CHAPTER 5

(STRESSES IN BEAMS)

By : BESFREN JOHNY
 INTRODUCTION
In previous chapters, we considered stresses in bars
caused by axial loading and torsion. Here we
introduce the third fundamental loading: bending.

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 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.
Where: M = bending moment y c
y = distance of fiber from the neutral axis N A
I = centroidal moment of inertia

Maximum Flexural Stress:

Where: c = distance from the neutral axis
or to the outermost fiber
S = section modulus
= I/c

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 SECTION MODULUS
Section moduli of simple
cross-sectional shapes:

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PROCEDURES FOR DETERMINING BENDING STRESSES

Stress at a Given Point:

• Use the method of sections to determine the
bending moment M
• Determine the location of the neutral axis (i.e.
centroid)
• Compute the moment of inertia I of the cross-
sectional area about the neutral axis
• Determine the y-coordinate of the given point
• Compute the bending stress

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 MAXIMUM BENDING STRESS: SYMMETRIC CROSS SECTION
If the neutral axis is an axis of symmetry of the cross section, the
maximum tensile and compressive bending stresses in the beam
are equal in magnitude and occur at the section of the largest
bending moment. (Reason: Because ctop is equal to cbottom)

Procedure:
• Draw the bending moment diagram
• Identify the bending moment Mmax that has the largest
magnitude
• Compute the moment of inertia I of the cross-sectional area
about the neutral axis.
• Calculate the maximum bending stress

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 SAMPLE PROBLEM #1
The simply supported beam in the figure shown has a rectangular
cross section. Compute the maximum bending stress in the beam.
Compute the bending stress at a point on section B that is 25 mm
below the top of the beam.

F y 0 +
R A  19  15  6(3)  0
R A  14
Moment of inertia:
Sol’n:
 MA  0 + INA 
1
12
3
bh 
1
12
120 200 3

 6(3)(1.5)  15(2)  R E (3)  0

R E  19 INA  80,000,000 mm4

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 SAMPLE PROBLEM #1
Cut a section at B and analyze the left segment:

F
M
y 0 +
= 14 = 19
14
V
14  6(0.8)  VB  0
VB
2 = VB  9.2
V-Diag 14
(Alternate Solution #1 : ratio and proportion)
-13 (Alternate Solution #2: CALTECH )
-19
16
MB Moment @ B:

MB = Area of VD between A and B

M-Diag 1
MB  14  9.20.8
2
MB  9.28 KN  m

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 SAMPLE PROBLEM #1
Maximum Bending Stress: Bending Stress @ B:

25

y = 75

MMAX = 16 KN-m = 16 x 106 N-mm MB = 9.28 KN-m = 9.28 x 106 N-mm

Mc My
max  B 
I I



16 x 10 100 
6

 
9.28 x 10 6 75 
80,000,000 80,000,000
max  20MPa B  8.7MPa (Compressive)

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TENSILE AND COMPRESSIVE BENDING STRESSES: UNSYMMETRICAL CROSS SECTION

If the neutral axis is not an axis of symmetry of the cross section, the maximum
tensile and compressive bending stresses may occur at different sections.

Procedure:
• Draw the bending moment diagram by one of the methods described in
Chapter 4. Identify the largest positive and negative bending moments
• Determine the location of the neutral axis and record the distances ctop
and cbot from the neutral axis to the top and bottom of the cross section
• Compute the moment of inertia I of the cross section about the neutral axis
• Calculate the bending stresses at the top and bottom of the cross section
with the largest positive bending moment. Repeat the calculations for the
section with the largest negative bending moment. Inspect the four stresses
thus computed to determine the largest tensile (positive) and compressive
(negative) bending stresses in the beam.

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 SAMPLE PROBLEM #2
The simply supported beam in the figure shown has the T-shaped
cross section shown. Determine the values and locations of the
maximum tensile and compressive bending stresses.

Sol’n:
M A 0 + F y 0 +
 400(10)(5)  1000(14)  R B (10)  0 R A  3400  400(10)  1000  0
R B  3400 R A  1600

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 SAMPLE PROBLEM #2
Locate the neutral axis (NA):

A1  60.8   4.8
A 2  0.88   6.4
= 1600 = 3400
A T  A1  A 2  11.2
1600 1000 Ref.
c top  8.8  y  2.9143 A T y  A1 y 1  A 2 y 2
V-Diag
x
c bot  y  5.8857 11.2 y  4.88.4   6.4 4 
R &P:
1600 2400

x 10  x -2400 y  5.8857 mm (from the bottom)
x4

Moment of inertia:
3200
INA   I g 
 Ad2 ; d1  8.4  y  2.5143 ; d2  4  y  1.8857
M-Diag 1 2 1 2
INA   6 0.8   4.82.5143    0.8 8   6.4 1.8857  
3 3

12  12 
-4000
INA  87.49 in 4

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 SAMPLE PROBLEM #2
Bending Stresses: Negative Moment:
Positive Moment:
M = 3200 lb-ft M = 4000 lb-ft

Tension: c = 5.5587 Tension: c = 2.9143

3200 x 125.8857  t 
4000 x 122.9143
t 
Ref. 87.49 87.49
 t  2583.276 psi  t  1598.88 psi
ctop  8.8  y  2.9143
cbot  y  5.8857
Compression: c = 2.9143 Compression: c = 5.8857
Note: (refer to “sign convention” found in Ch.4) 3200 x 122.9143 c 
4000 x 125.8857 
c 
87.49 87.49
Positive Moment: concave upward
ctension = cbot  c  1279.11 psi  c  3229.1 psi
ccompression = ctop
Maximum Bending Stresses:
Negative Moment: concave downward
ctension = ctop Tensile = 2583.276 psi @ 4 ft. from A
ccompression = cbot
Compressive = 3229.1 psi @ 10 ft. from A

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 SHEAR STRESS
If a beam were composed of many thin layers placed on
one another, bending would produce the effect as
shown.

The separate layers would slide past one another, and the
total bending strength of the beam would be the sum of
the strengths of the individual layers.

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HORIZONTAL SHEARING STRESS

Where: V = vertical shear

Q = static moment of area
= Ay
I = centroidal moment of inertia
b = width of cutting edge

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 PROCEDURE FOR ANALYSIS OF SHEAR STRESS
• Use equilibrium analysis to determine the vertical
shear force V acting on the cross section containing
the specified point (the construction of a shear force
diagram is usually a good idea)
• Locate the neutral axis and compute the moment of
inertia I of the cross-sectional area about the neutral
axis.
• Compute the first moment Q of the cross-sectional
area that lies above (or below) the specified point
• Calculate the shear stress from  = VQ/Ib

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 SAMPLE PROBLEM #3
The simply supported wood beam in the figure shown is fabricated
by gluing together three 160-mm by 80-mm planks as shown.
Calculate the maximum shear stress in (1) the glue; and (2) the
wood.

Sol’n: By symmetry,

R A  RB 
86  24 KN
2

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 SAMPLE PROBLEM #3
Maximum Shear Stress Maximum Shear Stress
in the glue: in the wood:

y = 80 y = 60
24 24
24

V-Diag
Q  Ay  160 x 8080 Q  Ay  160 x12060
-24 Q glue  1,024,000 mm3 Q wood  1,152,000 mm3

Moment of inertia: VQ VQ
 glue   wood 
1 3 1 Ib
 bh  160240 Ib
3
INA
12 12

 
24 x 103 1,024,000

24 x 103 1,152,000
INA  184,320,000 184,320,000160 184,320,000160
 glue  0.8333MPa  wood  0.9375 MPa

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 SAMPLE PROBLEM #4
The manufactured wood beam carries the concentrated loads
shown. What is the maximum safe value of P if the working stress in
shear is 8 MPa?
QNA  Ay  80 x 20 60   20 50 25 
QNA  121,000 mm3

2.5P
Maximum safe value of P:
2.5P
1.5 P VQ
P 
Ib
V-Diag
8
1.5P 121,000 
-P - 1.5 P 
15.52 x 10 6 20 
Sol’n: By Symmetry : P  13,681.54 N
R A  R C  2.5P
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 DESIGN FOR FLEXURE AND SHEAR
We now explore the design of beams that satisfy the
prescribed design criteria for both bending and shear. In
general, bending stress governs the design of long beams,
whereas shear stress is critical in short beams.

The most direct method for satisfying both design criteria is

to perform two separate computations: one based on the
bending stress criterion and the other on the shear stress
criterion. Examination of the results will then reveal which
of the designs satisfies both criteria.

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 SAMPLE PROBLEM #5
The box beam in the figure shown supports the concentrated
loads 2P and P. Compute the maximum allowable value of P if the
working stresses in bending and shear are w = 1000 psi and w =
100 psi, respectively.

Sol’n:
M A 0 + F y 0 +
 2P(5)  P(15)  R D (10)  0 R A  2.5P  2P  P  0
R D  2.5P R A  0.5P

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 SAMPLE PROBLEM #5
Bending:

1000 
5P x 12 5 
410.667
P  1368.89 lb
0.5P 2.5P
Shear:
0.5P
P Moment of inertia:
1 100 
1.5P 52 
V-Diag INA  810 3  1 6 83 410.667 2 x 1
12 12
INA  410.667 in 4 P  1053 lb
-1.5P
Solve for Q:
8
Maximum Allowable
2.5P 5 6
4 value of P:
M-Diag
QNA  8 5 2.5   6 4 2  P = 1053 lb

-5P QNA  52 in3

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 SAMPLE PROBLEM #6
The cast iron inverted T-section supports two concentrated loads
of magnitude P. The working stresses are 48 MPa in tension, 140
MPa in compression, and 30 MPa in shear. (a) Show that the
neutral axis of the cross section is located at d = 48.75 mm and
that the moment of inertia of the cross-sectional area about this
axis is I = 11.918 x 106 mm4. (b) Find the maximum allowable value
of P.

Sol’n:
By Symmetry :
R A  RD  P

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 SAMPLE PROBLEM #6

Locate the neutral axis (NA):

A D A1  15015   2250
B C A 2  15150   2250
A T  A1  A 2  4500
P P
Ref. A T y  A1 y 1  A 2 y 2
P
4500 y  2250 7.5   2250 90 
V-Diag y  d  48.75 mm (from the bottom)

-P Moment of inertia:
P

INA   Ig  Ad2  ; d1  7.5  y  41.25 ; d2  90  y  41.25

1 2 1 2
INA   150 15   225041.25     15 150   225041.25  
3 3
M-Diag
12  12 
INA  11,917,968.75 mm4

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 SAMPLE PROBLEM #6
Solve for Q: Bending Stress:
Tension: c = 48.75 Compression: c = 116.25
P x 1000 48.75 140 
P x1000 116.25 
48 
11917968.75 11,917,968.75
P  11,734.6154 N P  14 ,352.8226 N

15 Shear Stress:
QNA
 116.25 
 Ay  15 x116.25   30 
P 101,355.47 
116.25 
3
2  11917968.7515
QNA  101,355.47 mm P  52,913.631 N

Note: Maximum Allowable value of P:

Since Maximum Moment is Positive:
ctension = d = 48.75 P = 11,734.6154 N
ccompression = 165 – d = 116.25 P = 11.735 KN

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Thank you for watching!!!

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