

Develop a formula for the deflection at the tip of the cantilever.

x P

L
Figure Q5

A B C D E

Q6. A simply supported beam with a span of 7 m is supporting a point load of 50

kN at its centre. The beam comprises a 305 x 127 x 37 UB, h = 304.4 mm, I =
7170 cm4 (about y – y axis). Calculate the maximum tensile stress in the beam.

Figure Q6

A B C D E

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Q7. Calculate the maximum shear stress on a 100 x 100 x 4 SHS (Square Hollow
Section) if the shear in the section is 120 kN. Take h = 100 mm and t = 4mm.

Figure Q7

A B C D E

Q 8. A timber joist has been strengthened by fixing a metal plate to its underside,
see Figure Q8. The second moment of area of the equivalent timber section is
93.25 x 106 mm4 and the centroid of the equivalent section is located 147.9 mm
below the top of the section. The stress in the plate must not exceed 275 N/mm2
and the stress in the timber in compression must be less than 9 N/mm2. Calculate
the maximum moment that the section can resist. Note: Es = 210 kN/mm2, Et = 10.5
kN/mm2.

50 mm

225 mm

5 mm

Figure Q8

A B C D E

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Q9. A 152 x 152 x 23 UC (Universal Colum) is simultaneously subject to an axial

load of 96 kN, a moment about its major axis of 11 kNm and a moment of 5 kNm
about its minor axis. Calculate the greatest tensile stress on the column’s cross
section. Note: h = 152.4 mm, b = 152.2 mm, Iyy = 1250 cm4, Izz = 400 cm4 and Area
= 29.2 cm2.

Figure Q9

A B C D E

Q10. A steel girder has been strengthened by adding additional steel plates to the
top and bottom flanges as shown in Figure Q10. The bolts used to attach the
plates comprise class 4.6 hexagon head bolts with a capacity of 16.2 kN in single
shear. If the shear in the section is 200 kN, what is the minimum pitch (longitudinal
spacing) of the pairs of bolts. The 2nd moment of area of the strengthened girder is
2.561  10–3 m4.
300 mm
260 mm

20 mm
20 mm

600 mm

15 mm

Figure Q10

A B C D E

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Q11. A strut made from 88.9 x 4 CHS (Circular Hollow Section) with a length of 3 m
is on the point of buckling. Calculate the axial stress at which the section is sure to
buckle. Take d = 88.9 mm, t = 4 mm and Es = 210 kN/mm2.

Figure Q11

A B C D E

Q12. A 152 x 152 x 30 UC (Universal Column) section has a second moment of

area of 1750 cm4 about its major axis ( y – y) and a second moment of area of 560
cm4 about its minor axis (z – z). The axial load supported by the column is 1000
kN. The column is free to rotate about its major axis at its ends, but restrained from
rotating about its minor axis. What is the longest theoretical length the column can
have without buckling. Take Es = 210 kN/mm2.

Figure Q12

A B C D E

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Q13. Determine the change in volume, expressed in cubic centimetres (i.e. cm 3),
that a 10 cm  10 cm  10 cm steel cube would experience at a depth of 4.8 km in
sea water. For steel, Young’s modulus = 200 GPa and Poisons ratio = 0.3. Density
of sea water = 1025 kg/m3. Acceleration due to gravity = 9.81 m/s2.

A B C D E

Q14. A cylindrical steel bar, 20 mm in diameter and 5 m long, is subjected to an

axial tensile load of 40 kN applied at the ends of the steel bar. Determine the axial
extension, in millimetres, of the steel bar under this loading condition. Young’s
modulus = 200 GPa; Poisons ratio = 0.3.

A B C D E

Q15. Determine the contraction in the diameter, expressed in millimetres, of a

cylindrical steel bar having the same physical dimensions and under the same
loading condition described in Question 14. Young’s modulus = 200 GPa; Poisons
ratio = 0.3.

A B C D E

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Q16. Steel and aluminium rods are rigidly attached at point B along a bar, as
shown in Figure Q16. Assuming that both bars deform elastically, determine the
axial deformation, in millimetres, over the length of the bar due to the axial loads
applied where indicated in Figure Q16. For steel, Young’s modulus = 200 GPa and
Poisons ratio = 0.3. For aluminium, Young’s modulus = 70 GPa.

Figure Q16

A B C D E

Q17. A uniform beam with a self-weight of 500 N is held in a horizontal position by

three vertical wires, one attached to each end of the beam and one wire attached
to the mid-point of the beam (Figure Q17). The outer wires are aluminium of 1.25
mm in diameter. The central wire is steel of 0.75 mm in diameter. Assuming that
the beam is rigid and the wires are each 3.5 m long and unstressed before the
beam is attached.

Beam

Figure Q17

Determine the axial stress, expressed in MN/m2, in the central steel wire due to
the load from the beam. For steel, Young’s modulus = 200 GPa and Poisons
ratio = 0.3. For aluminium, Young’s modulus = 70 GPa.

A B C D E

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Q18. Determine the extension, in millimetres, of the wires due to the load from the
beam using the loading conditions and physical dimensions described in Question
17. For steel, Young’s modulus = 200 GPa and Poisons ratio = 0.3. For aluminium,
Young’s modulus = 70 GPa.

A B C D E

Q19. A torque is applied at the ends of a steel, hollow circular shaft that is 5.0 m
long, with an outer diameter of 25.0 cm and an inner diameter of 17.5 cm.
Determine the value of the applied torque, in kN-m, that would produce a maximum
torsional shear stress of 75 MPa in the steel shaft. Young’s modulus = 200 GPa
and Poisons ratio = 0.3.

A B C D E

Q20. If the maximum permitted torsional shear stress is 75 MPa in a steel

cylindrical shaft, 40 mm in diameter and 2 m long, determine the power, in kW, that
the shaft can transmit when rotating at 100 revolutions per minute. Young’s
modulus = 200 GPa and Poisons ratio = 0.3.

A B C D E

© Trinity College Dublin, The University of Dublin 2022

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