MCE 262 Statics MATLAB Problem Project Fall 2010

MCE 262 Statics MATLAB Problem Project Fall 2010

Due: December 3, 2010

The purpose of this project is to develop an extended numerical solution to a Statics problem. This project problem is to be solved by writing an appropriate MATLAB program (m-file). Recall that MATLAB is a professional engineering and scientific software package for numerical computation, data analysis and graphics. All of you should have had previous experience with this software from the prerequisite course EGR 106 (see course text: MATLAB An Introduction With Applications by A. Gilat). The software package itself contains an excellent Help feature that provides extensive information on various commands and procedures. MATLAB is installed on all computers in the Engineering Computer Center, the ME Computer Classroom (225 Wales) and several other sites around the College. The numerical problem is related to exercise 6.13 on page 299 in the text. This exercise involves finding the forces in each member of a truss structure shown in the figure. The solution to the forces in each member is provided below as a function of P 1, P 2, and d. Check that these give the correct answers √ 6P 1 P 1 62 + d2 FCD = , FDG = − , d √ d √ P 1 62 + d 2 P 2 9 + d2 FF G = − , FCF = − , d d √ (P 1 + P22 ) 62 + d2 3(2P 1 + P 2) , FEF = − , FBC = d d √ P2 3P 2 4 + d2 FBF = , FBE = , 2 2d 6(P 1 + P 2) FAB = , FAE = P 1 + 2P 2, d

P2

P2

P2

P1 2m

2m

2m A

C

B

D

G

d F E

to the text exercise. The extended problem requires that you develop a MATLAB code that will calculate and plot all ten of these non-zero member forces as a function of particular loading values for P 1 and P2 . Load P 1 is to be a variable in the range 0 ≤ P 1 ≤ 10 kN. Results should be calculated and plotted under the usual convention; tension is positive and compression is negative. Each class section is assigned to do this problem using a different value of P 2 and d as specified in the table below: Your code should generate Section d P2

Jouaneh 1.5m 9 kN

George 2.0m 11 kN

Segala 2.5m 12.5 kN

the plots on the same axes in a single figure window with: An example solution is shown for the case with P 2 = 14 kN and d = 2.5m. This is an individual assignment and your m-file solution should be submitted to the instructor as an email attachment with the file (lastname.m). Copied work will not be accepted.

1

• Proper labeling of the graph axes. • Title with your loading case and name. • Labels for each plotted line to indicate which force member is shown. This can be done using the legend feature or simply writing text on the figure at the appropriate position.

2