BOSTON UNIVERSITY

College of Engineering

EK 301 Engineering Mechanics I

Exam 2: November 16 2016

Name:SOLUTIONS Section:

READ THIS BEFORE YOU START:

Be sure to read through and answer ALL the questions in both documents.

You have one hour and 50 minutes in which to complete the exam.

Read the problems carefully and take your time. Note that the points assigned to a problem
does not necessarily indicate difficulty.

FBDs must be drawn SEPARATELY from the image for full credit. The exam is formatted
to give working space on the left and right pages.

Box final answers. Give answers to 3 significant digits unless otherwise asked.

Use whatever method you deem appropriate to solve the problems, but you MUST show
all work for full credit.

Include units, vector symbols and free-body diagrams (with axes and dimensions) where
appropriate.

Unless otherwise asked, state vectors in Cartesian format with unit vectors , , k.

Please use the pages provided to solve each problem. You may use the front and back sides
for your work. Extra work pages are included at the end in case you need the extra space.
Be sure to mark what problem is being solved on the page and do not solve more than one
problem on a page.

Problem 1 2 3 4 5 Subtotal
Max points 20 20 20 20 20 100
Earned points

1
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EK 301 Exam 2 Fall 2016

3. (20 pts) The two beams are supported via pins. A horizontal force is applied to A. Determine
the forces that act on B on the diagonal member; clearly indicate their direction. Note that the
circle at A indicates the position of A and not a pin.

FBD 1: Revised FBD:

90 lb 90 lb

FC

TBD TBD
Cx Cx

Cy Cy

Solution: The standard first step for frame problems is to screen for two-force members. Here,
youll recognize that BD is a two-force member, which means that its internal force is directed
along its axis. Applying this information to the bar ABC will give FBD 1. Further, your intuition
should tell you that the negative horizontal force will cause BD to be in tension, since the bar
ABC will want to rotate counter-clockwise about point C. Analyzing the FBD:
X
Fx : Cx + TBD cos() 90 lb = 0;
X
Fy : Cy TBD sin() = 0;
X
MC : (12 in)(90 lb) (4.5 in)(TBD cos()) = 0;

where = tan 1 (4.5/6) = 36.8 .

Solving: Cx = 150 lb; Cy = 180 lb; TBD = 300 lb (T).

6
EK 301 Exam 2 Fall 2016

4. (20 pts) The system of bars is loaded with a 50 lb weight on the horizontal bar AB. The
system is held in place by the pin joints at A, D, F , and a horizontal linear spring at E. Member
ECD is vertical, and the slots B and C are smooth.
Determine the force exerted by the spring on the vertical member and the forces experienced on
the diagonal member at F . Clearly indicate the direction of all forces.

A B FBD 1: FB
Ax
4 in
E

q 6 in FBD 3:
W
Ay Ex
C
W
10 in
Cx
F FBD 2:
D

Dx
8 in 8 in 10 in 10 in

Cx
FB Dy

Fx
Fy

Solution: Start with the horizontal member AB, since it only has three unknowns. Referencing
FBD 1:
X
Fx : Ax + FB cos() = 0;
X
Fy : Ay W + FB sin() = 0;
X
MA : (8 in)(W ) + (16 in)(FB sin()) = 0;
where = 45 .
Solving: Ax = 25 lb; Ay = 25 lb; FB = 35.36 lb

Inspecting member BCF (FBD 2):

X
Fx : Cx + Fx FB cos() = 0;
X
Fy : Fy FB sin() = 0;
X
MF : (10 in)Cx + (20 in)(FB cos()) + (20 in)(FB sin()) = 0
Solving: Cx = 100 lb, FF = ( 75 + 25) lb.

Inspecting member DCE (FBD 3):

X
MD : (10 in)Cx (16 in)Ex = 0;
Solving: Ex = 62.5 lb