Stress in Structural Materials, Their Types

and Sign Conventions

Stress is resistance provided by structural material against deformation. Stress is
measured in terms of load per unit area and is expressed in MPa or N/mm2.
Types of Stress in Structural Material
Stress is classified based on its nature and are of following types:

1. Normal Stress
2. Shear Stress

1. Normal Stress
Normal stress in a structural material is always perpendicular or normal to
the cross-section at any section. It is represented by ? (sigma). Normal
stresses are of two types, namely:

1. Axial Stress or Direct Stress

Axial stress is produced when the axial force acts at the center of gravity of
the cross-section of structural material. For any Prismatic body with axial
loading, axial or direct stresses are uniform across the cross-section.

Axial stresses can be tensile stress or compressive stress. Tensile stresses

are considered as positive stresses and compressive stresses as negative
stress while computing stress and strains.

2. Bending Stress
Bending stresses in a structural material is produced by bending moment
experienced by it. This stresses in maximum at the extreme fiber from the
neutral axis and is zero at the neutral axis.
Bending stresses are also tensile and compressive. Tensile bending stresses
are considered as positive and compressive bending stresses are considered
negative for calculations.

2. Shear Stresses or Tangential Stresses

Shear Stresses are resistance provided by the material against shearing
force. Shear stress is calculated by dividing the shear forces in the plane of
cross-section by corresponding area. It is also expressed as MPa or N/mm2.
Shear Stresses can be classified as direct shear stress and torsional shear
stress.

1. Direct shear stress – It is produced in the structural material by the action of

direct shear force on the surface.
2. Torsional shear stress – This stress produced in the structural material when
the member is subjected to torsional moment or torque.
Sign Conventions of Shear Stresses
For the calculation of various types of stresses in a structural member, a
uniform sign convention is used to avoid confusion and errors while
computing. Following sign convention can be used for your calculation: