ME 2060 Mechanics of Materials

Assignment
Due date: 22/12/2017 at 4.00 PM
Submit to: Office of the Department of Mechanical Engineering

Q1.

𝐸 = 30 × 106 𝑁𝑚−2

𝜌 = 7850 𝑘𝑔𝑚−3
L=7m

Figure Q1

The bar shown in figure Q1, find

a) Equation for deflection due to self-weight using exact solution

b) Equation for stress due to self-weight using exact solution
c) Deflection using approximate solution. Divide bar in 7 × 1 mesh as shown.
d) Stress using approximate solution.
e) Plot Deflection vs Length for both Exact and Approximate Solution and compare.
f) Plot Stress vs Length for both Exact and Approximate Solution and compare
Q2.

𝑭
𝑬𝟏 , 𝑨𝟏 , 𝒍𝟏
1 𝑬𝟑
3
𝑬𝟏 , 𝑨𝟏 , 𝒍𝟏 𝑨𝟑𝒂 , 𝒍𝟑𝒂 𝑨𝟑𝒃 , 𝒍𝟑𝒃
2

Figure Q2

Three bars are joined as shown in Figure Q2. The left and right ends are both constrained. There is a
force of 𝑭 acting on the middle node. The Young’s modulus 𝑬, cross sectional area 𝑨, length 𝒍, and
external force 𝑭 of the elements are calculated as follows.

i. Take the last three digits of your Index number (without the letter)
Index Number: 150𝑋𝑌𝑍
ii. Young’s modulus of the system is calculated as follows
𝐸1 = (𝑋 + 𝑌 + 𝑍)𝐺𝑃𝑎
𝐸3 = (𝑌 + 𝑍)𝐸1
If 𝑌 + 𝑍 = 0, take 𝐸3 = 1.4 𝐸1
iii. Cross sectional area
𝐴1 = 240 𝑚𝑚2
𝐴3𝑎 = 1.5 𝐴1
𝐴3𝑏 = 𝛼𝐴3𝑎
𝛼 is defined as follows
𝑋𝑌𝑍
1.2, 𝑟𝑒𝑚𝑎𝑖𝑛𝑑𝑒𝑟 𝑜𝑓 ( )=0
3
𝑋𝑌𝑍
𝛼 = 2.2, 𝑟𝑒𝑚𝑎𝑖𝑛𝑑𝑒𝑟 𝑜𝑓 ( )=1
3
𝑋𝑌𝑍
{ 2.8, 𝑟𝑒𝑚𝑎𝑖𝑛𝑑𝑒𝑟 𝑜𝑓 ( )=2
3
iv. Length of each element
𝒍𝟏 = 150𝑚𝑚
𝒍𝟑𝒂 = 120 𝑚𝑚
𝒍𝟑𝒃 = 𝛽𝑙3𝑎
𝛽 is defined as follows
 𝑋𝑌𝑍
0.85, 𝑟𝑒𝑚𝑎𝑖𝑛𝑑𝑒𝑟 𝑜𝑓 ( )=0
3
𝑋𝑌𝑍
𝛽 = 0.75, 𝑟𝑒𝑚𝑎𝑖𝑛𝑑𝑒𝑟 𝑜𝑓 ( )=1
3
𝑋𝑌𝑍
{0.65, 𝑟𝑒𝑚𝑎𝑖𝑛𝑑𝑒𝑟 𝑜𝑓 (
3
)=2
v. Applied force 𝑭 = 2000𝑁

a. Assemble the global stiffness and force matrix. Use only the minimum number of elements
required. State all your assumptions.
b. Partition the system and solve for the nodal displacements.
c. Compute the reaction forces.

Q3.

Figure Q3 (a)

𝑡
0.7𝑡

Figure Q3 (b)
During the combustion process of a four stroke I.C. engine, the fuel heat energy is converted to mechanical
work. The fluid pressure acting on the cylinder pushes the crank and thus generates the motion (see figure
Q3 (a)). The force generated by the piston is transmitted to the crank by the connecting road. Therefore,
the connecting rod is under compressive loads. Assuming that the maximum force applied at the piston is
at the top dead center (TDC) of the piston and that the crank angle 𝐴 is zero degrees (𝐴 = 00 ) we can
calculate the force on the piston using

𝐹 = 𝑃. 𝑎

where 𝑃 is the fluid pressure and 𝑎 is the area of the piston.

Figure Q3 (b) shows a connecting rod of a internal combushion engine. The length of the rod is 𝑙 𝑚𝑚
center to center and the effective thickness of the rod at the body is 𝑡 𝑚𝑚. Larger diameter hole side is
connected to the crank shaft and the smaller diameter side is connected to the piston head. There is a cavity
in the middle of the rod. The rod is made of aluminium alloys which has a maximum tensile strength of
280Mpa.

Assuming all other parameters, using finite element theory calculate the maximum compressive stress of
the connecting rod. Approximately locate the point where the maximum stress is generated.

i. Take the last three digits of your Index number (without the letter)
Index Number: 150𝑋𝑌𝑍

ii. Fluid pressure 𝑃 is calculated as follows

5𝑀𝑃𝑎, 0 < (𝑋 + 𝑌 + 𝑍) ≤ 10
𝑃 = { 6𝑀𝑃𝑎, 11 < (𝑋 + 𝑌 + 𝑍) ≤ 15
7𝑀𝑃𝑎, 16 < (𝑋 + 𝑌 + 𝑍)
iii. Area of the piston is calculated as follows
0.9, 0 < (𝑋 + 𝑌 + 𝑍) ≤ 5
1.0, 6 < (𝑋 + 𝑌 + 𝑍) ≤ 12
𝑞= {
1.1, 13 < (𝑋 + 𝑌 + 𝑍) ≤ 19
1.2, 20 < (𝑋 + 𝑌 + 𝑍)

𝑎 = 7500 × 𝑞 𝑚𝑚2

iv. Length of the rod l is selected as follows

𝑋𝑌𝑍
105𝑚𝑚, 𝑟𝑒𝑚𝑎𝑖𝑛𝑑𝑒𝑟 𝑜𝑓 ( )=0
3
𝑋𝑌𝑍
𝑃= 140𝑚𝑚, 𝑟𝑒𝑚𝑎𝑖𝑛𝑑𝑒𝑟 𝑜𝑓 ( )=1
3
𝑋𝑌𝑍
{ 170𝑚𝑚, 𝑟𝑒𝑚𝑎𝑖𝑛𝑑𝑒𝑟 𝑜𝑓 ( )=2
3
v. Thickness of the body 𝑡 is selected as follows
5𝑚𝑚, 0 < (𝑋 + 𝑌 + 𝑍) ≤ 3
6𝑚𝑚, 4 < (𝑋 + 𝑌 + 𝑍) ≤ 9
𝑡= {
6.5𝑚𝑚, 10 < (𝑋 + 𝑌 + 𝑍) ≤ 22
7𝑚𝑚, 23 < (𝑋 + 𝑌 + 𝑍)