CEE 213Deformable Solids

Arizona State University

The Mechanics Project

CP 1Axial Bar

Computing Project 1
Axial Bar

The computing project Axial Bar concerns the solution of the problem of a prismatic bar
in a uniaxial state of stress with a variable load. The goal is to write a MATLAB program
that will allow the solution for a variety of load distributions and for all possible boundary conditions (i.e., fixed or free at either end).
The theory needed to execute this project is contained in the set of notes (entitled CP
NotesCP 1 Axial Bar) that accompany this problem statement. Those notes provide an
introduction to each aspect of the computation required to solve the problem. The general
steps are as follows:
1. Develop a routine based upon Simpsons Rule to numerically integrate the quantities I0 and I1 (described in the CP 1 Notes) from the load function p(x).
a. Structure your code so that you can easily change the loading function.
One way to do that is to have put p(x) in a MATLAB function (e.g., you
might call the routine LoadFunction.m) and then call that function from
your main MATLAB script when you need to get the value of the function
for a certain input x.
b. Include simple load forms (constant, linear ramp up from left to right,
linear ramp down from right to left, trapezoidal distribution, sinusoidal
distribution, and a patch load over an interior part of the rodfrom x=a
to x=b). Verify, by hand calculation the code with a simple load form
(e.g., uniform load).
c. To get this part of your code working, it would be a good idea to some
p(x) functions that you can do easily by hand (e.g., the constant or linear
functions).
2. Develop a routine to set up and solve the system of equations that allow for the
determination of the state variables (u and N) at both ends of the bar. This step
will require some logic to make it work easily for different boundary condition
cases (it should cover all of them). Debug your code with a problem that you can
solve by hand (e.g., bar fixed at one end with a uniformly distributed load).
3. Develop a routine to integrate the governing equations from the left end to the
right end using generalized trapezoidal rule to do the integration numerically.
Store the results at each step along the axis and provide a plot of the applied load
p, the axial displacement u, and the net axial force N as functions of x. Note that

CEE 213Deformable Solids

Arizona State University

The Mechanics Project

CP 1Axial Bar

the number of generalized trapezoidal rule segments does not have to be the same
as the number of Simpson segments.
4. Use your collection of load functions to explore aspects of the problem. For example:
a. Explore how the distribution of load affects the displacement and internal
variation of axial force.
b. Investigate a distributed load over a small segment of the bar (with no
load over the rest of it) to see how a distributed load in the limit does the
same thing as a concentrated load. If you find that the numerical integration rules are not accurate, increase the number of segments.
c. Explore how the state variables work to meet the boundary conditions
(e.g., the slope of the displacement function should go to zero at a free
end).
d. Explore any other feature of the problem that you find interesting.
Write a report documenting your work and the results (in accord with the specification
given in the document Guidelines for Doing Computing Projects). Post your report to the
Critviz website prior to the deadline.
Please consult the document Evaluation of Computing Projects to see how your project
will be evaluated to make sure that you can get full marks. Note that there is no peer review process for reports in this course.