1.

Determine the material performance index for a light,

stiff beam. The beam is simply supported with a
concentrated load at midlength.

A1.

2. A cantilever beam is loaded with force P at its free

end to produce a deflection =PL3/3EI. The beam
has a circular cross section, I=r4/4. Develop a
figure of merit for selecting a material that minimizes
the weight of a beam for a given stiffness (P/). By
using the following material properties select the
best material (a) on the basis of performance and (b)
on the basis of cost and performance.

A2.