Chapter 5

Topics
FLEXURAL STRESSES
• Theory of simple bending (Assumptions)
• Derivation of bending equation
• Section Modulus
• Determination of flexural/bending stresses of rectangular
and circular sections (Solid and Hollow), I,T, Angle and
Channel sections
SHEAR STRESSES:
• Derivation of formula for shear stress distribution
• Shear stress distribution across various beam sections like
rectangular, circular, triangular, I, T angle and channel
sections.
When the load is applied on to the beam, it would
deform by bending. This generates internal stresses
which can be represented by a SF(V) and BM(M)..
SF is the resultant of vertical shear stresses which acts
parallel to cross section. BM is the resultant of normal
stresses which acts normal to the cross section
 Pure Bending or Simple Bending
If the length of the beam is
subjected to a constant
bending moment and no
shear force (i.e., zero shear
force), then the stresses will
be set up in that length of
the beam due to B.M only
and that length of the beam
is said to be in pure bending
or simple bending.

The stresses set up in that

length of the beam are
known as bending stresses.
No change in the length of the neutral axis
Bending stress in beams
∫ydA represents the moment of entire area of the section
about NA. But we know that moment of any area about an
axis
passing through its centroid, is equal to zero. Hence NA
coincides with the centroidal axis. Thus the centroidal
axis of a section gives the position of neutral
axis.
 Moment of Resistance
• Due to pure bending, the layers above NA
are subjected to compressive stresses and
the layers below are subjected to tensile
stresses.
• Due to these stresses, forces will be acting
on the layers. These forces will have
moment about the NA. Total moment of
these forces about the NA for a section is
known as Moment of Resistance.
• The force on the layer at a distance y from
NA is
= (E/R) X y X dA
• Moment of this force about NA
= force on layer X y
= (E/R) X y X dA X y
= (E/R) X y2 X dA
Moment of Resistance
• Total moment of forces on the section of the
beam,

= ∫(E/R) X y2 X dA
= (E/R) ∫ y2 X dA

Let M = external moment applied on the beam

section.
For equilibrium the moment of resistance
offered by the section should be equal to the
external bending moment.

M = (E/R) ∫ y2 X dA

But ∫y2 X dA represents the moment of inertia of

the area of the section about NA. let this MOI be
I.
M = (E/R) I or
 Flexure formula
It says that bending stress varies linearly as
the B.M in the distance increase and it
decreases as the area moment of inertia
increases.
The maximum bending stress occurs on the
fibers those are farthest from the neutral
axis. i.e., Y = Ymax

depends on geometry of the section and is

called section modulus.
most of the time we would not have pure bending, there will
also be a shear force acting on the beam cross section.
Presence of shear force does not significantly effect bending
stresses.
So we can consider flexural formula of pure bending valid for
more general case of bending.
Shear stress
The shear force V is the resultant of shear stresses which are
vertically parallel to the cross section.
we denote shear stresses using τ.
To maintain equilibrium , these vertical shear stresses have
complementary horizontal shear stresses which act between
horizontal layers of the beam as shown in figure.
Consider a beam made of several planks. When the load
is applied , there is a tendency to the planks to slide
relative to one another
Now if the glue is applied between the planks and made it into
a single beam and load is applied. Now the planks will not
slide and this leads to the generation of horizontal stresses
between them.
Instead of vertical force if we
apply moment then sliding of
the planks will not occur and
this case would become pure
bending condition.
No horizontal stresses would
exist.
• Presence of these horizontal shear stresses
explains why wooden beams some times fail
longitudinally.
Shear stress at a section
• Simply supported beam with udl.
• For udl SF and BM will vary along the length of the beam
• Consider two sections AB and CD as shown.
Let it is required to find the shear stress on the section AB at a distance y1
from the NA.
On the cross section of the beam let EF be the line at a distance y1 from the
NA.
Part of the beam above EF and between AB and CD
This part of beam may be taken to consist of infinite number of elemental
cylinders each of area dA and length dx. Consider one such cylinder y from
NA.
dA = area of elemental cylinder
dx = length of elemental cylinder
y = distance of elemental cylinder from NA
σ = intensity of bending stress on the end of the elemental cylinder on the
section AB.
σ + dσ = intensity of bending stress on the end of the elemental cylinder on
the section CD
Bending stress on section AB,
σ = My/I
Bending stress on section CD,
σ + dσ = (M + dM)y/I
Force on AB = σ X dA
= (My/I) X dA
Force on CD similarly
= ((M + dM)y/I) X dA
Forces on the ends of elemental cylinder are different. Hence there will be
unbalanced force on the elemental cylinder.
∴net unbalanced force on the elemental cylinder
= ((M + dM)y/I) X dA - (My/I) X dA
= (dM/I) X y X dA
∴total unbalanced force above EF = ∫ (dM/I) X y X dA
= (dM/I) ∫ y X dA
= (dM/I) X A X y̅
A = area of section above the level EF i.e., EFGH
y̅= distance of the C.G of the area A from the NA.
Due the total unbalanced force above EF, the beam may fail due
to shear. In order the above part may not fail, the horizontal
section of the beam at level EF must offer a shear resistance.
This shear resistance at least must be equal to total unbalanced
force to avoid failure due to shear.
Shear resistance at level EF = Total unbalanced force
Shear force = τ X b X dx
τ = intensity of horizontal shear at the level EF
b = width of beam at level EF
τ X b X dx = (dM/I) X A X y̅
τ = (dM/dx).A y̅/Ib
τ = F. (A y̅/Ib) since (dM/dx) = shear force = F.

The shear stress given by above equation is the horizontal

shear stress at the distance y1 from the neutral axis. But by the
principal of complementary shear, the horizontal shear stress
is accompanied by a vertical shear stress τ of the same
quantity
 Shear stress distribution for different sections
Rectangular section:
τ = F. (Ay̅/Ib)
A = ((d/2)-y) X b
y̅= y + (1/2)((d/2) – y)

Substituting above values,

τ = F/2I((/4) – )

At top edge, y = d/2, τ=0;

At neutral axis, y = 0,

τ=F/8I or 1.5F/bd
τavg = F/bd
τmax = 1.5 τavg
Circular section:
τ = F. (Ay̅/Ib)
dA = b X dy = EF X dy
= 2 X EB X dy
= 2 X √ ( – ) X dy
Moment of this area
about NA = y X dA
= 2y √ ( – ) X dy
Moment of whole shaded area about
NA is obtained by integrating above
equation between y and R.
We get,
Ay̅=2/3( Substituting above value, we
get
τ = F/3I ()
At neutral axis, y = 0, τ=F/3I or 4F/3∏
τavg = F/ ∏
τmax = 4/3 τavg
Shear stress distribution for an I - Section
i. Shear stress distribution in
the flange:
τ = F/2I((/4) – )
a. For upper edge of flange
y = D/2, τ = 0;

b. For the lower edge of flange

y = d/2, τ = F/8I( – )
 ii. Shear stress distribution in the web

At neutral axis, y = 0, shear stress

is maximum.

At the junction of top of the web

and bottom of flange,
y=d/2
The shear stress at the junction of
flange and web changes abruptly
from equations
τ = F/8I( – )
to
τ = FB/8bI( – )
Any Questions ?