THE UNIVERSITY OF SHEFFIELD

DEPARTMENT OF MECHANICAL ENGINEERING

MEC134 Engineering Mechanics - Tutorial Sheet 6

DISTRIBUTED FORCES - BEAMS AND HYDROSTATICS

References
Main Text: Meriam, J.L. and Kraige, L.G.
Engineering Mechanics, Volume 1 - Statics, 7th Edition, John Wiley, 2013
Model Answers: Meriam and Kraige, pages 274, 314-316

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1. For each of the three beams shown, determine the reactions on the beam due to
the supports. Note that (where applicable) the loads L are given in Newtons and
the lengths a are given in metres. Assume that the mass of the beam is negligible
in relation to the applied loads.

5L L
[Ans: (a) RA = , RB =
3 3

5 L 3 3
(b) RA = wa , RB = wa L
8 4 8 4

(c) RA = 3kN, RB = 7kN ]

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2. For the beams AB and BC shown below in (a), determine the reactions at A and
C and also the reaction at B on the beam BC. Assume that the pin at B is
frictionless and that the beams AB and BC have negligible mass.

For beams (b) and (c) shown below, determine the reactions at the built-in end of
the beam. Again the mass of the beam is negligible.

[Ans: (a) RA = 3 kN, RC = 0.5 kN

FB = 1 kN, MA = 14 kNm CCW
(b) RB = 12 kN, MB = 24 kNm CW
(c) RA = 8 kN, MA = 0 ]

3. The uniform beam is loaded as shown and has a mass of 10 kg/m.

(a) Draw a free body diagram of the beam with the mass and the distributed
loads replaced by equivalent point loads.

(b) Determine the reactions at the pin A and the roller B.

[Ans. (b) Ay = 0.75 kN RA = 3.88 kN RB = 1.62 kN ]

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4. A glass rectangular observation window in a sea aquarium is shown. The density
of sea water is 1025 kg/m3.
a) Draw the pressure profile on the line XX of the window, indicating the
pressures at 1 and 2.
b) What is the magnitude R of the hydrostatic pressure force on the
window and where does it act?

[Ans. a) p1 = 20.1 kN/m2 (0.201 bar) p2 = 30.2 kN/m2 (0.302 bar)

b) R = 75.4 kN, 2.53 m below the water surface and on the central
line XX ]

5. The cover plate for an access opening in a fresh water tank is filled to the level
shown. Compute the increase in tension in each bolt at A and B due to filling the
tank. (Assume no change in the gasket pressure between the cover plate and the
tank so that the force due to water pressure is resisted entirely by the increase in
the bolt tensions).

Discuss briefly why it is convenient to calculate the increase in tensions due to

filling the tank with water. What are the total tensions in the bolts?

[Ans. Increases in bolt tensions are FA = 80.0 N and FB = 96.6 N ]

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6. A vertical section through an oil sump is shown. The access plate covers a
rectangular opening which has a dimension of 400 mm normal to the plane of
the diagram. Calculate the total force R exerted by the oil on the plate and the
location x of R. The oil has a density of 900 kg/m3.

[Ans. R = 1.38 kN x = 323 mm ]

7. Using integration techniques determine the total force R exerted on the triangular
window by the fresh water in the tank. The water level is even with the top of the
window. Also determine the distance H from R to the water level.

[Ans. R = 3.27 kN H = 0.75 m ]