Module 1

MECHANICS OF DEFORMABLE
BODIES

In this Module

• Introduction to Mechanics of Deformable Bodies

Learning Outcomes:
1. Discuss concepts of Mechanics of Deformable Bodies.
2. Explain the difference between rigid bodies and deformable bodies
3. Recall the concept of equations of equilibrium.
4. Solve resultant internal loadings.

Are you ready? Then start the lesson now!

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Mechanics of Deformable Bodies
Engr. Ian M. Estose
 MECHANICS OF DEFORMABLE BODIES
It is a branch of mechanics that studies the internal effects of stress and strain in a solid
body that is subjected to an external loading. Stress is associated with the strength of
material from which the body is make, while strain is a measure of the deformation of the
body.
In mechanics of rigid bodies, it does not consider the internal effects that the body
experiences due to external loading. In mechanics of deformable bodies, stress and
strain of the body will be discussed.

Common terms used in this subject:

1. Engineering mechanics – branch of physics that deals with forces and effects of
these forces to the body.
2. Force – push or pull caused by interactions of the body.
3. Rigid body – a body that does not deform.
4. Deformable body – deforms when applied by force.
5. Equilibrium – opposing forces are balanced.
6. Stress – intensity of the applied force on the body.
7. Strain – measure of the deformation of the body.
8. Deformation – change in shape of the body due to weight and applied load.

Strength of Materials
➢ It is a mechanical property.
➢ Ability of the body to withstand force or load without failure.
➢ Against stress, it is numerically equal to the max stress of the body. For safety
reason, actual stress must be less than the strength by applying “factor of safety”.

Distinction between Mechanics of Rigid Bodies, Elastic Bodies & Plastic Bodies
Rigid Materials Plastic Materials Elastic Materials
Undergoes Undergoes
Applying load Does not deform
deformation deformation
Doesn’t come back Comes back to its
Shape & size
Removal of load to its original shape original shape &
remains unchanged
& size size
Permanent Temporary
Deformation none
deformation deformation

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Mechanics of Deformable Bodies
Engr. Ian M. Estose
Equilibrium of a Deformable Body
Because statics plays such a crucial role in both the development and application of
mechanics of materials, it is critical to understand its principles. As a result, we’ll go over
some of the past important statics concepts that will be discussed.
External load – a body is subjected to only two types of external loads; surface forces or
body forces.
1. Surface force - are caused by the direct contact of one body with the surface of
another. In all cases these forces are distributed over the area of contact between
the bodies. If this area is small in comparison with the total surface area of the
body, then the surface force can be idealized as a single concentrated force,
which is applied to a point on the body. For example, the force of the ground on
the wheels of a bicycle can be considered as a concentrated force. If the surface
loading is applied along a narrow strip of area, the loading can be idealized as a
linear distributed load, w(s). Here the loading is measured as having an intensity
of force/length along the strip and is represented graphically by a series of arrows
along the line s. The resultant force FR of w(s) is equivalent to the area under
the distributed loading curve, and this resultant acts through the centroid C
or geometric center of this area. The loading along the length of a beam is a
typical example of where this idealization is often applied.

2. Body force - is developed when one body exerts a force on another body without
direct physical contact between the bodies. Examples include the effects caused
by the earth’s gravitation or its electromagnetic field. Although body forces affect
each of the particles composing the body, these forces are normally represented
by a single concentrated force acting on the body. In the case of gravitation, this
force is called the weight of the body and acts through the body’s center of gravity.

Figure 1-1

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Mechanics of Deformable Bodies
Engr. Ian M. Estose
Support Reactions
The surface forces that develop at the supports or points of contact between bodies are
called reactions. For two – dimensional problems, i.e., bodies subjected to coplanar force
systems, the supports most commonly encountered are shown in Table 1–1. Note
carefully the symbol used to represent each support and the type of reactions it exerts on
its contacting member. As a general rule, if the support prevents translation in a given
direction, then a force must be developed on the member in that direction.
Likewise, if rotation is prevented, a couple moment must be exerted on the
member. For example, the roller support only prevents translation perpendicular or
normal to the surface. Hence, the roller exerts a normal force F on the member at its point
of contact. Since the member can freely rotate about the roller, a couple moment cannot
be developed on the member.

Equations of Equilibrium
Equilibrium of a body requires both a balance of forces, to prevent the body from
translating or having accelerated motion along a straight or curved path, and a balance
of moments, to prevent the body from rotating. These conditions can be expressed
mathematically by two vector equations
𝑭=𝟎
 𝑴𝒐 = 𝟎

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Mechanics of Deformable Bodies
Engr. Ian M. Estose
Here, F represents the sum of all the forces acting on the body, and Mo is the sum of
the moments of all the forces about any point O either on or off the body. If an x, y, z
coordinate system is established with the origin at point O, the force and moment vectors
can be resolved into components along each coordinate axis and the above two
equations can be written in scalar form as six equations, namely,
 𝑭𝒙 = 𝟎
 𝑴𝒙 = 𝟎
 𝑭𝒚 = 𝟎
 𝑴𝒚 = 𝟎
 𝑭𝒛 = 𝟎
 𝑴𝒛 = 𝟎
Often in engineering practice the loading on a body can be represented as a system of
coplanar forces. If this is the case, and the forces lie in the x–y plane, then the conditions
for equilibrium of the body can be specified with only three scalar equilibrium equations;
that is,
 𝑭𝒙 = 𝟎
 𝑭𝒚 = 𝟎
 𝑴𝒐 = 𝟎

Internal Resultant Loadings

In mechanics of materials, statics is primarily used to determine the resultant loadings
that act within a body. For example, consider the body shown in Fig. 1–2a, which is held
in equilibrium by the four external forces. In order to obtain the internal loadings acting on
a specific region within the body, it is necessary to pass an imaginary section or “cut”
through the region where the internal loadings are to be determined. The two parts of the
body are then separated, and a free-body diagram of one of the parts is drawn,Fig. 1–2b.
Notice that there is actually a distribution of internal force acting on the “exposed” area of
the section. These forces represent the effects of the material of the top part of the body
acting on the adjacent material of the bottom part.
Although the exact distribution of this internal loading may be unknown, we can use the
equations of equilibrium to relate the external forces on the bottom part of the body to the
distribution’s resultant force and moment, FR and MRo, at any specific point O on the
sectioned area, Fig. 1–2c. It will be shown in later portions of the text that point O is most
often chosen at the centroid of the sectioned area, and so we will always choose this
location for O, unless otherwise stated. Also, if a member is long and slender, as in the
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Mechanics of Deformable Bodies
Engr. Ian M. Estose
case of a rod or beam, the section to be considered is generally taken perpendicular to
the longitudinal axis of the member. This section is referred to as the cross section.

Figure 1 - 2

Three Dimensions. Later in this text we will show how to relate the resultant loadings,
and to the distribution of force on the sectioned area, and thereby develop equations that
can be used for analysis and design. To do this, however, the components of and acting
both normal and perpendicular to the sectioned area must be considered, Fig. 1–2d. Four
different types of resultant loadings can then be defined as follows:
Normal force, N. This force acts perpendicular to the area. It is developed whenever the
external loads tend to push or pull on the two segments of the body.
Shear force, V. The shear force lies in the plane of the area and it is developed when the
external loads tend to cause the two segments of the body to slide over one another.
Torsional moment or torque, T. This effect is developed when the external loads tend
to twist one segment of the body with respect to the other about an axis perpendicular to
the area.
Bending moment, M. The bending moment is caused by the external loads that tend to
bend the body about an axis lying within the plane of the area.

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Mechanics of Deformable Bodies
Engr. Ian M. Estose
In this text, note that graphical representation of a moment or torque is shown in three
dimensions as a vector with an associated curl. By the righthand rule, the thumb gives
the arrowhead sense of this vector and the fingers or curl indicate the tendency for rotation
(twisting or bending).

Figure 1-3

Coplanar Loadings. If the body is subjected to a coplanar system of forces, Fig. 1–3a,
then only normal-force, shear-force, and bending- moment components will exist at the
section, Fig. 1–3b. If we use the x, y, z coordinate axes, as shown on the left segment,
then N can be obtained by applying Fx = 0 and V can be obtained from Fy = 0. Finally,
the bending moment Mo can be determined by summing moments about point O (the z
axis), Mo = 0, in order to eliminate the moments caused by the unknowns N and V.

Procedure for Analysis

The resultant internal loadings at a point located on the section of a body can be obtained
using the method of sections. This requires the following steps.
Support Reactions
➢ First decide which segment of the body is to be considered. If the segment has a
support or connection to another body, then before the body is sectioned, it will be
necessary to determine the reactions acting on the chosen segment. To do this
draw the free body diagram of the entire body and then apply the necessary
equations of equilibrium to obtain these reactions.
Free-Body Diagram

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Mechanics of Deformable Bodies
Engr. Ian M. Estose
 ➢ Keep all external distributed loadings, couple moments, torques, and forces in their
exact locations, before passing an imaginary section through the body at the point
where the resultant internal loadings are to be determined.
➢ Draw a free-body diagram of one of the “cut” segments and indicate the unknown
resultants N, V, M, and T at the section. These resultants are normally placed at
the point representing the geometric center or centroid of the sectioned area.
➢ If the member is subjected to a coplanar system of forces, only N, V, and M act at
the centroid.
➢ Establish the x, y, z coordinate axes with origin at the centroid and show the
resultant internal loadings acting along the axes.
Equations of Equilibrium
➢ Moments should be summed at the section, about each of the coordinate axes
where the resultants act. Doing this eliminates the unknown forces N and V and
allows a direct solution for M (and T).
➢ If the solution of the equilibrium equations yields a negative value for a resultant,
the assumed directional sense of the resultant is opposite to that shown on the
free-body diagram.

SAMPLE PROBLEMS
1. Determine the resultant internal loadings acting on the cross section at C of the
cantilevered beam shown in Fig. 1–4a.

Figure 1-4

Find: resultant internal loadings (N, V, M)

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Mechanics of Deformable Bodies
Engr. Ian M. Estose
SOLUTION:
Support Reactions. The support reactions at A do not have to be determined if segment
CB is considered.
Free-Body Diagram. The free-body diagram of segment CB is shown in Fig. 1–4b. It is
important to keep the distributed loading on the segment until after the section is made.
Only then should this loading be replaced by a single resultant force. Notice that the
intensity of the distributed loading at C is found by proportion, i.e., from Fig. 1–4a,
𝑤 270 𝑁/𝑚
=
6𝑚 9𝑚
𝑤 = 180 𝑁/𝑚
The magnitude of the resultant of the distributed load is equal to the area under the
loading curve (triangle) and acts through the centroid of this area. Thus,
1 𝑁
𝐹= (6𝑚) (180 ) = 540 𝑁
2 𝑚
which acts 1/3 (6m) = 2m from C as shown in Fig. 1–4b.
Equations of Equilibrium. Applying the equations of equilibrium, we have
+ Fx = 0; -Nc = 0
Nc = 0 (Normal Force)
+ Fy = 0; Vc – 540 N = 0
Vc = 540 N (Shear Force)
+ Mc = 0; -Mc – 540 N (2m) = 0
Mc = -1080 N.m (Bending Moment)
NOTE: The negative sign indicates that acts in the opposite direction to that shown on
the free-body diagram. Try solving this problem using segment AC, by first obtaining the
support reactions at A, which are given in Fig. 1–4c.

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Mechanics of Deformable Bodies
Engr. Ian M. Estose
 2. The 500-kg engine is suspended from the crane boom in Fig. 1–5a. Determine the
resultant internal loadings acting on the cross section of the boom at point E.

(a) (b) (c)

Figure 1-5

SOLUTION:
Support Reactions. We will consider segment AE of the boom so we must first determine
the pin reactions at A. Notice that member CD is a two-force member. The free-body
diagram of the boom is shown in Fig. 1–5b. Applying the equations of equilibrium,
3 𝑚
+ MA = 0; 𝐹𝐶𝐷 (5) (2𝑚) − [500 𝑘𝑔 (9.81 𝑠 2 )] (3𝑚) = 0

𝐹𝐶𝐷 = 12,262.5 𝑁
4
+ Fx = 0; 𝐴𝑥 − (12,262.5 𝑁) (5) = 0

𝐴𝑥 = 9810 𝑁
3
+ Fy = 0; −𝐴𝑦 + (12,262.5 𝑁) (5) − 500(9.81)𝑁 = 0

𝐴𝑦 = 2452.5 𝑁

Free-Body Diagram. The free-body diagram of segment AE is shown in Fig. 1–6c.

Equations of Equilibrium.
+ Fx = 0; 𝑁𝐸 + 9810 𝑁 = 0
𝑵𝑬 = −𝟗𝟖𝟏𝟎 𝑵 = −𝟗. 𝟖𝟏 𝒌𝑵

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Mechanics of Deformable Bodies
Engr. Ian M. Estose
+ Fy = 0; −𝑉𝐸 − 2452.5 𝑁 = 0
𝑽𝑬 = −𝟐𝟒𝟓𝟐. 𝟓 𝑵 = 𝟐. 𝟒𝟓 𝒌𝑵
+ MA = 0; 𝑀𝐸 + (2452.5 𝑁)(1 𝑚) = 0
𝑴𝑬 = −𝟐𝟒𝟓𝟐. 𝟓 𝑵. 𝒎 = −𝟐. 𝟒𝟓 𝒌𝑵. 𝒎

LESSON TEST
Answer the following problems. Show you solutions in a whole sheet of
paper. After answering the lesson test, send your answers to google
classroom.

1. A force of 60 N is supported by the bracket as shown. Determine the resultant

internal loadings acting on the section through point A.

60

2. Determine the resultant internal loadings in the beam at cross sections through
points D and E. Point E is just to the right of the 6-kip load.
6

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Mechanics of Deformable Bodies
Engr. Ian M. Estose