CHAPTER 2

Analysis of Axially loaded members

Deformations of members under axial loading

Consider a homogeneous prismatic rod of length L and cross- B C
sectional area A subjected to centric axial tensile load P. We have P

seen in chapter 1 that the normal stress is given by L 

P
 (2-1)
A
Under the axial force the bar will elongate by the amount  as shown in Figure.
If the load is so that the stress  does not exceed the proportional limit of the material, from Hook’s
law we have
 P
  E     (2-2)
E EA

But      L
L
PL
 (2-3)
EA
In the case of axial compression force we have contraction equal to
PL
  (2-4)
EA
From Equations (2-3) and (2-4) we can see that the deformation is proportional to the axial load P
and the length L. The deformation increases when P and L increases and vice versa. We also see
that the deformation is inversely proportional to the modulus of elasticity E and cross-sectional area
A. The deformation increases when E and A decreases and vice versa. The product EA is known as
the axial rigidity of the bar.
The deformation of a prismatic bar is similar to the deformation
L
of a coil spring. When a coil spring of unstretched length equal to
L is subjected to axial tensile load P, it will elongate by the P
quantity . In the elastic range the load P and deformation  are
L 
linearly proportional
P  k (2-5)
where the proportionality coefficient k is called the stiffness of the spring (N/mm) or the spring
constant.
Dr. Walid M. Hasan, Isra University, Amman 15
The elongation of the spring can be written as
1
  P  fP (2-6)
k
The coefficient f  1 k is called the flexibility of the spring.
In the same manner we can write equation (2-3) as
L
 P  fP (2-7)
EA
or
EA
P   k (2-8)
L
Therefore, f  L EA is the flexibility of the bar and k  EA L is the stiffness of the bar.

Example
 
A steel rod E  200  10 3 MPa of length L = 3 m and cross-sectional area A = 500 mm2 is
subjected to a tensile force of 100 kN, determine: B C
1) the normal stress  100 kN

2) the elongation  3m

3) the strain 
Solution:
100  10 3
1)    200 MPa
500


100  10 3  10   3 mm
3 3
2)
200  10 500
3

3
3)    0.001
3  10 3

Example
C
The rigid bar BDE in figure is supported by two links AB
A
and CD. Link AB is made of aluminum ( E a  70  10 3 MPa 0.4 m 30 kN
2 0.3 m
) and cross-sectional area of 500 mm . Link CD is made of
steel ( E s  200  10 3 MPa ) and cross-sectional area of 600 B D E

mm2. Determine the deflection at point E. 0.2 m

0.4 m

Solution:
Equilibrium of bar BDE

Dr. Walid M. Hasan, Isra University, Amman 16

M B  0  300.6  PD 0.2  0  PD  90 kN
C
The internal force in link CD is PCD  90 kN
A
M D  0  300.4  PB 0.2  0  PB  60 kN 0.4 m
0.3 m
The internal force in link AB is PAB  60 kN
B D
The contraction of link AB equals

 AB 
60 10 300  0.514 mm
3 PB PD 30 kN

70 10 500 3

B D E
Deflection at point B equals the contraction of link AB
0.4 m
 B  0.514 mm (upward) 0.2 m

The elongation of link CD equals

 CD 
90  10 400  0.3 mm
3

200  10 600 (downward) 0.514

3

0.3
Deflection at point D equals the elongation of link CD
 D  0.3 mm (downward) E
Deflection at point E can be determined by similarity of triangles
0.3  0.514 0.2
   E  1.928 mm (downward)
 E  0.514 0.6

Normal stress and deformation in bars with variable axial load or mechanical Properties
When the bar is subjected to axial load along the bar, or it is made of different portions of different
materials or different cross-sectional areas or different lengths, the normal stress and the
deformation shall be determined for each portion in which these quantities change. The total
deformation of the bar will be given by the sum of the deformation of each portion


n
Pi Li
 tot  (2-9)
Ei Ai
i 1

where
Pi = the internal force in the i-th portion.
Li = the length of the i-th portion.
Ei = the modulus of elasticity of the material of which the i-th portion is made.
Ai = the cross-sectional area of the i-th portion.
60kN 40kN
100 kN
Example
The steel bar of constant cross-sectional area A = D C B A
2.2 m 1.8 m 2m
800 mm2 in figure, is subjected to different axial

Dr. Walid M. Hasan, Isra University, Amman 17

loads applied at different points along the bar.
Determine:
 the normal stress in each portion of the bar
 the deformation of each portion of the bar E  200 103 MPa
 the total deformation of the whole bar
Solution:
Normal stresses 60kN 40kN
100 kN
Portion AB
F x  0  100  PAB  0 D C B A

PAB  100 kN PAB

100 kN

100  10 3 A
 AB   125 MPa 40kN
800 100 kN
PBC
Portion BC
B A
 Fx  0  100  40  PBC  0 60kN 40kN
100 kN
PBC  140 kN PCD
C B A
140  10 3
 BC   175 MPa
800
Portion CD
F x  0  100  40  60  PCD  0
PCD  80 kN
80  10 3
 CD   100 MPa
800
Deformation of each portion
Portion AB

 AB 
100 10 2 10   1.25 mm
3 3

200 10 800

3

Portion BC

 BC 
140 10 1.8 10   1.58 mm
3 3

200 10 800 3

Portion CD

 CD 
80 10 2.2 10   1.1 mm
3 3

200 10 800 3

Total deformation
 tot  1.25  1.58  1.1  3.93 mm

Dr. Walid M. Hasan, Isra University, Amman 18

Example
25kN 35kN
The non-prismatic bar in figure is composed of 80 kN
three portions of different cross-sectional area,
A
B 35kN
different material and different length, subjected to D C 25kN
0.4 0.7 m 0.8 m
the axial loads shown in Figure, determine:
 the normal stress in each portion.
 the deformation in each portion.
 the total deformation in the whole bar.
Rod AB is made of aluminum E a  70  10 3 MPa , AAB  800 mm 2 , LAB = 800 mm.

Rod BC is made of brass Eb  100  10 3 MPa , ABC = 1000 mm2, LBC = 700 mm

Rod CD is made of steel E s  200  10 3 MPa , ACD = 1200 mm2, LCD = 400 mm.

Solution:
Normal stresses
25kN 35kN
Portion AB 80 kN
 Fx  0  80  PAB  0 A
B 35kN
PAB  80 kN D C 25kN

80  10 3 80 kN
 AB    100 MPa PAB
800 A
Portion BC 35kN
80 kN
F
PBC
x  0  80  70  PBC  0
A
B 35kN
PBC  150 kN
25kN
35kN
150 10 3 80 kN
 BC    150 MPa PCD
1000 A
B 35kN
Portion CD C 25kN

F x  0  80  70  50  PCD  0
PCD  200 kN
200 103
 CD    166.7 MPa
1200
Deformation in each portion

 AB  
80 10 800  1.14 mm
3

70 10 800

3

 BC 
150 10 700  1.05 mm
3

100 10 1000 3

Dr. Walid M. Hasan, Isra University, Amman 19

 CD  
200 10 400  0.33 mm
3

200 10 1200

3

Total deformation
 tot  1.14  1.05  0.33  2.52 mm

Normal stress produced in bar by its own weight

Consider a prismatic bar of length L and cross-sectional area A,
subjected to an axial tensile load P at its free end and to its own
weight. Because the weight of the bar is variable from point to point
along the bar, the internal force and consequently the normal stress N(x)
will be variable along the bar
(x)
At a distance x from the lower end, the weight of the lower portion is L

Ax and the internal force produced at section x is given by

x
N ( x)  P  Ax (2-10) Ax

Taking into account that the area is constant elsewhere, the stress at
the same section is P P

N ( x) P  Ax P
x     x (2-11)
A( x) A A
The maximum stress will be at the fixed end (x = L)
P  AL P
 max    L (2-12)
A A
It is interesting to note that with increasing length L of the bar the own weight effect becomes more
and more important. For very long bar the area of the bar required to support the load P and the own
weight becomes prohibitive.
The total elongation equals
PL AL L 2 L  1 
    P  AL  (2-13)
EA EA EA  2 

Example
A steel bar of diameter d = 40 mm is supporting statically at its lower end a box of
mass 500 kg, determine the maximum normal tensile stress in the bar and its
elongation when L = 10 m, 100 m, 1000 m.   79 kN / m 3 .
L
Solution:
 (40) 2
The cross-sectional area of the bar A   1256 mm 2
4
The axial load P at the lower end P  5009.81  4905 N

 max 
4905
1256
  
 79  10 6 10  10 3  3.91  0.79  4.7 MPa

Dr. Walid M. Hasan, Isra University, Amman 20


10 10  4905  79 10 125610 10   0.22 mm
3 6 3

200 10 1256 

3
2



 79  10 100  10   3.91  7.9  11.81 MPa

4905
 max  6 3

1256


100 10  4905  79 10 1256100 10   3.93 mm
3 6 3

200 10 1256 

3
2



 79  10 1000  10   3.91  79  82.91 MPa

4905
 
max
6 3

1256


1000 10  4905  79 10 12561000 10   217 mm
3 6 3

200 10 1256 

3
2



Statically indeterminate axially loaded members

In problems involving statically indeterminate members, the equations of equilibrium only are not
sufficient to determine the reactions or internal forces. LAC LCB
For example consider the uniform bar AB in figure, P
subjected to axial force P at point C and we have to A C B
L
determine the reactions at supports A and B.
RA RB
We draw the free body diagram and we write the P
A C B
equations of equilibrium in the vertical direction as
RA
follows: PAC
A
F x  0   RA  RB  P  0 RA
P PCB
RA  RB  P …….. (1) A C

We cannot solve this equation because it contains two unknowns and no other equation of
equilibrium is available. Thus we need another equation involving the deformation of the rod AB.
This equation is called “compatibility equation.” This compatibility equation states that the
deformation of the bar must be zero (total deformation equals the sum of the deformations of
portions AC and BC).
PAC L AC PCB LCB
 tot   AC   CB  0    0 ……………… (2)
EA EA
where PAC and PCB are the internal forces in portion AC and portion CB.
Equilibrium of portion AC:  Fx  0   RA  PAC  0  PAC  R A

Equilibrium of portion CB:  Fx  0   RA  P  PCB  0  PCB  R A  P

Substituting these values into equation (2) we obtain

Dr. Walid M. Hasan, Isra University, Amman 21

R A L AC R A  P  LCB
 0
EA EA
LCB L
R A L AC  R A LCB  PLCB  0  R A  P  CB P
L AC  LCB L
Substituting the value of RA into equation (1) we get
LCB L L
P  RB  P  RB  P  CB P  AC P
L L L
The stresses in portions AC and CB are given by
PAC R A P LCB
 AC   
A A A L
PCB R A  P R P L AC
 CB    B 
A A A A L

Example
The rigid castings A and B are connected by to 20 mm diameter 450 mm

steel threaded rods CD and GH and are in contact with the ends of
C E F D
40 mm diameter aluminum bar EF. Each steel rod is threaded with
A B
a pitch of 2.5 mm. After being snugly fitted the nuts at D and H are
both tightened one-quarter of a turn. Determine the normal stress in G H
the steel rods and aluminum bar. 300 mm

Solution:
For the equilibrium of the right casting we write

F x  0  Pa  2Ps  0  Pa  2 Ps ………. (1)

This equation is not sufficient to determine Ps and Pa, therefore the system is statically
indeterminate and we need another equation concerning the deformation of the system.
Due to tightening of the nuts, casting B will move to the left by the quantity
Ps
 B  2.5  0.625 mm
1
4 Pa
The steel rods will elongate by the quantity Ps
Ps 450
s   7.16560  10 6 Ps
 
200  10 314
3
 Ps Ps
While, the aluminum bar will contract by the quantity Pa Pa
Pa 300
a   1.19426  10 6 Pa
 
Ps Ps
70  10 1256
3

B  s  a
Dr. Walid M. Hasan, Isra University, Amman 22
0.625  7.16560  10 6 Ps  1.19426  10 6 Pa ……….. (2)
Substituting the value of Pa, from equation (1), in the
compatibility equation (2) we have
0.625  7.16560  10 6 Ps  2.38852  10 6 Ps

0.625  9.55412  10 6 Ps

0.625
Ps   65417 N  65.417 kN
9.55412  10 6
Pa  265.417  130.834 kN
65417
s   208 MPa
314
130854
a    104 MPa
1256

Example
An aluminum rod of length L = 500 mm, cross-sectional area Aa = 1963 mm2, and modulus of
elasticity E a  70  10 3 MPa , has been placed inside of a tube of the same length, but of cross-

sectional area As = 942 mm2 and modulus of elasticity E s  200  10 3 MPa . What is the
deformation of the rod and tube when a force P = 50 kN is exerted on a rigid end plate as shown in
figure.
50 kN
Solution:
Denoting with Pa and Ps the axial forces in the rod and in
the tube respectively, and writing the equation of 500 mm

equilibrium for the end plate we have

Ps Pa 50 kN
Pa  Ps  50 ……………………. (1)
This equation is not sufficient to determine the two unknown Pa and Ps.
The compatibility equation of the deformations states that the deformation of the rod and the
deformation of the tube shall be equal. Thus
Pa Pa
 a   s …………………. (2)
Pa L PL E A
 s  Pa  a a Ps Ps Ps
Ea Aa E s As E s As


70  10 1963 P
3
 0.729 Ps
Pa
200  10 942
3 s

Substituting into equation (1) we obtain

Dr. Walid M. Hasan, Isra University, Amman 23

 50
0.729 Ps  Ps  50  Ps   28.918 kN
1.729
Pa  0.72928.918  21.082 kN

a 
21082500  0.08 mm
70  10 3 1963
s 
28918500  0.08 mm
200  10 3 942

Example
The rigid block ABC in figure is supported by three bars AD, BE, D E F

and CF of equal length L = 1 m. Bar BE is made of steel with L E cA c EsAs E cA c

cross-sectional area As = 500 mm2, and bars AD and CF are made A B C

of copper with cross-sectional area Ac = 400 mm2 each. The block

P
is subjected, in its center of gravity, to load P = 40 kN. Determine
the axial forces and stresses in the bars.
L E cA c EsAs E cA c
Solution:
For the equilibrium of the rigid block we have

F y  0  Ps  2 Pc  40 …….. (1) Pc Ps Pc

Because the system is symmetrical and the block is rigid, the rigid
block will displace downward and this displacement shall be equal
P
to the elongation of the bars. Thus, we can write the compatibility
equation as:
   s   c ……… (2)

Ps L PL E A
 c  Ps  s s Pc  Ps 
200  103 500 P  2.5P
E s As Ec Ac Ec Ac 100  103 400 c c

40
2.5Pc  2Pc  40  Pc   8.89 kN
4. 5
Ps  2.58.89  22.23 kN
8890
c   22.23 MPa
400
22230
s   44.46 MPa
500

Dr. Walid M. Hasan, Isra University, Amman 24

Example
The rigid bar ABCD is attached to 12 mm 0.45 0.3 m 0.2 m
A m mm B mm C D
diameter aluminum rod CE and 20 mm
diameter aluminum rod DF. Knowing that
E  70  10 3 MPa , determine: 45 kN
0.6 m 0.75 m
1) the axial force in each rod E
F
2) the deflection of point A.
Solution:
The rotational equilibrium of the rigid bar about point B gives

M B  0  0.5PD  0.3PC  450.45  0 0.45 0.3 m 0.2 m

m mm mm
0.5PD  0.3PC  20.25 ………….. (1)
From the similarity of triangles BCC’ and BDD’
45 kN B PC PD
we have
C  D
   C  0.6  D ……… (2)
0.3 0.5 C D
The internal force in rod CE is PCE  PC and the
0.6 m 0.75 m
internal force in rod DF is PDF  PD
E
P L P L
 C   CE  CE CE  D   DF  DF DF F
EACE EADF
D’
Substituting these values into equation (2) we get C’
D
PCE LCE P L C
 0.6 DF DF A B
EACE EADF C D

A  LDF  A’
 PCE  0.6  CE   PDF 45 kN PC PD
 ADF  LCE 
 113  750 
 PCE  0.6    PDF  0.27 PDF
 314  600 
But PCE  PC and PDF  PD  PC  0.27 PD , thus substituting these values into equation (1) we
obtain
0.5PD  0.30.27PD  20.25
PD  34.85 kN  PDF  34.85 kN

PC  0.2734.85  9.41 kN  PCE  9.41 kN

 DF 
34.85  10 750  1.19 mm
3

70  10 314
3

Dr. Walid M. Hasan, Isra University, Amman 25

 CE 
9.41 10 600  0.71 mm
3

70  10 113
3

To determine the deflection of point A, we note that from the similarity of triangles AA’B and BDD’
we have
A 
 D   A  0.9  D  0.9 1.19  1.1 mm
0.45 0.5

Temperature change effect

Consider a homogenous rod AB of uniform cross section, which A B B’
+T
rests freely on a smooth horizontal surface. If the temperature of
the rod is raised by T  T f  To , keeping fixed end A, the rod L 

will elongate by an amount  T given by

 T   T  L (2-14)
where  is called the coefficient of thermal expansion.
With the deformation  T must be associated a strain  T

T
T    T (2-15)
L
In this case where the rod is permitted to elongate freely and have a uniform cross-section, there is
no stress associated with strain  T .
A B
Now consider the same rod AB placed between two fixed +T
supports and subjected to temperature raise T .The bar will
L
try to elongate but supports will prevent this elongation.
To determine the magnitude of the support reaction we A B B’
+T
remove one of the two supports and substitute it with its
reaction P. Under temperature raise T the rod will elongate L 

with the amount  T . Under load P the rod will contract by

A B” B
the amount  P . But in the original system point B cannot +T P

move neither to right nor to left. Therefore, the total P

L
deformation is equal to zero.

 T   P  0   T  L 
PL
0
EA
P  EA T 
The stress in the rod due to temperature raise equals

Dr. Walid M. Hasan, Isra University, Amman 26

   E T 
P
  (2-16)
A
We note that in this case the sum of the deformations is zero; therefore the strain is also zero.

Example
When the steel bar in figure was at room temperature (To = 25 oC) its temperature was raised to 75
C. Determine the elongation in the bar due to temperature change. (   11.7 10 6 / o C )
o

Solution: A B B’

 T   T L  11.7 10 6 75  2520 103   11.7 mm +T

20 m 
Example
The aluminum bar in figure was cooled from the room temperature (To = 15 oC) to the temperature
of -15 oC. Determine the normal stress in the bar due to temperature change. (   23 10 6 / o C ,
E  70 103 MPa )
A B
Solution:
-T
  E T   70 10 23 10
3 6
30  48.3 MPa
10 m

Dr. Walid M. Hasan, Isra University, Amman 27