Russell C.

Hibbeler

Chapter 4: Axial Load

Ts. Dr. Muhammad Hanif Ramlee
JKBSK, FKE, UTM
 CHAPTER OBJECTIVES
• Determine deformation of axially loaded
members
• Develop a method to find support reactions
when it cannot be determined from equilibrium
equations
• Analyze the effects of stress concentrations.

Chapter 4: Axial Load

Mechanics of Material 7th Edition
© 2008 Pearson Education South Asia Pte Ltd
 Chapter Outline
1. Saint-Venant’s Principle
2. Elastic Deformation of an Axially Loaded Member
3. Principle of Superposition
4. Statically Indeterminate Axially Loaded Member
5. Force Method of Analysis for Axially Loaded
Member
6. Stress Concentrations

Chapter 4: Axial Load

Mechanics of Material 7th Edition
© 2008 Pearson Education South Asia Pte Ltd
 4.1 Saint-Venant’s Principle
 Saint-Venant’s principle states that both localized
deformation and stress tend to “even out” or
dissipate/smooth at a distance sufficiently removed
from these regions.

Chapter 4: Axial Load

Mechanics of Material 7th Edition
© 2008 Pearson Education South Asia Pte Ltd
 4.2 Elastic Deformation of an Axially Loaded Member
 Using Hooke’s law and the definitions of stress and strain,
we are able to develop the elastic deformation of a
member subjected to axial loads.
 Suppose an element subjected to loads,
P(x ) P( x )dx
L
dδ
= and ε =  =
A(x ) dx 0
A( x )E

 = small displacement
L = original length
P(x) = internal axial force
A(x) = cross-sectional area
E = modulus of elasticity

Chapter 4: Axial Load

Mechanics of Material 7th Edition
© 2008 Pearson Education South Asia Pte Ltd
 Elastic Deformation of an Axially Loaded Member
 When a constant external force is applied at each end of
the member,
From Hooke’s Law:

 = E  =  = P
E AE
From the definition of strain:

 =
L
Equating and solving for the deformation,
PL
 = PL  = i i
Chapter 4: Axial Load
AE i Ai Ei
Mechanics of Material 7th Edition
© 2008 Pearson Education South Asia Pte Ltd
 With variations in loading,
cross-section or material PL
properties  = i i
i Ai Ei

Sign Convention
 Force and displacement is positive when tension and
elongation and negative will be compression and
contraction.
Example 1
The composite steel bar (Est = 210
GPa) shown in the figure is made
from two segments, AB and BD,
having cross-sectional areas of AAB =
600 mm2 and ABD = 1200 mm2.
Determine the vertical displacement
of end A and the displacement of B
relative to C.
Section AB Section BC

Section CD
Example 2
The assembly shown in the figure consists of an aluminium tube AB
having a cross-sectional area of 400 mm2. A steel rod having a diameter
of 10 mm is attached to a rigid collar and passes through the tube. If a
tensile load of 80 kN is applied to the rod, determine the displacement of
the end C of the rod. Take Est = 200 GPa, Eal = 70 GPa.
Example 3
The rigid bar BDE is supported by two links AB and CD. Link AB is
made of aluminum (Eal = 70 GPa) and has a cross-sectional area of
500 mm2. Link CD is made of steel (Est = 200 GPa) and has a cross-
sectional area of 600 mm2.
For the 30 kN force shown, determine the deflection
a) of B, b) of D, and c) of E.
SOLUTION:
Apply a free-body analysis to the
bar BDE to find the forces exerted
by links AB and DC.

MB = 0
0 = −(30 kN  0.6 m ) + FCD  0.2 m
FCD = +90 kN tension
 MD = 0
0 = −(30 kN  0.4 m ) − FAB  0.2 m
FAB = −60 kN compression
 PL
• Evaluate the deformation of B =
AE
(− 60 103 N )(0.3 m )
links AB and DC or the
displacements of B and D. =
(500 10-6 m2 )(70 109 Pa )
= −514 10 − 6 m
 B = 0.514 mm 

Displacement of D

Displacement of B

PL
D =
AE
(90 103 N )(0.4 m )
=
(600 10-6 m2 )(200 109 Pa )
= 300 10 − 6 m  D = 0.300 mm 
• Work out the geometry to find
the deflection at E given the
BB BH
deflections at B and D. =
DD HD
0.514 mm (200 mm) − x
=
0.300 mm x
x = 73.7 mm

EE  HE
=

DD HD
E
=
(400 + 73.7 )mm
0.300 mm 73.7 mm
 E = 1.928 mm

 E = 1.928 mm 
 4.3 Principle of Superposition
 Principle of superposition is to simplify stress and
displacement problems by subdividing the loading
into components and adding the results.

 Condition:
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
original geometry or configuration of the member
Chapter 4: Axial Load
Mechanics of Material 7th Edition
© 2008 Pearson Education South Asia Pte Ltd
 4.4 Statically Indeterminate Axially Loaded
Member
• A member is statically indeterminate when equations
of equilibrium are not sufficient to determine the
reactions on a member.

Statically Determinate:
i. Bar is fixed-supported at only one end and is subjected to an axial
force.
ii. Force equilibrium equation is sufficient to find the reaction at fixed
supported.

Chapter 4: Axial Load

Mechanics of Material 7th Edition
© 2008 Pearson Education South Asia Pte Ltd
 Statically Indeterminate:
i. Bar is fixed at both ends, then two unknown axial
reactions occur
ii. Force equilibrium equation is not sufficient to find the
reaction at fixed supported.

Chapter 4: Axial Load

Mechanics of Material 7th Edition
© 2008 Pearson Education South Asia Pte Ltd
Bar is fixed at both ends, then two unknown axial
reactions occurs
Force equilibrium equation,
ΣF = 0, FB + FA – P = 0 ……. (1)

In order to establish an additional equation need for

solution, it is necessary to consider the geometry of
deformation. Specifically, the equation that specifies
the condition for displacement is referred to as a
compatibility.

A suitable compatibility condition would require the

relative displacement of one end of the bar with
respect to the other end to be equal to zero, since
the end supports are fixed.
δA/B = 0
 Load-displacement relationship,
Internal force in segment AC = +FA and in CB = - FB

C The compatibility equation

FALAC /AE – FBLCB /AE = 0 ……….. (2)

Assuming that AE is constant, we can solve the above two

equations for reaction,

FA = P (LCB/L) and FB = P(LAC/L)

4.5 The Force Method of Analysis for Axially Loaded
Member
Procedures:
•Choose any one of the two supports as redundant and temporarily remove
its effect on the bar.
•Redundant indicates that the support is not need to hold the bar in stable
equilibrium, so that when it removes, the bar becomes statically
determinate

= +

No displacement at B
If the load P causes B to be displaced
downward by an amount δP , the reaction
FB must displace the end B of the bar
upward by an amount δB

0 = δP - δB

Load-displacement relationship,

δP = PLAC /AE δB = FBL /AE

 Summary for sub-chapter 4.4 and 4.5
Procedure for analysis:
1. Draw a FBD of member to identify all forces acting
on it
2. Write the equations of equilibrium for the member
3. If unknown reactions on FBD greater than no. of
equations, then problem is statically indeterminate
4. Draw a diagram to investigate elongation or
contraction of loaded member
5. Express compatibility conditions in terms of
displacements caused by forces.
Chapter 4: Axial Load
Mechanics of Material 7th Edition
© 2008 Pearson Education South Asia Pte Ltd
Example 4
The steel rod shown has a diameter of 5 mm. It is attached to the
fixed wall at A, and before it is loaded, there is a gap between the wall
at B’ and the rod of 1 mm. Determine the reactions at A and B’ if the
rod is subjected to an axial force of P = 20 kN. Neglect the size of the
collar C. Take Est = 200 GPa
 Equilibrium:

We will assume that the force P is large

enough to cause the rod’s end B to contact
the wall at B’. Equilibrium of rod:
ΣFx = 0, -FA – FB + 20000 = 0 …… (1)

Compatibility:

The loading causes point B to move to B’,

Therefore compatibility condition is
δB/A = 0.001 = FALAC /AE – FBLCB/AE …..(2)

0.001= [FA(0.4)/π(0.0025)2 x 200(109)] – [FB(0.8)/π(0.0025)2 x 200(109)]

FA (0.4) – FB (0.8) = 3927 ………. (3)
Solving Eqs. (1) and (3), FA = 16.6 kN, FB = 3.39 kN
Example 5
Determine the reactions at A and B for the steel bar and loading
shown, assuming a close fit at both supports before the loads are
applied.
SOLUTION:

• Consider the reaction at B as redundant,

release the bar from that support, and
solve for the displacement at B due to
the applied loads.
• Solve for the displacement at B due to the
redundant reaction at B.
• Require that the displacements due to the
loads and due to the redundant reaction
be compatible, i.e., require that their sum
be zero.
• Solve for the reaction at A due to applied
loads and the reaction found at B.
 • Solve for the displacement at B due to the
applied loads with the redundant constraint
released,
P1 = 0 P2 = P3 = 600 103 N P4 = 900 103 N

A1 = A2 = 400 10 − 6 m 2 A3 = A4 = 250 10 − 6 m 2

L1 = L2 = L3 = L4 = 0.150 m

Pi Li 1.125 109
L =  =
A
i i iE E
• Solve for the displacement at B due to the
redundant constraint,
P1 = P2 = − RB

A1 = 400 10 − 6 m 2 A2 = 250 10 − 6 m 2

L1 = L2 = 0.300 m

δR = 
Pi Li
=−
(
1.95 103 RB)
A
i i iE E
2 - 28
• Require that the displacements due to the loads and
due to the redundant reaction be compatible,
 = L +R = 0

= −
(
1.125 109 1.95 103 RB )
=0
E E
RB = 577 103 N = 577 kN
• Find the reaction at A due to the loads and the
reaction at B

 Fy = 0 = RA − 300 kN − 600 kN + 577 kN

RA = 323 kN
RA = 323 kN
RB = 577 kN
Example 6
The center of post B of the assembly has an original length 0f 124.7
mm, whereas posts A and C have a length of 125 mm. If the caps on
the top and bottom can be considered rigid, determine the average
normal stress in each post. The post are made of aluminium and have
cross-sectional area of 400 mm2, Eal = 70 GPa.

σA = σC = 189 MPa
σB = 21.4 MPa
 4.6 Stress Concentrations
 Stress concentrations occur when cross-sectional
area changes.
 Maximum stress is determined using a stress
concentration factor, K, which is a function of
geometry.

 max
K=
 avg
Chapter 4: Axial Load
Mechanics of Material 7th Edition
© 2008 Pearson Education South Asia Pte Ltd
 Stress Concentrations

When an axial force is applied to a member, it creates a

complex stress distribution within the localized region of
the point of load application.
Horizontal and vertical grid
lines deflect into an
irregular pattern around the
hole centered in the bar

General shape of the

stress distribution
 The maximum normal stress
in the bar will occur at the
smallest cross-sectional area

The specific values of the

maximum normal stress at the
critical section can be
determined by experimental
methods or by advanced
mathematical techniques using
the theory elasticity.

The results are usually reported in a

graphical form using a stress-
concentration factor, K (ratio of the
maximum stress to the average stress
acting at the smallest cross section).

K = σmax / σavg
σavg = P/A, where A is the smallest
cross-sectional area. σmax = K(P/A)
Example 10
Example 11
Example 12
Determine the largest axial load P that can be safely supported by
a flat steel bar consisting of two portions, both 10 mm thick, and
respectively 40 and 60 mm wide, connected by fillets of radius r =
8 mm. Assume an allowable normal stress of 165 MPa.
SOLUTION:
• Determine the geometric ratios and find the stress
concentration factor

• Find the allowable average normal stress using the

material allowable normal stress and the stress
concentration factor.

• Apply the definition of normal stress to find the allowable

load.
 • Determine the geometric ratios and
find the stress concentration factor
from Fig.
D 60 mm r 8 mm
= = 1.50 = = 0.20
d 40 mm d 40 mm
K = 1.82

• Find the allowable average normal

stress using the material allowable
normal stress and the stress
concentration factor.
 max 165 MPa
 ave = = = 90.7 MPa
K 1.82

• Apply the definition of normal stress

to find the allowable load.
P = A ave = (40 mm)(10 mm)(90.7 MPa )

= 36.3 103 N
P = 36.3 kN