Axial Members

Ilaksh Adlakha
Department of Applied Mechanics, IIT Madras
 Topics

Force – deformation relations

Prismatic bars
Bars with varying c/s
Statically determinate structures
Superposition principals
Statically indeterminate structures
Compatibility Equation
Strain energy for axial members

AM2200 (July-Nov. 2022), Ilaksh Adlakha ilaksh.adlakha@iitm.ac.in

 Load-deformation relation: Prismatic member

AM2200 (July-Nov. 2022), Ilaksh Adlakha ilaksh.adlakha@iitm.ac.in

 Load-deformation relation: Multiple Axial force
Equilibrium equations from FBD

Force-deformation relations

Total deformation

All deformation are along same direction

FBD

AM2200 (July-Nov. 2022), Ilaksh Adlakha ilaksh.adlakha@iitm.ac.in

 Load-deformation relation: Axial force diagram
Internal Axial Force Diagram

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 Load-deformation relation: Spring analogy

𝑃𝐿 𝐸𝐴 The constant k is called the stiffness of the spring and is defined as

𝛿= 𝑃= 𝛿 the force required to produce a unit elongation.
𝐸𝐴 𝐿
𝑷
𝒌= .
𝜹
The constant f is known as the flexibility and is defined as the
elongation produced by a load of unit value, that is,
𝜹
𝒇= .
𝑷

AM2200 (July-Nov. 2022), Ilaksh Adlakha ilaksh.adlakha@iitm.ac.in

 Load-deformation relation: Stepped bar

AM2200 (July-Nov. 2022), Ilaksh Adlakha ilaksh.adlakha@iitm.ac.in

 Problem: 01
Determine the deformation of the steel rod under the given loads
L3 L2 L1 (E= 200 GPa; L2 =L3=12cm; A1=A2=1cm2; L1=16cm;A1 =0.5cm2)

30 kN
75 kN 45 kN

AM2200 (July-Nov. 2022), Ilaksh Adlakha ilaksh.adlakha@iitm.ac.in

 Problem 02
A Solid circular bars of brass (Ebr = 100 GPa, 𝜈br = 0.34) and aluminium (Eal = 70 GPa, 𝜈al = 0.33) having 200mm
diameter are attached to a steel tube (Est = 210 GPa, 𝜈st = 0.3) of the same outer diameter, as shown. For the
loading shown determine: (a) The movement of the plate at C with respect to the plate at A.
(b) The change in diameter of the brass cylinder.
(c) The maximum inner diameter to the nearest ‘mm’ in the steel tube if the factor of safety with respect to failure
due to yielding is to be at least 1.2. The yield stress for steel is 250 MPa in tension.
PLAN
(a) Take sections at each segment and determine the
internal axial forces by equilibrium. Then find the relative
movements of the cross sections at B w.r.t A and at C w.r.t
B and add these two relative displacements to obtain the
relative movement of the cross section at C w.r.t A.

(b) The normal stress in AB can be obtained and the strain using Hooke’s law and Poisson ratio. Multiplying the
transverse strain with the diameter, obtain the change in diameter.
(c) Calculate the allowable axial stress in steel from the given failure values and factor of safety. Knowing the internal
force in CD one can find the cross-sectional area from which calculate the internal diameter.

AM2200 (July-Nov. 2022), Ilaksh Adlakha ilaksh.adlakha@iitm.ac.in

 Problem 02
The cross-sectional areas of segment AB and BC are

Take sections at segments AB, BC, and CD and draw the FBD as
shown. By equilibrium of forces we obtain the internal axial force

We can find the relative movement of point B w.r.t. point A, and C w.r.t. B

AM2200 (July-Nov. 2022), Ilaksh Adlakha ilaksh.adlakha@iitm.ac.in

 Problem 02

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 Problem 02

AM2200 (July-Nov. 2022), Ilaksh Adlakha ilaksh.adlakha@iitm.ac.in

 Problem 03
Draw the axial force diagram for the axial member shown and calculate the movement of the section at C with
respect to the section at A.

N (kN)

AM2200 (July-Nov. 2022), Ilaksh Adlakha ilaksh.adlakha@iitm.ac.in

 Members with constantly Varying C/S & Load
Assumptions: ❑ Linearly elastic materials with a modulus of elasticity E constant.
❑ Stress distribution is uniform over every cross section. This
assumption is valid for prismatic bars, but not for tapered bars,
and gives satisfactory results for a tapered bar only if the angle
between the sides of the bar is small.

𝑁 𝑥 𝑑𝛿
𝜎= 𝜖=
𝐴 𝑥 𝑑𝑥

𝑁 𝑥 𝑑𝑥
The elongation 𝑑𝛿 of the differential element may be obtained from the equation 𝛿 = by substituting N(x) for P(x),
𝐸𝐴 𝑥
dx for L, and A(x) for A.

AM2200 (July-Nov. 2022), Ilaksh Adlakha ilaksh.adlakha@iitm.ac.in

 Problem 04
A rectangular aluminium bar (Eal = 10,000 ksi, 𝜈al= 0.25)
consists of a uniform and tapered cross section. The depth in
the tapered section varies as h(x) = 2(2 − 0.02x) in.
Determine the elongation of the bar under the applied load, P
= kips (1 kip = 4448.2 N).

We can take sections in segments AB and BC to obtain the FBD.

The force equilibrium

The relative movement of point C with respect to point B is

AM2200 (July-Nov. 2022), Ilaksh Adlakha ilaksh.adlakha@iitm.ac.in

 Problem 4 (contd.)
For segment AB can be written as

Integrating we obtain the relative displacement of B with respect to A:

We obtain the relative displacement of C with respect to A by adding Equations

We note that point A is fixed to the wall, and thus uA = 0.

AM2200 (July-Nov. 2022), Ilaksh Adlakha ilaksh.adlakha@iitm.ac.in

 Problem 5
A member is made from a material that has a specific weight, 𝛾 and modulus of elasticity E.
If it is in the form of a cone having the dimensions shown, determine how far its end is
displaced due to gravity when it is suspended in the vertical position.

Radius x of the cone as a function of y is determined by proportion,

𝑥 𝑟𝑜 𝑟𝑜
= ; 𝑥= 𝑦
𝑦 𝐿 𝐿

The volume of a cone having a base of radius x and height y is

𝜋 2 𝜋𝑟𝑜2 3
𝑉 = 𝑦𝑥 = 2 𝑦
3 3𝐿

The area of the c/s of the cone having at a height y is

𝜋𝑟𝑜2 2
𝐴 𝑦 = 𝜋𝑥 2 = 2 𝑦
𝐿

AM2200 (July-Nov. 2022), Ilaksh Adlakha ilaksh.adlakha@iitm.ac.in

 Problem 5 (contd.)
Since , 𝑊 = 𝛾𝑉. the internal force at the section becomes:

𝛾𝜋𝑟𝑜2 3
+↑ ෍ 𝐹𝑦 = 0; 𝑃 𝑦 = 𝑦
3𝐿2

Between the limits of y =0 and y=L yields:

𝐿 𝐿
𝑃 𝑦 𝑑𝑦 𝛾𝜋𝑟𝑜2 Τ3𝐿2 𝑑𝑦 𝛾𝐿2
𝛿=න =න = (Ans)
𝐴 𝑦 𝐸 𝛾𝜋𝑟𝑜2 Τ𝐿2 𝐸 6𝐸
0 0

AM2200 (July-Nov. 2022), Ilaksh Adlakha ilaksh.adlakha@iitm.ac.in

 Strain Energy

AM2200 (July-Nov. 2022), Ilaksh Adlakha ilaksh.adlakha@iitm.ac.in

 Problem 6
Three round bars having the same length L but different shapes as shown. The first bar has diameter d over its entire
length, the second has diameter d over one-fifth of its length, and the third has diameter d over one-fifteenth of its
length. Elsewhere, the second and third bars have diameter 2d. All three bars are subjected to the same axial load P.
Compare the amounts of strain energy stored in the bars, assuming linearly elastic behavior. (Disregard the effects of
stress concentrations and the weights of the bars.)

AM2200 (July-Nov. 2022), Ilaksh Adlakha ilaksh.adlakha@iitm.ac.in

 Notes

❑ The strain energy decreases as the part of the bar with the larger area increases.
❑ If the same amount of work is applied to all three bars, the highest stress will be in the third bar, because the
third bar has the least energy-absorbing capacity. If the region having diameter d is made even smaller, the
energy-absorbing capacity will decrease further.
❑ When the loads are dynamic and the ability to absorb energy is important, the presence of grooves is very
damaging.
❑ In the case of static loads, the maximum stresses are more important than the ability to absorb energy. In this
example, all three bars have the same maximum stress P/A (provided stress concentrations are alleviated), and
therefore all three bars have the same load-carrying capacity when the load is applied statically.

AM2200 (July-Nov. 2022), Ilaksh Adlakha ilaksh.adlakha@iitm.ac.in

 Problem 7
Determine the strain energy of a prismatic bar suspended from its upper end. Consider the
following loads:
(a) the weight of the bar itself, and
(b) the weight of the bar plus a load P at the lower end. (Assume linearly elastic behaviour.)

• The first term in this expression is the same as the strain energy of a bar hanging under its own weight and the
last term is the same as the strain energy of a bar subjected only to an axial force P.
• The middle term contains both 𝛾 and P, showing that it depends upon both the weight of the bar and the
magnitude of the applied load.
• This example illustrates that the strain energy of a bar subjected to two loads is not equal to the sum of the strain
energies produced by the individual loads acting separately.
AM2200 (July-Nov. 2022), Ilaksh Adlakha ilaksh.adlakha@iitm.ac.in
 Statically Indeterminate case

Statically indeterminate: When the force equilibrium equations alone cannot determine the solution, or solve the
problem completely, the structural member is called statically indeterminate.

❑ The problems in which the internal forces cannot be determined from the statics equilibrium conditions alone.
❑ In these problems the reactions themselves—which are external forces— cannot be determined by simply drawing a free-body
diagram of the member and writing the corresponding equilibrium equations.
❑ The equilibrium equations must be complemented by relations involving deformations obtained by considering the geometry of
the problem. Compatibility conditions at the constraint locations shall be used.

Statically Indeterminate
structures

Flexibility / Force Stiffness /

method Displacement method

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 Compatibility Approach

AM2200 (July-Nov. 2022), Ilaksh Adlakha ilaksh.adlakha@iitm.ac.in

 Problem 8

AM2200 (July-Nov. 2022), Ilaksh Adlakha ilaksh.adlakha@iitm.ac.in

 Problem 9

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 Problem 10
The assembly consists of two brass rods AB and CD of diameter 30 mm, a stainless-steel rod EF of diameter 40
mm, and rigid cap G. If supports at A, C, and F are rigid. Determine the average normal stress developed in the
rods.

AM2200 (July-Nov. 2022), Ilaksh Adlakha ilaksh.adlakha@iitm.ac.in