Multiple Choice Questions

Q.No Questions
The wing, fuselage and empennage structure of modern aircraft is essentially a single or multiple
cellular beam with thin webs and walls. The design of such structures involves the consideration of
the distribution of the internal resisting shear stresses. The solution for a shear loaded closed
section beam follows a similar pattern to that of open section beam but with two important
differences. First, the shear loads may be applied through points in the cross-section other than the
shear centre so that torsional as well as shear effects are included. This is possible since, shear
stresses produced by torsion in closed section beams have exactly the same form as shear
stresses produced by shear, unlike shear stresses due to shear and torsion in open section beams.
Secondly, it is generally not possible to choose an origin for s at which the value of shear flow is
known.

C1 (i) As shown in the figure 1, the resultant shear stresses at the boundary will be in the direction ___
a. Pointing the shear center
b. Tangent to the boundary
c. Normal to the boundary
d. Parallel to the neutral axis
e. Parallel to the beam axis
f. Parallel to the fluexural axis
(1 Mark – [U/C,1])
(ii) The force quilibrium requires, the forces shown in figure 1(b) to be equal in magnitude but in
opposite direction. . This product of shear stress and thickness is called
a. Shear stress
b. Shear strain
c. Shear flow
d. Bending stress
e. Volumetric strain
f. Normal stress
(1 Mark – [U/C,1])

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(iii) The average shear stress acting over the thickness of the tube is given by . Where, T-

torque applied, t-thickness, and Am – mean area enclosed within the boundary. Then the shear
flow is given by
a.

b.

c.

d.

e.
f. (1 Mark – [U/C,1])
(iv) Shear flow q, is a product of tube’s thickness and average shear stress. This value is constant at all
points along tube’s x-section. State true or false.
a. True
b. False
(1 Mark – [U/C,1])
(v) The largest average shear stress occurs where the tube cross section is minimum. State true or
false.
a. True
b. False
(1 Mark – [An/C,1])
(vi) Assertion (A) : The intensity of shear stress varies so slightly across the thickness of the tube.
Reason (R) : In the analysis the thin walled closed sections, the tube is assumed to be thin
a. Both A (Assertion) and R (Reason) are individually true and R is the correct
explanation of A
b. Both A and R are individually true but R is not the correct explanation of A
c. A is true but R is false
d. A is false but R is true
e. Both A and R are false
(1 Mark – [U/C,1])
(vii) Consider a closed section subjected to pure torsion without any bending. This will produce _____
shear flow in the beam

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 a. lineraly varying
b. exponentialy varying
c. lograthmically varying
d. parabloc variation
e. zero
f. constant
(1 Mark – [U/C,1])
(viii) If the Torque applied in a beam as shown in figure 2 is doubled, according to Bredt-Batho formula,
the shear flow will ____ the amount of previous value
a. increase by twice
b. decrease to half
c. increase by thrice
d. increase by 4 times
e. decrease by 4 times
f. remains the same
(1 Mark – [Ap/C,1])
(ix) If the area of cross section of a beam as shown in figure 2 is doubled, according to Bredt-Batho
formula, the shear flow will ____ the amount of previous value
a. increase by twice
b. decrease to half
c. increase by thrice
d. increase by 4 times
e. decrease by 4 times
f. remains the same
(1 Mark – [Ap/C,1])
(x) If the length of a beam as shown in figure 2 is doubled, according to Bredt-Batho formula, the
shear flow will ____ the amount of previous value
a. increase by twice
b. decrease to half
c. increase by thrice
d. increase by 4 times
e. decrease by 4 times
f. remains the same
(1 Mark – [Ap/C,1])

Q.No Questions
C2 (i) In thin walled closed section under torsion, the angle of twist is found by _______

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 a. Strain energy due to shear
b. Castigliano’s theorem
c. Simple bending equation
d. Bending equation for unsymmetrical sections
e. Flexural equation
f. Strain energy due to shear and castigliano’s theorem
(1 Mark – [An/C,1])
(ii) In a thin walled closed section under torsion, if the applied torque is increased by twice, the angle of
twist _______
a. increases by twice
b. decreases to half
c. increases by thrice
d. increases by 4 times
e. decreases by 4 times
f. remains the same
(1 Mark – [An/C,1])
(iii) In a thin walled closed section under torsion, if the cross sectional area is increased by twice, the
angle of twist _______
a. increases by twice
b. decreases to half
c. increases by thrice
d. increases by 4 times
e. decreases by 4 times
f. remains the same
(1 Mark – [An/C,1])
(iv) In a thin walled closed section under torsion, if the material of the beam is changed in such a way
that the shear modulus (G) of the beam is twice the value of previous material then the angle of
twist _______
a. increases by twice
b. decreases to half
c. increases by thrice
d. increases by 4 times

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 e. decreases by 4 times
f. remains the same
(1 Mark – [An/C,1])
(v) In a thin walled closed section under torsion, if the thickness of the beam is increased twice, then
the angle of twist _______
a. increases twice
b. decreases to half
c. increases by thrice
d. increases by 4 times
e. decreases by 4 times
f. remains the same
(1 Mark – [U/C,1])
(vi) In a multi cell box beam structure as shown in figure 2, when it is subjected to torsion, for
equilibrium to be maintained at a exterior-interior wall (or web) junction point, the shear flows
entering should be equal to those leaving the junction. State true or false.

a. True
b. False
(1 Mark – [An/C,1])
(vii) For the multi-cell structure shown in figure 2, the shear flow in the web is ____
a. q1
b. q2
c. q1 - q2
d. q1 . q2
e. q1 / q2
f. 2 q1 . q2
(1 Mark – [U/C,1])
(viii) For a multi-cell structure as shown in figure 2, the shear flow q1 and q2 are in the same direction
State True or False.
a. True
b. False
(1 Mark – [An/C,1])

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 (ix) If the applied torque is varied, the direction of shear flow flow q1 and q2 may be varied and in the
opposite directions. State True or False.
a. True
b. False
(1 Mark – [An/C,1])
(x) For the multi-cell structure shown in figure 2, the angle of twist per unit length is diffrerent for each
cells. State True or False.
a. True
b. False
1 Mark – [U/C,1])

Q.No Questions
C3 (i) Pure flexural shear flow in a thin walled box beam structure arises when the transverse shear
forces act through ___
a. Centroid of the web
b. Centroid of the flange
c. Intersection of any one flange and web
d. Shear centre
e. Mid point of the whole cross section
f. A point outside the cross section
(1 Mark – [U/C,1])
(ii) In a thin walled box beam structure, when the shear forces do not act through the shear centre, the
shear flow is due to ______
a. bending
b. torsion
c. twist
d. bending and torsion
e. shear
f. flexure
(1 Mark – [U/C,1])
(iii) When a thin walled closed section is subjected to shear loads, how it is approximated with that of
open sections?

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 a. same shear flow formula for open section is used without any modification
b. a new shear flow formula is used
c. same shear flow formula for open section is used with a cut in any portion of the section
d. same shear flow formula for open section is used with a cut in any portion of the
section and an equivalent torque
e. could not be approximated with the closed section
f. a new shear flow formula is used with a cut in any portion of the section and an equivalent
torque
(1 Mark – [U/C,1])
(iv) To analyse the probems in thin walled closed section, if a cut is made in any portion of the section,
the shear flow at that point will be
a. zero
b. unity
c. infinite
d. same a that of the next section
e. Constant and equal to all the points in the section
f. Higher than all the other points in the section
(1 Mark – [U/C,1])
(v) An additional effect of cutting the beam is to produce a statically determinate structure State true or
false.
a. True
b. False
(1 Mark – [An/C,1])
(vi) A thin walled beam of constant thickness shown in figure is subjected to a torque of 3.2 kN.m. If the
shear modulus is 25 GPa, the angle of twist per unit length _____ (rad/m)

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 a. 0.001
b. 0.010
c. 0.11
d. 11
e. 1.1
f. 111
(1 Mark – [Ap/C,1])
(vii) Assertion (A) : A closed-section box beam configuration is used in aircraft wings.
Reason (R) : Closed-section box beam configuration is capable of resisting torsional loads
a. Both A (Assertion) and R (Reason) are individually true and R is the correct
explanation of A
b. Both A and R are individually true but R is not the correct explanation of A
c. A is true but R is false
d. A is false but R is true
e. Both A and R are false
(1 Mark – [U/C,1])
(viii) The fundamental torsion equation is valid for all solid and hollow circular sections. State true or
false.
a. True
b. False
(1 Mark – [U/C,1])
(ix) Figure shows the shear flow distribution in multi cell thin walled section under torsion. If q 1 = 111
N/cm and q2 = 100 N/cm what will be the value of q3?

a. 0
b. 100 N/cm
c. 11100 N/cm
d. 1 N/cm
e. 111 N/cm
f. 11 N/cm
(1 Mark – [An/C,1])
(x) The shear flow in multi cell structure is constant in all the cells. State true or false.
a. True
b. False
(1 Mark – [U/C,1])

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Q.No Questions

In the wing section of Figure 1, the stringers and spar flanges have small cross-sectional
dimensions compared with the complete section. Therefore, the variation in stress over the cross-
section of a stringer due to, say, bending of the wing would be small.

Furthermore, the difference between the distances of the stringer centroids and the adjacent skin
from the wing section axis is small. It would be reasonable to assume therefore that the direct
stress is constant over the stringer cross-sections. We could therefore replace the stringers and
spar flanges by concentrations of area, known as booms, over which the direct stress is constant
and which are located along the midline of the skin, as shown in the figure 1.
C4 (i) The shear flow between the two adjacent stiffeners _____
a. varies linearly
b. varies exponentially
c. varies lograthmically
d. is constant
e. is zero
f. unpredicatable
(1 Mark – [U/C,1])
(ii) In an idelaized multi cell structure, the direct stress carrying area at each boom will be the area of
the flange/web adjacent to that boom. State true or false
a. True
b. False
(1 Mark – [U/C,1])
(iii) Let the structure shown in figure 2(a) is applied with vertical laod and the shear flow diagram is
drawn as shown in fig. 2(b). If the direction of the applied load is applied in horizontal plane ____

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 a. The shear flow direction remains same in all webs
b. The magnitude of shear flow remains same in all webs
c. The shear flow direction changes in all webs or some of the web
d. The magnitude of shear flow changes in all webs or some of the web
e. Both the magnitude abd direction of shear flow changes in all webs or some of the web
f. No change in the shear flow
(1 Mark – [U/C,1])
(iv) For multi-stiffener, multi-web beams the shear flow never changes direction in the web between the
adjacent stiffeners. State True or False.
a. True
b. False
(1 Mark – [U/C,1])
(v) In constant shear flow webs of wing structure in figure 1, the skin carries ________
a. Shear stress
b. Circumferential stress
c. Bending stress
d. Bending induced normal stress
e. Tensile stress
f. Hoop stress
(1 Mark – [U/C,1])
(vi) In constant shear flow webs of wing structure in figure 1, the stiffeners carry ________
a. Shear stress
b. Shear flow
c. Shear deformation

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 d. Bending induced normal stress
e. Shear strain
f. Hoop stress
(1 Mark – [U/C,1])
(vii) Calculations of centroid, symmetry and moment of inertia for a constant shear web beam is based
on the area and distribution of web and stiffeners. State True or False.
a. True
b. False
(1 Mark – [U/C,1])
(viii) Let a closed section beam is subjected to given bending or shear loads and that the required
idealization has been completed. The initial analysis of such sections usually involves the
determination of ______ and _______
a. Moment and shear stress
b. Shear stress ans shear flow
c. Shear flow and angle of twist
d. Moment and angle of twist
e. Strain energy and defelction
f. Neutral axis position and sectional properties
(1 Mark – [U/C,1])
(ix) Let the area of the stringers in the closed section shown in figure 2 is changed. The shear flow in
each web will
a. Become zero
b. remains same
c. either increase or decrease
d. neither increase or decrease
e. unpredictable
(1 Mark – [An/C,1])
(x) If the cross sectional area of the booms in figure 2 are changed, the location of the shear centre will
not change and remains the same. State True or False.
a. True
b. False
1 Mark – [An/C,1])

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