BENDING OF BEAMS

Bending Stress
 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.

Figure shows a segment of the beam

bounded by two cross sections that are
separated by the infinitesimal distance dx.
Due to the bending moment M caused by
the applied loading, the cross sections
rotate relative to each other by the
amount 𝒅𝜽.
Because the cross sections are assumed to
remain perpendicular to the axis of the
beam, the neutral surface becomes
curved upon deformation. The radius of
curvature of the deformed surface is
denoted by 𝝆.
Bending Stress
 Consider now the deformation of the longitudinal fiber ab that lies a distance y above
the neutral surface. In the deformed state, the fiber forms the arc 𝒂 𝒃′ of radius (𝝆 − 𝒚),
subtended by the angle 𝒅𝜽. Therefore, its deformed length is

𝑎 𝑏 = 𝜌 − 𝑦 𝑑𝜃
The original length of this fiber is 𝑎𝑏 = 𝑑𝑥 = 𝜌𝑑𝜃. The
normal strain of the fiber is found by dividing the
change in length by the original length, yielding

𝑎 𝑏 − 𝑎𝑏 𝜌 − 𝑦 𝑑𝜃 − 𝜌𝑑𝜃 𝑦
𝜀= = =−
𝑎𝑏 𝜌𝑑𝜃 𝜌

Assuming that the stress is less than the proportional limit of the material, we can
obtain the normal stress in fiber 𝑎𝑏 from Hooke’s law:

𝜎 = 𝐸𝜀 = − 𝑦 Eq. 1
 Bending Stress
 The normal force acting on the infinitesimal area 𝑑𝐴 of
the cross section is𝑑𝑃 = 𝜎 𝑑𝐴. Substituting 𝜎 = − ⁄ 𝑦,
we obtain

𝑑𝑃 = − 𝑦 𝑑𝐴 (a)

where 𝑦 is the distance of 𝑑𝐴 from the neutral axis (NA).

Equilibrium requires that the resultant of the normal stress
distribution over the cross section must be equal to the
bending moment 𝑀 acting about the neutral axis (z-axis). In
other words,− ∫ 𝑦 𝑑𝑃 = 𝑀, where the integral is taken over
the entire cross-sectional area 𝐴(the minus sign in the
expression is needed because the moment of 𝑑𝑃 and positive
𝑀 have opposite sense). Moreover, the resultant axial force
and the resultant bending moment about the y-axis
must be zero; that is, ∫ 𝑑𝑃 = 0 and ∫ 𝑧 𝑑𝑃 = 0.
 Bending Stress
 Resultant Axial Force Must Vanish. The condition for
zero axial force is

𝐸
𝑑𝑃 = − 𝑦 𝑑𝐴 = 𝑜
𝜌

Because ⁄ ≠ 0, this equation can be satisfied only if

∫ 𝑦 𝑑𝐴 = 𝑜 (b)

The integral in Eq. (b) is the first moment of the cross-sectional

area about the neutral axis. It can be zero only if the neutral
axis passes through the centroid C of the cross-sectional area.
Hence, the condition of zero axial force locates the neutral
axis of the cross section.
Bending Stress
 Resultant Moment About y-Axis Must Vanish. This condition is

∫ 𝑧 𝑑𝑃 = − ∫ 𝑧𝑦 𝑑𝐴 = 0 (c)

The integral ∫ 𝑧𝑦 𝑑𝐴 is the product of inertia of the

cross-sectional area. According to our assumptions,
the y-axis is an axis of symmetry for the cross section,
in which case this integral is zero and Eq. (c) is
automatically satisfied.
Bending Stress
 Resultant Moment About the Neutral Axis Must Equal M.
Equating the resultant moment about the z-axis to M gives
us

𝐸
− 𝑦 𝑑𝑃 = 𝑦 𝑑𝐴 = 𝑀
𝜌

Recognizing that ∫ 𝑦 𝑑𝐴 = 𝐼 is the moment of inertia

of the cross-sectional area about the neutral axis (the
z-axis), we obtain the moment-curvature relationship

Eq. (a)

A convenient form of this equation is

Eq. (b)
Bending Stress
 Flexure formula; section modulus
Substituting the expression for 1⁄𝜌 from Eq. (b) into
Eq. (1), we get the flexure formula:

Eq. (b)

Eq. 1

𝑀𝑦
𝜎=−
𝐼

Note that a positive bending moment M causes

negative (compressive) stress above the neutral axis
and positive (tensile) stress below the neutral axis.
Bending Stress
The maximum value of bending stress without regard to
its sign is given by

| |
Eq. (c)

where |𝑀| 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. Equation (c) is
frequently written in the form

|𝑀|
𝜎 =
𝑆
where 𝑆 = 𝐼 ⁄𝑐 is called the section modulus of the beam.
The dimension of 𝑆 is [𝐿 ], so that its units are 𝑖𝑛 , 𝑚𝑚 , and
so on.
Bending Stress
The formulas for the section moduli of
common cross sections
Example 1
1. The cantilever beam in Fig. (a) is composed of two segments with rectangular cross
sections. The width of each section is 2 in., but the depths are different, as shown in the
figure. Determine the maximum bending stress in the beam.
Example 1
Sol.
Solving for the section moduli of the
two segments

𝑏ℎ (2)(4)
𝑆 = = = 5.333 𝑖𝑛
6 6

𝑏ℎ (2)(6)
𝑆 = = = 12 𝑖𝑛
6 6

Solving for the maximum bending

stresses of the two cross sections

|𝑀 | 8,000 𝑥 12
𝜎 = = = 18,001 𝑝𝑠𝑖 Comparing the values, so we find that the
𝑆 5.333
maximum bending stress in the beam is
|𝑀 | 16,000 𝑥 12
𝜎 = = = 16,000 𝑝𝑠𝑖 𝝈𝒎𝒂𝒙 = 𝟏𝟖, 𝟎𝟎𝟏 𝒑𝒔𝒊 answer
𝑆 12
Example 2
2. The aluminum strut has a cross-sectional area in the form of a cross. If it is subjected to the
moment 𝑀 = 8 𝑘𝑁 • 𝑚. Determine the bending stress acting at points A and B.
Example 2
Sol.
Solving for the Moment of Inertia:

(0.02)(0.22 ) (0.1)(0.02 )
𝐼= + = 17.8133 10 𝑚
12 12

Solving for the Bending Stress using the Flexure

Formula

𝑀𝑦
𝜎=
𝐼
8(10 )(0.11)
𝜎 = = 𝟒𝟗. 𝟒 𝑴𝑷𝒂 answer
17.8133(10 )

8(10 )(0.01)
𝜎 = = 𝟒. 𝟒𝟗 𝑴𝑷𝒂 answer
17.8133(10 )
Example 3
3. If 𝑀 = 4 𝑘𝑖𝑝 • 𝑓𝑡, determine the resultant force the bending stress produces on the top
board A of the beam.
Example 3
Sol.
Solving for the Moment of Inertia:
(12)(15 ) 10.5 12
𝐼= − = 1,863 𝑖𝑛
12 12
Along the top edge of the flange 𝑦 = 𝑐 = 7.5 𝑖𝑛

𝑀𝑐 4(10 )(12)(7.5)
𝜎= = = 193.24 𝑝𝑠𝑖
𝐼 1863

Along the bottom edge of the flange 𝑦 = 6 𝑖𝑛

𝑀𝑦 4(10 )(12)(6)
𝜎= = = 154.59 𝑝𝑠𝑖
𝐼 1863
The resultant force acting on board A is equal to the
volume of the trapezoidal stress block shown.

1
𝐹 = 193.24 + 154.59 12 1.5
2
= 𝟑, 𝟏𝟑𝟎. 𝟒𝟕 𝒍𝒃 𝒐𝒓 𝟑. 𝟏𝟑 𝒌𝒊𝒑 answer
Example 4
4. A cantilever beam, 50 mm wide by 150 mm high and 6 m long, carries a load that
varies uniformly from zero at the free end to 1000 N/m at the wall. (a) Compute the
magnitude and location of the maximum flexural stress. (b) Determine the type and
magnitude of the stress in a fiber 20 mm from the top of the beam at a section 2 m
from the free end.
Example 4
Sol.
Solving for the Bending Moment:

𝑀 = 𝐹( 𝑥)

𝑦 1000
=
𝑥 6
500
𝑦= 𝑥
3
The maximum moments occurs at the support
1 (the wall) or at 𝑥 = 6 𝑚
𝐹= 𝑥𝑦
2
1
𝐹 = 𝑥( 𝑥)
2 250
250 𝑀= 6 = 6,000 𝑁 • 𝑚
𝐹= 𝑥 9
3
250 250
𝑀= 𝑥 𝑥 = 𝑥
3 9
Example 4
Sol.
(a) Solving for the Maximum Flexural Stress:

𝑀𝑐 𝑀𝑐
𝜎 = =
𝐼 𝑏ℎ
12

6000(1000)(75)
𝜎 = = 𝟑𝟐 𝑴𝑷𝒂 answer
50(150 )
12
Example 4
Sol.
(b) At a section 2 m from the free end or at 𝑥 = 2 𝑚 at
fiber 20mm from the top of the beam.

250 250 2000

𝑀= 𝑥 = 2 = 𝑁•𝑚
9 9 9

𝑀𝑦
𝜎=
𝐼

( )( )( )
𝜎= = 𝟎. 𝟖𝟔𝟗𝟏 𝑴𝑷𝒂 𝒐𝒓 𝟖𝟔𝟗. 𝟏 𝒌𝑷𝒂
50(150 )
12

answer
END OF TOPIC 
ASIGNMENT
1. Draw the shear and moment diagrams for the
shaft. The bearings at A and B exert only vertical
reactions on the shaft.

2. Draw the shear and moment diagrams for the beam.

ASIGNMENT
3. Draw the shear and moment diagrams for the overhang beam.

4. Draw the shear and moment diagrams for the compound beam which is pin
connected at B.
ASIGNMENT
5. Determine the moment M that will produce a
maximum stress of 10 ksi on the cross section.

6. Determine the maximum tensile and compressive

bending stress in the beam if it is subjected to a
moment of 𝑀 = 4 𝑘𝑖𝑝 • 𝑓𝑡.
ASIGNMENT
7. A high strength steel band saw, 20 mm wide by
0.80 mm thick, runs over pulleys 600 mm in diameter.
What maximum flexural stress is developed? What
minimum diameter pulleys can be used without
exceeding a flexural stress of 400 MPa? Assume E =
200 GPa.

8. A flat steel bar, 1 inch wide by ¼ inch thick and

40 inches long, is bent by couples applied at the
ends so that the midpoint deflection is 1.0 inch.
Compute the stress in the bar and the magnitude
of the couples. Use 𝐸 = 29 × 10 𝑝𝑠𝑖.
ASIGNMENT
9. A beam constructed from 2-in. by 8-in. boards
has the cross section shown in the figure. If the
maximum bending moment acting in the beam is
𝑀 = 16 000 𝑙𝑏 • 𝑓𝑡, determine the maximum
bending stress in (a) board A; and (b) board B.

10. Find the maximum bending stress in the rectangular

wooden beam.