Assigned

 on  :  09.03.2011  
Due  date:              16.03.2011,  beginning  of  the  lecture  hour  

ME302  -­‐  THEORY  OF  MACHINES  II  -­‐  Spring  2011  

HOMEWORK  1  
-­‐     Only   the   solutions   of   1st,   2nd   and   3rd   questions   in   this   homework   will   be   submitted   by   the   students.  
Among  these  three,  only  one  selected  question  will  be  graded.  Selection  of  the  question  to  be  graded  
is  up  to  the  academic  staff.  
-­‐   Neatness   will   be   graded.   Your   solution   must   be   self   explanatory,   clear   and   provided   with   all  
necessary  data  such  as  units.    
-­‐   Solutions   must   be   each   student’s   own   effort   and   work.   Any   form   of   cheating   observed   in   the  
solutions  will  be  severely  punished  as  stated  in  the  course  policy.  
 
 

Q1.  A  spring  of  constant  k  is  attached  to  the  midpoint  of  a  pendulum  with  a  concentrated  mass  at  the  
end   as   shown   below.   The   spring   is   unstretched   when   θ   =   30˚   and   it   always   remains   horizontal   at   any  
position  of  the  pendulum.    

k  =  8700  N/m  
L/2  
k    
m  =  45  kg  
θ  
L  =  250  mm   L/2  

m  
                                     

Using   virtual   work   method,   determine   the   angle   θ   at   which   the   system   is   in   static   equilibrium.  
Neglect  friction.  

Q2.  The  uniform  rod  AB  is  of  length  1  m  and  has  a  weight  of  150  N.  The  spring  attached  to  the  end  of  
the  rod  is  unstretched  when  θ  =  0˚  and  s  =  0.    

2  m  

s   θ  
k   A  
P  
B  

The  the  rod  is  in  static  equilibrium  when  θ  =  30˚  and  s  =  0.2  m.  Determine  the  spring  constant  k  and  
the  force  P  required  to  keep  the  rod  in  equilibrium  in  this  position,  i.e.:  when  θ  =  30˚  and  s  =  0.2  m.  
Use  virtual  work  method.  
Q3.   The   3m   mass   is   supported   by   means   of   a   piston,   a   spring   and   force   F.   The   system   shown   is   in  
static  equilibrium  when  the  spring  is  contracted  to  90  %  of  its  original  length   l.    

Determine   the   force   F   in   terms   of   known   parameters   p,   l,   k,   m,   h,   and   d   by   using   the   method   of  
virtual  work.  Neglect  friction  and  inertial  forces.  

Q4.  A  paper  collator  is  shown  with  the  weight  Q  of  each  pile  of  the  collated  papers  equal  to  0.2  N.  
The   collator   rests   on   a   smooth   surface   and   it   can   slide   on   this   surface   with   no   resistance   and   the  
joints  in  contact  with  the  surfaces  never  lose  contact.  Each  beam  shown  in  a  color  is  a  single  beam  
and  the  beams  are  connected  with  revolute  joints.    

y  

D  

AB  =  200  mm  
C  
Q    Q        Q            Q                          Q   P   AC  =  200  mm  
  CD  =  120  mm  
A  
    θ    =    60o  
θ  
B   x  
   

What  force  P  is     needed  to  keep  the  system  in  equilibrium  for  the  position  shown?  

(ans:  0.0545  N)  

 
Q5.   The   link   connected   to   two   cylinders   at   both   ends   is   supported   by   means   of   two   springs   with  
spring  constants  k1  and  k2.  Both  springs  have  an  unstretched  length  of  300  mm.  In  the  figure  shown,  
the   first   spring   is   contracted   50   mm   and   the   second   one   stretched   100   mm   when   the   system   is   in  
static  equilibrium.    

Determine   the   force   F   by   using   the   method   of   virtual   work.   Neglect   friction   &   inertial   forces   and  
gravitational  effect.  

(ans:  101.7  N)