NED UNIVERSITY OF ENGINEERING & TECHNOLOGY

Department of Civil Engineering

CE 502 –Mechanics of Solids
HW # 1 (Fall 2010)

Name:__________________________________ Roll No.:

Due on: Monday, 26th July 2010

⎡ 2 0 − 2⎤
1. At point P the stress tensor is σ ij = ⎢⎢ 0 3 0 ⎥⎥
⎢⎣− 2 0 5 ⎥⎦
Determine the stress vector on the plane at P parallel to plane (a) BGE and (b) BGFC of the
small parallelepiped as shown.

2. Let the angles between primed and unprimed coordinate directions be given by the table
shown

X1 X2 X3
X1/ 45o 90o 45o
X2/ 60o 45o 120o
X3/ 120o 45o 60o

a. Are the primed coordinate axes mutually orthogonal?

b. Is the primed-reference right-handed or left-handed?
c. Show that the orthogonality condition is satisfied i.e., ATA = AAT = I.
d. What are the primed components of the vector v = 2e1 – e3?
e. What are the primed components of the tensor T/ whose unprimed components are
given by
⎡0 1 0 ⎤
T = ⎢⎢1 2 0⎥⎥
⎢⎣0 0 1⎥⎦
3. (a) Write Tij,j + Fi = 0 in conventional notation.
(b) Show that these equations are form-invariant under orthogonal rotations of the coordinate
system.

4. The magnitudes and directions of the stresses on two planes intersecting at a point are as
shown in figure P4. Determine the directions and magnitudes of the principal stresses at this
point. Sketch the results on an element.
 Figure P4 Figure P5

5. At a point A on an unloaded edge of an elastic body, oriented as shown in the figure P5 with
respect to the xy axes, the maximum shearing stress is 500 psi. (a) Find the principal stresses,
and (b) determine the state of stress on an element oriented with its edge parallel to the xy
axes. Show the results on a sketch of the element at A. Use Mohr’s Circle approach.

6. The stress tensor at a point in the xi system is given by

⎡17 0 0⎤
σ ij = ⎢ 0 − 23 28⎥⎥
⎢
⎢⎣ 0 28 10 ⎥⎦
i. Find the principal stresses σ1, σ2 and σ3
ii. Find the maximum shearing stress at the point by drawing the three associated Mohr’s
circles.
iii. By defining an appropriate transformation tensor relating the principal axes to the axes
associated with the maximum shear, verify results of (ii) analytically by using
[ ] [ ]
σ ij/ = [A] σ ij [A]T
iv. Obtain the transformation tensor relating the principal axes xi* to the coordinate axes xi.
v. Locate in Mohr’s space the locus of (σN, σS) for normals in directed in x1 direction, x2
direction and x3 direction.
vi. Locate in Mohr’s space the locus of (σN, σS) for normal n = (e1 – 2e2 + e3) / √6, where ei
are the unit vectors in the direction of xi.

7. Employ Mohr’s circle to find the normal and shearing stresses on an oblique plane defined
by θ = 30o, φ = 60o (see figure). The principal stresses are σ1 = 5000 psi, σ2 = -2000 psi and
σ3 = -4000 psi.