Strength of Materials MCQ (Multiple Choice Questions)

Here are 1000 MCQs on Strength of Materials (Chapterwise).

1. What is the primary focus of Strength of Materials?
a) Thermal properties
b) Stress and strain analysis
c) Material composition
d) Fluid dynamics
View Answer

Answer: b
Explanation: Strength of Materials primarily focuses on the analysis of stress and strain in materials under various loading conditions.

2. What is tensile stress?
a) The ratio of original length to the change in length
b) The ratio of change in length to the tensile force applied
c) The ratio of tensile force to the change in length
d) The ratio of change in length to the original length
View Answer

Answer: d
Explanation: The tensile stress is the ratio of change in length to the original length. It is the stress induced in a body when subjected to two equal and opposite pulls. The ratio of increase in length to the original length is the tensile strain.

3. A rod 200 cm long is subjected to an axial pull due to which it elongates about 2 mm. Calculate the amount of strain?
a) 0.01
b) 0.002
c) 0.01
d) 0.001
View Answer

Answer: d
Explanation: The strain is given by = dL / L = 2/2000 = 0.001.

4. Which law is also called as the elasticity law?
a) Poisson’s law
b) Bernoulli’s law
c) Stress law
d) Hooke’s law
View Answer

Answer: d
Explanation: Hooke’s law is valid under the elastic limit of a body. It states that stress is proportional to the strain within the elastic limit.

5. What is the factor of safety?
a) The ratio of stress to strain
b) The ratio of ultimate stress to the permissible stress
c) The ratio of permissible stress to the ultimate stress
d) The ratio of longitudinal strain to stress
View Answer

Answer: b
Explanation: The factor of safety is the ratio of ultimate stress to the permissible stress.
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6. Where in the stress-strain curve, the Hooke’s law is valid?
a) Elastic range
b) Valid everywhere
c) Necking region
d) Strain hardening region
View Answer

Answer: a
Explanation: Hooke’s law is valid only up to the elastic range of the material, where the material behaves elastically.

7. What is creep?
a) Gradual increase of plastic strain with time at varying load
b) Gradual increase of elastic strain with time at varying load
c) Gradual increase of plastic strain with time at constant load
d) Gradual increase of elastic strain with time at constant load
View Answer

Answer: c
Explanation: Creep is the property by which a metal specimen undergoes additional deformation over time under sustained loading within the elastic limit. It is permanent in nature and cannot be recovered after the removal of the load, hence it is plastic in nature.

8. Which stress occurs when there is an eccentric load applied?
a) Thermal stress
b) Tensile stress
c) Bending stress
d) Shear stress
View Answer

Answer: c
Explanation: When there is an eccentric load, it means the load is applied at some distance from the axis. This causes compression on one side and tension on the other, resulting in bending stress.

9. What is the bulk modulus of elasticity?
a) The ratio of volumetric stress to volumetric strain
b) The ratio of shear stress to shear strain
c) The ratio of direct stress to direct strain
d) The ratio of direct stress to volumetric strain
View Answer

Answer: d
Explanation: The bulk modulus is defined as the ratio of direct stress to the corresponding volumetric strain when a body is subjected to mutually perpendicular equal direct stresses within a certain limit of deformation.

10. Which of the following is true if the value of Poisson’s ratio is zero?
a) The material is perfectly plastic
b) There is no longitudinal strain in the material
c) The material is rigid
d) The longitudinal strain in the material is infinite
View Answer

Answer: c
Explanation: If Poisson’s ratio is zero, then the material is rigid.

11. E, G, K, and μ represent the elastic modulus, shear modulus, bulk modulus, and Poisson’s ratio, respectively. To express the stress-strain relations completely for this material, at least __________
a) Any two of the four must be known
b) All the four must be known
c) E, K, and μ must be known
d) E, G, and μ must be known
View Answer

Answer: a
Explanation: Since E = 2G(1 + μ) = 3K(1 – 2μ) = 9KG / (3K + G), knowing any two of these four allows for the calculation of the other two using the relations between them.

12. Which type of stress does in a reinforcement bar is taken by the concrete?
a) Compressive stress
b) Bending stress
c) Tensile stress
d) Shear stress
View Answer

Answer: a
Explanation: Concrete has the property of taking a good amount of compressive stress. So, in the reinforcement bar, the compressive stress is taken by the concrete.

13. Which stress comes when there is an eccentric load applied?
a) Bending stress
b) Shear stress
c) Tensile stress
d) Thermal stress
View Answer

Answer: a
Explanation: When there is an eccentric load, it means that the load is at some distance from the axis. This causes compression on one side and tension on the other, resulting in bending stress.

14. What is the process of heating the metal in the furnace to a temperature slightly above the upper critical temperature and cooling slowly in the furnace?
a) Tampering
b) Quenching
c) Normalizing
d) Annealing
View Answer

Answer: d
Explanation: Annealing is the process of heating the metal in the furnace to a temperature slightly above the upper critical temperature and cooling slowly in the furnace. It produces an even grain structure, reduces hardness, and increases ductility usually at a reduction of strength.

15. Which of the following materials is most likely to fail in shear?
a) Wood
b) Concrete
c) Rubber
d) Steel
View Answer

Answer: b
Explanation: Concrete is more likely to fail in shear due to its brittle nature compared to other materials.

16. What is the primary failure mode for ductile materials?
a) Brittle fracture
b) Yielding
c) Shear failure
d) Fatigue
View Answer

Answer: b
Explanation: Ductile materials typically fail through yielding, where they undergo plastic deformation before fracture.

17. What happens to the tensile strength of a material as temperature increases?
a) It remains constant
b) It decreases
c) It fluctuates
d) It increases
View Answer

Answer: b
Explanation: Generally, the tensile strength of most materials decreases as temperature increases, as the material becomes more ductile and less stiff.

18. What is shear stress?
a) Force per unit area acting perpendicular to the surface
b) The product of stress and strain
c) The change in shape due to applied load
d) Force per unit area acting parallel to the surface
View Answer

Answer: d
Explanation: Shear stress is defined as the force per unit area acting parallel to the surface of a material.

19. Which of the following stresses is produced due to axial loads?
a) Bending stress
b) Tensile and compressive stress
c) Shear stress
d) Thermal stress
View Answer

Answer: b
Explanation: Axial loads produce tensile or compressive stress depending on the direction of the load applied to the material.
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20. What is the formula for calculating stress?
a) Stress = Area / Force
b) Stress = Mass × Acceleration
c) Stress = Force × Area
d) Stress = Force / Area
View Answer

Answer: d
Explanation: Stress is calculated by dividing the applied force by the area over which the force is distributed (Stress = Force / Area).

21. Which type of stress is primarily concerned with twisting forces?
a) Shear stress
b) Tensile stress
c) Compressive stress
d) Bending stress
View Answer

Answer: a
Explanation: Shear stress is the type of stress that occurs when a twisting or lateral force is applied to a material.

22. In a tensile test, what is the term for the maximum stress that a material can withstand before breaking?
a) Yield strength
b) Ultimate tensile strength
c) Fatigue strength
d) Elastic limit
View Answer

Answer: b
Explanation: The ultimate tensile strength is the maximum stress a material can withstand before it breaks during a tensile test.

23. What does “fatigue” in materials refer to?
a) Gradual failure under repeated loading and unloading cycles
b) Failure due to a single application of stress
c) Instantaneous fracture
d) Deformation due to temperature changes
View Answer

Answer: a
Explanation: Fatigue refers to the gradual failure of a material under repeated loading and unloading cycles, often leading to fracture even at stress levels below the material’s ultimate strength.

24. What are the units of true strain?
a) No dimensions
b) Kg/ m3
c) Kg/m2
d) N/mm
View Answer

Answer: a
Explanation: As we know strain is the ratio of change in dimension to the original dimension. It is denoted by “e”. Metres/metres hence no dimensions.

25. What is a common failure mechanism for ductile materials under load?
a) Plastic deformation followed by necking
b) Sudden fracture
c) Fatigue
d) Corrosion
View Answer

Answer: a
Explanation: Ductile materials typically undergo plastic deformation and necking before fracture, allowing them to absorb significant energy before failing.

26. Which of the following statements is true about thermal stress?
a) It is caused by changes in temperature
b) It only occurs in metals
c) It is always compressive
d) It has no effect on material behavior
View Answer

Answer: a
Explanation: Thermal stress is caused by changes in temperature that lead to expansion or contraction of a material, which can induce stress if the material is restrained.

27. A composite bar of two sections of equal length and equal diameter is under an axial pull of 10kN. What will be the stresses in the two sections?
a) 2.21 N/mm2
b) 3.18 N/mm2
c) 2.14 N/mm2
d) 3.45 N/mm2
View Answer

Answer: b
Explanation: The stress = P/A
Where P = 1000N and A is the respective cross section area of the sections. Here the stress will be equal in both the sections as the dimensions are the same.

28. A mild steel wire 5mm in diameter and 1m long. If the wire is subjected to an axial tensile load of 10kN, what will be its extension?
a) 3.15mm
b) 2.55mm
c) 2.65mm
d) 2.45mm
View Answer

Answer: b
Explanation: As change in length = PL/AE
P = 10x 1000N, L = 1m, A = πd2/4 = 1.963 x 10-5 m2, E = 200 x 109 N/m2.

29. Which of the following forces do not act on the dam?
a) Uplift
b) Wave pressure
c) Creep pressure
d) Silt pressure
View Answer

Answer: c
Explanation: Among the above forces, creep pressure does not act on the dam. Generally on gravity dam, a number of forces such as water pressure, wave pressure, wind pressure, ice pressure, etc. will be acting in a horizontal direction. In the same way, uplift and self-weight act in vertical direction.

30. A beam has a triangular cross-section, having altitude “h” and base “b”. If the section is being subjected to a shear force “F”, calculate the shear stress at the level of neutral axis in the cross-section.
a) 4F/5bh
b) 8F/3bh
c) 4F/3bh
d) 3F/4bh
View Answer

Answer: b
Explanation: For a triangular section subjected to a shear force, the shear stress at the neutral axis is
= 4/3 × average shear stress
= 4/3 × F/A/2; A = bh
= 8F/3bh.

31. What is the modulus of resilience?
a) The ratio of proof resilience to the modulus of elasticity
b) The ratio of proof resilience to volume
c) The ratio of resilience to volume
d) The ratio of proof resilience to the strain energy
View Answer

Answer: b
Explanation: The modulus of resilience is the proof resilience per unit volume. It is denoted by σ.

32. What is strain energy?
a) The work done by the applied load in stretching the body
b) The strain per unit volume
c) The stress per unit area
d) The force applied in stretching the body
View Answer

Answer: a
Explanation: The strain energy stored in a body is equal to the work done by the applied load in stretching the body.

33. Where will the centre of gravity of a uniform rod lie?
a) At its end
b) At its centre of its cross-sectional area
c) At its middle point
d) Depends upon its material
View Answer

Answer: c
Explanation: The centre of gravity of a uniform rod lies at its middle point. The whole weight of the rod acts through its middle point.

34. What is the formula of radius of gyration?
a) k2 = (I/A)1/2
b) k2 = I2/A
c) k2 = I2/A2
d) k2 = I/A
View Answer

Answer: d
Explanation: The radius of gyration of a body about an axis is a distance such that its square multiplied by the area gives moment of inertia of the area about the given axis. The formula of radius of gyration is given as k2 = I/A.

35. What is the moment of inertia of a triangular section about the base?
a) bh3/6
b) bh2/6
c) bh2/12
d) bh3/12
View Answer

Answer: d
Explanation: The moment of inertia of a triangular section about the base is bh3/12.

36. What is the other name for a positive bending moment?
a) Sagging
b) Hogging
c) Contraflexure
d) Inflation
View Answer

Answer: a
Explanation: The bending moment at a section is considered to be positive when it causes convexity downwards such bending moment is called sagging bending moment positive bending moment.

37. What is the bending moment at end supports of a simply supported beam?
a) Uniform
b) Zero
c) Minimum
d) Maximum
View Answer

Answer: b
Explanation: At the end supports, the moment (couple) developed is zero, because there is no distance to take the perpendicular acting load. As the distance is zero, the moment is obviously zero.

38. Which of the following is not a failure of a rectangular dam?
a) Overturning
b) Foundation failure
c) Sliding
d) Toe erosion
View Answer

Answer: d
Explanation: Among the above failures, the toe erosion is not related to rectangular dams. Toe erosion is caused due to in some cases the spillway is constructed very near to the dam section inside circumstances the discharge water may erode the dam.

39. What are the units for section modulus?
a) m3
b) m4
c) m2
d) m
View Answer

Answer: a
Explanation: The ratio of moment of inertia to the distance to the extreme fibre is called modulus of section or section modulus. It is generally denoted by the letter Z. Section modulus is expressed in m3
Z = I/y
= m4/ m
= m3.

40. Which of the following is not a cross drainage work?
a) Level crossing
b) Aqueduct
c) Super passage
d) Head regulator
View Answer

Answer: d
Explanation: The head regulator is one of the canal regulation works. It can control the entry of silt into the canal. It can be used as a metre for measuring the discharge. It can shut out river floods.

41. Which of the following factors does NOT affect the strength of a material?
a) Load duration
b) Color of the material
c) Temperature
d) Material composition
View Answer

Answer: c
Explanation: The color of the material does not affect its strength; factors such as temperature, composition, and load duration do.

42. In which type of stress does a material experience compression along one axis while experiencing tension along another?
a) Shear stress
b) Bending stress
c) Thermal stress
d) Axial stress
View Answer

Answer: b
Explanation: Bending stress causes a material to experience compression on one side and tension on the other side due to the bending moment.

43. Which of the following materials is considered ductile?
a) Steel
b) Ceramics
c) Glass
d) Concrete
View Answer

Answer: a
Explanation: Steel is considered a ductile material because it can undergo significant plastic deformation before fracture.


Chapterwise Multiple Choice Questions on Strength of Materials

Strength of Materials MCQ - Multiple Choice Questions and Answers

Our 1000+ MCQs focus on all topics of the Strength of Materials subject, covering 100+ topics. This will help you to prepare for exams, contests, online tests, quizzes, viva-voce, interviews, and certifications. You can practice these MCQs chapter by chapter starting from the 1st chapter or you can jump to any chapter of your choice.
  1. Simple Stress and Strain
  2. Stresses in Members
  3. Strain Energy and Resilience
  4. Center of Gravity and Moment of Inertia
  5. Shear Force and Bending Moment
  6. Pure Bending
  7. Shear Stress
  8. Direct and Bending Stress
  9. Dams Analysis
  10. Slope and Deflection
  11. Indeterminate Beams
  12. Torsion
  13. Frames
  14. Thin Cylinders
  15. Thick Cylinder
  16. Columns and Struts
  17. Simple Connections

1. Simple Stress and Strain

The section contains multiple choice questions and answers on strain, elasticity, hookes law, stress and strain curves, elastic constant relationship, strain properties and constants.

  • Strain
  • Elasticity
  • Hooke’s Law
  • Stress & Strain Curve
  • Properties of Strain
  • Strain Constants – 1
  • Strain Constants – 2
  • Elastic Constants Relationship – 1
  • Elastic Constants Relationship – 2
  • 2. Stresses in Members

    The section contains questions and answers on stresses like bending, tensile, normal, compressive and thermal stresses, varying sections, superposition principle and composite section bars.

  • Normal & Shear Stress
  • Bending Stress
  • Tensile Stress
  • Compressive Stress
  • Thermal Stress
  • Stress due to Materials Used and Their Applications
  • Bars of Varying Sections
  • Principle of Superposition
  • Bars of Composite Sections – 1
  • Bars of Composite Sections – 2
  • 3. Strain Energy and Resilience

    The section contains MCQs on strain energy definition, resilience, sudden, gradual and impact loadings.

  • Definition of Strain Energy
  • Resilience
  • Sudden Loading
  • Gradual Loading
  • Impact Loading
  • 4. Center of Gravity and Moment of Inertia

    The section contains multiple choice questions and answers on centre of gravity, section gravity center, moment and mass moment of inertia.

  • Center of Gravity
  • Center of Gravity of Section
  • Moment of Inertia
  • Moment of Inertia of Section
  • Mass Moment of Inertia
  • 5. Shear Force and Bending Moment

    The section contains questions and answers on beams types and loads, shear force, supports types, maximum shear force and bending moment.

  • Types of Beams and Loads
  • Introduction to Shear Force and Bending Moment
  • Types of Supports
  • Maximum Shear Force
  • Maximum Bending Moment
  • Shear Force and Bending Moment Diagram
  • 6. Pure Bending

    The section contains MCQs on bending equation, pure bending stress, section modulus, bending stress in unsymmetrical sections, composite or flitched beams.

  • Bending Equation
  • Pure Bending Stress
  • Section Modulus
  • Strength of Section due to Section Modulus
  • Bending Stress in Unsymmetrical Sections
  • Composite or Flitched Beams
  • 7. Shear Stress

    The section contains multiple choice questions and answers on shear stress basics, shear stress distribution in various sections and maximum shear stresses.

  • Introduction to Shear Stress
  • Shear Stress Distribution in Various Sections
  • Maximum Shear Stress – 1
  • Maximum Shear Stress – 2
  • 8. Direct and Bending Stress

    The section contains questions and answers on combined stress, section kernel, bending stress due to eccentric loading and also loading in both directions.

  • Combined Stress
  • Bending Stress Due to Eccentric Loading
  • Bending Stress Due to Eccentric Loading in Both Directions
  • Kernel of a Section
  • 9. Dams Analysis

    The section contains MCQs on dams, rectangular dam and its analysis, dams stability analysis, trapezoidal dams as vertical and inclined side phase.

  • Dams
  • Rectangular Dam
  • Rectangular Dam Analysis
  • Trapezoidal Dam as Vertical Side Phase
  • Trapezoidal Dam as Inclined Side Phase
  • Dams Stability Analysis
  • 10. Slope and Deflection

    The section contains multiple choice questions and answers on slope, deflection, various beams analysis, simply supported and cantilever deflections.

  • Slope
  • Deflection
  • Deflection of Cantilever
  • Deflection of Simply Supported
  • Analyse Slope of Various Beams
  • 11. Indeterminate Beams

    The section contains questions and answers on analyse and deflection of propped cantilever and fixed beam, intermediate beam analyse and continuous beam deflection.

  • Analyse Propped Cantilever
  • Deflection of Propped Cantilever
  • Analyse Fixed Beam
  • Deflection of Fixed Beam
  • Analyse Indeterminate Beam
  • Deflection of Continuous Beam
  • 12. Torsion

    The section contains MCQs on torque definition, torsion equation, shear stress, polar moment of inertia, polar modulus, combined bending, power and composite shaft.

  • Definition of Torque
  • Torsion Equation
  • Shear Stress and Twisting Moment
  • Polar Moment of Inertia
  • Polar Modulus and Torsional Rigidity
  • Combined Bending and Torsion
  • Power of Shaft
  • Composite Shaft
  • 13. Frames

    The section contains multiple choice questions and answers on frames stresses.

  • Stresses in Frames – 1
  • Stresses in Frames – 2
  • 14. Thin Cylinders

    The section contains questions and answers on thin cylinders, thin cylinders due to hoop and longitudinal stresses, thin cylinder under strain and stress, thin spherical shells under strain and stress.

  • Thin Cylinders
  • Thin Cylinder Internal Pressure
  • Thin Cylinder Due to Hoop Stress
  • Thin Cylinder Due to Longitudinal Stress
  • Thin Cylinder Due to Longitudinal Stress on Surface of Cylinder
  • Thin Cylinder Under Strain
  • Thin Cylinder with Maximum Shear Stress
  • Thin Spherical Shells Under Stress
  • Thin Spherical Shells Under Strain
  • 15. Thick Cylinder

    The section contains MCQs on thick cylinder shell and trusses.

  • Thick Cylinder Shell
  • Trusses – 1
  • Trusses – 2
  • 17. Simple Connections

    The section contains questions and answers on rivet joint, rivet lap joint and strain energy.

  • Rivet Joint
  • Rivet Lap Joint
  • Strain Energy
  • If you would like to learn "Strength of Materials" thoroughly, you should attempt to work on the complete set of 1000+ MCQs - multiple choice questions and answers mentioned above. It will immensely help anyone trying to crack an exam or an interview.

    Wish you the best in your endeavor to learn and master Strength of Materials!

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