Federal University of Technology, Owerri

School of Environmental Technology

Department of Building

Harmattan Semester Examination 2013/2014 session

Course Code: BDT 417

Course Title: Structural Theory and Design III
Instructions: Answer any Five Questions Time: 2½ hrs

1(a) Explain what you understand by the term ‘shape factor’ of a beam? (5mks)

(b) Derive from first principles the shape factor of a beam with a circular cross section that
has attained full plasticity. (5mks)

(c) Name the three groups of conditions employed in the evaluation of statically
indeterminate systems (5mks)

(d) Explain the implication of ‘yield’, ‘mechanism’, and ‘equilibrium’ as used in the
uniqueness theorem. (5mks)

2 Obtain an exert solution for work done by load to the uniformly loaded propped
cantilever beam below at yield point
𝒒 KN/m

A C

(a) Obtain expressions relating the critical load intensity to the plastic moment capacity for
upper bound, exact and lower bound conditions. (10mks)

(b) Sketch the values obtained on a strength diagram (5mks)

(c) Draw the bending moment diagram for the beam system in terms of Maximum moment
capacity 𝑀𝑃 (5mks)

3 Given a portal frame system as shown below

(a) With appropriate sketches, analyze the different possible failure mechanisms and obtain
expressions relating the load at failure to the maximum plastic moment capacity
(12mks)

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 (b) Obtain the critical load factor and the load combinations for ′𝑉′ and ′𝐻′ that
would result in complete collapse (𝑉 = 10𝑘𝑁, ℎ = 5m, H = 5𝑘𝑁 𝑙 = 7.5𝑚, 𝑀𝑃 =
20𝑘𝑁𝑚) (8mks)

B H
C D

A E
L

4 Consider the pitched portal frame system below

C L/3
F D
B
Uniform Mp for Beams
and Columns 2L/3

A E
L L

Using the combined failure mechanism,

(a) Draw the interaction diagram showing the points of plastic hinges and rotations
(8mks)
(b) Obtain an expression for calculating the critical load factor in terms of the maximum
plastic moment capacity (6mks)

(c) Calculate the critical load factor given that (𝑀𝑃 = 300kNm, 𝐿 = 9𝑚, 𝑊 = 50𝑘𝑁,
𝐹 = 20𝑘𝑁) (6mks)

5 A square concrete slab with fixed end conditions loaded with uniformly distributed load
intensity ′𝑞′ per unit area fails by yield lines as shown below

(a) Obtain an expression for the moment capacity of the slab in terms of 𝑞𝑐𝑟𝑖𝑡 (9mks)

(b) What is the basic assumption in the evaluating failure of slabs by yield line method? (2mks)
(c) Sketch the schematic of an alternative failure mechanism for this slab and attempt to
derive an expression for work done along yield lines. (9mks)

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 B C

A D

6 The frame below fails plastically as a result of the imposed loading as shown

40kN

30kN

3m Mp (Beams) = 60kNm
Mp (Columns) = 40kNm
Λ = load factor

4m 2m

(a) Calculate the load factor Λ for beam, sway and collapse mechanisms. (15mks)

(b) Which load factor Λ is critical and for which failure mechanism? (5mks)

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