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LECTURE 2 Bending Stresses
LECTURE 2 Bending Stresses
LECTURE 2 Bending Stresses
The Bending Stress: We will first develop a relationship for the bending stress
which develops in a loaded beam. This relationship is known as the Flexure
Formula. In Diagram 1 we have shown a simply supported beam loaded at the
center. It deflects (or bends) under the load.
In Diagram 2, we have shown the left end section of the beam. As discussed
previously, when examining bending moments, horizontal forces act on the
cross sectional face of the beam section. We have shown only the horizontal
forces along the top and bottom in Diagram 2a, but the forces act across the
whole cross section as shown in the side view in Diagram 2b. The horizontal
forces decrease from maximum at the outer edges to zero at the neutral axis
(an axis running through the centroid of beam cross section).
We will now go through a relatively brief derivation to arrive at the flexure
formula. We first write an expression for the bending moment produced by the
horizontal forces with respect to the neutral axis (which is a line passing
through the centroid of the beam cross sectional area - shown in Diagram 2a).
The expression for the bending moment is simply the sum of the forces times
Example 1
In Diagram 1, we have shown a simply supported 20 ft. beam with a load of
10,000 lb. acting downward at the center of the beam. The beam used is a
rectangular 2" by 4" steel beam. We would like to determine the maximum
bending (axial) stress which develops in the beam due to the loading.
Step 1: Out first step in solving this problem is, of course, to apply static
equilibrium conditions to determine the external support reactions. In this
particular example, because of the symmetry of the problem, we will not go
through the statics in detail, but point out that the two support forces will
support the load at the center equally with forces of 5000 lb. each as shown in
Diagram 2.
Step 2: The second step is to draw the shear force and bending moment
diagrams for the beam
Example 2
A loaded, simply supported W 10 x 45 beam is shown in Diagram 1. For this
beam we will first determine the maximum bending moment (and where it
occurs in the beam). Then we will determine the maximum bending stress at
that location, and also the bending stress at that location along the beam and 8
inches from the bottom of the beam cross section.
STEP 1: Apply Static Equilibrium Principles and determine the external support
reactions:
1.) Draw Free Body Diagram of structure (See Diagram 2)
2.) Resolve all forces into x and y components
3.) Apply equilibrium conditions:
Sum Fx = 0 none
Sum Fy = By + Dy - 2,000 lbs/ft (4 ft) - 5,000 lbs = 0
Sum TB = 5,000 lbs (4 ft) - 2,000 lbs/ft (4 ft) (6 ft) + Dy(8 ft) = 0
Solving: By = 9,500 lbs; Dy = 3,500 lbs
STEP 2: Draw both the Shear Force and Bending Moment Diagrams for the
Beam.
STEP 3: We will now Apply the Flexure Formula to determine the maximum
bending stress for the beam. We may use Flexure Formula: M y / I, or a
special form of the Flexure Formula: M / s, where s is what is known as
the section modulus. If we rewrite the standard flexure formula several times
as follows for the maximum stress:
- A d bf tf tw I S r I S r
W 10x45 13.20 10.12 8.022 0.618 0.350 249.0 49.1 4.33 53.20 13.30 2.00
3 2
Now M / s = (20,000 ft-lb.)(12 in./ft.)/ 49.1 in = 4, 890 lb./in .
(Notice that we had to convert the bending moment in ft.-lb. to in.-lb. for the
units to be consistent) We have thus determined the maximum bending stress
(axial stress) in the beam. Since the beam is symmetric about the neutral axis,
the stress at the top of the beam and at the bottom of the beam are equal in
value (4,890 psi.) with the top in tension and the bottom in compression.
Example 3
A simply supported WT 8 x 25 T-beam is loaded is shown in Diagram 1. For this
beam we will determine the maximum bending stress in the beam. We will also
determine the bending stress 4 ft from the left end of the beam and 2 inches
above the bottom of the beam.
STEP 1: Apply Static Equilibrium Principles and determine the external support
reactions:
1.) FBD of structure (See Diagram 2)
STEP 2: Draw both the Shear Force and Bending Moment Diagrams for the
Beam.
STEP 3: We will now Apply the Flexure Formula to determine the maximum
bending stress for the beam. We may use Flexure Formula: M y / I, or a
special form of the Flexure Formula: M / s, where s is the section
modulus. This special form of the flexure formula can only be used to find the
maximum bending stress, and uses the section modulus, where the section
modulus is equal to the moment of inertia of the beam cross section divided by
the maximum distance from the neutral axis of the beam to an outer edge of
the beam.
x-x
Designation Area of T Width thick thick - x-x axis x-x axis x-x axis
axis
- A d bf tf tw d/tw I S r y
WT8x25 7.36 8.13 7.073 0.628 0.380 21.40 42.20 6.770 2.400 1.890
Now M / s = (12,000 ft-lb)(12 in./ft.)/ 6.77 in3 = 21,270 lb/in2. (Notice
that we had to convert the bending moment in ft.-lb. to in.-lb. for the units to
be consistent) We have thus determined the maximum bending stress (axial
stress) in the beam. Please note that this maximum stress is compressive and
occurs at the bottom of the stem, since that is the outer edge of the beam
which is farthest from the neutral axis. (The stress at the top of the tee is less
than that at the bottom of the stem, since the top of the tee is closer to the
neutral axis than the bottom of the stem.)
Finally, we will determine the bending stress at 4 ft from the left end of
the beam and 2 inches above the bottom of the beam. For this we
need to use the flexure formula in the form M y / I., where M =
-8,000 ft-lb = -96,000 in-lb (which we determine from the bending
moment graph shown in Diagram 4), I = moment of inertia of beam =
42.2 in4, and y = distance from the neutral axis to point at which we wish to
find the bending stress. The neutral axis is 1.89 inches below the top of
the beam (from the beam data table), then the neutral axis is 8.13"-
1.89" = 6.24" from the bottom of the beam. Since we wish to find
bending stress 2 inches above the bottom of the beam, then y = 6.24"
- 2" = 4.24" from the neutral axis to where we wish to determine the
bending stress. Thus 96,000 in-lb * 4.24 in. / 42.2 in4. = 9,450
lb/in2. Since the bending moment is negative, meaning the beam is
bent concave facing downward, and since the location is below the
beam centroid, then this stress is compressive.