Part 2

Flexural Stresses in Curved Beams

CURVED BEAMS – are beams that have curved axes
and are subjected to bending.
EXAMPLES: Hooks, Chain Links, etc.
Flexural Stresses in Curved Beams
NOTE: For curved beams, the linear variation of strain over the
cross section is no longer valid, even though the assumption of
the plane cross section remaining plane is valid.

Straight Beams
(Linear variation of strain) Curved Beams
(Non-linear variation of strain)
Flexural Stresses in Curved Beams
ASSUMPTIONS:
1. Constant cross sectional area and has an axis of
symmetry that is perpendicular to the applied
moment.
2. The beam is subjected to pure bending.
3. Constant or slowly varying initial radius of
curvature in the plane of bending.
4. Material is homogeneous and isotropic and it
behaves in a linear-elastic manner.
5. The cross sections remain plane when the moment
is applied.
 Flexural Stresses in Curved Beams
Consider
Based on plane section remaining
plane and similar triangles,
ri

R
ρ
a
ro
(1)
y x
M
ρ b

(2)
ro o
ri = radius of inner surface
ro = radius of outer surface y
R = location of NS
Flexural Stresses in Curved Beams
Consider
Variation of Normal Strain at the
Cross Section of the Curved Beam

ri

R
ρ
a
ro
y x
M
ρ b

ro o
y
Flexural Stresses in Curved Beams
Consider
(2)
ri
Since elastic, Hooke’s law
R applies
ρ
a
ro
y x
M (3)
ρ b
NOTE: The flexural stress
ro distribution is similar to
o
the strain distribution.
y
Flexural Stresses in Curved Beams
Determination of the location of the neutral axis.

ri

R
ρ
a But y = -R
ro
y x (4)
M
ρ b
zero
Formula to
ro o determine the
y location of NA, R
Flexural Stresses in Curved Beams
Determination of the location of the neutral axis.
For a rectangular cross section of
width, t
centerline

ri
ri
R
From the figure,
ρ
a ρ ro dA td
ro
x The above equation
M y dA becomes
ρ b
dρ

ro o t
y Rectangular Cross Section
Flexural Stresses in Curved Beams
Determination of the location of the neutral axis.
For a rectangular cross section of
width, t

ri

R
ρ
a
ro Since R is a constant,
y x
M
ρ b
(5)
ro o
y NOTE: For rectangular sections only.
Flexural Stresses in Curved Beams
For the resisting moment MR ,

ri

R
ρ
a
ro
y x
M
ρ b Zero from equation 4.

ro o
y
Flexural Stresses in Curved Beams
For the resisting moment MR ,
(6)

Where y-bar is the y coordinate of

the centroid of the cross sectional
area A measured from the N.A.
R
Replacing by

x (7)
M

Elastic Flexural Stress at any

point in an initially curved beam.
y
Flexural Stresses in Curved Beams
Example 4 M
Given: Curved Beam
with Rectangular
Cross Section 80 x
160 mm deep
ri = 500 mm
M = +40 kNm

Determine:
The flexural stresses
at the inside and
outside surfaces
of the beam. M
Flexural Stresses in Curved Beams
Example 4
Solution: centerline NA
Step 1: Locate the NA
ro ri ri 500 mm R
R
ln ro ri ro 500 160
660 500 660 mm 80
ri =
ln 660 500 500
mm
R 576.303 mm
160 mm

ro
Rectangular Cross Section
Flexural Stresses in Curved Beams
Example 4
Solution: centerline NA CA
Step 2: Determine y rCA

160 R = 576.303
rCA 500 580 mm
2
y rCA R 580 576.303 80
ri =
500
3.697 mm mm y
160 mm

ro = 660 mm
Rectangular Cross Section
Flexural Stresses in Curved Beams
Example 4 M
Solution: centerline NA CA
Step 3: Flexural Stresses rCA = 580
My R = 576.303
Ay ρ
• At Inside Curved Surface y 80
ri =
ri 500 mm 500
y R ri 576.303 500 mm y 3.697 mm
76.303 mm
3
160 mm
40 10 0.076303
i ro = 660 mm
0.500 0.08 0.160 0.003697
Rectangular Cross Section
i 128.99 MPa (C )
Flexural Stresses in Curved Beams
Example 4 M
Solution: centerline NA CA
Step 3: Flexural Stresses rCA = 580
My R = 576.303
Ay ρ
• At Outside Curved Surface y 80
ri =
ro 660 mm 500
y ro R 660 576.303 mm y 3.697 mm
83.697 mm
3
160 mm
40 10 0.083697
o ro = 660 mm
0.660 0.08 0.160 0.003697
Rectangular Cross Section
o 107.2 MPa (T )
Flexural Stresses in Curved Beams
Example 5
Given: Curved Beam with Cross Section as shown
Determine: “b” that will make i = o for the curved beam.

M
2” 6”

1”

1”

M Cross Section
Flexural Stresses in Curved Beams
Example 5 M
Solution:
centerline NA
Step 1: Locate the NA R

R 2” 6”
dA 0 General Form
A
1”
• From ρ = 6” to 8”: dA bd ri = 6” dA
• From ρ = 8” to 14”: dA 1d 1d ρ b
2d
ρ dA
• Therefore, 1”
dρ dρ
8 R 14 R
6
bd 8
2d 0 ro = 14”

Cross Section
Flexural Stresses in Curved Beams
Example 5 M
Solution:
centerline NA
Step 1: Locate the NA R
8 R 14 R
6
bd 8
2d 0 2” 6”

8 R 14 R 1”
b 6
d 2 8
d 0 dA
ri = 6”
b 8 6 R ln 8 6 ρ b
2 14 8 R ln 14 8 0
ρ dA
b 2 R ln 4 3 2 6 R ln 7 4 0 1”
R b ln 4 3 2 ln 7 4 2b 12 dρ dρ

2b 12 ro = 14”
R
b ln 4 3 2 ln 7 4 Cross Section
Flexural Stresses in Curved Beams
Example 5 M
Solution:
centerline NA
Step 2: Flexural Stresses R
My 2” 6”
Ay
1”
• At Inside Curved Surface
ri = 6”
ri 6 b
y
y R ri R 6
ρ
M R 6
i
1”
6 Ay
ro = 14”

Cross Section
Flexural Stresses in Curved Beams
Example 5 M
Solution:
centerline NA
Step 2: Flexural Stresses R
My 2” 6”
Ay
1”
• At Outside Curved Surface
ri = 6”
ro 14 b
y
y ro R 14 R
ρ
M 14 R
o
1”
14 Ay
ro = 14”

Cross Section
Flexural Stresses in Curved Beams
Example 5 M
Solution:
centerline NA
Step 2: Flexural Stresses R

• Given: i o
2” 6”

1”
M R 6 M 14 R
o ri = 6”
i
6 Ay 14 Ay
b
R 6 14 R
6 14
1”
14R 84 84 6R
168 42
R 8.4" ro = 14”
20 5
Cross Section
Flexural Stresses in Curved Beams
Example 5 M
Solution:
centerline NA
Step 2: Flexural Stresses R

• Equating R from Step 1 to 8.4 2” 6”

2b 12
R 8.4 1”
b ln 4 3 2 ln 7 4
ri = 6”
• Solving for b
b
2b 12 8.4b ln 4 3 16.8 ln 7 4
16.8 ln 7 4 12 1”
b
2 8.4 ln 4 3
b 6.24" ro = 14”

Cross Section
Flexural Stresses in Curved Beams
SEATWORK #3
ASSIGNMENT #2
Given: Curved Beam

M = -35 ft-kips
8 4”
”

8”
Thickness of flanges and web is
2”.
Determine:
The flexural stresses at the
inside and outside
surfaces of the beam.