Department of Chemical Engineering

Strength of Materials for Chemical Engineers (0935381)

Chapter 2
Compound Bars
In certain applications it is necessary to use a combination of elements or bars made from
different materials, each material performing a different function, such as electric cables.

1-

Compound Bars Subjected to Common Changes in Length

When an external load W is applied to such a compound bar it is shared between the individual
component materials in proportions depending on their lengths, areas, and Youngs module.
A) Bars with Different Lengths
For nth member

En =

Stress Fn Ln
=
Strain An xn

Fn =

E n An xn
Ln

i =1

i =1

W = Fi =

Ei Ai xi
Li

Since common extension xi = x

n

W = x
i =1

Ei Ai
Li

W
Ei Ai

i =1 Li
Then the applied force on member number 1 can be calculated as:
x=

E1 A1W
n
EA
L1 i i
i =1 Li
And stress on the same member is calculated as follows:

1 =

F1 =

E1 A1 x
=
L1

F1
=
A1

E1 A1W
E1W
=
n
n
EA
EA
L1 A1 i i L1 i i
i =1 Li
i =1 Li

B) If both the extension and the original lengths of individual members of the compound
bar are the same we can find an equivalent or combined modulus.

W = F = F1 + F2 + F3 + ............ + Fn
Force = Stress Area
c ( A1 + A2 + ....... + An ) = 1 A1 + 2 A2 + ........ + n An
Where c is the stress in the equivalent single bar. Since common extension x=L then
common strain
Multiply by

c
( A1 + A2 + ...... + An ) = 1 A1 + 2 A2 + ........ + n An

Ec Ai = E1 A1 + E 2 A2 + ......... + E n An
i =1

Ec is the equivalent or combined E of the single bar.

Ec =

E1 A1 + E 2 A2 + ........... + E n An
A1 + A2 + .......... + An
n

Ec =

E A
i =1
n

A
i =1

With an axial load W

Stress in equivalent bar c =

W
n

i =1

Strain in equivalent bar =

W
n

E c Ai

x
L

i =1

x=

WL
n

E c Ai
i =1

2.

Compound Bars Subjected to a Change in Temperature

When a material is subjected to a change in temperature its length will change by an
amount:
L = L T
Where is the linear coefficient of expansion.

L
= T
L
The stress created in the material by the application of sufficient force to remove this strain
is:
= .E = TE
Strain =

Consider a compound bar as shown below:

If the compound bar is subjected to a temperature rise each material will attempt to expand
by different amount.

Free extension of any bar = LT

The difference of free expansion lengths is termed free length and equals to:
Free length = b LT s LT
Free length = ( b s )LT
where b s

The two materials are now rigidly joined as a compound bar and subjected to the same
temperature rise, each material will attempt to expand to its free length position but
each will be affected by the movement of the other.
The higher coefficient of expansion material (brass) will therefore seek to pull the
steel up to its free length position and conversely the lower coefficient of expansion
material (steel) will try to hold the brass back to its free length position.
The result is an effective compression of the brass from its free length position and an
effective extension of the steel from its free length position.
Rule 1
Extension of steel + compression of brass = difference in free length
L steel + Lbrass = Free length

steel Lsteel + brass Lbrass = ( brass steel )LT

steel

Lsteel + brass Lbrass = ( brass steel )LT

E steel

Rule 2

Ebrass

The tensile force applied to the short member by the long member is equal in
magnitude to the compressive force applied to the long member by the short member.
Tensile force in steel = compressive force in brass
steel Asteel = brass Abrass
These are two equations with two unknowns which can be solved simultaneously to
obtain steel and brass.

3.

Compound Bars Subjected to Different Changes in Lengths

Suppose that we need to put the following things together:
A hollow tube with washer or end plates.
Central threaded rod.
After tightened the nuts the rod being in a state of tension and the tube in compression.

Rule 1
Compression of tube + extension of rod = difference in free length
= axial advance movement of nut
= number of turns * threads

Rule 2

4.

tube
Etube

Ltube +

rod
E rod

Lrod = n threads

Tensile force in steel rod = compressive force in copper tube

steel Asteel = copper Acopper

Compound Bars Subjected to External Load and Temperature Effects

In this case the principle of superposition must be applied.
Total strain = strain due to external loads + strain due to temperature changes