“Try not to become a man of success, but

1
rather try to become a man of value.”
….Albert Einstein

3
CHAPTER

Stresses in Beams

Learning Objectives
After reading this chapter, you will know:
1. Bending Stresses in Beams
2. Shear Stresses in Beams
3. Composite Beams

Introduction
In the previous chapter, we learnt shear force and bending moment which vary from section to
section of the beams. Here we will study the effects of these loadings that induce two kinds of
stresses over the, (1) A bending stress, which varies directly with the bending moment (2) Shear
stress, which varies directly with the shear load.

Bending Stress
Normal stress occurs in a bending beam, as shown in the figure below. Although it is a normal stress,
the bending stress or flexural stress is used to indicate the source of the stress. For positive bending
moment, the lower surface of the beam experiences tensile stress while the upper surface of the
beam experiences compressive stress. The bending stress distribution passes through zero at the
centroid or neutral axis, of the cross section. The distance from the neutral axis is y and the distance
from the neutral axis to the extreme fiber (i.e., the top or bottom surface most distant from the
neutral axis) is c.
Bending stress varies with location (depth) within the beam. It is zero at the neutral axis, and
increases linearly with distance from the neutral axis, as predicted by equation,
My
σb = −
I
(−Ve sign indicates because bending stress is compressive at +y distance from neutral axis for
positive bending moment).

Compression(−)

+c +y
Neutral Axis

−c −y

Tension(+)
Bending Stress Distribution at a Section in a Beam

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 Stresses in Beams

In the above equation, I is the centroidal area moment of inertia of the beam. The negative sign in
the equation, required by the convention that compression is negative, is commonly omitted.
Since the maximum stress will govern the design, y can be set equal to c to obtain the extreme fiber
stress.
Mc
σb,max = −
I
Where, c is top or bottom of fiber (Measured from neutral axis)
This equation shows that the maximum bending stress will occur at the section where the moment
is maximum. For standard structural shapes, I and c are fixed. Therefore, for design, the elastic
section modulus S, is often used.
I
S=
c
M
σb =
S
For a rectangular b × h section, the centroidal moment of inertia and section modulus are
bh3 bh2
I= SRectangular =
12 6
Also, the strain in any fiber varies directly with its location y from the neutral axis and can be found
by the equation
y σb y
εb = − or =−
R E R
The above mentioned bending stress equation is based on following assumptions
 The transverse sections which are plane and normal before bending remain plane and normal
to the longitudinal fibres after bending (Bernoulli’s assumption).
 Material is homogeneous, isotropic and obeys Hooke’s Law and limits of elasticity are not
exceeded.
 Every layer is free to expand or contract.
 Modulus of elasticity has same value for tension and compression.
 The beam is subjected to pure bending and therefore bends in an arc of a circle.
 Radius of curvature is large compared to the dimensions of the cross section.

Important Points:
 Pure Bending: Only bending moment but no shear force.
 Neutral Layer: The layer which does not undergo any change in length (N.A).
 Neutral Axis: Line of intersection of Neutral Layer with plane of cross section. It passes through
C.G of cross section. At this axis the stress changes its sign.
 Equation of Pure Bending:
M/I=/y=E/R
Curvature = (1/ R) = (M / EI), EI = Flexural rigidity
 Section Modulus ( 𝐒 = 𝐈/𝐜): It represents the strength of the section. Greater the value ‘S’,
stronger will be the section.

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 Stresses in Beams

Shear Stress
The shear stresses in a vertical section of a beam consist of both horizontal and transverse (vertical)
shear stresses.
The exact value of shear stress is dependent on the location y, within the depth of the beam. The
shear stress distribution is given by equation shown below. The shear stress is zero at the top and
bottom surfaces of the beam. For a regular shaped beam, the shear stress is maximum at the neutral
axis.
QV
τxy =
Ib

τmax
τavg

A′

c y y′
1 h Neutral Axis, Q

Dimensions for Shear Stress Calculations

In the above equation, I is the area moment of inertia and b is the width or thickness of the beam at
the depth y within the beam where the shear stress is to be found. The first (or statical) moment of
the area of the beam with respect to the neutral axis Q, is defined by,
c

Q = ∫ ydA
y1
For rectangular beams, dA = bdy. Then, the moment of the area A′ above layer y is equal to the
product of the area and the distance from the centroidal axis to the centroid of the area.
Q = y ′ A′
For a rectangular beam, the equation for max, can be simplified. The maximum shear stress is 50
percent higher than the average shear stress.
3V 3V
τmax,Rectagular = = = +1.5 τavg
2A 2bh
For a beam with a circular cross section, the maximum shear stress is
4V 4V 4
τmax,circular = = 2
= τavg
3A 3πr 3
For a steel beam with web thickness tweb and depth d, the web shear stress is approximated by
V V
τavg = =
Aweb dt web

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 Stresses in Beams

t web
d

Dimensions of a Steel Beam

Shear Centre
 Shear centre is a point through which the resultant shear force acts so that the member is
subjected to simple bending and is free from torsion. It means a lateral load acting on a beam
through shear centre will produce bending without torsion / twisting.
 SC (also called centre of flexure) generally does not coincide with the centroid, except in special
cases where area is symmetrical about both axes.
 SC always lies in the axis of symmetry, if exists.
 SC may also coincide with the centroid in some special cases for e.g. Z section.

Shear Centre for Some Important Sections:

(a) Channel Section:
tE

tw h/2
C

y
b
b2 h2 t w
e=
4IZ
↓
IZ = M. O. I about axis of symm
(b) Semi Circular Section:
s

ε
b ϕ

S
0 Z

t ε

y
4ε
e= = 1.27ε
π

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 Stresses in Beams

(c) Silt circular tube with constant thickness.

ε
S C
Z
e

y
e = 2ε

(d) Slit Square Tube:

a b

S C
Z
e

y
b
e=
2√Z
(e) Rectangular Tube of Constant Thickness having Slit at end

h/2

S C
Z

h/2

b/2 b/2
b(2h + 3b)
e=
2(h + 3b)

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 Stresses in Beams

(f) I-Section (Symmetric About One Axis only)

t1
t2

S C
b2
b1

P y

t 2 b32 h
h1 =
t1 b13 + t 2 b32
t1 b13 h
h2 =
t1 b13 + t 2 b32

(g) Circular Arc:

S C
Z

2ε(sinβ − β cos β)
e=
(β − sin β cos β)

Composite Beams
A composite structure is one in which two or more different materials are used. Each material
carries part of the applied load. Examples of composite structure include steel-forced concrete and
timber beams with bolted-on steel plates.

Most simple composite structures can be analyzed using the method of consistent deformations,
also known as the transformation method. This method assumes that the strains are the same in
both materials at the interface between them. Although the strains are the same, the stresses in the
two adjacent materials are not equal, since stresses are proportional to the modulus of elasticity.

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 Stresses in Beams

The transformation method starts by determining the modulus of elasticity for each (usually two in
number) of the materials in the composite beam and then calculating the modular ratio, n. (EWeaker
is the smaller modulus of elasticity). Using below mention formula.
E
n=
EWeaker

The area of the stronger material is increased by a factor of n. The transformed area is used to
calculate the transformed composite area, Ac,t or transformed moment of inertia, Ic,t. For
compression and tension members, the stresses in the weaker and stronger materials are
F
σWeaker =
Ac,t
nF
σStronger =
Ac,t
For beams in bending, the bending stresses in the weaker and stronger materials are
McWeaker
σWeaker =
Ic,t
nMcStronger
σStronger =
Ic,t

Solved Examples
Example 1
The 3 cm diameter shaft in figure rotates with constant angular velocity. The belt-pulls on
the pulleys create a state of combined bending and torsion. The weights of the shaft and
pulleys are negligible and the bearings exert only concentrated force reactions.
Determine the principal stresses and the maximum shearing stress in the shaft.
Bearing
400 N
10 cm

1600 N
10 cm

15 cm

40 cm

2000 N 1200 N
20 cm

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 Stresses in Beams

Solution:
1714 N D
2000 N
C
914 N
3200 N

B
286 N A

2286 N
The free-body diagram of the shaft is shown in figure. The transverse forces acting on the
shaft due to one pulley are perpendicular to those due to the other pulley. The bending
moments must be added vertically to obtain the resultant bending moment at a particular
location. This is done at B and C where the moments are the greatest. The bending
moments at B and C are
(MB )1 = 2286 × 0.2 = 457.2 Nm
} ∴ MB = √(457. 2)2 + (57. 2)2 = 461 Nm
(MB )2 = 286 × 0.2 = 57.2 Nm
(MC )1 = 914 × 0.1 = 91.4 Nm
} ∴ MB = √(91. 4)2 + (171. 4)2 = 194.2 Nm
(MC )2 = 1714 × 0.1 = 171.4 Nm
The torque between the two pulleys is constant and equal to
T = (2000 − 1200) × 0.15 = 120 Nm
There is no torque on the shaft at the bearings, so each pulley supplies an equal but
opposite torque on the shaft.
The bending stresses and shearing stresses in the outer fibers at B are
My 461 × 0.15
σ= = = 1739.1 × 106 Pa or 1739 MPa
I π × (0.03)4 /64
Tρ 120 × 0.15
σ= = = 226.3 × 106 Pa or 226 MPa
J π × (0.03)4 /32
The principal stresses and maximum shearing stress are found using Mohr’s circle to be

1739.1 1739.1 2
σmax/min = ± √( ) + (226.3)2 = 1768 MPa and − 28.96 MPa
2 2

1739.1 2
τmax √
= ( ) + (226.3)2 = 898 MPa
2

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 Stresses in Beams

Example 2
A 1 m long rectangular beam is attached to a 2 m long circular shaft and loaded as shown
in figure. Calculate the maximum normal and shearing stresses at points A, B, and C.
600 N

2 cm
A
B 6 cm
10 kN
C
1m
2m
Solution:
The normal stress due to bending in the top fiber at point A is due to the moment
M = 600 × 2 = 1200 Nm. There is also a shearing stress due to the torque
T= 600 × 1 = 600 Nm in the outer fiber at point A. In addition, the tensile force of 10 kN
produces a normal stress at point A. The stresses are,
Tρ 600 × 0.03
τ= = = 14.1 × 106 Pa or 14.1 MPa
J π × (0.06)4 /32
Mc 1200 × 0.03
σ1 = = = 56.6 × 106 Pa or 56.6 MPa
I π × (0.06)4 /64
P 10000
σ2 = = = 3.54 × 106 Pa or 3.54 MPa
A π × (0.06)2 /4
∴ σ = 60.1 MPa

The vertical shearing stress VQ/Ib is zero in the top fiber. An element at point A would be
stressed as shown in figure. From Mohr's circle, sketched in figure, the maximum normal
and shearing stresses at point A are calculated to be
60.1
σmax = + √(30. 05)2 + (14. 1)2 = 63.2 MPa
2
τmax = √(30. 05)2 + (14. 1)2 = 33.2 MPa
−τ

14.1 MPa
(0, 14.1)

30.05
60.1 MPa σ

(60.1, −14.1)

+τ
At point B the normal stress due to bending is zero and σ2 is the same as at point A. So,
the normal stress of 3.54 MPa replaces 60.1 MPa on the element of Fig. The normal and

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 Stresses in Beams

shearing stresses at point B are then calculated to be (the VQ/Ib shear will add on one
side of the shaft or the other)
Tρ 600 × 0.03
τ1 = = = 14.1 × 106 Pa or 14.1 MPa
J π × (0.06)4 /32
∴ τ = 14.7 MPa
VQ 600 × π × (0.03)2 × (4 × 0.03/3π) 6
τ2 = = = 0.566 × 10 Pa
Ib (π × (0.06)4 /64) × 0.06 }
P 10000
σ2 = =
A π × (0.06)2 /4
= 3.54 × 106 Pa or 3.54 MPa
The maximum normal and shearing stresses at point B are found to be
3.54
σmax = + √(1. 77)2 + (14. 7)2
2
= 16.6 MPa
τmax = √(1. 77)2 + (14. 7)2
= 14.8 MPa
At point C the normal stress due to bending is −56.6 MPa and τ and σ2 , are the same as at
point A. So, the normal stress of – 56.6 + 3.54 = −53.06 MPa replaces 60.1 MPa on the
element of figure. The normal and shearing stresses at point C are then calculated to be
(the shear will add on one side of the shaft or the other)
Tρ 600 × 0.03
τ= = = 14.1 × 106 Pa or 14.1 MPa
J π × (0.06)4 /32
Mc 1200 × 0.03
σ1 = = = 56.6 × 106 Pa or 56.6 MPa
I π × (0.06)4 /64
∴ σ = −53.04 MPa
P 10000 6
σ2 = = = 3.54 × 10 Pa or 3.54 MPa
A π × (0.06)2 /4 }
The normal stress with maximum magnitude and the maximum shearing stresses at point
C are
53.04
σmax = − [ + √(26. 52)2 + (14. 1)2 ]
2
= −56.5 MPa
τmax = √(26. 52)2 + (14. 1)2
= 30.0 MPa
Obviously, the normal and shearing stresses are maximum in the shaft at point A.

Example 3
In a laboratory test of a beam loaded by end couples, the fibers at layer AB in figure. are
found to increase 60 × 10−3 mm where as those at CD decrease 100 × 10−3 mm in the
200 mm gauge length. Using E = 70 GPa, determine the flexural stress in the top and
bottom fibers.

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 Stresses in Beams

200 mm

30 mm
A B
120 mm
C D
30 mm

Solution:
200 mm δTop 60 × 10−3 mm

B x + 30
A

120 − x N. A
C D 195 − x

100 × 10−3 mm
δBottom
x 120 − x
−3
=
60 × 10 100 × 10−3
x = 0.6 (120 − x)
x + 0.6x = 0.6(120)
1.6x = 72
At x = 45 mm
δTop 60 × 10−3
=
x + 30 x
60 × 10−3
δTop = (45 + 30)
45
δTop = 0.1 mm lengthening
δBottom 100 × 10−3
=
195 − x 120 − x
100 × 10−3
δBottom = (195 − 45)
120 − 45
δBottom = 0.2 mm shortening
From Hooke’s Law
fb = Eε
Eδ
fb =
L
70000(0.1)
(fb )Top = = 35 MPa Tension
200
70000(0.2)
(fb )Bottom = = 70 MPa Compression
200

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