Unit 5: Internal Stresses

Unit 5b: Bending Stresses

• INTRODUCTION
• BENDING DEFORMATION OF A
STRAIGHT MEMBER
• THE FLEXURAL FORMULA

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Introduction

• In this chapter, we will determine the stress in

a member, usually beam, which is subjected to
bending.
• When a beam experiences a bending moment,
it will change its shape and internal stresses
will develop.

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Note that the material is in compression on the inside of the
curve and tension on the outside of the curve, and that
transverse planes in the material remain parallel to the radius
during bending. 4
• The pure bending experiment shown can be
reproduced by applying four forces to the beam, two
of opposite direction at each end.
• This configuration is known as four point bending.
10 kN 10 kN

1m 2m 1m

RC=10 kN RD =10 kN

MC =10 kNm MD =10 kNm

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Bending Deformation of a Straight Member

• We make the following assumptions on the

beam we are analysing:
1. It is a straight prismatic bar,
2. It is made of homogeneous material
3. The cross-sectional area of the beam is
symmetrical
4. The beam undergo elastic deformation

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• We observe that when the beam bends, the
bending moment causes the material within the
bottom portion of the member to stretch and
the material within the top portion to
compress.
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• Consequently, between these two regions there
must be a surface, called the neutral surface,
in which longitudinal fibers of the material
will not undergo a change in length. This
surface is located in the x-z plane as shown.

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• From these observations, we will make further
assumptions regarding the way the stress
deforms the material:
1. The longitudinal axis, which lies within the neutral
surface, does not experience any change in length.
The moment only changes this line into a curve.
2. All cross sections of the beam remain plane
and perpendicular to the longitudinal axis during
deformation.
3. Any deformation of the cross section within
its own plane will be neglected.
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The Flexure Formula
• Geometric deformation
– We now analyse an infinitesimal section of the beam
δx along the beam’s length.

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11
Linear Distribution
of Equation 1

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The stress distribution in an infinitesimal element is thus as
shown below.

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The neutral axis coincides with the XZ plane through the centroid.

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• The maximum stress,
Mc where c is the largest distance from the
 max  neutral surface (which corresponds to either
I
the upper or the lower surface of the member

• The normal stress, σx at any distance y from the neutral axis

My
x  
I
• The deformation of a member caused by the bending moment, M
is measured by the curvature of the neutral surface. The
curvature is defined as the reciprocal of the radius of curvature,
R, and may be obtained by
1 M

R EI 17
Example 5b-1 (Flexural stress of a rectangular section):
A beam has a rectangular cross section and is subjected to a stress
distribution as shown in the figure. Determine the internal
moment M at the section caused by the stress distribution (a)
using the flexure formula, (b) by finding the resultant of the stress
distribution using basic principles.

6cm

2MPa

6cm

6cm

2MPa 18
Example 5b-1 (Flexural stress of a rectangular section) (continued):
Solution:
a) From the figure, σmax = 2 MPa
The moment of inertia, I of the section can be calculated using
1 3 1
I  bh   6  12 3  864 cm 4
12 12 6cm

Therefore,
 maxI 2  864  10 4 2MPa
M   0.288 kN  m
c 6  10  10 6

6cm

6cm

2MPa
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Example 5b-1 (Flexural stress of a rectangular section) (continued):
b)

1
F   2  6  6  100  1000  3.6 kN
2
2cm

Moment couple, M, is
M = Fl = 3.6 x 8 100= 0.288 kN·m

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Example 5b-2 (Flexural stress of I-beam section):
The simply-supported beam has the cross-sectional area as shown.
Determine the bending stress that acts at points B and D, located at
section a-a.

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Example 5b-2 (Flexural stress of I-beam section) (continued):
Solution:
Firstly, the reactions are calculated.

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Example 5b-2 (Flexural stress of I-beam section) (continued):

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Example 5b-3 (Flexural stress of composite C section) (continued):
The beam shown has a cross-sectional area in the shape of a
channel as given. Determine the maximum bending stress that
occurs at section a-a.

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Example 5b-3 (Flexural stress of composite C section) (continued):

Next, section the beam at a-a.

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Example 5b-3 (Flexural stress of composite C section) (continued):

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Example 5b-4 (Flexural stress):
The member having a rectangular cross-section, is designed to
resist a movement of 40 Nm, Fig. a. In order to increase its
strength and rigidity, it is proposed that two small ribs be added at
its bottom, Fig. b. Determine that maximum normal stress in the
member for both cases.

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Example 5b-4 (Flexural stress) (continued):

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Example 5b-4 (Flexural stress):

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Example 5b-5 (Absolute maximum flexural stress):
If the beam has a square cross section of 100 mm on each side, determine
the absolute maximum bending stress in the beam.

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