Structures and Stiffness

B. Furman
K. Youssefi
20SEP2007

K. Youssefi and B. Furman

Engineering 10, SJSU

Outline

Newtons 3rd Law

Hookes Law
Stiffness
Area moment of Inertia
Orientation of cross section and stiffness
Comparison of cross sections
Materials and stiffness

K. Youssefi and B. Furman

Engineering 10, SJSU

Newtons 3rd Law

Lex III: Actioni contrariam semper et
qualem esse reactionem: sive corporum
duorum actiones in se mutuo semper esse
quales et in partes contrarias dirigi.
To every action there is always opposed an
equal reaction: or the mutual actions of two
bodies upon each other are always equal,
and directed to contrary parts.

K. Youssefi and B. Furman

Engineering 10, SJSU

Newtons 3rd Law - example

T, tension

Free body diagram

T, tension

Isolate the body of

interest
Put back the forces
that are acting

M
M*g

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Engineering 10, SJSU

Hookes Law
Robert Hooke (1635-1702)
Materials resist loads (push or pull back) in
response to applied loads
This resistance is accomplished by deformation of
the material (changing its shape)
Tension (stretching)
Compression (shortening)
Stretching or shortening of chemical bonds in atoms

The science of Elasticity concerns forces and

deformations in materials

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Engineering 10, SJSU

Hookes Law, cont.

Hooke found that deflection
was proportional to load
Load, N
Slope of Load-Deflection curve:

load
k=
deflection

slope, k

Deflection, mm

The Stiffness
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Stiffness
Stiffness in tension and compression
Forces F applied, length L, cross-sectional area, A,
and material property, E (Youngs modulus)
A

k=

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F
=
FL
AE

FL
=
AE

AE
k=
L
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Stiffness, cont.
Stiffness in bending
F

Ri
A

Ro
B

How does the material resist the applied load?

Think about what happens to the material as the beam
bends
Inner fibers (A) are in compression (radius of curvature, Ri)
Outer fibers (B) are in tension (radius of curvature, Ro)
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Engineering 10, SJSU

Review Question 1

Stiffness is defined as:

A.
B.
C.
D.
E.

Force/Area
Deflection/Force
Force/Deflection
Force x Deflection
Mass/area

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Engineering 10, SJSU

Concept of Area Moment of Inertia

The Area Moment of Inertia is an important parameter in determine
the state of stress in a part (component, structure), the resistance to
buckling, and the amount of deflection in a beam.

The area moment of inertia allows you to tell how stiff

a structure is.
The Area Moment of Inertia, I, is a term used to describe the
capacity of a cross-section (profile) to resist bending. It is always
considered with respect to a reference axis, in the X or Y
direction. It is a mathematical property of a section concerned with
an area and how that area is distributed about the reference axis.
The reference axis is usually a centroidal axis.
Mathematically, the area moment of inertia appears in the denominator
of the deflection equation, therefore;

The higher the area moment of inertia, the less a

structure deflects (higher stiffness)
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Engineering 10, SJSU

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Mathematical Equation for Area Moment of Inertia

Ixx = (Ai) (yi)2 = A1(y1)2 + A2(y2)2 + ..An(yn)2
A (total area) = A1 + A2 + ..An

A2
A1

y1

y2

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Area, A

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Moment of Inertia Comparison

1

Load
Maximum distance of
4 inch to the centroid

Load

2 x 8 beam

I2

I1

Maximum distance of 1 inch

to the centroid

2 x 8 beam

I2 > I1 , orientation 2 deflects less

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Engineering 10, SJSU

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Moment of Inertia Equations for Selected Profiles

d

Round solid section

do

Round hollow section

di

(d)4
I=
64

[(do)4 (di)4]
I=
64

Rectangular solid section

Rectangular hollow section

b

I=

1
bh3
12

h
b

I=

I=

1
hb3
12

1
1
BH3 bh3
12
12

h
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Example Optimization for Weight & Stiffness

Consider a solid rectangular section 2.0 inch wide by 1.0 high.

1.0

I = (1/12)bh3 = (1/12)(2)(1)3 = .1667 , Area = 2

2.0

Now, consider a hollow rectangular section 2.25 inch wide by 1.25 high
by .125 thick.
b
B = 2.25, H = 1.25

b = 2.0, h = 1.0

H
B

I = (1/12)bh3 = (1/12)(2.25)(1.25)3 (1/12)(2)(1)3= .3662 -.1667 = .1995

Area = 2.25x1.25 2x1 = .8125
(.1995 - .1667)/(.1167) = .20 = 20% less deflection
Compare the weight of the two parts (same material and length),
compare areas. Material and length is the same for both profiles.
(2 - .8125)/(2) = .6 = 60% lighter

So, for a slightly larger outside dimension section, 2.25x1.25 instead

of 2 x 1, you can design a beam that is 20% stiffer and 60 % lighter
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Engineering 10, SJSU

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Review Question 2

Which cross section has the larger I?

A.
Rectangular
Horizontal

B.
Rectangular
Vertical

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Stiffness Comparisons for Different sections

Square
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Box

Rectangular
Horizontal
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Rectangular
Vertical
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Material and Stiffness

E = Elasticity Modulus, a measure of material deformation under a load.
Deflection of a Cantilever Beam
Support

L = length

F = force
Y = deflection = FL3 / 3EI

Fixed end

The higher the value of E, the less a structure

deflects (higher stiffness)

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Engineering 10, SJSU

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Modulus of Elasticity (E) of Materials

Steel is 3 times
stiffer than
Aluminum and
100 times stiffer
than Plastics.

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Density of Materials

Plastic is 7 times
lighter than steel
and 3 times lighter
than aluminum.

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Wind Turbine Structure

The support structure should be optimized for weight and stiffness.

Support
Structure

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Review Question 3

Which material has the higher stiffness?

A.
B.
C.
D.
E.

Steel
Aluminum
Alumina ceramic
Nylon
Unobtanium

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Examples of Achieving Structural

Stiffness
Boss

Gusset
Ribbing

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Examples of Achieving Structural

Stiffness, cont.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Image:FT_Rail.jpg

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Examples of Achieving Structural

Stiffness, cont.

Welded box
construction

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Examples of Achieving Structural

Stiffness, cont.

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Examples of Achieving Structural

Stiffness, cont.

Flange

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Examples of Achieving Structural

Stiffness, cont.

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