SESSION 5 – STRESSES IN BEAMS By Hooke’s law, ε = σ / E, then

5.1 BENDING (FLEXURAL) STRESS

a. Simplifying Assumptions
which means that the stress is proportional to the distance y from the neutral axis.
The stresses caused by the bending moment are known as bending stresses, or flexure stresses. The
relationship between these stresses and the bending moment is called the flexure formula. In deriving the
flexure formula, we make the following assumptions:

Considering a differential area dA at a distance y from N.A., the force acting over the area is:

1. The beam has an axial plane of symmetry, which we take to be the XY-plane.
The resultant of all the elemental moment about N.A. must be equal to the bending moment on the
2. The applied loads (such as F1, F2, and F3) lie in the plane of symmetry and are perpendicular to the
section.
axis of the beam (the x-axis).
3. The axis of the beam bends but does not stretch (the axis lies somewhere in the plane of symmetry;
its location will be determined later).
4. Plane sections of the beam remain plane (do not warp) and perpendicular to the deformed axis of the
beam.
5. Changes in the cross-sectional dimensions of the beam are negligible.
Therefore,
The above assumptions lead us to the following conclusion: Each cross section of the beam rotates as a
rigid entity about a line called the neutral axis of the cross section. The neutral axis passes through the
axis of the beam and The xz-plane that contains the neutral axes of all the cross sections is known as the
neutral surface of the beam. ,
A convenient form of this equation is
b. Compatibility

c. Flexure Formula and Section Modulus

Substituting the expression for 1 / 𝜌 into Equation 1, we get the flexure formula:

Note that a positive bending moment M causes negative (compressive) stress above the neutral axis and
Consider a fiber at a distance y from the neutral axis, because of the beam’s curvature, as the effect of positive (tensile) stress below the neutral axis, as discussed previously. The maximum value of bending
bending moment, the fiber is stretched by an amount of cd. Since the curvature of the beam is very small, stress without regard to its sign is given by:
bcd and Oba are considered as similar triangles. The strain on this fiber is:
where Mmax is the largest bending moment in the beam regardless of sign, and c is the distance from
the neutral axis to the outermost point of the cross section, as illustrated in the Figure.

Where: V = shear force acting at the section

Q = represents the first moment of an area of the shaded section
where S = I / c is called the section modulus of the beam. The dimension of S is [L3], so that its units are For a standard rectangular section, we have a derived formula given by the equation of:
in.3, mm3, and so on.

5.2 ECONOMIC SECTIONS

A design engineer is often required to select the lightest standard structural shape (such as a W-shape)
that can carry a given loading in addition to the weight of the beam. Following is an outline of the selection
process:
1. Neglecting the weight of the beam, draw the bending moment diagram to find the largest bending
moment Mmax.
2. Determine the minimum allowable section modulus from Smin = Mmax / σw, where σw is the working Situation 1: Find the maximum bending stress in the rectangular wooden beam. Answer 1125psi
stress.
3. Choose the lightest shape from the list of structural shapes (such as in Appendix B) for which S ≥ Smin
and note its weight.
4. Calculate the maximum bending stress σmax in the selected beam caused by the prescribed loading
plus the weight of the beam. If σmax ≤ σw, the selection is finished. Otherwise, the second-lightest shape
with S ≥ Smin must be considered and the maximum bending stress recalculated. The process must be
repeated until a satisfactory shape is found.

5.3 HORIZONTAL SHEARING STRESS IN BEAMS

If a beam were composed of many thin layers placed on one another, bending would produce the effect
shown in Figure below. The separate layers would slide past one another, and the total bending strength
of the beam would be the sum of the strengths of the individual layers. Such a built-up beam would be
considerably weaker than a solid beam of equivalent dimensions.

From the above observation, we conclude that the horizontal layers in a solid beam are prevented from
sliding by shear stresses that act between the layers. It is this shear stress that causes the beam to act
as an integral unit rather than as a stack of individual layers.
Situation 2: The box beam is made by nailing four 2-in. by 8-in. planks together as shown. (b) Given that
w0 = 300 lb/ft, find the largest allowable force P if the bending stress is limited to 1400 psi. Answer 6680lb

Situation 3: The square timber used as a railroad tie carries two uniformly distributed loads, each totaling
48 kN. The reaction from the ground is uniformly distributed. Determine the smallest allowable dimension
b of the section if the bending stress in timber is limited to 8 MPa. Answer 165.1mm
Situation 4: Determine the maximum tensile and compressive bending stresses in the beam shown.
Answer 8.35MPa, 10.26MPa

Situation 5: The inverted T-beam supports three concentrated loads as shown in the fig ure. Find the
maximum allowable value of P if the bending stresses are not to exceed 3.5 ksi in tension and 8 ksi in
compression. Answer 2021lb
Situation 6: Find the lightest W-shape for the simply supported beam if the working stress in bending is
18 ksi. What is the actual maximum bending stress in the beam selected? Answer W24x68, 15.64ksi

Situation 7: The inverted T-beam supports three concentrated loads as shown in the figure. Find the
maximum allowable value of P if the bending stresses are not to exceed 3.5 ksi in tension and 8 ksi in
compression. Answer 2021lb
Situation 8: The beam is built up of 1/4-in. vertical plywood strips separated by wood blocks. Determine
the vertical shear force that causes a maximum shear stress of 200 psi. Answer 1482lb

Situation 9: The manufactured wood beam carries the concentrated loads shown. What is the maximum
safe value of P if the working stress in shear is 6 MPa? Answer 13.68kN
Situation 10: The concentrated load P travels across the 8-m span of the wooden beam which has the
cross section shown. If the working stresses for wood are 20 MPa in bending and 5 MPa in shear,
determine the largest allowable value of P. Answer 28.7kN

Situation 11: The cast iron inverted T-section supports two concentrated loads of magnitude P. The
working stresses are 48 MPa in tension, 140 MPa in compression, and 30 MPa in shear. Find the
maximum allowable value of P. Answer 11.73kN