STRENGTH OF MATERIALS

BSc. Civil Engineering/Construction/Wood

AAMUSTED, Kumasi-Ghana

Prof. Humphrey Danso

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STRENGTH OF MATERIALS

Lecture 4

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 FORCES
• A force is that which
changes the state of rest or
the state of motion of a
body in a straight line.
• Generally, a force is defined
as a push or pull.
• A force can change the
shape, size, speed and
direction of an object.

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 TYPES OF FORCES
Contact Forces
A worker on site is packing blocks from the ground. He/She must touch the
block with his/her hand. The hand and the block come in a contact with one
another thereby producing a Contact Force.
Muscular Force
The labourer lifting a block to serve a mason is actually applying some force with
his/her hand. This means he/she is using his/her muscles to lift the block
thereby producing what is known as Muscular Force.
Frictional Force
A mason preparing the surface of freshly cast concrete floor, the fresh concrete
and the trowel slides against each other. A friction is produced between them.
The friction produces a force in the opposite direction of the trowel that makes it
feels a little hard to prepare the surface of the concrete.
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 TYPES OF FORCES
Normal Force
When a column is erected on a foundation, a perpendicular force is acting
on the foundation. As the column (force) acts perpendicular to the
foundation, it produces a normal force.

From the above examples, you have learnt that there are
different types of forces in nature. Some of these forces require
physical contact while others do not require any physical
contact to occur. Any types of activity that you do in your daily
life, results in a force.

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SYSTEMS OF FORCES

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ELEMENTS OF FORCES

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 RESULTANT OF FORCES
The resultant force is that single force which has the same effect as the
combined effects of two more or forces. It is the total sum of all forces
acting on an object.

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SIGN CONVENTIONS

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 LAW OF STATIC EQUILIBRIUM

1. The algebraic sum of forces in a given direction must be equal to zero or

the resultant force in any given direction must be equal to zero.
(a) Sum of all upward forces is equal to the sum of all downward forces (for
vertical forces.)
(b) Sum of all forces to the right is equal to the sum of all forces to the left
(for horizontal forces)

2. The resultant moments about a given point must be equal to zero.

Sum of all clockwise moments about a point must be equal to the sum of all
anticlockwise moments about that point.

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TYPES OF LOADING SYSTEMS

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TYPES OF LOADING SYSTEMS

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 TYPES OF LOADS
Dead Loads
These are loads, which are permanent and constant throughout the life of
the structure and are related to the structure, its fabric and fixtures. e.g.
loads due to the self-mass of members, foundations, finishes, etc.

Live/Imposed Loads
These are loads, which temporally and are related to the use of the
structure. e.g. loads of users, furniture, machinery, etc.

Wind Loads
These are loads related to the wind on the building.

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 SUPPORT REACTION
When a number of forces are acting on a beam, then the support of the
beam will provide the reactions called Support Reaction as indicated in
Figure below. Ra and Rb are referred to as Support Reactions at point A and
B respectively

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 TYPES OF SUPPORT
Roller Support
A roller support resists vertical movement only but allows unrestricted
horizontal and rotational movements. Therefore, for a roller support, the
only reaction is a vertical force. i.e. V > 0, H = 0, M = 0

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 TYPES OF SUPPORT
Pin Support
A pin support resists both horizontal and vertical movement but allows
rotational movements. Therefore, for a pin support, there are two reactions
i.e. the vertical reaction and the horizontal reaction. i.e. V> 0, H> 0, M= 0

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 TYPES OF SUPPORT
Hinged Support
A hinged support resists both vertical and horizontal movements but allows
rotational movements. Therefore, for a hinged support, there are two
reactions i.e. the vertical and horizontal reactions. i.e. V> 0, H> 0, M= 0

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 TYPES OF SUPPORT
Fixed Support
A fixed support resists horizontal, vertical and rotational movement. Hence
there are three support reactions i.e. The horizontal reaction, vertical
reaction and a reaction moment
i.e. V> 0, H> 0, M> 0

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 Statically Determinate / Indeterminate Force
System

Statically Determinate Force System

If the values of all external forces acting on a body can be determined by
the equations of static equilibrium alone, then the force system is said to be
statically determinate.

Statically Indeterminate Force System

In many cases the forces acting on a body cannot be determined by the
equations of static equilibrium alone because there are more unknown
forces than the equations of static equilibrium. In such a case, the force
system is said to be statically indeterminate.

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Monday, July 24, 2023 20