Mechanics of Materials: cram pack

Formula sheets, the key method steps for every topic and 14 practice problems, with full solutions at the back.

New problems Back to the course

In the print window, choose “Save as PDF” to keep a copy on your device.

1Formulas and methods

Axial stress & strain

Normal stress: σ = F/A
Strain: ε = ΔL/L
Hooke’s law: σ = E·ε
Elongation: ΔL = FL/(EA)
Thermal strain: ε_T = α·ΔT

Torsion of shafts

Shear stress: τ = T·r/J
Solid shaft: J = πd⁴/32
Hollow shaft: J = π(D⁴ − d⁴)/32
Angle of twist: φ = TL/(GJ)
Power: P = T·ω = 2πnT/60

Method

Find the polar moment of area: J = πd⁴/32 for a solid shaft.
Shear stress at the surface: τ = T·r/J, with r the outer radius.
Angle of twist: φ = TL/(GJ) in radians.
If power is given, find the torque first with P = T·ω, ω = 2πn/60.

Shear force & bending moment

Shear and moment: V = ΣF on one side, M = ΣF·d on one side
Bending stress: σ = M·y/I
Rectangle: I = bh³/12
Section modulus: W = I/y_max
Simply supported, uniform load: M_max = wL²/8

Method

Find the support reactions from equilibrium of the whole beam.
Cut the beam at the section you need and keep one side.
Shear force: sum of the vertical forces on that side. Bending moment: sum of their moments about the cut.
For the maximum moment, find where the shear force is zero.

Centroid & second moment of area

Centroid: ȳ = ΣA_iy_i/ΣA_i
Rectangle: I = bh³/12
Parallel-axis theorem: I = I_c + A·d²
Composite section: I = Σ(I_c,i + A_id_i²)

Mohr’s circle & stress transformation

Centre: C = (σ_x + σ_y)/2
Radius: R = √(((σ_x − σ_y)/2)² + τ_xy²)
Principal stresses: σ_1,2 = C ± R
Principal direction: tan 2θ_p = 2τ_xy/(σ_x − σ_y)
Inclined plane: σ_θ = C + (σ_x − σ_y)/2·cos 2θ + τ_xy·sin 2θ

Method

Calculate the centre of Mohr’s circle: C = (σx + σy)/2.
Calculate the radius: R = √(((σx − σy)/2)² + τxy²).
The principal stresses are C ± R and the largest in-plane shear stress is R.
Angles on the circle are double the angles on the element: tan 2θp = 2τxy/(σx − σy).

Beam deflection

Point load at midspan: δ = PL³/(48EI)
Uniform load, simply supported: δ = 5wL⁴/(384EI)
Cantilever, end load: δ = PL³/(3EI)
Cantilever, uniform load: δ = wL⁴/(8EI)
Superposition: δ = δ₁ + δ₂

Column buckling

Euler load: P_cr = π²EI/(KL)²
Effective length factor: K = 1 pinned–pinned, 0.5 fixed–fixed, 0.7 fixed–pinned, 2 fixed–free
Critical stress: σ_cr = P_cr/A
Slenderness: λ = KL/r, r = √(I/A)

2Practice problems

1.Axial stress & strainMedium

A bar is made of a steel segment (diameter 30 mm, length 400 mm, E = 200 GPa) joined end to end with a segment made of copper (diameter 30 mm, length 200 mm, E = 120 GPa). It is fixed at one end and pulled at the other. Find the axial load P that stretches it by 0.4 mm in total.

segment 1: steel, Ø30 mm, 400 mm, E = 200 GPasegment 2: copper, Ø30 mm, 200 mm, E = 120 GPaδ = 0.4 mm

P = kN

2.Axial stress & strainHard

The stepped bar is fixed at the wall and loaded at its free end. Find the largest normal stress σ_max in the bar.

P = 15 kNsegment 1: Ø40 mm, 2 m, brass (E = 100 GPa)segment 2: Ø20 mm, 1 m, steel (E = 200 GPa)

σ_max = MPa

3.Torsion of shaftsMedium

A solid brass shaft 3 m long carries a torque of 1000 N·m. The angle of twist between its ends must not exceed 2°. Find the smallest diameter d that meets this limit.

T = 1000 N·mL = 3 mG = 39 GPaφ_allow = 2°

d = mm

4.Torsion of shaftsHard

A solid shaft must transmit 20 kW at 1000 rpm without the shear stress exceeding 50 MPa. Find the smallest diameter d that works.

P = 20 kWN = 1000 rpmτ_allow = 50 MPa

d = mm

5.Shear force & bending momentMedium

Find the shear force V_x at the section x = 0.5 m from support A. Use sagging moments positive and upward shear on the left face positive.

L = 5 mw = 5 kN/m from 0 to 5 mx = 0.5 m

V_x = kN

6.Shear force & bending momentHard

Find the bending moment M_x at the section x = 5 m from support A. Use sagging moments positive and upward shear on the left face positive.

L = 8 mP = 15 kN at 5 mw = 10 kN/m from 0 to 8 mx = 5 m

M_x = kN·m

7.Centroid & second moment of areaMedium

A symmetric I-section has flanges 100 mm wide and 22 mm thick, an overall depth of 420 mm and a web 8 mm thick. Find its second moment of area I_x about the horizontal centroidal axis x.

B = 100 mmH = 420 mmt_f = 22 mmt_w = 8 mm

I_x = × 10⁶ mm⁴

8.Centroid & second moment of areaHard

A 100 mm × 300 mm plate has a rectangular cut-out 60 mm wide and 40 mm high, centred on the vertical centre line with its centre 105 mm above the bottom. Find the second moment of area I_x about the horizontal axis through the centroid.

b = 100 mmh = 300 mmcut-out: 60 × 40 mmhole centre: y = 105 mm

I_x = × 10⁶ mm⁴

9.Mohr’s circle & stress transformationMedium

A point in a loaded part has σₓ = 70 MPa, σᵧ = 30 MPa and τₓᵧ = −40 MPa (tension positive). Find the angle θ_p from the x-axis to the direction of the largest principal stress, between −90° and 90°.

σ_x = 70 MPaσ_y = 30 MPaτ_xy = −40 MPa

θ_p = °

10.Mohr’s circle & stress transformationHard

A point in a loaded part has σₓ = 110 MPa, σᵧ = −60 MPa and τₓᵧ = −20 MPa (tension positive). Find the normal stress σ_θ on a plane whose normal is rotated 15° counter-clockwise from the x-axis.

σ_x = 110 MPaσ_y = −60 MPaτ_xy = −20 MPaθ = 15°

σ_θ = MPa

11.Beam deflectionMedium

A cantilever carries a uniformly distributed load w over its whole length. Find the deflection δ at the free end.

w = 4 kN/mL = 2 mE = 70 GPa (aluminium)I = 23 × 10⁶ mm⁴

δ = mm

12.Beam deflectionHard

A simply supported beam carries a uniformly distributed load w. Its deflection may not exceed span/360. Find the smallest second moment of area I_req that meets this limit.

w = 5 kN/mL = 5 mE = 200 GPa (steel)

I_req = × 10⁶ mm⁴

13.Column bucklingMedium

A column of length L made of steel is fixed at the base and free at the top. Using Euler’s formula, find its critical buckling load P_cr.

L = 2.5 mE = 200 GPa (steel)d = 30 mm

P_cr = kN

14.Column bucklingHard

A column of length L made of steel is fixed at both ends. Find its slenderness and the critical buckling stress σ_cr from Euler’s formula.

L = 6 mE = 200 GPa (steel)d = 60 mm

σ_cr = MPa

3Solutions

1.Axial stress & strain

Answer: P = 77.11 kN

Two materials: in series (one after the other) every segment carries the same force and the elongations add: δ = P·Σ L/(E·A). In parallel (side by side between rigid plates) both parts shorten by the same amount, so their strains are equal: the stiffer part takes the larger share, P_i = P·E_iA_i/ΣEA, and σ_i = E_i·ε. A bar held between two rigid walls with a load at the junction is statically indeterminate: the two segments share the load in proportion to their stiffness k = EA/L.

Areas

A₁ = 706.9 mm², A₂ = 706.9 mm²

Flexibilities

L₁/(E₁A₁) = 400/(200000·706.9) = 2.829 × 10⁻⁶ mm/N

L₂/(E₂A₂) = 200/(120000·706.9) = 2.358 × 10⁻⁶ mm/N

Load

P = 0.4/5.187 × 10⁻⁶ = 77112 N = 77.11 kN

Answer

P = 77.11 kN

2.Axial stress & strain

Answer: σ_max = 47.75 MPa

Axially loaded members: each prismatic segment obeys δ = PL/(AE). For members in series the elongations add.

Same force in both segments

The free end carries P, so every section of the bar carries the same axial force P. Only the areas and materials change.

A₁ = π·40²/4 = 1257 mm², A₂ = π·20²/4 = 314.2 mm²

σ₁ = 11.94 MPa

σ₂ = 47.75 MPa

Largest stress

The thinner segment has the smaller area, so it carries the larger stress.

σ_max = 47.75 MPa

Answer

σ_max = 47.75 MPa

3.Torsion of shafts

Answer: d = 68.83 mm

Torsion of circular shafts: shear stress grows linearly from zero at the centre to τ_max = T·r/J at the surface, with J = πd⁴/32 for a solid shaft and J = π(d_o⁴ − d_i⁴)/32 for a hollow one. The angle of twist is φ = TL/(GJ) in radians. Power and torque are linked by P = T·ω.

Required polar moment

T = 1000 N·m = 1 × 10⁶ N·mm

L = 3 m = 3000 mm

G = 39 GPa = 39000 MPa

φ = 2·π/180 = 0.03491 rad

J = TL/(Gφ) = 1 × 10⁶·3000/(39000·0.03491) = 2.204 × 10⁶ mm⁴

Diameter

d = (32J/π)^1/4 = 68.83 mm

Answer

d = 68.83 mm

In practice you would round up to the next standard size.

4.Torsion of shafts

Answer: d = 26.89 mm

Torque

ω = 2πN/60 = 2π·1000/60 = 104.7 rad/s

T = P/ω = 20000/104.7 = 191 N·m

Diameter from the allowable stress

d = ∛(16T/(π·τ_allow)) = ∛(16·190986/(π·50)) = 26.89 mm

Answer

d = 26.89 mm

In practice you would round up to the next standard size.

5.Shear force & bending moment

Answer: V_x = 10 kN

Method of sections: cut the beam where you want the internal forces and keep one side. The shear force V balances the vertical forces on that side, and the bending moment M balances their moments about the cut.

Support reactions

Equilibrium of the whole beam.

UDL resultant: W = w·ℓ = 5·5 = 25 kN, acting at x̄ = 2.5 m

ΣM_A = 0: R_B·5 = 5·5·2.5

R_B = 62.5/5 = 12.5 kN

ΣF_y = 0: R_A = 25 − 12.5 = 12.5 kN

Cut at x = 0.5 m and keep the left part

Only forces left of the cut appear. A UDL portion acts as one force at the middle of that portion.

V = R_A − (all downward loads left of the cut)

V_x = 12.5 − 5·0.5 = 10 kN

Answer

V_x = 10 kN

6.Shear force & bending moment

Answer: M_x = 103.1 kN·m

Support reactions

Equilibrium of the whole beam.

UDL resultant: W = w·ℓ = 10·8 = 80 kN, acting at x̄ = 4 m

ΣM_A = 0: R_B·8 = 15·5 + 10·8·4

R_B = 395/8 = 49.38 kN

ΣF_y = 0: R_A = 95 − 49.38 = 45.63 kN

Cut at x = 5 m and keep the left part

Only forces left of the cut appear. A UDL portion acts as one force at the middle of that portion.

M = R_A·x − (each load left of the cut × its distance to the cut)

M_x = 45.63·5 − 10·5·2.5 = 103.1 kN·m

Answer

M_x = 103.1 kN·m

7.Centroid & second moment of area

Answer: I_x = 209.9 × 10⁶ mm⁴

Second moment of area: for a rectangle about its own centroidal axis I = bh³/12, and about its base bh³/3 (parallel-axis theorem I = I_c + A·d²). A hole is handled by subtracting its I, as long as both parts share the same axis. The elastic section modulus is S = I/c, where c is the distance to the extreme fibre.

Outer rectangle minus the two side cut-outs

Both cut-outs together are (B − t_w) wide and h_w = H − 2t_f high, and share the axis x.

h_w = 420 − 2·22 = 376 mm

I_x = (B·H³ − (B − t_w)·h_w³)/12 = (100·420³ − 92·376³)/12

I_x = 2.099 × 10⁸ mm⁴ = 209.9 × 10⁶ mm⁴

Answer

I_x = 209.9 × 10⁶ mm⁴

8.Centroid & second moment of area

Answer: I_x = 219.4 × 10⁶ mm⁴

Sections with holes: treat a hole as a negative area. The centroid is ȳ = (A₁y₁ − A₂y₂)/(A₁ − A₂), with A₁, y₁ for the full plate and A₂, y₂ for the hole. For the second moment of area about the centroidal axis, use the parallel-axis theorem for each part and subtract the hole: I = (I_c1 + A₁d₁²) − (I_c2 + A₂d₂²), where d is the distance from each part's own centroid to the axis through ȳ. A rectangle has I_c = bh³/12 and a circle I_c = πd⁴/64.

Centroid

ȳ = (30000·150 − 2400·105)/(30000 − 2400) = 153.9 mm

Full plate about ȳ

100·300³/12 + 30000·−3.913² = 225.5 × 10⁶ mm⁴

Hole about ȳ

60·40³/12 + 2400·−48.91² = 6.062 × 10⁶ mm⁴

Subtract

I_x = 219.4 × 10⁶ mm⁴

Answer

I_x = 219.4 × 10⁶ mm⁴

9.Mohr’s circle & stress transformation

Answer: θ_p = −31.72 °

Plane stress transformation: on a plane rotated by θ, σ = (σₓ + σᵧ)/2 + (σₓ − σᵧ)/2·cos 2θ + τₓᵧ·sin 2θ. Mohr’s circle shows all planes at once: its centre is at C = (σₓ + σᵧ)/2 and its radius is R = √(((σₓ − σᵧ)/2)² + τₓᵧ²). The principal stresses are C ± R, and the largest in-plane shear stress is R.

Angle on the circle

Point x sits at an angle 2θp from the σ-axis on Mohr’s circle; the quadrant follows from the signs of σₓ − σᵧ and τₓᵧ.

2θ_p = atan2(2·−40, 70 − 30) = −63.43°

Angle on the element

θ_p = −31.72°

Answer

θ_p = −31.72°

Positive angles are counter-clockwise.

10.Mohr’s circle & stress transformation

Answer: σ_θ = 88.61 MPa

Transformation equation

σ_θ = 25 + 85·0.866 + −20·0.5 = 88.61 MPa

Answer

σ_θ = 88.61 MPa

11.Beam deflection

Answer: δ = 4.969 mm

Beam deflection: deflections come from integrating the curvature M/(EI) twice. Standard cases are tabulated, for example PL³/(3EI) for a cantilever with an end load and 5wL⁴/(384EI) for a simply supported beam under a full uniform load. Deflections from separate loads add (superposition).

Consistent units

Work in N and mm: P in N, w in N/mm (kN/m = N/mm), L in mm, E in N/mm² (GPa × 1000), I in mm⁴.

w = 4 N/mm, L = 2000 mm

EI = 1.61 × 10¹² N·mm²

Deflection

δ = wL⁴/(8EI) = 4·2000⁴/(8·1.61 × 10¹²) = 4.969 mm

Answer

δ = 4.969 mm

12.Beam deflection

Answer: I_req = 14.65 × 10⁶ mm⁴

Deflection limit

δ_allow = L/360 = 5000/360 = 13.89 mm

Required second moment of area

I = 5wL⁴/(384·E·δ_allow) = 5·5·5000⁴/(384·200000·13.89) = 1.465 × 10⁷ mm⁴

I_req = 14.65 × 10⁶ mm⁴

Answer

I_req = 14.65 × 10⁶ mm⁴

13.Column buckling

Answer: P_cr = 3.139 kN

Euler buckling: a slender column becomes unstable at P_cr = π²EI/(KL)², where KL is the effective length: K = 1 for pinned–pinned, 2 for fixed–free, 0.7 for fixed–pinned and 0.5 for fixed–fixed. It buckles about the axis with the smallest I. The formula holds for slender columns, whose critical stress stays below the yield stress.

Smallest second moment of area

A round section has the same I about every axis.

I = πd⁴/64 = π·30⁴/64 = 39761 mm⁴

Effective length

KL = 2·2500 = 5000 mm

Critical load

P_cr = π²EI/(KL)² = π²·200000·39761/5000² = 3139 N = 3.139 kN

Answer

P_cr = 3.139 kN

14.Column buckling

Answer: σ_cr = 49.35 MPa

Smallest second moment of area

A round section has the same I about every axis.

I = πd⁴/64 = π·60⁴/64 = 636173 mm⁴

Radius of gyration and slenderness

A = 2827 mm²

r = √(I/A) = √(636173/2827) = 15 mm

KL = 0.5·6000 = 3000 mm

KL/r = 3000/15 = 200

Critical stress

σ_cr = π²E/(KL/r)² = π²·200000/200² = 49.35 MPa

Answer

σ_cr = 49.35 MPa

ExamProblems · examproblems.com/courses/mechanics-of-materials