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ME-304 · Strength of Material/Unsolved PYQ Paper

ME-304 Strength of Material - Jun 2024 Question Paper

Under each question, How to answer lists the points an answer should cover, outlined by CampusPrep from the syllabus. Check the details against your textbook.

  1. 14 Marks
    A square bar of $25\text{ mm}$ side is held between two rigid plates and loaded by an axial pull equal to $300\text{ kN}$ as shown in figure. Determine the reactions at end A and C and elongation of the portion AB. Take $E = 2 \times 10^5\text{ N/mm}^2$.
    A horizontal bar fixed between two rigid walls labeled A on the left and C on the right. An intermediate point B is located at 400 mm from A and 250 mm from C. An axial pull force P = 300 kN acts to the right at point B.
    How to answer
    • Formulate equilibrium equation: $R_A + R_C = 300\text{ kN}$
    • Write compatibility condition: total elongation between fixed rigid supports is zero ($\delta_{AB} + \delta_{BC} = 0$)
    • Express displacement of each segment using $\frac{P L}{A E}$ considering signs of internal forces
    • Solve for support reactions $R_A$ and $R_C$
    • Calculate elongation of portion AB
  2. 14 Marks
    A simply supported beam $1\text{m}$ long and $20\text{ mm} \times 20\text{ mm}$ in cross-section fails when a central load of $600\text{N}$ is applied to it. What intensity of uniformly distributed load would cause failure of a cantilever beam $2\text{m}$ long $\times 40\text{ mm}$ wide $\times 80\text{ mm}$ deep made of the same material?
    How to answer
    • Calculate maximum bending moment for simply supported beam: $M_1 = \frac{W_1 L_1}{4}$
    • Calculate section modulus $Z_1 = \frac{b_1 d_1^2}{6}$ and determine failure bending stress $\sigma_f = M_1 / Z_1$
    • Calculate section modulus of cantilever beam $Z_2 = \frac{b_2 d_2^2}{6}$
    • Determine maximum failure bending moment for cantilever: $M_2 = \sigma_f \times Z_2$
    • Equate to cantilever maximum bending moment formula $M_2 = \frac{w L_2^2}{2}$ and solve for UDL intensity $w$
  3. 14 Marks
    A solid shaft is subjected to a bending moment of $2.5\text{ kN.m}$ and a twisting moment of $3.5\text{ kN.m}$. If the permissible tensile and shear stresses for the shaft material are limited to $700$ and $420\text{ MN/m}^2$ respectively, make calculations for the diameter of shaft.
    How to answer
    • Calculate equivalent twisting moment $T_e = \sqrt{M^2 + T^2}$
    • Find diameter based on shear stress criteria: $d_1 = \left(\frac{16 T_e}{\pi \tau_{allow}}\right)^{1/3}$
    • Calculate equivalent bending moment $M_e = \frac{1}{2}[M + \sqrt{M^2 + T^2}]$
    • Find diameter based on tensile/bending stress criteria: $d_2 = \left(\frac{32 M_e}{\pi \sigma_{allow}}\right)^{1/3}$
    • Select the larger of $d_1$ and $d_2$ as the required diameter
  4. 14 Marks
    Determine the diameter of the bolt which is subjected to an axial pull of $9\text{ kN}$ together with a transverse shear force of $4.5\text{ kN}$ according to different theories of failure. Take Poisson's ratio as $0.3$ and $\text{FOS} = 3$. The elastic limit stress in simple tension is $225\text{ MPa}$.
    How to answer
    • Calculate permissible tensile stress $\sigma_{per} = 225 / 3 = 75\text{ MPa}$
    • Express normal stress $\sigma$ and shear stress $\tau$ in terms of diameter $d$
    • Determine principal stresses $\sigma_1$ and $\sigma_2$ in terms of $d$
    • Apply Rankine's theory (Maximum Principal Stress): $\sigma_1 = \sigma_{per}$ to find $d$
    • Apply Guest's/Tresca's theory (Maximum Shear Stress): $\tau_{max} = (\sigma_1 - \sigma_2)/2 = \sigma_{per}/2$ to find $d$
    • Apply Saint-Venant's or Von Mises theory to find $d$
  5. 7 Marks
    aA solid round bar $60\text{ mm}$ in diameter and $2.5\text{m}$ long is used as a strut. One end of the strut is fixed, while its other end is hinged. Find the safe compressive load, for this strut, using Euler's formula. Assume $E = 200\text{ GN/m}^2$ and factor of safety $= 3$.
    How to answer
    • Calculate area moment of inertia $I = \frac{\pi}{64} d^4$
    • Determine effective length $L_e = L / \sqrt{2}$ for one end fixed and other hinged
    • Calculate Euler's critical crippling load $P_{cr} = \frac{\pi^2 E I}{L_e^2}$
    • Calculate safe compressive load $P_{safe} = \frac{P_{cr}}{\text{FOS}}$
  6. 7 Marks
    bDerive the formula for Euler's crippling load for a long column whose both ends are pin jointed.
    How to answer
    • Sketch column with pinned ends showing buckling curve and deflected shape
    • Set up governing differential equation $EI \frac{d^2y}{dx^2} + Py = 0$
    • Write general solution $y = A \cos(kx) + B \sin(kx)$ where $k = \sqrt{P/EI}$
    • Apply boundary conditions: $y = 0$ at $x = 0$ and $y = 0$ at $x = L$
    • Determine non-trivial condition $\sin(kL) = 0 \implies kL = \pi$
    • Conclude with $P_{cr} = \frac{\pi^2 E I}{L^2}$
  7. 7 Marks
    aA cantilever beam having length "L" is subjected to a point load "W". Find the free end deflection using Macaulay's method.
    How to answer
    • Draw cantilever beam of length $L$ with point load $W$ at the free end
    • Formulate bending moment expression at a section distance $x$ from the fixed end: $M_x = -W(L - x)$
    • Integrate once to find slope equation $EI \frac{dy}{dx}$ and apply boundary condition ($dy/dx = 0$ at $x=0$)
    • Integrate again to find deflection equation $EI y$ and apply boundary condition ($y=0$ at $x=0$)
    • Substitute $x = L$ to find the free end deflection: $\delta = \frac{W L^3}{3 E I}$
  8. 7 Marks
    bDerive the relationship between load intensity (w), Shear force (S) and Bending moment (M).
    How to answer
    • Draw an infinitesimal element of beam of length $dx$ showing forces ($S$, $S+dS$, $w dx$) and moments ($M$, $M+dM$)
    • Apply vertical force equilibrium: $\Sigma F_y = 0 \implies \frac{dS}{dx} = -w$ (or rate of change of shear force equals load intensity)
    • Take moments about one face: $\Sigma M = 0$ neglecting higher order terms
    • Derive relationship $\frac{dM}{dx} = S$
    • Combine to show $\frac{d^2M}{dx^2} = \frac{dS}{dx} = -w$
  9. 7 Marks
    aExplain any three theories of failure along with their graphical representation.
    How to answer
    • Select any three theories (e.g., Rankine, Tresca, Von Mises)
    • State failure criteria and governing mathematical equation for each
    • Sketch failure envelopes in $\sigma_1 - \sigma_2$ principal stress plane (e.g., square for Rankine, hexagon for Tresca, ellipse for Von Mises)
    • State application and limitations for ductile vs brittle materials
  10. 7 Marks
    bExplain Area-moment method for finding slope and deflection.
    How to answer
    • Define Area-Moment Method (Mohr's theorems)
    • State Mohr's Theorem 1: Change in slope between two points equals the area of the $M/EI$ diagram between those points ($\theta_{B/A} = \int \frac{M}{EI} dx$)
    • State Mohr's Theorem 2: Tangential deviation of point B from tangent at A equals first moment of area of $M/EI$ diagram about point B ($t_{B/A} = \int x \frac{M}{EI} dx$)
    • Provide sketch showing beam deflection curve and $M/EI$ diagram
    • Outline procedure to determine slope and deflection
  11. 14 Marks
    Write Short notes on the following: a) Shear Modulus b) Mohr's Circle c) Composite Beams d) Quarter-Fourth Rule
    How to answer
    • Shear Modulus ($G$): Definition ($G = \tau / \gamma$), relation with Young's modulus and Poisson's ratio ($E = 2G(1+\mu)$)
    • Mohr's Circle: Graphical representation of 2D state of stress, center and radius formulas, determination of principal and maximum shear stresses
    • Composite Beams: Definition, modular ratio concept, transformed section method for bending stress analysis
    • Quarter-Fourth Rule: Middle-quarter rule (or kernel/core of circular sections) to prevent tension in masonry/columns subject to eccentric loading
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