‰ 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 is
perpendicular to the plane of symmetry, as shown in Fig. 5.1.
The xz-plane that contains the neutral axes of all the cross
sections is known as the neutral surface of the beam.