Problem 5.27 - Deformation in Systems of Bars

Problem Statement

A bar is attached to two wires, one steel and one aluminum. If the lengths of the wires L1 = 8 in. and L2 = 10 in., find the distance x that load F = 5 kips must be placed at so that the bar remains horizontal after the load is applied. Both wires have the same cross-section area A = 0.02 in.2. Assume Esteel = 29,000 ksi, Ealuminum = 10,000 ksi and that the bar is of length L = 12 in.

Picture with a bar attached to two wires. The distance between the wires in 12 in. The length of the aluminum wire is L[1] and the length of the steel wire is L[2]. The load F is applied at some distance along the bar, x, measured from the aluminum wire.

Figure 1: A bar is attached to two wires, one steel and one aluminum.

[Problem adapted from © Kurt Gramoll CC BY NC-SA 4.0]