Strength of Material I Chapter 5

6.1 Beams with Axial Load

The compound stresses are the superposition of the bending stresses and the axial
stresses.

Q P

X
S

Fig 6.1
A load P acts through the centroid of the cross-section. The component of P
(i.e. Q and S) produces stress resultant in the form of bending moment M, shear force V,
and axial force N through out the beam.

M
N

V
x
Fig 6.2

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Strength of Material I Chapter 5

The axial force (when acting alone) produce uniform stress distribution over the
entire cross section (fig a) while the bending moment produces linearly varying stress
(fig b)
The final normal stress is obtained by superposing the stresses produced by the axial
force and the bending moment as follows
for fig (c), (d) and (e).

or or
+ =

(a) (b) (c) (d) (f)

6.2 Eccentric Axial Load

An eccentric axial load is an axial force that does not act through the centroid of the cross
section
Y

e
P
X
e is called
eccentricity of the
load. It is positive in
Y the positive y
direction and –ve in
the –ve y direction
P
X

Fig 6.3 M=Pe

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Strength of Material I Chapter 5

The eccentric load P is statically equivalent to an axial force P acting along the X axis
and a bending moment Pe acting about the Z axis.

Centroid
P

Z -yo C
n n

Neutral
axis

The normal stress at any point

6.3 The Core of a Cross-section

When the eccentricity of an axial load is small the neutral axis lies outside the cross-
section. Therefore making the cross-section either entirely in tension or in compression.
This condition is important when a compressive load acts on a material that is very weak
in tension, such as concrete, stone or ceramic. Because this materials resist only
compressive load they need to be entirely in compressive stress.

Consider the following

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Strength of Material I Chapter 5

P e Y

Y c
h/2 P
e
Z
c
Z b
h/2
-yo
h

Neutral axis
n n

When e acts in the positive y direction yo will act in the negative y direction and when e
acts in the negative y direction yo will act in the positive y direction.

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Strength of Material I Chapter 5

h/6
h
Z
Core

b/6

if P acts within the core of a section then the entire cross-section will be in tension if the
P is tensile load and in compression if P is compressive force.