MECHANICS OF DEFORMABLE BODIES

DESIGN FOR FLEXURAL STRESS

1. A cantilever beam, 75mm wide by 200 mm high and 6m long carries a load that varies
uniformly from zero at the free end to 1500 N/m at the wall. (a) Compute the magnitude and
location of the maximum flexural stress (b) Determine the type and magnitude of the stress
in a fiber 25mm from the top of the beam at section 2.5m from the free end. b
3m 5000N
2. Determine the minimum width “b”
of the beam shown if the flexural 2000N/m 200mm
stress is not to exceed 10Mpa. 1m 3m

3. A 2” diameter bronze bar is used as a simply supported beam 8ft long. Determine the
largest uniformly distributed load, which can be, applied over the right half of the beam if
the flexural stress is limited to go 10ksi?
4. A simply supported rectangular “yacal” beam, 75mm wide by 150mm deep, carries a
uniformly distributed load of 2250 N / m over its entire length. What is the maximum length
of the beam if the flexural stress is limited to 18 Mpa?
5. A simply supported beam 6m long is composed of two C 200x28 channels riveted back
to back. What uniformly distributed load can be carried, in addition to the weight of the
beam, without exceeding a flexural stress of 125 MN/m 2 if (a) the webs are vertical and
(b) the webs are horizontal. Refer to Appendix B for channel properties.
6. A beam with a S380 x 74 section is simply supported at the ends. It supports a central
concentrated load of 40 kN and a uniformly distributed load of 15 kN/m over its entire
length, including the weight of the beam. Determine the maximum length of the beam if
the flexural stress is not to exceed 130 Mpa. Refer to Appendix B for properties of S
shapes.
7. A beam 15 m long is simply supported 2 m from each end. It is a built–
up made of four angle bars 100x75x13, with long legs horizontal (see
Table B-6) welded to a flat bar 25mmx300mm as shown in the figure.
Determine the total uniformly distributed load that can be carried along
its entire length without exceeding a flexural stress of 120 MPa.
8. A beam with a W2360x33section (see Table B-2) is used as a
cantilever beam 7.5 m long. Find the maximum uniformly distributed load which can be
applied over the entire length of the beam, in addition to the weight of the beam, if the
flexural stress is not to exceed 140 MN / m2
9. A 12-m beam simply supported at the ends carries a uniformly distributed load of 20kN /
m over its entire length. What is the lightest W shape beam that will not exceed a flexural
stress of 120MPa ? What is the actual stress in the beam selected?
10. A simply supported steel beam 10m long carries a uniformly distributed load of 18kn/m
load over the entire length and a central concentrated load of 25Kn. Determine the
lightest Wide flanged section that can be used to support the load. What is the actual
resulting stress in the beam selected. 50K
11. A cantilever wooden beam is composed of two N
segments with rectangular cross sections. The width
of each section is 75mm but their depths (150mm 1.5m 2m
and 250mm) are different, as shown in the figure.
Determine the maximum bending stress in each beam.

1/4 Eng’r. Divina R. Gonzales

 MECHANICS OF DEFORMABLE BODIES

UNSYMMETRICAL SECTION DESIGN FOR BENDING

STRESS
The previous discussions are all about beams symmetric with respect to the neutral axis.
Because flexural stress vary directly with distance from the neutral axis of symmetric beams,
which is the centroidal axis, such beam sections are desirable for materials that are equally
strong in tension and compression. However, for materials relatively weak in tension and strong
in compression such as cast iron, it is desirable to use beams that are unsymmetrical with
respect to the neutral axis. With such a cross section, the stronger fibers can be located at a
greater distance from the neutral axis than the weaker fibers. The ideal treatment for such
materials is to locate the centroidal or neutral axis in such a position that the ratio of the distances
from it to the fivers in tension and in compression is exactly the same as the ratio of the allowable
stresses in tension and in compression. The allowable stresses thus reach their permitted
values simultaneously.

1. A cast-iron beam carries a uniformly distributed load on a simple span. Compute the flange
width “b” of the inverted T section so that the allowable stresses f b(tension)=30MPa and
fb(compression)=90MPa reach their limits simultaneously.
20mm
W N/m
yc
120mm
L NA
yt
20mm
“b”
2. Compute the maximum tensile and compressive stresses developed in the beam that is
loaded and has the cross-sectional properties shown.
8KN 30mm
10KN/m

4m 1m 125mm

25mm
100mm

3. Determine the maximum safe value of W that can be carried by the beam shown if given
the following allowable stresses fb(tension)=60MPa and fb(compression)=90MPa

80mm
20mm 20mm
W W
6W KN
35mm

120mm
2m 8m 2m

2/4 Eng’r. Divina R. Gonzales

 MECHANICS OF DEFORMABLE BODIES

DESIGN FOR SHEARING STRESS

The vertical shear sets up numerically equal shearing stresses on longitudinal and
transverse sections, which are determined from:
VQ
fv  ;
Ib
Q=A’B in which A’ is the partial area of the cross section above a line drawn through the point
at which the shearing stress is desired. Q=A’y is the static moment about the NA of this area
(or of the area below this line).

Maximum shearing stresses occur at the section of maximum V and usually at the NA.
For rectangular beams, the maximum shearing stress is
3V
Max. f v  .
2bh
1. Draw the shearing stress distribution for a rectangular beam 75mmx200mm which is
simply supported on a 10m beam with a load of 20KN/m over the entire length.

2. Determine the maximum and minimum shearing stress in the web of the wide flange
section if V=120KN.

3. The distributed load shown is supported by a box beam shown. Determine the
maximum safe value of w that will not exceed a flexural stress of 10 MPa or a shearing
stress of 1MPa.

3m 1m

4. The distributed load shown is supported by a wide-flange section W 360x45 of the given
dimensions. Determine the maximum safe w that will not exceed a flexural stress of
140 MPa or a shearing stress of 75 MPa.

2m 4m

3/4 Eng’r. Divina R. Gonzales

 MECHANICS OF DEFORMABLE BODIES

DESIGN FOR FLEXURE AND SHEAR

In heavily loaded short beams the design is usually governed by shearing stress; but in longer
beams the flexure stress generally governs because the bending moment varies with both the
load and length of beam. Shearing is more important in timber beams than in steel beams
because of the low shearing strength of wood.

1. A box beam supports the loads shown. Compute the maximum value of P that will not
exceed a flexural stress fb(flexure)=8MPa and fv(shearing)=1.2MPa for section between the
support. 20mm 20mm
160mm

P 4000 N
2m 2m 2m
200mm
160mm

2. A simply supported beam L meters long carries a uniformly distributed load of 16KN/m
over its entire length and has the cross section shown . Find L to cause a maximum
flexural stress of 40MPa. What maximum shearing stress is then developed?

140mm
20mm

20mm 160mm

3. The wide flenage beam shown in the fig supports the concentrated load W and a total
uniformly distributed load 2W KN. Determine the maximum safe value of W if
fb(flexure)=10MPa and fv(shearing)=1.4MPa

200mm

2W W
220mm
20mm 180mm
2m 1m 2m

4/4 Eng’r. Divina R. Gonzales