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LEARNING GUIDE

Week No.: __1__

TOPIC/S:

CONCEPT OF STRESS

EXPECTED COMPETENCIES

1. Describe the concept of Stress

2. Analyze the stresses on members of the structure: Simple Stress
3. Define Axial Stress: Normal Stress

CONTENT/TECHNICAL INFORMATION

A SHORT REVIEW OF THE METHODS OF STATICS

Fig 1.1 Boom used to support a 30-kN load.

Consider the structure shown in Fig. 1.1, which was designed to support a 30-kN load. It
consists of a boom AB with a 30 3 50-mm rectangular cross section and of a rod BC with a 20-
mm-diameter circular cross section. The boom and the rod are connected by a pin at B and are
supported by pins and brackets at A and C, respectively.

A. Structure Free-Body Diagram

Fig 1.2 Free-Body Diagram

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• Structure is detached from supports and the loads and reaction forces are indicated

• Conditions for static equilibrium:

+ Ʃ𝑀𝐶 = 0 = 𝐴𝑥 (0.6m) – (30 kN)(0.8m)

𝐴 𝑥 = 40 kN
+→ Ʃ 𝐹𝑥 = 0 = 𝐴𝑥 + 𝐶𝑥
𝐶𝑥 = -𝐴𝑥 = -40kN
+↑ Ʃ𝐹𝑦 = 0 = 𝐴𝑦 +𝐶𝑦 - 30kN = 0
𝐴𝑦 +𝐶𝑦 = 30kN

• Ay and Cy cannot be determined from these equations

B. Component Free-Body Diagram

Fig 1.3 free body diagram of the boom AB

• In addition to the complete structure, each component must satisfy the conditions for
static equilibrium

• Consider a free-body diagram for the boom:

+ Ʃ𝑀𝐵 = 0 = -𝐴𝑦 (0.8m)

𝐴𝑦 = 0
• Substitute into the structure equilibrium equation

𝐶𝑦 = 30kN

• Results:

A = 40kN → 𝑪𝒙 = 40 kN ⃪ 𝑪𝒚 = 30kN↑

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for EDUCATIONAL PURPOSES ONLY and is NOT FOR SALE NOR FOR REPRODUCTION.
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C. Method of Joints

The boom and rod are 2-force members, i.e., the

members are subjected to only two forces which
are applied at member ends

For equilibrium, the forces must be parallel to an

axis between the force application points, equal
in magnitude, and in opposite directions

Joints must satisfy the conditions for static

equilibrium which may be expressed in the form
of a force triangle:

Ʃ𝐹𝐵 = 0

𝐹𝐴𝐵 𝐹𝐵𝐶 30𝑘𝑁

= =
4 5 3

𝐹𝐴𝐵 = 40 kN

𝐹𝐵𝐶 = 50 kN

Fig 1.4 Methods of joints

D. Stress Analysis

▪ Can the structure safely support the 30 kN load?

From a statics analysis

FAB= 40 kN (compression)
FBC= 50 kN (tension)

▪ At any section through member BC, the internal

force is 50 kN with a force intensity or stress of

𝑃 50 𝑥 103 𝑁
𝜎𝐵𝐶 = = = 159 MPa
𝐴 314 𝑥 10−6 𝑚2

▪ From the material properties for steel, the

allowable stress is
σ𝑎𝑙𝑙 = 165 MPa

Fig 1.5 Stress analysis

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for EDUCATIONAL PURPOSES ONLY and is NOT FOR SALE NOR FOR REPRODUCTION.
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E. Design

• Design of new structures requires selection of appropriate materials and component

dimensions to meet performance requirements

• For reasons based on cost, weight, availability, etc., the choice is made to construct
the rod from aluminum (σ𝑎𝑙𝑙 = 100 MPa).What is an appropriate choice for the rod
diameter?
𝑃
𝜎𝑎𝑙𝑙 =
𝐴
𝑃 50 𝑥 103 𝑁
A= = = 500 x 10−6 𝑚2
𝜎𝑎𝑙𝑙 100 𝑥 106 𝑃𝑎
π𝑑 2
A=
4
4𝐴 4(500 x 10−6 𝑚2 )
d=√ =√ = 2.52 x 10−2 m = 25.2 mm
𝜋 𝜋

• An aluminum rod 26 mm or more in diameter is adequate

1. Stress
Stress is the expression of force applied to a unit area of surface. It is measured in psi
(English unit) or in MPa (SI unit). Another unit of stress which is not commonly used is the
dynes (cgs unit). Stress is the ratio of force over area.

stress = force / area

Simple Stresses
There are three types of simple stress namely; normal stress, shearing stress, and bearing
stress.

Axial Loading: Normal Stress

• Axial Loading is define as applying force in a structure directly along an axis of

structure

• Normal Stress
The resisting area is perpendicular to the applied force, thus normal. There are two types
of normal stresses; tensile stress and compressive stress. Tensile stress applied to bar
tends the bar to elongate while compressive stress tend to shorten the bar.

where P is the applied normal load in Newton and A is the area in mm2. The maximum
stress in tension or compression occurs over a section normal to the load.

Fig 1.6 Tension and Compression

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for EDUCATIONAL PURPOSES ONLY and is NOT FOR SALE NOR FOR REPRODUCTION.
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• The resultant of the internal forces for an axially loaded

member is normal to a section cut perpendicular to the
member axis.

The force intensity on that section is defined as the

normal stress.

The normal stress at a particular point may not be equal

to the average stress but the resultant of the stress
distribution must satisfy

The detailed distribution of stress is statically

indeterminate, i.e., cannot be found from statics alone.

Fig. 1.7 Axial Loading on a bar

I. Centric & Eccentric Loading

▪ A uniform distribution of stress in a section

infers that the line of action for the resultant of

▪ The internal forces passes through the centroid

of the section.

▪ A uniform distribution of stress is only possible

if the concentrated loads on the end sections of
two-force members are applied at the section
centroids. This is referred to as centric loading.

▪ If a two-force member is eccentrically loaded,

then the resultant of the stress distribution in a
section must yield an axial force and a moment.

▪ The stress distributions in eccentrically loaded

members cannot be uniform or symmetric.
Fig. 1.8 Centric & Eccentric Loading

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for EDUCATIONAL PURPOSES ONLY and is NOT FOR SALE NOR FOR REPRODUCTION.
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Sample Problem 1

What is the normal stress in the bar if P = 10 kN and the cross-sectional area of bar is
500 mm2 ?

Solution

A. Internal Loading
P = 10 kN
B. Average Normal Stress

𝑃
σ=
𝐴
10 𝑘𝑁
= 500𝑚𝑚2
10 𝑥 103 𝑁
= 500 𝑥 10−6 𝑚
= 20 𝑥 106 𝑁/𝑚2
= 20 𝑀𝑃𝑎

Sample Problem 2

The bar in the following figure has a constant width of 35mm and a thickness of 10 mm.
Determine the maximum average normal stress in the bar when it is subjected to the loading
show.

Solution:
1. Internal Loading: Different sections have different internal forces.

By inspection, the largest loading is in region BC,

𝑃𝐵𝐶 = 30 kN

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for EDUCATIONAL PURPOSES ONLY and is NOT FOR SALE NOR FOR REPRODUCTION.
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B. Average Normal Stress:

Since the cross-sectional area of the bar is constant, the largest average normal stress
is,
𝑃𝐵𝐶 30 𝑥 103 N
𝜎𝐵𝐶 = 𝐴 = 0.035 (0.01) 𝑚2 = 85.7 MPa

Sample Problem 3

The 80 kg lamp is supported by two rods AB and BC as shown in the following figure. If AB
has a diameter of 10 mm and BC has a diameter of 8 mm, determine the average normal stress
in each rod.

Solution

A. Internal Loading: We must first determine the axial force in each rod. A free body diagram
of the lamp is shown in the figure below. Applying the equations of force equilibrium,

+ → Ʃ𝐹𝑥 = 0
4
𝐹𝐵𝐶 ( )- 𝐹𝐵𝐴 cos 60° = 0
5

+ ↑ Ʃ𝐹𝑦 = 0
3
𝐹𝐵𝐶 ( )- 𝐹𝐵𝐴 sin 60° − 784.8 𝑁 = 0
5
𝐹𝐵𝐶 = 395.2 N
𝐹𝐵𝐴 = 632.4 N

2. Average Normal Stress: We will determine the average normal stress in each rod.

𝐹 392.5 𝑁
𝜎𝐵𝐶 = 𝐴𝐵𝐶 = 𝜋(0.004𝑚)2 = 7.86 MPa
𝐵𝐴

𝐹 632.4 𝑁
𝜎𝐵𝐶 = 𝐴𝐵𝐶 = 𝜋(0.005𝑚)2 = 8.05 MPa
𝐵𝐴

This module is a property of Technological University of the Philippines Visayas and intended
for EDUCATIONAL PURPOSES ONLY and is NOT FOR SALE NOR FOR REPRODUCTION.
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References
Beer, Ferdinand P. et. Al., 2006, Mechanics of Materials, Fourth Edition, the Mc Graw Hill
Companies, New York

This module is a property of Technological University of the Philippines Visayas and intended
for EDUCATIONAL PURPOSES ONLY and is NOT FOR SALE NOR FOR REPRODUCTION.
 9

This module is a property of Technological University of the Philippines Visayas and intended
for EDUCATIONAL PURPOSES ONLY and is NOT FOR SALE NOR FOR REPRODUCTION.