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Bar fixed at both ends: load shares, displacements

Short answer

By compatibility and equilibrium, axial forces are N_AB = 4.88 kN, N_BC = -45.12 kN, N_CD = 54.88 kN. Displacement at B is 0.0149 mm, at C is -0.0311 mm (positive towards D).

A Circular bar ABCD, rigidly fixed at A and D is subjected to axial loads of 50 KN and 100 KN at B and C as shown in the figure. Find the loads shared by each part of the bar and displacements of the points B and C. Take E for the steel as 200GPa. [Figure: bar fixed at A and D; segment AB diameter 25 mm length 300 mm; segment BC diameter 50 mm length 400 mm; segment CD diameter 75 mm length 500 mm; 50 kN load at B and 100 kN load at C in opposite directions.]

Assumed loading: the 50 kN load at B acts towards D (→) and the 100 kN load at C acts towards A (←). Let the axial force in AB be xx (tension +ve).

Equilibrium of joints

NAB=x,NBC=x−50,NCD=NBC+100=x+50  (kN)N_{AB} = x,\qquad N_{BC} = x - 50,\qquad N_{CD} = N_{BC} + 100 = x + 50\ \ (\text{kN})

Compatibility

A and D are fixed, so the total change in length is zero:

∑NiLiAiE=0\sum \frac{N_iL_i}{A_iE} = 0
Partd (mm)A (mm²)L (mm)L/AL/A (mm⁻¹)
AB25490.873000.6112
BC501963.504000.2037
CD754417.865000.1132
x (0.6112+0.2037+0.1132)−50(0.2037)+50(0.1132)=0  ⇒  0.9281 x=4.525x\,(0.6112+0.2037+0.1132) - 50(0.2037) + 50(0.1132) = 0 \;\Rightarrow\; 0.9281\,x = 4.525

so x=NAB=4.878x = N_{AB} = 4.878 kN (the common factor 1/E1/E cancels).

Loads shared by each part

NAB=4.88 kN,NBC=−45.12 kN,NCD=54.88 kNN_{AB} = 4.88\ \text{kN},\quad N_{BC} = -45.12\ \text{kN},\quad N_{CD} = 54.88\ \text{kN}

Positive is tension, negative is compression.

Displacements (E=200×103E = 200\times10^3 N/mm²)

δB=NABLABAABE=0.0149 mm (towards D if +ve)δC=δB+NBCLBCABCE=−0.0311 mm\begin{aligned} \delta_B &= \frac{N_{AB}L_{AB}}{A_{AB}E} = 0.0149\ \text{mm}\ (\text{towards D if +ve})\\ \delta_C &= \delta_B + \frac{N_{BC}L_{BC}}{A_{BC}E} = -0.0311\ \text{mm} \end{aligned}

Check: δD=δC+NCDLCD/(ACDE)=0.000000≈0\delta_D = \delta_C + N_{CD}L_{CD}/(A_{CD}E) = 0.000000\approx0.

Answer: NAB=4.88N_{AB} = 4.88 kN, NBC=−45.12N_{BC} = -45.12 kN, NCD=54.88N_{CD} = 54.88 kN; δB=0.0149\delta_B = 0.0149 mm, δC=−0.0311\delta_C = -0.0311 mm (positive towards D).

✓ Answer checked by Claude Opus 5.5 (high effort)

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