Structural Analysis MCQ Set 1
1. By this method, the load factors are:-
a) Smaller than 0.5
b) 0.5 < 0.75
c) 0.75 < 1
d) Larger than 1
Answer
Answer: d [Reason:] Resulting factored load are used to have a design to support the ultimate loads. So, factors are > 1.
2. Purpose of load factors is to account for:-
a) Lapse in designing
b) Lapse in constructing
c) Lapse in funding
d) Lapse in predicting magnitudes of dead or live load
Answer
Answer: d [Reason:] It accounts for uncertainties related to estimation of magnitude of dead or live loads.
3. Load factors used for live load are _____ than that used for dead loads.
a) Smaller
b) Larger
c) Depends upon case
d) Depends upon loading
Answer
Answer: b [Reason:] Magnitudes of dead loads can be predicted more accurately than magnitudes of live loads.
4. The load factor to be used with strength design depends upon:-
a) Amount of load
b) Is constant
c) Depends upon engineer
d) Depends upon type of structure
Answer
Answer: d [Reason:] Load factors are determined statistically and type of structures is considered.
5. Which of the following load combinations is recommended for building structures?
a) D + F
b) 1.4D + F
c) D + 1.4F
d) 1.4(D + F)
Answer
Answer: D [Reason:] These are mentioned inn ASCE 7-02 and can be verified from there.
6. When larger dead loads tend to reduce the effects of other loads, what is the recommended factor that is used with the dead load?
a) 0.9
b) 0.8
c) 0.7
d) 0.6
Answer
Answer: a [Reason:] 0.9D + 1.6W + 1.6H & 0.9D + 1E + 1.6H are the examples.
7. Load factors do not vary in relation to the seriousness of failure.
Is the above statement true or false?
a) True
b) False
Answer
Answer: a [Reason:] Load factors were developed on the assumption that designers would consider the seriousness of all the possible failure in specifying loads. Load factors are minimum values.
8. In the equation U-0.9D + 1.6W + 1.6H, what is the load factor for H if the structural action of H counteracts that due to W or E?
a) 0.1
b) 0.05
c) 0.005
d) 0
Answer
Answer: d [Reason:] H should be included in design resistance here as lateral earth pressure opposes action of other forces.
9. In case of wind and seismic loads, how many times do we have to apply applicable equations?
a) 1
b) 2
c) 3
d) 4
Answer
Answer: b [Reason:] Wind and seismic loads can have two values depending upon direction of those forces, and it is possible for the sign of them to be different.
Structural Analysis MCQ Set 2
B is a hinge support and C is roller support. A and D are free ends. A load of 60 KN acts in downward direction at point D. Sign conventions are as usual.
AB = CD = 1m and BC = 3m
All force options are in kN.
All moment options are in KNM.
All deformation options are in M.
E and I are given.
1. What will be the reaction force at support C?
a) 20
b) 40
c) 80
d) 120
Answer
Answer: c [Reason:] Balance moment about point B.
2. What will be the shape of SFD in this case?
a) Linear
b) Parabolic
c) Linear with discontinuity
d) Arbitrary curve
Answer
Answer: c [Reason:] Since loads are not uniform, SFD will be linear and support at point C and B will lead to discontinuity.
3. What is the shape of BMD for this diagram?
a) Rectangular
b) Triangular
c) Parabolic
d) Arbitrary curve
Answer
Answer: b [Reason:] It will be 0 till point B, and then will increase till C and then again decrease till D (every time linearly), thus making it triangular.
4. What will be the peak value of SFD?
a) 20
b) 40
c) 60
d) 80
Answer
Answer: c [Reason:] It will decrease to 20 at point B and then increase by 80 at point C and then will remain constant. So, peak value will be 80-20 i.e. 60KN.
5. Where would peak value of BMD lie?
a) A
b) B
c) C
d) D
Answer
Answer: c [Reason:] It will be 0 till point B, and then will increase till C and then again decrease till D (every time linearly), thus making it triangular.
6. Which type of joint would replace point A in its conjugate beam?
a) roller
b) pin
c) hinge
d) fixed
Answer
Answer: d [Reason:] Since point A is a free end, a fixed joint would replace it in the conjugate beam.
7. How many fixed joint will be there in conjugate beam?
a) 1
b) 2
c) 3
d) 4
Answer
Answer: b [Reason:] Since there are 2 fixed ends in initial beam, there will be two fixed joints.
8. There won’t be any hinge in the conjugate beam.
State whether the above statement is true or false.
a) true
b) false
Answer
Answer: b [Reason:] Initial beam comprises of one internal pin and one internal roller, so conjugate beam would contain two hinges.
9. What will be the shear developed at hinge B in conjugate beam?
a) 30/EI
b) 40/EI
c) 60/EI
d) 80/EI
Answer
Answer: a [Reason:] Balance moment about point C in the beam BC.
10. What will be the shear developed at hinge C in conjugate beam?
a) 30/EI
b) 40/EI
c) 60/EI
d) 80/EI
Answer
Answer: c [Reason:] Balance moment about point B in the beam BC.
11. What will be the modulus of slope at point A?
a) 90/EI
b) 40/EI
c) 30/EI
d) 20/EI
Answer
Answer: c [Reason:] Just balance shear forces in the conjugate beam AB.
12. What will be the modulus of slope at point D?
a) 90/EI
b) 40/EI
c) 30/EI
d) 20/EI
Answer
Answer: a [Reason:] Just balance shear forces in the conjugate beam CD after balancing moment.
13. What will be the modulus of deflection of point A?
a) 20/EI
b) 30/EI
c) 80/EI
d) 90/EI
Answer
Answer: b [Reason:] Balance moment about point B in beam AB.
14. What will be the modulus of deflection of point D?
a) 20/EI
b) 30/EI
c) 80/EI
d) 90/EI
Answer
Answer: c [Reason:] Balance moment about point C in beam CD.
Structural Analysis MCQ Set 3
1. How many equilibrium equations do we need to solve generally on each joint of a truss?
a) 1
b) 2
c) 3
d) 4
Answer
Answer: b [Reason:] Summation of forces in x and y direction should be equated to 0. Since there is no bending moments in trusses, we don’t need to solve the third equation.
2. If a member of a truss is in compression, then what will be the direction of force that it will apply to the joints?
a) Outward
b) Inward
c) Depends on case
d) No force will be there
Answer
Answer: a [Reason:] Member will apply outward force. Joint will in turn apply inward force resulting in compression of the member.
3. If a member of a truss is in tension, then what will be the direction of force that it will apply to the joints?
a) Outward
b) Inward
c) Depends on case
d) No force will be there
Answer
Answer: b [Reason:] Member will apply inward force. Joint will in turn apply outward force resulting in compression of the member.
4. What should be ideally the first step to approach to a problem using method of joints?
a) Draw fbd of each joint
b) Draw fbd of overall truss
c) Identify zero force members
d) Determine external reaction forces
Answer
Answer: c [Reason:] Identifying zero force members should always be the first step to approach any truss problem as it eliminate a lot of variables and is fairly easy.
5. What should be the angle (in degrees) in the given system (part of a bigger system) if both of the members have to be a zero force member?
a) 22.5
b) 45
c) 67.5
d) 90
Answer
Answer: d [Reason:] 90o would mean that without any external force, each one would carry no force to satisfy equations of equilibrium.
In the above figure, force is applied at joint c and its magnitude is 10N with downward direction. This question is used for Q6-Q9.
6. Which of the following are 0 force members?
a) FG, HI, HJ
b) HI, HJ, AE
c) HI, HJ, HE
d) HI, HJ, FH
Answer
Answer: a [Reason:] FH, HE and AE are non-zero force member as there are directly transmitting load from the external support. So, by option elimination we can say that the answer is (a).
7. What will the magnitude of force (in N) transmitted by FI?
a) 0
b) 1
c) 2
d) 3
Answer
Answer: a [Reason:] GF is a zero force member as stated in earlier question. Now, in joint F, BF and FH are in a line. This means that the only remaining member FI which is not in line will transmit zero force.
8. What will the magnitude of force (in N) transmitted by IC?
a) 0
b) 1
c) 2
d) 3
Answer
Answer: a [Reason:] IH is a zero member force as is FI. So, IC too will be zero force members.
9. What is total no. of zero force members in the above given system?
a) 7
b) 8
c) 9
d) 10
Answer
Answer: c [Reason:] Following are the zero force member based on the logics explained above: – GF, HI, HJ, ED, FI, IC, CH, JE and JC.
Structural Analysis MCQ Set 4
1. How many equilibrium equations are used in method of sections?
a) 2
b) 4
c) 3
d) 5
Answer
Answer: c [Reason:] Moments too can be conserved along with forces in both directions. So, total no. of equations are three.
2. In trusses, a member in the state of tension is subjected to:-
a) push
b) pull
c) lateral force
d) either pull or push
Answer
Answer: b [Reason:] Pull is for tension, while push is for compression.
3. In method of sections, what is the maximum no. of unknown members through which the imaginary section can pass?
a) 1
b) 2
c) 3
d) 4
Answer
Answer: c [Reason:] Since we have three equilibrium equations, so we can have maximum 3 unknown forces/members through which imaginary section can pass.
4. Method of substitute members is use for which type of trusses?
a) complex
b) compound
c) simple
d) simple and compound
Answer
Answer: a [Reason:] Method of substitute members is used to solve problems involving complex trusses.
5. First step to solve complex truss using Method of substitute members is to convert it into unstable simple truss.
State whether the above statement is true or false.
a) true
b) false
Answer
Answer: b [Reason:] First step is to convert it to stable simple truss.
Shear force is represented by V
Bending moment is represented by M
Distance along the truss is represented by X
W is the uniform load applied.
6. On differentiating V wrt X we will get:-
a) W
b) -W
c) M
d) None of the mentioned
Answer
Answer: b [Reason:] On applying equilibrium equation, V – W(x)Δx – V – ΔV = 0.
7. On differentiating M wrt X we will get:-
a) W
b) -W
c) V
d) None of the mentioned
Answer
Answer: c [Reason:] On applying equilibrium equation, M + VΔx – M – ΔM = 0.
8. If a member of a truss is in compression, then what will be the direction of force that it will apply to the joints?
a) Outward
b) Inward
c) Depends on case
d) No force will be there
Answer
Answer: a [Reason:] Member will apply outward force. Joint will in turn apply inward force resulting in compression of the member.
Structural Analysis MCQ Set 5
N = normal force
n = Internal virtual normal force
Δ = Displacement of joints by real loads
L = length of a member
A = cross-sectional area of member
E = modulus of elasticity of a member
1. Internal deformation caused by real loads will be in a linear elastic member:-
a) 1⁄4 NL/AE
b) 1⁄3 NL/AE
c) 1⁄2 NL/AE
d) NL/AE
Answer
Answer: d [Reason:] Since it is a linear elastic material, we can use various relationships.
2. What will be the value of Δ in a member:-
a) £ 1⁄4 nNL/AE
b) £ 1⁄3 nNL/AE
c) £ 1⁄2 nNL/AE
d) £ nNL/AE
Answer
Answer: d [Reason:] Just substituting the earlier equation in the main equation, we can get it.
3. What is change in length of member if temperature increases by ΔT and expansion coefficient is ά?
a) 1⁄4 ά ΔTL
b) 1⁄3 ά ΔTL
c) 1⁄2 ά ΔTL
d) ά ΔTL
Answer
Answer: d [Reason:] Change in length is directly proportional to change in temperature and expansion coefficient with 1 as proportionality coefficient.
4. What will be the value of Δ in a member:-
a) £ 1⁄4 nά ΔTL
b) £ 1⁄3 nά ΔTL
c) £ 1⁄2 nά ΔTL
d) £ nά ΔTL
Answer
Answer: d [Reason:] Just substituting the earlier equation in the main equation, we can get it.
5. What is the unit of virtual unit load?
a) N
b) Lb
c) kip
d) Anything
Answer
Answer: d [Reason:] Its unit can be anything as it will cancel with that of n.
Δ = displacement caused when force is increased by a small amount.
6. This theorem is applicable when temperature is varying. State whether the above sentence is true or false.
a) True
b) False
Answer
Answer: b [Reason:] It is applicable only when temperature is not changing.
7. In which of the following cases, is this theorem applicable?
a) Yielding support, non-linear elastic material
b) Non-yielding support, linear elastic material
c) Yielding support, linear elastic material
d) Non-yielding support, non-linear elastic material
Answer
Answer: b [Reason:] It is applicable in cases of non-yielding support and non-linear elastic material.
8. If any of the external forces acting increases, then internal energy would:-
a) Decrease
b) Increase
c) Not change
d) Become -ve
Answer
Answer: b [Reason:] Due to increase in force, external work done would increase which would cause an increase in strain energy.
9. What will be Δ if change in force is DP and du is change in internal energy?
a) 1⁄4 du/dp
b) 1⁄3 du/dp
c) 1⁄2 du/dp
d) du/dp
Answer
Answer: d [Reason:] On equating internal energy after changing order of application of forces.
10. This theorem is applicable when non-conservative forces are applied.
State whether the above statement is true or file.
a) True
b) False
Answer
Answer: b [Reason:] It is only applicable when forces are of conservative type.
