STRESSES IN

BEAMS

LEC.#8
REF: MECHANICS OF MATERIAL BY PYTEL & KIUSALAAS
Stresses in Beams
• Forces and couples acting on the beam cause bending (flexural
stresses) and shearing stresses on any cross section of the beam and
deflection perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the beam.
Stresses in Beams
• If couples are applied to the ends of the beam and no forces act on it,
the bending is said to be pure bending.

• If forces produce the bending, the bending is called ordinary bending.

Bending Stress/Flexure Stress
• The stresses caused by the
bending moment are known
as bending stresses, or flexure
stresses.
• The relationship between
these stresses and the bending
moment is called the
flexure formula
 • The beam has an axial plane of symmetry,
which we take to be the xyplane(see Fig. 5.1).
Assumptions • The applied loads (such as F1, F2, and F3 in
Fig. 5.1) lie in the plane of Symmetry and are
perpendicular to the axis of the beam (the x-
axis).
• The axis of the beam bends but does not stretch
(the axis lies somewhere in the plane of
symmetry; its location will be determined later).
• Plane sections of the beam remain plane (do not
warp) and perpendicular to the deformed axis of
the beam.
• Changes in the cross-sectional dimensions of
the beam are negligible.
• https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f08Y39UiC-o
 ∆ 𝐿 𝐶𝐷 − 𝐴𝐵 ( 𝑅+ 𝑦 ) 𝜃 − 𝑅 𝜃 Hooke’s Law
𝜀= ¿ ¿
𝐿 𝐴𝐵 𝑅𝜃
𝑦 𝜎 =𝜀 𝐸
𝜀= 𝐵𝑒𝑛𝑑𝑖𝑛𝑔 𝑠𝑡𝑟𝑎𝑖𝑛
𝑅
𝑦
𝜎 =𝐸
𝑅

𝐿𝑒𝑛𝑔𝑡h 𝑜𝑓 𝑡h𝑒 𝑎𝑟𝑐

𝐴𝐵=𝑅 𝜃
𝐶𝐷=( 𝑅+ 𝑦 ) 𝜃
 Bending stress:
bending moment M.
By integration;

❑
𝑀 =∫𝐸
𝜎 ❑𝑦𝑑𝐴2
𝑀 =𝐴 ∫ 𝑦 𝑑𝐴
𝑅𝐴
❑
𝑦
𝑀 =∫ 𝐸 𝑦𝑑𝐴
𝐴
𝑅

❑
𝐸𝐼
∫ 𝑦 2
𝑑𝐴 → 𝑎𝑟𝑒𝑎𝑚𝑜𝑚𝑒𝑛𝑡 𝑜𝑓 𝑖𝑛𝑒𝑟𝑡𝑖𝑎
𝑀 𝐼
=
𝑅
𝐴
Bending stress:
equate
𝐸𝐼
𝑀=
𝑅
𝑀𝑦
𝜎 = 𝑓 𝑏= → 𝐹𝑙𝑒𝑥𝑢𝑟𝑒 𝐹𝑜𝑟𝑚𝑢𝑙𝑎
𝐼

𝑀 𝑦 𝑚𝑎𝑥
𝜎 𝑚𝑎𝑥 = 𝑓 𝑏𝑚𝑎𝑥 =
𝐼

Note:
The maximum stress occurs at the fibres furthest from the neutral axis
 Flexure Formula

𝑓 𝑏=
𝑀𝑦
𝐼
𝑓 𝑏𝑚𝑎𝑥 =
𝑀𝑦
𝐼 | |
𝑀𝑦
𝑓 𝑏 =−
𝐼

Negative indicate that the y is above

the neutral axis
 𝑀𝑦
Flexure Formula 𝜎=
𝐼
𝐼
→ defends on geometry of cross section
𝑦

S=

𝑀
𝑓 𝑏=
𝑆
Moment of Inertia
Moment of Inertia
Moment of Inertia
Moment of Inertia
Section Modulus
Section Modulus
Procedures for determining bending stresses
Stress at a given point

• Use the method of sections to determine the bending moment M (with its
correct sign) at the cross section containing the given point. .
• Determine the location of the neutral axis.
• Compute the moment of inertia I of the cross-sectional area about the neutral
axis. ( If the beam is a standard structural shape, its cross sectional properties
are listed in Appendix B.)
• Determine the y-coordinate of the given point. Note that y is positive if the
point lies above the neutral axis and negative if it lies below the neutral axis.
• Compute the bending stress from . If correct signs are used for M and y, the
stress will also have the correct sign (tension positive, compression negative).
 Maximum Bending Stress:
Symmetric Cross Section
• Draw the bending moment diagram by one of the methods described in Chapter
4. Identify the bending moment Mmax that has the largest magnitude (disregard
the sign).
• Compute the moment of inertia I of the cross-sectional area about the neutral
axis. (If the beam is a standard structural shape, its crosssectional properties are
listed in Appendix B.)
• Calculate the maximum bending stress from , where y is the distance from the
neutral axis to the top or bottom of the cross section
 Maximum Tensile and Compressive Bending
Stresses: Unsymmetrical
Cross Section

• Draw the bending moment diagram by one of the methods described in Chapter 4. Identify the largest
positive and negative bending moments.
• Determine the location of the neutral axis and record the distances ctop and cbot from the neutral axis to the
top and bottom of the cross section.
• Compute the moment of inertia I of the cross section about the neutral axis. (If the beam is a standard
structural shape, its cross-sectional properties are listed in Appendix B.)
• Calculate the bending stresses at the top and bottom of the cross section where the largest positive bending
moment occurs from . At the top of the cross section, where y = ctop, we obtain . At the bottom of the cross
section, we have y = - cbot, so that .
• Repeat the calculations for the cross section that carries the largest negative bending moment. Inspect the
four stresses thus computed to determine the largest tensile (positive) and compressive (negative) bending
stresses in the beam.
Units
 Problem #1

The simply supported beam in Fig. (a)

has a rectangular cross section 120 mm
wide and 200 mm high.
(1) Compute the maximum bending
stress in the beam.
(2) Sketch the bending stress
distribution over the cross section on
which the maximum bending stress
occurs.
(3) Compute the bending stress at a
point on section B that is 25 mm below
the top of the beam.
 The simply supported beam in Fig. (a) has a rectangular
cross section 120 mm wide and 200 mm high.

Problem #1 (1) Compute the maximum bending stress in the beam.

(2) Sketch the bending stress distribution over the cross
section on which the maximum bending stress occurs.
(3) Compute the bending stress at a point on section B that is
25 mm below the top of the beam.
 Problem #2

The simply supported beam in Fig. (a) has the T-shaped cross section shown.
Determine the values and locations of the maximum tensile and compressive bending
stresses.
Problem #2 The simply supported beam in Fig. (a) has the T-
shaped cross section shown.
Determine the values and locations of the maximum
tensile and compressive bending stresses.
Problem #6
An S380 x 74 section is used as a simply supported beam to carry the uniformly
distributed load of magnitude 3W and the concentrated load W. What is the
maximum allowable value of W if the working stress in bending is 120 MPa?
S380 x 74 section
3 3
𝑆=1060 𝑥 10 𝑚𝑚
 An S380 x 74 section is used as a simply supported
beam to carry the uniformly distributed load of
magnitude 3W and the concentrated load W. What
is the maximum allowable value of W if the
Problem #6 working stress in bending is 120 MPa?

S380 x 74 section 𝑆=1060 𝑥 10 𝑚𝑚

3 3
STRESSES IN
BEAMS
ECONOMICAL SECTION

LEC.#10
REF: MECHANICS OF MATERIAL BY PYTEL & KIUSALAAS
ECONOMICAL SECTION

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ECONOMICAL SECTION

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STANDARD STRUCTURAL SHAPES

Wide-flange beam; W-shape.

I-beam; S-shape
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STANDARD STRUCTURAL SHAPES

Wide-flange beam; W-shape.

Designation in Metric System

W610 x 140
nominal depth = 610 mm 34

mass per unit length = 140 kg/m.

STANDARD STRUCTURAL SHAPES

Wide-flange beam; W-shape.

Designation in English System

W36 x 302
nominal depth = 36 in. 35

weight = 302 lb/ft.

PROPERTIES OF STANDARD STRUCTURAL SHAPES

36
Procedure for selecting Standard
Shapes

• Neglecting the weight of the beam, draw the bending moment diagram to find the
largest bending moment Mmax.
• Determine the minimum allowable section modulus from , where is the working
stress.
• Choose the lightest shape from the list of structural shapes (such as in Appendix B)
for which and note its weight.
• Calculate the maximum bending stress in the selected beam caused by the prescribed
loading plus the weight of the beam. If , the selection is finished. Otherwise, the
second-lightest shape with must be considered and the maximum bending stress
recalculated. The process must be repeated until a satisfactory shape is found.
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Note:
• When a structural section is selected to be used as a beam, the section modulus must be equal
to or greater than the section modulus determined by the flexure equation; that is,

• If a beam is very slender (large L/r), it may fail by lateral buckling before the working stress is
reached. Lateral buckling entails loss of resistance resulting from a combination of sideways
bending and twisting. I-beams are particularly vulnerable to lateral buckling because of their
low torsional rigidity and small moment of inertia about the axis parallel to the web. When
lateral deflection is prevented by a floor system, or by bracing the flanges at proper intervals,
the full allowable stresses may be used; otherwise, reduced stresses should be specified in
design. Formulas for the reduction of the allowable stress are specified by various professional
organizations, such as the American Institute of Steel Construction (AISC). In this chapter, we
assume that all beams are properly braced against lateral deflection.
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Problem#1

• Find the lightest W-shape for the simply supported beam if the
working stress in bending is 18 ksi. What is the actual maximum
bending stress in the beam selected?

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 • Find the lightest W-shape for the simply
supported beam if the working stress in
bending is 18 ksi. What is the actual maximum
Problem#1 bending stress in the beam selected?

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Properties of W-shape: Wide Flange

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Problem#2

• Find the lightest W-shape for the beam shown if the working stress in
bending is 150 MPa. What is the maximum bending stress in the beam
selected?

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 • Find the lightest W-shape for the beam shown if
the working stress in bending is 150 MPa. What
Problem#2 is the maximum bending stress in the beam
selected?

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Properties of W-shape: Wide flange

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Properties of W-shape: Wide flange

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Additional ref

• https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XTCuDUTKahs&t=433s
• https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JCZ5jmPm1hw
• Strength of Materials: Economic Section for Beam Part 2 of 2 - YouTu
be

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