Use of Flexure Formula:: Illustrative Problems
Use of Flexure Formula:: Illustrative Problems
Use of Flexure Formula:: Illustrative Problems
Illustrative Problems:
An I - section girder, 200mm wide by 300 mm depth flange and web of thickness is 20 mm is used as simply
supported beam for a span of 7 m. The girder carries a distributed load of 5 KN /m and a concentrated load of 20 KN
at mid-span.
Determine the
Solution:
For sections with symmetry about the neutral axis, use can be made of standard I value for a rectangle about an axis
through centroid i.e. (bd 3 )/12. The section can thus be divided into convenient rectangles for each of which the
neutral axis passes through the centroid. Example in the case enclosing the girder by a rectangle
In order to obtain the maximum bending moment the technique will be to consider each loading on the beam
separately and get the bending moment due to it as if no other forces acting on the structure and then superimpose
the two results.
Hence
All the theory which has been discussed earlier, while we discussed the bending stresses in beams was for the case
of pure bending i.e. constant bending moment acts along the entire length of the beam.
Let us consider the beam AB transversely loaded as shown in the figure above. Together with shear force and
bending moment diagrams we note that the middle potion CD of the beam is free from shear force and that its
bending moment. M = P.a is uniform between the portion C and D. This condition is called the pure bending
condition.
Since shear force and bending moment are related to each other F= dM/dX (eq) therefore if the shear force changes
than there will be a change in the bending moment also, and then this won't be the pure bending.
Conclusions :
Hence one can conclude from the pure bending theory was that the shear force at each X-section is zero and the
normal stresses due to bending are the only ones produced.
In the case of non-uniform bending of a beam where the bending moment varies from one X-section to another, there
is a shearing force on each X-section and shearing stresses are also induced in the material. The deformation
associated with those shearing stresses causes “ warping “ of the x-section so that the assumption which we
assummed while deriving the relation that the plane cross-section after bending remains plane is
violated. Now due to warping the plane cross=section before bending do not remain plane after bending. This
complicates the problem but more elaborate analysis shows that the normal stresses due to bending, as calculated
The above equation gives the distribution of stresses which are normal to the cross-section that is in x-direction or
along the span of the beam are not greatly altered by the presence of these shearing stresses. Thus, it is justifiable to
use the theory of pure bending in the case of non uniform bending and it is accepted practice to do so.
By the earlier discussion we have seen that the bending moment represents the resultant of certain linear distribution
of normal stresses x over the cross-section. Similarly, the shear force Fx over any cross-section must be the
resultant of a certain distribution of shear stresses.
Assumptions :
1. Stress is uniform across the width (i.e. parallel to the neutral axis)
2. The presence of the shear stress does not affect the distribution of normal bending stresses.
It may be noted that the assumption no.2 cannot be rigidly true as the existence of shear stress will cause a distortion
of transverse planes, which will no longer remain plane.
In the above figure let us consider the two transverse sections which are at a distance ‘ x' apart. The shearing forces
and bending moments being F, F + F and M, M + M respectively. Now due to the shear stress on transverse planes
there will be a complementary shear stress on longitudinal planes parallel to the neutral axis.
Let be the value of the complementary shear stress (and hence the transverse shear stress) at a distance
‘Y'0 from the neutral axis. Z is the width of the x-section at this position
Let + d are the normal stresses on an element of area A at the two transverse sections, then there is a
difference of longitudinal forces equal to ( d . A) , and this quantity summed over the area A is in equilibrium with
the transverse shear stress on the longitudinal plane of area z x .
The figure shown below indicates the pictorial representation of the part.
So substituting
Where ‘z' is the actual width of the section at the position where ‘ ' is being calculated and I is the total moment of
inertia about the neutral axis.
Source: http://nptel.ac.in/courses/Webcourse-contents/IIT-
ROORKEE/strength%20of%20materials/homepage.htm