CHAPTER 5: FLEXURAL STRESS
MECHANICS OF DEFORMABLE BODIES (STRENGTH OF MATERIALS)
5.1 FLEXURAL STRESS
Stresses caused by the bending moment are known as flexural or bending
stresses.
Assumptions
1. The plane sections of the beam remains plane.
2. The material in the beam is homogeneous and obeys Hooke’s Law.
3. The moduli of elasticity for tension and compression are equal.
4. The beam is initially straight and of constant cross section.
5. The plane of loading must contain a principal axis of the
beam cross section and the load must be perpendicular to the
longitudinal axis of the beam.
5.2 FLEXURAL FORMULA
Where:
fb = flexural stress
M = bending moment
Y = distance of point of analysis from N.A.
I = moment of inertia about the N.A.
Maximum Flexural Stress
Where:
c= distance from N.A. to the extreme fiber
𝐼
S= = section modulus
𝑐
5.3 MAXIMUM BENDING STRESS
Symmetric Cross Section
If the neutral axis is an axis of symmetry of the cross section, the
maximum tensile and compressive bending stresses in the beam are
equal in magnitude and occur at the section of the largest bending
moment.
1. Draw the bending moment diagram. Identify the bending moment
Mmax that has the largest magnitude( disregard the sign).
2. Compute the moment of inertia I of the cross sectional area about
the neutral axis.
𝑀𝑐
3. Calculate the maximum bending stress from fb(max)= , where c is
𝐼
the distance from the neutral axis to the top or bottom of the cross
section.
5.4 Sample Problems
Example No. 1
The simply supported beam in the figure has a rectangular cross section 120mm
wide and 200mm high.
1. Compute the maximum bending stress in the beam.
2. Compute the bending stress at a point on section B that is 25mm below the
top of the beam.
Ans: fbmax= 20 MPa
fb= 8.7MPa (C)
5.4 Sample Problems
Example No. 2
Determine the maximum bending stress in the steel beam with the circular cross
section.
Ans: fbmax= 24,446.2 psi
5.4 Sample Problems
Example No. 3
The simply supported beam of the rectangular cross section carries a
distributed load of intensity wo= 3kN/m and a concentrated force P. Determine
the largest allowable value of P if the bending stress is not to exceed 10MPa.
Ans: P= 32.5 kN
5.4 Sample Problems
Example No. 4
Determine the minimum height h of the beam shown in the figure if the flexural
stress is not to exceed 20MPa.
Ans: h= 136.93mm
5.5 MAXIMUM BENDING STRESS
Unsymmetric Cross Section
If the neutral axis is not an axis of symmetry of the cross section, the
maximum tensile and compressive bending stresses may occur at
different section.
1. Draw the bending moment diagram. Identify the largest positive
and negative bending moments.
2. Determine the location of the neutral axis and record the distances
Ctop and Cbot from the neutral axis to the top and bottom of the
cross section.
3. Compute the moment of inertia I of the cross sectional area about
the neutral axis.
4. Calculate the bending stresses at the top and bottom of the cross
section where the largest positive bending moment occurs. Repeat the
calculations for the cross section that carries the largest negative bending
moment. Inspect the four stresses thus computed to determine the largest
tensile and compressive bending stress in the beam.
5.6 Sample Problems
Example No. 1
The simply supported beam in the figure, has the T –shape cross section shown.
Determine the maximum tensile and compressive bending stresses develop in
the beam.
Ans: fb(max)= 3229.06 psi (C)
fb(max)=1598.87psi (T)
5.6 Sample Problems
Example No. 2
Determine the maximum tensile and compressive bending stresses in the beam
shown.
Ans: fb(max)= 24MPa (C)
fb(max)=15.6 MPa (T)
5.6 Sample Problems
Example No. 3
The beam carries a concentrated load W and a uniformly distributed load that
the totals 4W. Determine the largest allowable value of W if the working stresses
are 60 MPa in tension and 100MPa in compression.
Ans: W= 26.79kN
5.7 ECONOMICAL SECTION
Fibers near the N.A. are under-stressed compared with those at the top
or bottom. Therefore, beams with certain cross section shapes (including
a rectangular or a circle) utilize the material inefficiently because much
of the cross section contributes little to resisting bending moment.
The most economic/ efficient section would be that which has more
fibers located at a greater distance from the neutral axis.
Figure 15.7 Different ways to distribute the 12 in² cross sectional area without changing the depth.
5.7.1 STANDARD STRUCTURAL SHAPES
5.7.1 STANDARD STRUCTURAL SHAPES
Procedures for selecting standard shapes.
1. Neglecting the weight of the beam, draw the bending moment
diagram to find the largest bending moment.
2. Determine the minimum allowable section modulus from Smin= Mmax/Fb
Where Fb is the allowable bending stress.
3. Choose the lightest shape from the list of structural shapes for which S ≥ Smin
and note its weight.
4. Calculate the maximum bending stress fbmax in the selected beam caused
by the prescribe loading plus the weight of the beam. If fbmax ≤ Fb, then the
selection is finished. Otherwise, the second lightest shape with S ≥ Smin must be
considered and the maximum bending stress recalculated. The process must
be repeated until a satisfactory shape is found.
5.7 Sample Problems
Example No. 1
What is the lightest W-shape beam that will support the 45kN load shown in the
figure without exceeding a bending stress of 120MPa? Determine the actual
bending stress in the beam.
Ans: W310x38.7
fbmax= 112.47MPa
5.7 Sample Problems
Example No. 2
Find the lightest S-shape for the beam shown if the working stress in bending is
120MPa. What is the maximum bending stress in the beam selected?
Ans: S3880x74
fbmax= 110.65MPa
