CVE Introduction

FEDERAL UNIVERSITY OYE, OYE-EKITI
DEPARTMENT OF CIVIL ENGINEERING
Strength of Materials – Introduction
1.0 Definition
The strength of a material may be defined as its ability to resist failure or its behaviour under
the action of external forces. A material, under the action of force, first deformed, . . . and
then fails afterwards.
A detailed study of forces and their effects along with some suitable protective measures for
safe working conditions is known as “strength of materials”. The knowledge of strength of
materials is very essential for engineers to enable design and maintain all types of structures
and machines.
2.0 Some Basics

Fundamental/Derived Quantities (Units)
Fundamental  Length, Mass, Time (m, kg, sec.)
Derived  velocity, acceleration, area, pressure, etc.
Larger multiples of the units
1012  Tera
109  Giga
106  Mega
103  Kilo (grams, meter, etc.)
10-3  Milli
10-6  Micro
10-9  Nano
10-12  Pico
 An engineer must have a practical appreciation of each of this units
Force
Loads represents the loads that the structure is expected to carry.
Loads that constitutes force can be broadly classified into three viz
- Dead Load permanent load, e.g. weight of the structure, claddings, finishes, etc.
- Imposed Loads  movable load, e.g. furniture, equipment, occupants, etc.
- Wind Loads  invisible and moving loads,
- Seismic/Impact Loads 
In practice, the structure can be subjected to any combination of these
Forces may be coplanar or non-coplanar
Coplanar Forces  forces that act in same plane

- Concurrent
All forces meeting at a point are said to be concurrent
- Parallel
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Resultant of Force
The resultant of a given number of forces is the single force which, when substituted for the
given forces, has the same effect on the state of equilibrium of the body.
Component of Force
A given force can be replaced by any two forces (components) which meet at the point of
application of the given force. When the angle between the two forces is a right angle, the
components are called rectangular components
Parallelogram of Forces
If two forces meeting at a point are in equilibrium, they can be represented by the two sides
in magnitude and direction by the two sides of a parallelogram, and their resultant is
represented in magnitude and direction by the diagonal of the parallelogram which passes
through the point where the two forces meet
Triangle of Forces
If three forces meeting at a point are in equilibrium, they may be represented in magnitude
and direction by the tree sides of a triangle drawn to scale
Polygon of Forces
If any number of forces acting at a point are in equilibrium, then they can be represented in
magnitude and direction by the sides of closed polygon taken in order.
Condition of Equilibrium
For a system of forces acting in one plane to be in equilibrium, the three govering laws are:
1. Algebraic sum of all the vertical forces must be zero
∑V=0
2. Algebraic sum of all the horizontal forces must be zero
∑H=0
3. Algebraic sum of the moments of the forces must be zero
∑M=0
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Moment of Forces
This is a turning effect of a force. It is usually considered in relation to a turning point (real or
imaginary).
This defined as the product of a force multiplied and a distance, and this distance must be
measured from the turning point to where it cuts the line of action of the force at right angles.
Simply put, moment is the product of a force and perpendicular distance.
- It is expressed in force-length units such as, N.mm, KN.m, etc.
Free Body Diagram

They are a complete diagram or simplified line sketch of the structure (or body), showing the
position, direction and point of application of all externally applied forces acting on the
structure, including ground reaction forces and/or moments.
The concept of free body diagram is very useful in solving problems where internal forces
in members of a structure are required to be determined. Most free body diagrams are used
both to determine the loading of individual structural components as well as calculating
internal forces within the structure in almost all the engineering disciplines.
In applying FBD to structure, it is assumed that if a structure as a whole body is in

equilibrium, any part of it must also constitute a system of equilibrium bodies. If a portion of
it is imagined to be cut free from the whole, this portion will be in equilibrium under the
action of any applied loads acting on it. and of the internal forces in the members which are
cut.
To find internal forces, the condition of static equilibrium are applied to the free body
diagram of the cut member.
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FEDERAL UNIVERSITY OYE, OYE-EKITI

DEPARTMENT OF CIVIL ENGINEERING

Strength of Materials – Introduction

2.0 Some Basics

Coplanar Forces  forces that act in same plane

2. Algebraic sum of all the horizontal forces must be zero

3. Algebraic sum of the moments of the forces must be zero

Free Body Diagram

In applying FBD to structure, it is assumed that if a structure as a whole body is in

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