AE362 Aerospace Structures Due Date: March 30, 2016

Homework #2

1) (a) For a beam subjected to lateral forces derive an expression for the lateral displacement at point
in the rectangular cross-section beam by using the unit load method.

(b) Determine the deflection of the center of the beam (x=L/2) using the unit load method.
Consider the bending and shear strain energies.

(c) Calculate the bending moment and shear force contributions to the lateral deflection at the
center of the beam for the following properties:
E= 70 GPa
= 0.3
b= 5 cm
h= 1 cm
L= 1m
P= 100 N

(d) Comment on the relative magnitudes of the effect of bending moment and shear force on the
lateral deflection. Which internal force is dominant on the lateral deflection?
2) Determine the twist and vertical deflection at point B using the unit load method.
(E=72 GPa, G=27 GPa)