BTEC HIGHER NATIONALS- STRENGTHS OF MATERIALS - H2

ASSIGNMENT 2

TARGET SUBMISSION DATE: .................................................

NAME:

I agree to the assessment as contained in this assignment. I confirm that the work submitted is my own work.

Date Issued:

Signature: Date submitted:

This assignment will be used to grade the sections highlighted.

PASS CRITERIA

Assessment Criteria for a pass Achieved

• analyse two-dimensional stress systems making
Outcome 1 appropriate use of Mohr's stress circle
Investigate engineering
components which are
subjected to complex loading • carry out experimental strain analysis using
systems electrical resistance strain gauges

• apply the appropriate theory of elastic failure to loaded

components to determine operational factors of safety

• determine the support reactions, slope and

OUTCOME 2 deflection of simply supported beams
Investigate the effects of
loading on beams,
columns and struts • determine the distribution of stress in the materials
of reinforced concrete beams
• determine the stress distribution in columns and
walls which are subjected to asymmetrical bending
• determine the appropriate critical load for axially
loaded struts
• carry out tests to validate critical load calculations

• determine the strain energy stored in a member due to

OUTCOME 3 direct loading, shear loading, bending and torsion
Investigate the behaviour of
loaded structural members • determine the elastic deflection of loaded members
by considering strain energy making appropriate use of Castigliano's theorem
• carry out tests to validate deflection calculations
• predict the effects of shock loading on struts and ties
 MERIT

Descriptor Achieved
• identify and apply • effective judgments have been made
strategies to find • complex problems with more than one variable have been
appropriate solutions. explored
• an effective approach to study and research has been applied

• select/design and apply • relevant theories and techniques have been applied.
appropriate methods/
techniques • a range of methods and techniques have been applied.
• a range of sources of information has been used.
• the selection of methods and techniques/sources has been
justified
• the design of methods/techniques has been justified
• complex information/data has been synthesized and processed
• appropriate learning methods/techniques have been applied
• present and communicate • the appropriate structure and approach has been used
the appropriate findings • coherent, logical development of principles/concepts for
intended audience
• a range of methods of presentation have been used and
technical language has been accurately used
• communication has taken place in familiar and unfamiliar
contexts
• the communication is appropriate for familiar and unfamiliar
audiences and appropriate media have been used

DISTINCTION

• use critical reflection to • conclusions have been arrived at through synthesis of ideas and
evaluate own work and have been justified
justify valid conclusions • the validity of results has been evaluated using defined criteria
• self-criticism of approach has taken place
• realistic improvements have been proposed against defined
characteristics for success
• take responsibility for • autonomy/independence has been demonstrated
managing and organising • substantial activities, projects or investigations have been
activities planned, managed and organised
• activities have been managed
• the unforeseen has been accommodated
• the importance of interdependence has been recognised and
achieved
• demonstrate • ideas have been generated and decisions taken
convergent/lateral/ • self-evaluation has taken place
creative thinking • convergent and lateral thinking have been applied

• problems have been solved

• innovation and creative thought have been applied
• receptiveness to new ideas is evident
• effective thinking has taken place in unfamiliar contexts
Feedback Comments:

This Assessment brief has been internally verified by ..................................................Date ......................................

Grade Awarded:

Tutor Signature Date: ......................................

The script has been internally verified by ....................................................... Date .........................................

 PART 1

DEFLECTION OF A SIMPLY SUPPORTED BEAM

DETAILS

You will need appropriate apparatus with typical dimensions as shown. A simply supported steel beam
is loaded as shown in the diagram by hanging weights at the positions indicated.

• Find the typical value of E for steel.

• Calculate the theoretical deflection at the middle using MaCaulay's method.

• Check your answer by measurement (e.g. with a dial gauge).

• Measure the section dimensions (typically rectangular 25 mm x 5 mm)

• Calculate the slope at the ends of the beam.

• Write the whole thing up as a brief report showing a sketch and full calculations.

• Conclude on the accuracy of MaCaulay's method as a means of predicting deflections of

beams.
 PART 2

STRUTS

In this section you must investigate the actual and theoretical loads which produce buckling in a
simple strut. You will need appropriate apparatus as shown. Commercially available test machines
have struts of various lengths and diameters with a range of end fixtures. The load is applied by
turning a screw to compress the strut axially. The load is indicated on a load cell attached to the
apparatus. You should use end fixtures that allow the basic mode of bending as shown. When the
load is applied gradually, the load increases but when the buckling point is reached, further
compression produces no increase in the load and this is the critical load.

• Measure the diameter and length of the strut.

• Find the value of E (modulus of elasticity) for the material (typically steel)

• Measure the critical load.

• Calculate the predicted load using the formulae of both Rankine and Euler.

• Repeat the work for a range of struts of the same diameter and different lengths.

• Compare the predicted and measured critical loads.

• Write a report explaining all the above. Be critical of the results and explain possible
reasons for any discrepancies.

Further suggestions

An appropriate computer package might be used to enable rapid calculation of slenderness ratio and
critical loads. This might be adapted to plot the results in graphical form. The best approach might be
to plot the critical loads against slenderness ratio for all three cases :-measured, Rankine and Euler. The
results may then be compared.
PART 3 COLUMN

A concrete column has a diameter D mm. It has an axial load of F kN applied at a distance x mm from
the centre. The elastic modulus for concrete is 25 GPa.

• Calculate the value of x such that the stress is zero on one edge.
• Calculate the maximum axial load at this position if the strain in the concrete must not exceed
0.003 in compression.

Each student will be allocated a data set from the table below.

Student 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10
No.
D mm 300 350 400 450 500 550 600 650 750 1000

PART 4 REINFORCED CONCRETE BEAMS

Solve the following problem.

A rectangular reinforced concrete beam has a width B mm. The depth from the compressive edge to the
steel reinforcement is D mm. There are m steel rods 10 mm diameter.

The Yield stress for concrete = 28 MPa

Yield stress for steel = 400 MPa
The elastic modulus for steel is Es = 200 GPa
If the maximum strain in the concrete is 0.003 determine the following.

• The position of the neutral axis.

• Find the moment capacity at the maximum strain condition.
• The actual strain in the steel at the maximum condition.
• The yield point strain.
• Has the steel yielded?

Each student will be allocated a set of data from the table below.

STUDENT No. B mm D mm m
1 100 200 5
2 110 190 5
3 110 180 6
4 120 170 6
5 120 160 7
6 130 150 5
7 140 150 6
8 150 150 7
9 150 160 7
10 150 180 8

Present your solution showing the calculations in full.