ME 333 - MECHANICS OF MATERIALS
PRACTICE PROBLEMS 1 - CONCEPT OF STRAIN - AUG 16, 2025
Practice Problems:
From Prescribed Text - 2.54, 2.55, 2.57 (use eigen values), 2.58, 2.63 (use Mohr’s circle), 2.68, 2.71, 2.72.
(1) Use a computer to plot the underformed and deformed state for a square plate with diagonally
opposite corners at (0, 0) and (1, 1), given the displacement field:
(a) u = 0.2 ∗ ln(1 + 3x + 2y), v = 0.4 ∗ exp(x)
(b) u = (2x3 + 0.5y 2 ) î + (x + 6y 2 ) ĵ
Note the following: a) both deformed and undeformed states are to be plotted on the same plot in
different colors, b) consider a grid to present the deformed state of material points in the interior
of the domain. Use a (10 × 10) grid.
(2) A thin rectangular plate is rotated counter clockwise by 45◦ and then stretched along its length.
The measured strain in the stretched direction is 0.625 (i.e., 5/8), implying large deformation. If
the position of point P after deformation is (1, 1), find the coordinates of point P in the initial
undeformed state ignoring
Poisson effects.
1 5
[Answer] − √ , √
3 2 3 2
(3) Read the section ‘‘Rotation Between Two Line Elements (Definition of Shear Strain)’’ from the
textbook and derive the relation:
γ12 = (1 + ϵE1 )(1 + ϵE2 ) cos θ∗
(4) Show that the displacement field: u = Ax + 3y, v = 3x − By, w = 5, induces a state of plane
strain (ϵzz = γyz = γzx = 0). Also, determine the relationship between A and B for which the
deformation is a constant volume deformation.
[Answer] A = B.
(5) The deformation in a body is specified by u = 4x − y + 3z, v = x + 7y and w = −3x + 4y + 4z.
Determine the princialstrains, principal directions and strain invariants.
4 0 0 0 1 0
[Answer] ϵ = 0 7 2 , ϵ(1,2,3) = (3, 4, 8), e(1,2,3) = 0.4472 0 −0.8944 , I¯(1,2,3) = (15, 68, 96)
0 2 4 −0.8944 0 −0.4472
(6) The system of plane strain are given by the relations:
ϵxx = A0 + A1 (x2 + y 2 ) + (x4 + y 4 ); ϵyy = B0 + B1 (x2 + y 2 ) + (x4 + y 4 )
γxy = C0 + C1 xy(x2 + y 2 + C2 )
Determine the relation among constants for which the sytem of strains is permissible.
[Answer] C1 = 4, A1 + B1 = 2C2 ∀ C2
1
2 ME 333 - MECHANICS OF MATERIALS PRACTICE PROBLEMS 1 - CONCEPT OF STRAIN - AUG 16, 2025
(7) Show that if the undeformed element as shown in the Figure is a square, the lower-left to upper-
right diagonal rotates by an angle 21 (α − β), assuming that all angles are infinitesimal.
(8) The following displacement field is imposed on a body:
u = (yz î + 6y 2 x ĵ + 2zx k̂)10−2
Consider√ a point A and √ a neighboring point
√ B where AB has the following direction cosines:
l1 = 3/ 50, m1 = 4/ 50 and n1 = 5/ 50 with A located at (2, 1, 3). If AB is ∆s, find the
components of A′ B′ and its direction cosines, post deformation.
∆s
[Answer] (0.2 î + 1.18 ĵ + 0.43 k̂) √ , (0.157, 0.928, 0.338)
50
(9) A square plate OABC (dashed - undeformed state) is subjected to a state of plane strain deforming
it to O′ A′ B′ C′ as shown in figure below. Then: (a) Determine the displacement field (u, v); (b) Is
the deformation homogeneous? Explain; (c) Determine the strain components using small strain
theory. Are these strains accurate? - Explain; (d) Determine the strains using large strain theory.
y
(0,1) (1,1)
(-1,0.5) C B
0
(-1.8,0)
O
A0 x
O
(0,0)
A
(1,0)
0
B
(-2.2,-1)
0
C
(-1.4,-1.5)
[Answer] u = −1 − 1.8x − 0.4y, v = 0.5 − 0.5x − 3y + xy, No, normal strains are not physically
realistic, ϵxx = 0.5y 2 − 0.5y − 0.055, ϵyy = 0.5x2 − 2x + 1.58, ϵxy = −0.25x − y + 0.5xy + 0.66
