Chapter 4

Pure
Bending
 CONTENTS TO BE COVERED
4.1. Introduction 4.5. Deformations in a Transverse Cross
Pure Bending Section
Other Loading Types 4.6. Bending of Members Made of Several
Materials
4.2. Symmetric/prismatic Member in Pure
4.7. Eccentric Axial Loading in a Plane of
Bending
Symmetry
4.3. Deformations in a symmetric member 4.8. Unsymmetrical Bending
in pure bending
4.9. General Case of Eccentric Axial Loading
4.4. Stresses and deformations in the
elastic range
Beam Section Properties
Properties of American Standard Shapes
 Objectives

In this chapter, you will:

 Introduce bending behavior.

 Define the deformations, strains, and normal stresses in beams subject to pure bending.

 Describe the behavior of composite beams made of more than one material.

 Analyze members subject to eccentric axial loading, involving both axial stresses and
bending stresses.

 Review beams subject to un-symmetric bending, i.e., where bending does not occur in a
plane of symmetry.
 4.1. Introduction

 This chapter analyze the stresses and strains in prismatic members subjected to
bending.

 What is bending?

 Bending is a major concept used in the design of many machine and structural
components, such as beams and girders.

 Beams are structural members supporting loads applied at various points along the
member.

 Beams are usually long, straight prismatic members.

 Steel and aluminum beams play an important part in both structural and mechanical
engineering.

 Timber beams are widely used in home construction.

 In most cases, the loads are perpendicular to the axis of the beam.

 This transverse loading causes only bending and shear in the beam.

 In pure bending shear force is equal to zero.

 When the loads are not at a right angle to the beam, they also produce axial forces in
the beam.
 This chapter is devoted to the analysis of prismatic members subjected to equal and

opposite couples M and M' acting in the same longitudinal plane.

 Such members are said to be in pure bending.

 The members are assumed to possess a plane of symmetry with the couples M and

M' acting in that plane (Fig. 4.1).

Fig. 4.1 Member in pure bending.

 Pure Bending: Prismatic members subjected to equal and opposite couples acting in the

same longitudinal plane

 It refers to flexure of a beam under a constant bending moment.

 Therefore, pure bending occurs only in regions of a beam where the shear force is

zero (because V = dM/dx).

 In contrast, non-uniform bending refers to flexure in the presence of shear forces,

which means that the bending moment changes as we move along the axis of the beam.
An example of pure bending

Fig. 4.2 (a) Free-body diagram of the barbell as it is held

overhead by a weight lifter and (b) free-body diagram of
the center portion of the bar, which is in pure bending.
 The bar carries equal weights at equal distances from the hands of the weight

lifter.

 Because of the symmetry, the reactions at the hands must be equal and opposite

to the weights.

 Therefore, as far as the middle portion CD of the bar is concerned, the weights

and the reactions can be replaced by two equal and opposite 960-lb.in. couples

(Fig. 4.2b), showing that the middle portion of the bar is in pure bending.
 A similar analysis of a small sport buggy (Photo 4.1) shows that the axle is in pure

bending between the two points where it is attached to the frame.

 The results obtained from the direct applications of pure bending will be used in the

analysis of other types of loadings, such as eccentric axial loadings and transverse

loadings.

Photo 4.1 The center portion of the rear axle of the sport buggy is in pure bending
 Other Loading Types

 Eccentric Loading: Axial loading which

does not pass through section centroid
produces internal forces equivalent to an
axial force and a couple
 Transverse Loading: Concentrated or
distributed transverse load produces
internal forces equivalent to a shear force
and a couple

Photo 4.2 Clamp used to glue  Principle of Superposition: The normal

stress due to pure bending may be
lumber pieces together.
combined with the normal stress due to
axial loading and shear stress due to shear
Fig. 4.3 (a) Free-body diagram of a
loading to find the complete state of stress.
clamp, (b)free-body diagram of the
Fig. 4.4 (a) Cantilevered beam with end loading. (b) As
upper portion of the clamp. portion AC shows, beam is not in pure bending.
 4.1 SYMMETRIC MEMBERS IN PURE BENDING

4.1A Internal Moment and Stress Relations

a prismatic member AB shown in (Fig.

4.5a),possessing a plane of symmetry and subjected
to equal and opposite couples’ M and M' acting in
Fig. 4.5 (a) A member in a state of pure that plane.
bending. (b) Any intermediate portion of
AB will also be in pure bending  If a section is passed through the member AB at
some arbitrary point C, the conditions of
equilibrium of the portion AC of the member
require the internal forces in the section to be
Fig. 4.6 Stresses resulting from pure bending equivalent to the couple M (Fig. 4.5b).
moment M.
 The moment M of that couple is the bending
 Moreover, the moment of the couple is the
moment in the section.
same about any axis perpendicular to its
 Following the usual convention, a positive sign plane and is zero about any axis contained
is assigned to M when the member is bent as in that plane.
shown in Fig. 4.5a (i.e., when the concavity of
 Selecting arbitrarily the z axis shown in
the beam faces upward) and a negative sign
Fig. 4.6, the equivalence of the elementary
otherwise.
internal forces and the couple M is
 a couple M actually consists of two equal and expressed by writing that the sums of the
opposite forces. components and moments of the forces are
 The sum of the components of these forces in equal to the corresponding components and
any direction is therefore equal to zero. moments of the couple M:
 
(4.1)

(4.2)

(4.3)

Three additional equations could be obtained by setting equal to zero the sums of the y
components, z components, and moments about the x axis, but these equations would
involve only the components of the shearing stress and, the components of the shearing
stress are both equal to zero.
 
Two remarks should be made at this point:

1. The minus sign in Eq. (4.3) is due to the fact that a tensile stress () leads to a
negative moment (clockwise) of the normal force about the z axis.

2. Equation (4.2) could have been anticipated, since the application of couples in the
plane of symmetry of member AB result in a distribution of normal stresses
symmetric about the y axis.

 Once more, note that the actual distribution of stresses in a given cross section
cannot be determined from statics alone.

 It is statically indeterminate and may be obtained only by analyzing the

deformations produced in the member.
 4.1B Deformations
 We will now analyze the deformations of a prismatic
member possessing a plane of symmetry.

 Its ends are subjected to equal and opposite couples M and

M' acting in the plane of symmetry.
Fig. 4.7 Initially straight members in
 The member will bend under the action of the couples, but
pure bending deform into a circular arc
will remain symmetric with respect to that plane (Fig. 4.7).
Moreover, since the bending moment M is the same in any
cross section, the member will bend uniformly.
Fig. 4.8 (a) Two points in a cross section at D that is perpendicular to the
member‘s axis. (b) Considering the possibility that these points do not
remain in the cross section after bending.
 
 Thus, the line AB along the upper face of the member intersecting the plane of the

couples will have a constant curvature.

 In other words, the line AB will be transformed into a circle of center C, as will the line

AB' along the lower face of the member.

 Note that the line AB will decrease in length when the member is bent (i.e., when M 0),

while AB' will become longer.

 Beam with a plane of symmetry in pure bending:
 member remains symmetric
 bends uniformly to form a circular arc
 cross-sectional plane passes through arc center
and remains planar
 length of top decreases and length of bottom
increases
 a neutral surface must exist that is parallel to the
upper and lower surfaces and for which the
length does not change
Fig. 4.9 Member subject to pure bending shown  stresses and strains are negative (compressive)
in two views. (a) Longitudinal, vertical section
(plane of symmetry). (b) Longitudinal, horizontal above the neutral plane and positive (tension)
section. below it
  
 a surface parallel to the upper and lower faces of

the member must exist where and are zero.

 This surface is called the neutral surface.

 The neutral surface intersects the plane of

Fig. 4.10 Establishment of neutral axis. (a) symmetry along an arc of circle DE (Fig. 4.10a),
Longitudinal-vertical view. (b)  Transverse
section at origin. and it intersects a transverse section along a

straight line called the neutral axis of the section

(Fig. 4.10b).
 
 The origin of coordinates is now selected on the neutral surface—rather than on the

lower face of the member—so that the distance from any point to the neutral surface

is measured by its coordinate y.

 Consider a beam segment of length L. After deformation, the length of the neutral

surface remains L. At other sections,

 Denoting by the radius of arc DE (Fig. 4.10a), by the central angle corresponding

to DE, and observing that the length of DE is equal to the length L of the un-

deformed member, we write

 
(4.4)

 Considering the arc JK located at a distance y above the neutral surface, its length L' is

(4.5)

 Since the original length of arc JK was equal to L, the deformation of JK is

(4.6)

 or, substituting from Eqs. (4.4) and (4.5) into Eq. (4.6),

(4.7)
 
 The longitudinal strain in the elements of JK is obtained by dividing the original length L of
JK. Write

(4.8)

 The minus sign is due to the fact that it is assumed the bending moment is positive, and thus
the beam is concave upward.

 Because of the requirement that transverse sections remain plane, identical deformations occur
in all planes parallel to the plane of symmetry.

 Thus, the value of the strain given by Eq. (4.8) is valid anywhere, and the longitudinal normal
strain varies linearly with the distance y from the neutral surface.

 The strain reaches its maximum absolute value when y is largest.

 
 Denoting the largest distance from the neutral surface as c (corresponding to either the upper
or the lower surface of the member) and the maximum absolute value of the strain as , we
have

(4.9)

 Solving Eq. (4.9) for and substituting into Eq. (4.8),

(4.10)

 To compute the strain or stress at a given point of the member, we must first locate the
neutral surface in the member.

 To do this, we must specify the stress-strain relation of the material used.

 
4.2 STRESSES AND DEFORMATIONS IN THE ELASTIC RANGE

 We now consider the case when the bending moment M is such that the normal

stresses in the member remain below the yield strength .

 This means that the stresses in the member remain below the proportional limit

and the elastic limit as well.

 There will be no permanent deformation, and Hooke’s law for uniaxial stress

applies.
  
 Assuming the material to be homogeneous and denoting its
modulus of elasticity by E, the normal stress in the longitudinal
direction is

(4.11)

 Recalling Eq. (4.10) and multiplying both members by E, we

Fig. 4.11 Bending stresses

write
vary linearly with distance
from the neutral axis. Eor using Eq. (4.11),
(4.12)
 where denotes the maximum absolute value of the stress.
 This result shows that, in the elastic range, the normal stress varies
linearly with the distance from the neutral surface (Fig. 4.11).
 
 Note that neither the location of the neutral surface nor the maximum value of the stress
have yet to be determined.

 Both can be found using Eqs. (4.1) and (4.3). Substituting for from Eq. (4.12) into Eq.
(4.1), write

from which

(4.13)

 This equation shows that the first moment of the cross section about its neutral axis must
be zero.
 
 Thus, for a member subjected to pure bending and as long as the stresses remain in the
elastic range, the neutral axis passes through the centroid of the section.

 Recall Eq. (4.3), which was developed with respect to an arbitrary horizontal z axis:

(4.3)

 Specifying that the z axis coincides with the neutral axis of the cross section, substitute
from Eq. (4.12) into Eq. (4.3)

Or

(4.14)

where I is second moment of inertia.

 
 Recall that for pure bending the neutral axis passes through the centroid of the cross section
and I is the moment of inertia or second moment of area of the cross section with respect to
a centroidal axis perpendicular to the plane of the couple M. Solving Eq. (4.14) for ,

(4.15)

 Substituting for from Eq. (4.15) into Eq. (4.12), we obtain the normal stress at any distance
y from the neutral axis:

(4.16)

 Equations (4.15) and (4.16) are called the elastic flexure formulas, and the normal stress
caused by the bending or “flexing” of the member is often referred to as the flexural stress.
 
 The stress is compressive (0) above the neutral axis (y0) when the bending moment M is
positive and tensile (0) when M is negative.
 Returning to Eq. (4.15), the ratio I/c depends only on the geometry of the cross section.
This ratio is defined as the elastic section modulus S,
Where
Elastic section modulus (4.17)
 Substituting S for I/c into Eq. (4.15), this equation in alternative form is
(4.18)
 
 Since the maximum stress is inversely proportional to the elastic section modulus S,

beams should be designed with as large a value of S as is practical.

 For example, a wooden beam with a rectangular cross section of width b and depth h

has

(4.19)

 where A is the cross-sectional area of the beam.

  For two beams with the same cross-sectional area A (Fig. 4.12), the beam with the
larger depth h will have the larger section modulus and will be the more effective in
resisting bending.

 In the case of structural steel, American standard beams (S-

beams) and wide-flange beams (W-beams) are preferred to other
shapes because a large portion of their cross section is located
far from the neutral axis (Fig. 4.13).
Fig. 4.12 Wood beam cross sections
 Thus, for a given cross-sectional area and a given depth, their
design provides large values of I and S.

Fig. 4.13 Two types of steel beam cross sections: (a)

American Standard beam (S) (b) wide-flange beam (W).
 
 Values of the elastic section modulus of commonly manufactured beams can be

obtained from tables listing the various geometric properties of such beams.

 To determine the maximum stress a given section of a standard beam, the

engineer needs only to read the value of the elastic section modulus S in such a

table and divide the bending moment M in the section by S.

 The deformation of the member caused by the bending moment M is measured by

the curvature of the neutral surface.

 
 The curvature is defined as the reciprocal of the radius of curvature and can be
obtained by solving Eq. (4.9) for :

(4.20)

 in the elastic range, Substituting for into Eq. (4.20) and recalling Eq. (4.15), write

(4.21)
Properties of American Standard Shapes
  Concept Application 4.1
A steel bar of 0.82.5-in. rectangular cross section is subjected
to two equal and opposite couples acting in the vertical plane
of symmetry of the bar (Fig. 4.14a). Determine the value of the
bending moment M that causes the bar to yield. Assume
Since the neutral axis must pass through the centroid C of the
cross section, c=1.25 in. (Fig. 4.14b). On the other hand, the
centroidal moment of inertia of the rectangular cross section is
(0.8in.)
Solving Eq. (4.15) for M, and substituting the above data,

Fig. 4.14 (a) Bar of rectangular cross-

section in pure bending. (b) Centroid
and dimensions of cross section.
  
Concept Application 4.2
An aluminum rod with a semicircular cross section of radius r =12
mm (Fig. 4.15a) is bent into the shape of a circular arc of mean radius
2.5 m. Knowing that the flat face of the rod is turned toward the
center of curvature of the arc, determine the maximum tensile and
compressive stress in the rod. Use E =70 GPa.
We can use Equation (4.21) to determine the bending moment M

Fig. 4.15 (a) Semi-circular corresponding to the given radius of curvature and then Eq. (4.15) to
section of rod in pure bending. determine . However, it is simpler to use Eq. (4.9) to determine and
(b) Centroid and neutral axis Hooke’s law to obtain .
of cross section.
The ordinate y of the centroid C of the semicircular cross section is
   
The neutral axis passes through C(Fig. Since this side of the rod faces away from
4.15b), and the distance c to the point of the the center of curvature, the stress obtained is
cross section farthest away from the neutral a tensile stress. The maximum compressive
axis is stress occurs on the flat side of the rod.
C=r-=12mm- Using the fact that the stress is proportional
Using Eq. (4.9), to the distance from the neutral axis, write
2.763 )
and applying Hooke’s law,
 
4.3. DEFORMATIONS IN A TRANSVERSE CROSS SECTION

 While Sec. 4.1b showed that the transverse cross section of a member in pure bending

remains plane, there is the possibility of deformations within the plane of the section.

 Recall from Sec. 2.4 that elements in a state of uniaxial stress, , , are deformed in the

transverse y and z directions, as well as in the axial x direction.

 
 The normal strains and depend upon Poisson’s ratio for the material used and are
expressed as

and
Or recalling Eq. (4.8),
(4.8)
and (4.22)
 From the above relation elements located above the neutral surface (y 0) expand in both
the y and z directions, while the elements located below the neutral surface (y0) contract.
 In a member of rectangular cross section, the expansion and contraction of the various

elements in the vertical direction will compensate, and no change in the vertical

dimension of the cross section will be observed.

 As far as the deformations in the horizontal transverse z direction are concerned,

however, the expansion of the elements located above the neutral surface and the

corresponding contraction of the elements located below that surface will result in the

various horizontal lines in the section being bent into arcs of circle (Fig. 4.14).
  
 This situation is similar to that in a longitudinal cross section.
Comparing the second of Eqs. (4.22) with Eq. (4.8), the neutral axis
of the transverse section is bent into a circle of radius .

 The center C' of this circle is located below the neutral surface
(assuming M 0) (i.e., on the side opposite to the center of curvature
C).

 The reciprocal of the radius of curvature represents the curvature

of the transverse cross section and is called the anticlastic
curvature.

Fig. 4.14 Deformation of a (4.23)

transverse cross section.
 Sample Problem 4.2
SOLUTION:
• Based on the cross section geometry,
calculate the location of the section
centroid and moment of inertia.
Y 
 yA
A

I x   I  A d 2 

• Apply the elastic flexural formula to

find the maximum tensile and
compressive stresses.
Mc
m 
I
A cast-iron machine part is acted upon by
a 3 kN-m couple. Knowing E = 165 GPa
• Calculate the curvature
and neglecting the effects of fillets,
1 M
determine (a) the maximum tensile and 
 EI
compressive stresses, (b) the radius of
curvature.
 SOLUTION:
Based on the cross section geometry,
calculate the location of the section
centroid and moment of inertia.
Area, mm2 y , mm yA, mm3
1 20  90  1800 50 90 103
2 40  30  1200 20 24 103
3
 A  3000  yA  114 10

3
 yA 114 10
Y    38 mm
A 3000

  
I x   I  A d 2   12
1 bh3  A d 2 
  
1 90  203  1800 122  1 30  403  1200 182
 12 12

I  868103 mm  86810-9 m 4
 • Apply the elastic flexural formula to find the
maximum tensile and compressive stresses.
Mc
m 
I
M c A 3 kN  m  0.022 m  A  76.0 MPa
A  
I 868109 mm4
M cB 3 kN  m  0.038 m  B  131.3 MPa
B   
I 868109 mm4

• Calculate the curvature

1 M

 EI
3 kN  m 1
 20.95 103 m -1
165 GPa  86810-9 m 4 


  47.7 m
Knowing that the couple shown acts  Solution
in a vertical plane, determine the For rectangle I=
stress at (a) point A, (b) point B. Outside rectangle

Cutout

Section I=

a)
Pa= MPa
b)
Pa= MPa
4.4 MEMBERS MADE OF COMPOSITE MATERIALS

 The derivations given in Sec. 4.2 are based on the assumption of a homogeneous material with a
given modulus of elasticity E.

 If the member is made of two or more materials with different moduli of elasticity, the member is a
composite member.

 Consider a bar consisting of two portions of different materials bonded together as shown in Fig.
4.18. This composite bar will deform as described in Sec. 4.1B, since its cross section remains the
same throughout its entire length, and since no assumption was made in Sec. 4.1B regarding the
stress-strain relationship of the material or materials involved.

Fig. 4.18 Cross section made with different material.

 
Thus, the normal strain still varies linearly with the distance y from the neutral axis of the section
and formula (4.8) holds:

(4.8)

However, it cannot be assumed that the neutral axis passes through the centroid of the composite
section, and one of the goals of this analysis is to determine the location of this axis.
Since the moduli of elasticity and of the two materials are different, the equations for the normal
stress in each material are

(4.24)
 Fig. 4.19 Stress and strain distributions in bar
Made of two materials. (a) Neutral axis shifted
from centroid. (b) Strain distribution. (c)
Corresponding stress distribution.

Fig. 4.21 Distribution of stresses in

Fig. 4.20 Transformed section based on transformed section.
replacing lower material with that used on top.
 
A stress-distribution curve is obtained that consists of two segments with straight lines as shown in
Fig. 4.19c. It follows from Eqs. (4.24) that the force exerted on an element of area of the upper
portion of the cross section is

(4.25)

while the force exerted on an element of the same area of the lower portion is

(4.26)

Denoting the ratio E2/E1 of the two moduli of elasticity by n, we can write

(4.27)

My
x  
I
1   x  2  n x
 Example 4.03
SOLUTION:
• Transform the bar to an equivalent cross
section made entirely of brass
• Evaluate the cross sectional properties of the
transformed section
• Calculate the maximum stress in the
transformed section. This is the correct
maximum stress for the brass pieces of the
bar.
Bar is made from bonded pieces of steel
(Es = 29x106 psi) and brass (Eb = 15x106 • Determine the maximum stress in the steel
psi). Determine the maximum stress in portion of the bar by multiplying the
the steel and brass when a moment of 40 maximum stress for the transformed section
kip*in is applied. by the ratio of the moduli of elasticity.
SOLUTION:
• Transform the bar to an equivalent cross section
made entirely of brass.
Es 29 106 psi
n  6
 1.933
Eb 15 10 psi
bT  0.4 in  1.933 0.75 in  0.4 in  2.25 in

• Evaluate the transformed cross sectional properties

1 b h3  1  2.25 in. 3 in  3
I  12 T 12
 5.063 in 4

• Calculate the maximum stresses

Mc  40 kip  in 1.5 in 
m   4
 11.85 ksi
I 5.063in

  b  max   m   b  max  11.85 ksi

  s  max  n m  1.93311.85 ksi   s  max  22.9 ksi
4.5 ECCENTRIC AXIAL LOADING IN A PLANE OF SYMMETRY

 the distribution of stresses in the cross section of a member under axial

loading can be assumed uniform only if the line of action of the loads P and P'
passes through the centroid of the cross section. Such a loading is said to be
centric.
Photo 4.5 Walkway light.
 when the line of action of the loads does not pass through the centroid of the
cross section, the loading is said to be eccentric. Let us now analyze the
distribution of stresses under such loading

 examples of an eccentric loading are:-

 the weight of the lamp causes an eccentric loading on the post. Likewise, the
vertical forces exerted on the Bench press cause an eccentric loading on the Photo 4.6 Bench press

back column of the press.

  our analysis will be limited to members that possess a plane
of symmetry, and it will be assumed that the loads are
applied in the plane of symmetry of the member (Fig.
4.39a).

 The internal forces acting on a given cross section may then

be represented by a force F applied at the centroid C of the
section and a couple M acting in the plane of symmetry of
the member (Fig. 4.39b).
Fig. 4.39 (a) Member with eccentric
 The conditions of equilibrium of the free body AC require
loading. (b) Free-body diagram of the
that the force F be equal and opposite to P' and that the
member with internal loads at section C.
moment of the couple M be equal and opposite to the
moment of P' about C.
 
Denoting by d the distance from the centroid C to the
line of action AB of the forces P and P', we have

and (4.28)

Fig. 4.40 (a) Free-body diagram of

straight portion DE. (b) Free-body
diagram of portion CD.

Fig. 4.41 Stress distribution for eccentric loading is

obtained by superposing the axial and pure bending
distributions.
 
 the internal forces in the section would have been represented by the same force and couple if
the straight portion DE of member AB had been detached from AB and subjected
simultaneously to the centric loads P and P' and to the bending couples’ M and M'(Fig. 4.40).

 Thus, the stress distribution due to the original eccentric loading can be obtained by
superposing the uniform stress distribution corresponding to the centric loads P and P' and the
linear distribution corresponding to the bending couples M and M' (Fig. 4.41). Write

or recalling Eqs. (1.5) and (4.16),

(4.29)
where A is the area of the cross section and I its centroidal moment of inertia and y is measured
from the centroidal axis of the cross section.
 
 This relationship shows that the distribution of stresses across the section is linear but not
uniform.

 Depending upon the geometry of the cross section and the eccentricity of the load, the
combined stresses may all have the same sign, as shown in Fig. 4.41, or some may be
positive and others negative, as shown in Fig. 4.42.

 In the latter case, there will be a line in the section, along which .

 This line represents the neutral axis of the section.

 We note that the neutral axis does not coincide with the centroidal axis of the section,
since for .
  The results obtained are valid only to the
extent that the conditions of applicability of
the superposition principle are met.

Fig. 4.42 Alternative stress distribution for eccentric  This means that the stresses involved must
loading that results in zones of tension and not exceed the proportional limit of the
compression.
material. The deformations due to bending
must not appreciably affect the distance d in
Fig. 4.39a, and the cross section where the
stresses are computed must not be too close
to points D or E.
 Example 4.07
SOLUTION:
• Find the equivalent centric load and
bending moment

• Superpose the uniform stress due to

the centric load and the linear stress
due to the bending moment.
• Evaluate the maximum tensile and
compressive stresses at the inner
and outer edges, respectively, of the
superposed stress distribution.
An open-link chain is obtained by bending low-carbon
steel rods into the shape shown. For 160 lb load, • Find the neutral axis by
determining the location where the
determine (a) maximum tensile and compressive stresses, normal stress is zero.
(b) distance between section centroid and neutral axis

4 - 58
 • Normal stress due to a
centric load
A  c 2    0.25 in  2
 0.1963in 2
P 160 lb
0  
A 0.1963in 2
 815 psi

• Equivalent centric load

and bending moment • Normal stress due to
bending moment
P  160 lb
I  14 c 4  14   0.25 4
M  Pd  160 lb  0.6 in 
 104 lb  in  3.068103 in 4
Mc 104 lb  in  0.25 in 
m  
I .068 103 in 4
 8475psi

4 - 59
• Maximum tensile and • Neutral axis location
compressive stresses P My0
t  0 m 0 
A I
 815  8475  t  9260 psi
P I 3.068103 in 4
y0    815 psi
c  0 m AM 105lb  in
 815  8475  c  7660psi
y0  0.0240in

4 - 60
Sample Problem 4.8
The largest allowable stresses for the cast
iron link are 30 MPa in tension and 120
MPa in compression. Determine the largest
force P which can be applied to the link.

SOLUTION:
• Determine an equivalent centric load and
bending moment.

• Superpose the stress due to a centric

load and the stress due to bending.

• Evaluate the critical loads for the allowable

tensile and compressive stresses.
From Sample Problem 2.4,
A  3 103 m 2 • The largest allowable load is the smallest
Y  0.038 m
of the two critical loads.
I  868109 m 4
4 - 61
 • Determine an equivalent centric and bending loads.
d  0.038  0.010  0.028 m
P  centric load
M  Pd  0.028 P  bending moment

• Superpose stresses due to centric and bending loads

A  
P Mc A
 
P

 0.028 P  0.022  377 P
A I 3 103 868109
P Mc A
B    
P

 0.028 P  0.022  1559 P
A I 3 103 868 109

• Evaluate critical loads for allowable stresses.

 A  377 P  30 MPa P  79.6 kN
 B  1559 P  120 MPa P  79.6 kN

• The largest allowable load P  77.0 kN

4 - 62
4.8 UNSYMMETRIC BENDING ANALYSIS

Our analysis of pure bending has been limited so far to members possessing at least one plane of
symmetry and subjected to couples acting in that plane.

Because of the symmetry of such members and of their loadings, the members remain symmetric
with respect to the plane of the couples and thus bend in that plane (Sec. 4.1B).

This is illustrated in Fig. 4.44; part a shows the cross section of a member possessing two planes
of symmetry, one vertical and one horizontal, and part b the cross section of a member with a
single, vertical plane of symmetry.

In both cases the couple exerted on the section acts in the vertical plane of symmetry of the
member and is represented by the horizontal couple vector M, and in both cases the neutral axis
of the cross section is found to coincide with the axis of the couple.
continued