UNIVERSITY INSTITUTE OF

ARCHITECTURE
Bachelor of Architecture
Structure Design-III (20ART-314)

CURVED MEMBERS DISCOVER . LEARN . EMPOWER

Er. Mohit Bajaj 1
COURSE OUTCOMES

At the completion of the Chapter, students will be able to:

• Learn the basic principles of structural Mechanics, so that it

forms the basis for study of Curved members.

• Understand the concept of Curved structures and design of

curved members.

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 Course Content
 Introduction
 Beams curved in Plan
 Curved Structures
 Curved Beams in Aerospace structures
 Assumptions and restrictions in the curved Beams
 Applications of Curved Beam
 Types of Curved Beam
 Numerical Problems Er. Mohit Bajaj 3
BEAMS CURVED IN PLAN

• Architectural design in addition to engineering design

represents each of the variables in the equation for a
successful design solution. The architectural aspect of a 
curved beam design achieves ideal appearance and
functionality. A design that has been well engineered
produces an efficient and capable performance solution.

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BEAMS CURVED IN PLAN

• Beams curved in plan are used to support circular water

tanks, curved balconies, curved ramps or other similar
structures having curved boundary. Such curved beams may
be circular, elliptical or polygonal in plan.

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BEAMS CURVED IN PLAN

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BEAMS CURVED IN PLAN

• Steel beams are a very popular structural building component. They are
used as both columns and beams to resist self-weight, gravity, wind,
seismic, axial compression, shear and bending moment forces in and on
buildings and similar structures. Larger beams are able to support larger
loads for longer distances. However, when you need support for a curving
slab edge or something to support an elevated roof or entryway across a
large unobstructed space, incorporating a curved beam design may be the
solution you need.

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BEAMS CURVED IN PLAN
• Curved in either the X-X axis, Y-Y axis or at a custom diagonal orientation
known as off-axis (in degrees), the procedure for curving steel beams can
prove to be a very versatile engineering and or architectural solution. Since
structural design mostly focuses on straight beams, engineering a curved beam
design for structural use is recommended to be done by a licensed structural
engineer with experience in designing curved beams. Circular, parabolic and
even elliptical arches or cantilevers can be designed for, but the procedure for
designing steel beams to perform successfully when rolled to these shapes will
differ slightly from the standard approach.

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Question Poll 1

The bending stress in a straight beam varies linearly with the

distance from neural axis like that in a curved beam.

• a) True

• b) False

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CURVED STRUCTURES

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CURVED STRUCTURES

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CURVED STRUCTURES

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CURVED STRUCTURES

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CURVED STRUCTURES

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CURVED BEAMS IN AEROSPACE STRUCTURES

• Curved beams are encountered at various places in aerospace structures.

For instance, the frames or rings in airplane fuselage are basically curved
beams. To analyze curved beams we must clarify the assumptions and
restrictions of the analysis.

Assumptions:

• Cross sections of the curved beam remain plane after moment is applied.

• Material used is linearly elastic.

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RESTRICTIONS IN CURVED
BEAMS
1. Beam must have a uniform cross section along its length.

2. Beam segment considered has a constant radius of curvature.

3. Beam cross section must possess at least one axis of symmetry so the product

of inertia is zero.

4. Bending moment is applied perpendicular to radius of curvature of the beam.

5. Bending stresses must remain below the elastic limit.

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CURVED BEAMS
• In general for beams having radii of curvature much longer than their depths, the
elastic bending formula gives fairly reasonable results for bending stresses.
However, for more accurate calculation of stresses especially when the radius of
curvature is of the same order of magnitude as the beam's depth, then we must
use Winkler's method of analysis.

• In curved beams, the assumption of plane sections remain plane after loading is
still valid. However, since the length of the beam varies from its top surface to the
bottom surface, the strain variation is no longer linear, instead it is hyperbolic. 

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 DIFFERNECE BETWEEN STRAIGHT BEAMS AND
CURVED BEAMS
Sr. No Straight Beams Curved Beams

1 Neutral Axis of the cross section Neutral axis does not coincide with the cross
passes through the centroid of the section, but is shifted towards the centre of
section curvature of the beam

2 The variation of bending stress is The distribution of the stress in the case of
linear, magnitude being curved beam is non-linear because of the
proportional to the distance of a neutral axis is initially curved.
fiber from the neutral axis

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Question Poll 2

• The bending stress in a straight beam varies linearly with the

distance from neural axis like that in a curved beam.

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LOCATION OF NEUTRAL AXIS

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LOCATION OF NEUTRAL AXIS

R = location of neutral axis, specified from center of curvature O’ of

member
A = x-sectional area of the member
R = arbitrary position of the area element dA on x-section specified from
center of curvature P’ of member
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Normal stress in curved beam

• The stress distribution is as shown, hyperbolic, and is sometimes called

circumferential stress
• Radial stress will also be created as a result
• If radius of curvature is greater than 5 times the depth of member,
flexure formula can be used to determine the stress instead

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 IMPORTANT POINTS
• Curved beam formula is used to determine circumferential stress in a
beam when radius of curvature is less than five times the depth of the
beam

• Due to beam curvature, normal strain in beam does not vary linearly
with depth as in the case of straight beam. Thus, neutral axis does not
pass through centroid of section

• Ignore radial stress component of bending, if x-section is a solid section

and not made from thin plates
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Applications of Curved Beams.
Curved beams find applications in many machine members such as c –
clampers , crane hooks, frames of  presses, chains, links, rings, etc..,

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TORSIONAL MOMENTS IN BEAM

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 CIRCULAR BEAM SUPPORTED
SYMMETRICALLY

• Let us first analyse a complete circular beam, supported symmetrically on the

columns. The beam is thud continuous and forms a close loop.

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• Let the beam be subjected to uniformly distributed load w per unit length. Due
to symmetry the vertical reaction at each column will be the same, also the
shear force and twisting moment at the centre of each span will be zero. And
the twisting moment at the support will be zero. Let the angle subtended by two
consecutive columns A and B be 2Ѳ and let the mean radius of the beam be R.

• Load W of the arc AB= W.R. 2Ѳ= 2W.R.Ѳ

• The distance of C.G. of an arc, subtending an angle 2Ѳ at the centre is given by

• OE= R SIN Ѳ/ Ѳ

• Thus the C.G of the load on the beam lies at a distance of R SIN Ѳ/ Ѳ from the
centre of curvature.

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SHEAR FORCE AND BENDING
MOMENT AT THE SUPPORT
• Due to symmetry, the shear force and bending moment at each support will be equal.

Let Fo be the shear force and Mo be the bending moment at each support.

So Fo = W.R. 2Ѳ/2

= W.R. Ѳ

• The bending moment Mo at each end will be hogging in the nature and it will be

about the radial axis AO and BO.

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By representing the end moments by vectors, the direction of moments at

the supports will be as shown in b figure, in which arrows indicate the

moments about that direction. The moment Mo about AO can be

resolved in two components:

• Moment about Mo. SinѲ about chord AD and

• Moment Mo Cos Ѳ about DO.

Similarly moment Mo about BO can be resolved in two components

about DB and DO as marked.

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• In order to find the value of end moment Mo, let us balance the
moment about the chord AB.

• Component of end moment about chord AB= 2 Mo. SinѲ

• Moment of external force about the chord AB= W* AD

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• By equating these two equations, we get

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SHEAR FORCE AND BENDING MOMENT
AT ANY POINT

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SHEAR FORCE AND BENDING
MOMENT AT ANY POINT
• After having determined end reactions and moments, the shear force
and bending moments at any point P on the beam can be easily found.
Let PO make an angle ϕ with AO.

• Let Shear force and bending moment at point P be designated as Fo

and Mo respectively.

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TWISTING MOMENT AT POINT P

• Let the twisting moment at P be Mϕt. Twisting moment at any point is

equal to the moment of all forces on one side of it about the tangential
axis at that point. This moment may be taken as positive if the left
portion twists the beam towards the centre of the curvature.

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COEFFICIENTS FOR B.M AND TWISTING
MOMENTS IN CIRCULAR BEAMS

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Numerical Problem 1

A curved beam is in the form of a full continuous circle in plan with

a radius of 4 m and is supported continuously on six supports. The
beam carries a uniformly distributed load of 2 Kn/m length,
inclusive of its own weight. Determine the bending moment ,
twisting moment and shear force at salient locations and plot
Bending moment, torsional moment and shear force diagrams.

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Solution of Numerical 1

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Numerical Problem 2 (Time- 35
Minutes)
• A curved beam is in the form of a full continuous circle in plan
with a radius of 5 m and is supported continuously on five
supports. The beam carries a uniformly distributed load of 6
Kn/m length, inclusive of its own weight. Determine the
bending moment , twisting moment and shear force at salient
locations and plot Bending moment, torsional moment and shear
force diagrams.
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SEMI CIRCULAR BEAM SIMPLY
SUPPORTED ON THREE EQUALLY
SPACED COLUMNS

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STEPS TO FIND OUT S.F., B.M. AND T.M
IN SEMI CIRCULAR BEAMS

• R1= WR/2(π-2)
• R2= 2wr

• Shear Force = Fa= R1

At any Other Location,

• Fϕ= WR[π/2-1-ϕ]
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BENDING MOMENT

• Mc= - 0.429 Wr2

• M max= + 0.1514 wR2

• The Bending moment at any other Location is Given

by Following:

• M ϕ= wR2[0.5708 sin ϕ- 2sin 2 (ϕ/2)]

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TORSIONAL MOMENT
• Mtϕ = 0.1045 Wr2

The distribution of torsional moment is given by following

equation:

• Mtϕ = wR2[(π-2/2)- (π-2/2cos ϕ)- ϕ+ sin ϕ]

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 NUMERICAL PROBLEM 3
A Semi circular beam with radius of 4 m is simply supported at ends and is
continuous over a column at its middle. The beam carries a uniformly
distributed load of 20 Kn/m length of the beam, inclusive of its own weight.
Determine Shear force, Bending moment and torsional moment at Salient
points and plot Shear force, Bending moment and torsional moment diagrams

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SOLUTION
• Radius= 4 m, w= 20Kn/m

• R1= WR/2(π-2)= 20 * 4/ 2(3.14-2)

= 45.66 KN

• R2= 2wR= 2* 20* 4 = 160KN

(i) Shear Force = Fa= R1= 45.66 KN

At any Other Location,

• Fϕ= WR[π/2-1-ϕ]

• = 20* 4 [ 0.5708-0.01745ϕ]
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The Value of Fϕ is thus linear with ϕ

• At ϕ = 90 °

• F ϕ= 80[0.5708-0.01745*90]

• = - 80KN

To locate the Position where F ϕ is zero, we have,

• 0.5708- 0.01745 ϕ= 0 or

• Φ= 0.5708/0.01745= 32.71º
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BENDING MOMENT

• Mc= - 0.429 wR2 = - 0.429 * 20(4*4)= -137.28 KN-m

• M max= + 0.1514 wR2 = +0.1514* 20(4*4)

= 45.46 KN-m

• The Bending moment at any other Location is Given by

Following:

• M ϕ= wR2[0.5708 sin ϕ- 2sin 2 (ϕ/2)]

• = 320[ 0.5708 sin ϕ - 2sin 2 (ϕ/2)]

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The value of M ϕ at 30 º interval are tabulated below:
ϕ Mϕ Location

0 0 End

29.72 ° 48.46 Maximum Sagging

Bending Moment

30 ° 48.45

59.44 ° 0.00 Point of Maximum Torsion

60 ° -1.82

90 ° -137.28 Maximum Hogging

Bending Moment

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In order to find the position where Bending moment is equal to zero:
• 0.5708 sinϕ-2sin (ϕ/2)=0
• 0.5708 sin2(ϕ/2)-2sin2(ϕ/2)=0
• 0.5708 sin2(ϕ/2) = 2sin2(ϕ/2)
• 0.5708 2sin(ϕ/2). Cos (ϕ/2)= 2sin2(ϕ/2)
• Tan (ϕ /2)= 0.5708
• ϕ/2= 29.72° or
• ϕ= 59.44°
Which is evidently the location where torsional moment is maximum
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TORSIONAL MOMENT
• Mtϕ = 0.1045 wR2 = 0.1045 *20*(4*4)

= 33.42 KN-m at ϕ = 59.44º

The distribution of torsional moment is given by following equation:

• Mtϕ = wR2[(π-2/2)- (π-2/2cos ϕ)- ϕ+ sin ϕ]

• Mtϕ = 20(4*4)[ 0.5708- 0.5708cos ϕ + sin ϕ- ϕ* π/180]

• Mtϕ = 320[0.5708- 0.5708 cos ϕ + sin ϕ- 0.01745 ϕ]

Where ϕ is in degrees
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The values of torsional moment at 30 ° interval are tabulated below:

ϕ M tϕ Location

0° 00.00 End of the Beam

30° 16.95

59.44° 33.42 Point of Zero Bending Moment

60° 33.41

90° 00.00 Middle of the Beam

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