BCE Structural Analysis 3

Question 1

In a two-hinged arch, the horizontal thrust H is determined by:

Accepted Answer

Compatibility condition that horizontal displacement at one hinge is zero

Answer

The two-hinged arch is singly indeterminate; H is found by enforcing the compatibility condition that the horizontal spread between the two hinges is zero.

Question 2

Which method uses the concept of 'virtual work' to compute deflections in trusses?

Accepted Answer

Unit load method

Answer

The unit load (virtual work) method applies a virtual unit load and computes deflection as the sum of (force × virtual force × length / AE) for all members.

Question 3

The stiffness matrix of a structure is singular when:

Accepted Answer

Boundary conditions (supports) have not been applied

Answer

Before applying boundary conditions, rigid-body motions exist and the global stiffness matrix is singular; applying supports removes these modes.

Question 4

In the slope-deflection method, the slope-deflection equation relates end moments to:

Accepted Answer

End slopes, chord rotation, and fixed-end moments

Answer

The slope-deflection equation expresses each end moment as a function of end rotations (slopes), relative translation (chord rotation), and fixed-end moments.

Question 5

Müller-Breslau's principle states that the influence line for a response function is:

Accepted Answer

The deflected shape of the structure when the restraint corresponding to that response is removed and a unit displacement is imposed

Answer

Müller-Breslau's principle gives the influence line as the deflected shape obtained by releasing the constraint and applying a unit generalized displacement.

BCE - Bachelor of Civil Engineering Practice Test

BCE - Bachelor of Civil Engineering Practice Test

BCE Structural Analysis 3