EI Structural Analysis & Design

Question 1

A simply supported beam of length 10 ft carries a concentrated load of 500 lb at its midpoint. What is the vertical reaction at each support?

Accepted Answer

250 lb

Answer

By symmetry, each support carries half the total load: 500/2 = 250 lb.

Question 2

Which condition must be satisfied for a structure to be in static equilibrium?

Accepted Answer

Both the sum of all forces and the sum of all moments equal zero

Answer

Static equilibrium requires ΣF = 0 (in all directions) and ΣM = 0 about any point simultaneously.

Question 3

For a cantilever beam of length L with a uniform distributed load w, what is the maximum bending moment?

Accepted Answer

wL²/2

Answer

The maximum moment in a cantilever with UDL occurs at the fixed support and equals wL²/2.

Question 4

In the method of joints for truss analysis, which equilibrium equations are applied at each joint?

Accepted Answer

ΣFx = 0 and ΣFy = 0

Answer

At each pin joint, members are concurrent so ΣM = 0 is automatically satisfied; only ΣFx = 0 and ΣFy = 0 are needed.

Question 5

Euler's critical buckling load for a column with both ends pinned and length L is given by which formula?

Accepted Answer

Pcr = π²EI / L²

Answer

For a pin-pin column, the effective length equals L and Pcr = π²EI/L², known as Euler's formula.

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