Axial Loading | Mechanics of Materials

Fall 2024
 Review
Saint-Venant’s Principle
Stress and strain at points distant from
the load application area remain
consistent, regardless of the method
of load application, as long as the
loadings have the same statically
equivalent outcome and are applied
in the same region.
Axial Loading | Mechanics of Materials

The specifics of load application

have little impact on most regions
of the bar.

1
 Elastic Deformation of an Axially Loaded Member
We are looking for the relative displacement 𝛿 of one end of the bar with respect to
the other end as caused by this loading.

𝑃(𝑥) 𝑃(𝑥)

For a differential element of length 𝑑𝑥 and cross-sectional area 𝐴(𝑥) is isolated

from the bar at the arbitrary position 𝑥 .
𝑃(𝑥) 𝑑𝛿
𝜎=
Axial Loading | Mechanics of Materials

𝜖=
𝐴(𝑥) 𝑑𝑥

Within the proportional limits, applying the Hook’s Law: 𝜎 = 𝐸(𝑥) ⋅ 𝜖

𝑃(𝑥) 𝑑𝛿 𝑃 𝑥 𝑑𝑥 &
𝑃 𝑥 𝑑𝑥
= 𝐸(𝑥) ⋅ 𝑑𝛿 = 𝛿=.
𝐴(𝑥) 𝑑𝑥 𝐴 𝑥 𝐸(𝑥) % 𝐴 𝑥 𝐸(𝑥)

2
 Constant Load and Cross-Sectional Area
Consider a homogeneous material element
with constant cross-section area subjected
to a constant external force. & 𝑃 𝑥 𝑑𝑥 𝑃𝐿
𝛿=. 𝛿=
% 𝐴 𝑥 𝐸(𝑥) 𝐴𝐸
If the element is:
a. subject to different forces along its length
b. made of portions with different areas
Axial Loading | Mechanics of Materials

&
𝑃 𝑥 𝑑𝑥 𝑃𝐿
𝛿=. 𝛿=0 c. made of portions with different Young’s
% 𝐴 𝑥 𝐸(𝑥)
𝐴𝐸 moduli

+ Force Tension
+ Displacement Elongation

3
 Elastic Deformation of an Axially Loaded Member

Equilibrium Axial Force

Axial Loading | Mechanics of Materials

+
𝑁( 𝐿( 500𝑘𝑁 ⋅ 2𝑚 −300𝑘𝑁 ⋅ 1𝑚 −700𝑘𝑁 ⋅ 1.5𝑚
𝛿' = 0 = + +
𝐸( 𝐴( 𝐸𝐴 𝐸𝐴 𝐸𝐴
()*

4
 Example
Rigid beam 𝐴𝐵 rests on the two short posts. 𝐴𝐶 is made of steel (𝐸,- = 200GPa) and has a
diameter of 20mm, and 𝐵𝐷 is made of aluminum (𝐸'. = 70GPa) and has a diameter of
40mm. Determine the displacement of point 𝐹 on 𝐴𝐵 if a vertical load of 90 𝑘𝑁 is applied
at this point.

Solution:
1. Analyze the internal force
2. Calculate the displacement
3. Draw the diagram and interpret the result
Axial Loading | Mechanics of Materials

graphically.

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 Example
Solution:
Internal Force. The compressive forces acting at the
top of each post are determined from the equilibrium
of 𝐴𝐵. These forces are equal to the internal forces in
each post.
Displacement.
Post 𝐴𝐶
Axial Loading | Mechanics of Materials

𝑁'/ 𝐿'/ −60𝑘𝑁 ⋅ 0.3𝑚

𝛿= = 0 = −0.286×1012𝑚
𝐴'/ 𝐸,- 𝜋 0.01𝑚 ⋅ 200𝐺𝑃𝑎
Post 𝐵𝐷
𝑁34 𝐿34 −30𝑘𝑁 ⋅ 0.3𝑚
𝛿= = 0 = −0.102×1012𝑚
𝐴34 𝐸'. 𝜋 0.02𝑚 ⋅ 70𝐺𝑃𝑎

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 Example
Solution (Continued):
The diagram showing the centerline displacements at A, B, and F on the beam. By
proportion of the blue shaded triangle, the displacement of point F is therefore:

Displacement.
400𝑚𝑚
𝛿5 = 0.102mm + 0.184mm× = −0.225×1012𝑚
600mm
Axial Loading | Mechanics of Materials

7
 Statically Indeterminate Axially Loaded Bars
The element on the right is recognized as a statically indeterminate.
The internal forces in the shown element cannot be determined
solely by using the force equilibrium.
𝐹' + 𝐹3 − 𝑃 = 0
Consider the compatibility condition: the length of the element will
not change given the current constraint.
𝛿3/' = 0
Calculate 𝜹𝑩/𝑪:
Axial Loading | Mechanics of Materials

𝑃3/ 𝐿3/ 𝑃'/ 𝐿'/ 𝐹3 𝐿3/ 𝐹' 𝐿'/

𝛿3/' = 𝛿3// + 𝛿//' = + =− + =0
𝐸𝐴 𝐸𝐴 𝐸𝐴 𝐸𝐴
𝐹' + 𝐹3 = 𝑃 𝑃𝐿3/
𝐹' =
M𝐹3 𝐿3/ 𝐹' 𝐿'/ 𝐿
= 𝑃𝐿'/
𝐸𝐴 𝐸𝐴 𝐹3 =
𝐿
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 Example:
The three A992 steel bars are pin connected to a rigid member. If the applied load on
the member is 15kN, determine the force developed in each bar.
Given: 𝐴'3 = 𝐴95 = 50𝑚𝑚0, 𝐴/4 = 30𝑚𝑚0, 𝐸,- = 200𝐺𝑃𝑎
Solution:
1. Draw the free body diagram. Find the force equilibrium.
2. Determine if the element is a statically determinate.
3. Find the compatibility condition.
4. Calculate the forces by solving the system formed by the
Axial Loading | Mechanics of Materials

equilibrium and compatibility condition.

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 Example:
The three A992 steel bars are pin connected to a rigid member. If the applied load on
the member is 15kN, determine the force developed in each bar.
Given: 𝐴'3 = 𝐴95 = 50𝑚𝑚0, 𝐴/4 = 30𝑚𝑚0, 𝐸,- = 200𝐺𝑃𝑎

Solution:
Draw the free-body diagram of the rigid.
There are 3 unknowns and only 2 available equilibrium
equations, therefore, this element is statically indeterminate
+↑ Σ𝐹: = 0 𝐹' + 𝐹/ + 𝐹9 = 15𝑘𝑁
Axial Loading | Mechanics of Materials

↺ + Σ𝑀; = 0 −𝐹' 𝐿'/ + 15𝑘𝑁×0.2𝑚 + 𝐹9 𝐿/9 = 0

−0.4𝐹' + 0.4𝐹9 = 3𝑘𝑁

Statically Indetermined
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 Example:
The three A992 steel bars are pin connected to a rigid member. If the applied load on
the member is 15kN, determine the force developed in each bar.
Given: 𝐴'3 = 𝐴95 = 50𝑚𝑚0, 𝐴/4 = 30𝑚𝑚0, 𝐸,- = 200𝐺𝑃𝑎
Solution:
The applied load will cause line AC E to move to the
inclined line A’C’ E’. Thus, the compatibility equation that
‘

relates these displacements is Load-Displacement relationship

𝛿' − 𝛿9 𝛿; − 𝛿9 1 1 𝐹/ 𝐿 1 𝐹' 𝐿 1 𝐹9 𝐿
= 𝛿/ = 𝛿' + 𝛿9 = +
𝐿'9 𝐿/9 2 2 𝐴/4 𝐸,- 2 𝐴'3 𝐸,- 2 𝐴95 𝐸,-
Axial Loading | Mechanics of Materials

Therefore:
𝐹' + 𝐹/ + 𝐹9 = 15𝑘𝑁 𝐹' = 9.52𝑘𝑁
M−0.4𝐹' + 0.4𝐹9 = 3𝑘𝑁 R𝐹/ = 3.46𝑘𝑁
0.3𝐹' + 0.3𝐹9 − 𝐹/ = 0 𝐹9 = 2.02𝑘𝑁

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 Principle of Superposition

Principle of Superposition states: the resultant stress or

displacement at the point can be determined by
algebraically summing the stress or displacement caused by
each load component applied separately to the member
only when the following two conditions are satisfied:
1. The loading must be linearly related to the stress
or displacement that is to be determined.
2. The loading must not significantly change the
Axial Loading | Mechanics of Materials

original geometry or configuration of the member.

In the right figure, given 𝑃 = 𝑃* + 𝑃0 , if 𝑑 ≠ 𝑑* ≠ 𝑑0 ,

apparently, 𝑃𝑑 ≠ 𝑃*𝑑* + 𝑃0𝑑0

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 Flexibility or Force Method of Analysis
Analyze the statically indeterminate element in pg. 8 using the principle
of superposition
1. Remove the redundant support
2. Solve for the bar displacement without 𝑃𝐿'/
𝛿< =
the redundant support: 𝐸𝐴
3. Solve the displacement of the bar
𝐹3 𝐿
subject only to the unknown force 𝛿3 =
𝐸𝐴
Axial Loading | Mechanics of Materials

coming from the support you removed:

𝐿'/
4. Impose that the superposition of 2 and 3 𝛿< − 𝛿3 = 0 𝐹3 = 𝑃( )
𝐿
𝐿/3
From Equilibrium: 𝐹' = 𝑃( )
𝐿

13
 Thermal Stress
A change in temperature can alter the dimensions of element.
Typically, an increase causes expansion, while a decrease
leads to contraction. (Not always true!)
For homogeneous and isotropic materials subjected to small
temperature variations, the relationship between strain and
temperature change is typically linear.
𝜀= = 𝛼Δ𝑇
𝛼- linear coefficient of thermal expansion (1/℃, 1/℉, 1/𝐾),
Axial Loading | Mechanics of Materials

material property.
𝜀= - the thermal stain
For an element of length 𝐿
𝛿= = 𝛼𝐿Δ𝑇

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 Stress Concentration
The maximum normal stress in the element occurs on the smallest cross-sectional area.

In engineering practice, only the maximum stress at these sections must be known, and
Axial Loading | Mechanics of Materials

the member is then designed to resist this stress when the axial load N is applied.
The stress concentration factor K is a ratio of the maximum stress to the average stress
acting at the smallest cross section
𝜎>?@
𝐾=
𝜎?AB

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 Stress Concentration
The stress concentration factor 𝐾
Ø is independent of the material properties
Ø depends only on the specimen’s geometry and the type of discontinuity
Assume the stress in the material does not exceed the proportional limit, we show
two typical stress concentration factors:
Axial Loading | Mechanics of Materials

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 Pre-study Question
The rigid bar is fixed to the top of the three posts made of A992 steel and 2014-T6
aluminum. The posts each have a length of 250 mm when no load is applied to the
bar, and the temperature is 𝑇* = 20℃.
Determine the force supported by each post if the bar is subjected to a uniform
distributed load of 150 kN/m and the temperature is raised to 𝑇0 = 80℃
Axial Loading | Mechanics of Materials

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