ECCENTRIC

TENSION
AND
COMPRESSION

ECCENTRIC TENSION AND COMPRESSION

definition
side panels of a beam element are subjected
to a perpendicular force not passing
through their centroid

=
N

N
z

x
F

Mx

+
M

My

F = ( N, Mx, My )

eccentric tension / compression

bending + simple tension / compression

deformation of a beam element: all points move axially, see uniform strains (centric
tension / compression) or assumptions of Bernoulli and Navier (classical beam theory)

2/20

ECCENTRIC TENSION AND COMPRESSION

Superposition of stress distributions according to our
former studies (assume uniaxial bending about x) if
the material resists both tension and compression?

if the material resists compression

only? (e.g. concrete, soil)

Mx

(applies also for biaxial bending)

Calculation of stresses: N/A and any of the 4 methods
discussed at bending (general formula, methods of
superposition, neutral axis, Culmann's kernel)

z
???

compressive and non-compressive

parts of the cross section, other
approach is needed
3/20

SECTIONS OF TENSION-COMPRESSION MATERIALS

Reminder:

equations of simple tension / compression and simple bending

STATICAL equations

Fiz:

z (x,y,z) dA = N (z)

GEOMETRIC equations

C
dw

simple tension / compression

A(z)

Mix: z (x,y,z)y dA = Mx (z)

A(z)

Miy:z (x,y,z)x dA = My (z)

simple bending

dx

A(z)

effects of N and (Mx, My)

can be calculated
independently

+
C
dy

dwS(z) dx(z) dy(z)

z(x,y,z) =
+
y
x
dz
dz
dz
z(x,y,z) = zS(z) + x(z)y y(z)x
+ etc.

(Mx, My)

4/20

SECTIONS OF TENSION-COMPRESSION MATERIALS

Determination of stresses by superposition
If x and y
Mx
My
N
C
z =
; x=
; y=
are principal:
EA
EI x
EI y

3 stress distributions can be drawn separately:

N (+)

Mx = M 1

x1

My = M 2

+
+

N
My
N Mx
z=
y
x
A
Ix
Iy

for the angle of u it still holds:

M y Ix
= arctan
M xI y

neutral axis between M and the 2nd principal

axis but u does not pass through the centroid!

y2

N Mx
My
signs rather from
z=
y
x
A
Ix
Iy
inspection again:

5/20

SECTIONS OF TENSION-COMPRESSION MATERIALS

Example:
determine minimum and maximum normal stresses of the section in eccentric compression
2 4 cm

1,7
8

89

F = 80 kN()
My = 1,0733 kNm
3,1
30

3,1
30

N = 80 kN()
0

3 cm

6 cm

it is already known...

0
x1

A = 24 cm2

I = 136 cm
4
I = 64 cm

C = 48 cm 4

y2

I x = I 1 = 160 cm 4
I y = I 2 = 40 cm 4
o
0 = 26,57 =arctg 0,5

33

2,6
8

4 ,4

721

cm

M = 80 0,03 = 2,4 kNm

80 214,66
107,33
kN
A
z =
1,7889
3,1305=14,13 2
x1
24
160
40
cm
Mx = 2,1466 kNm
kN
kN
2,2
Cz =8,667 2 =max
361
Bz = 1,467 2
z
cm
C
cm
y2

6/20

SECTIONS OF TENSION-COMPRESSION MATERIALS

biaxial bending part:

+

My = 1,0733 kNm
A

6,000

M = 2,4 kNm

x1
Mx = 2,1466 kNm

y2

8,400

[ ]
kN
2
cm

8,400

7,200
7/20

SECTIONS OF TENSION-COMPRESSION MATERIALS

3,333

My = 1,0733 kNm

6,000
36,870

N = 80 kN()
S

M = 2,4 kNm

x1
Mx = 2,1466 kNm

y2

8,400

[ ]
kN
2
cm

8,400

7,200
8/20

SECTIONS OF TENSION-COMPRESSION MATERIALS

Eccentricity of the load and position of the neutral axis
u

F N ()

N () F ()
e

e = 0

C
y2

x1

z
F centric (e = 0) F N:
uniform stress distribution,
(as if u was at infinity)

F ()
e

M
u

M
u

generic case ???

N and M linear

F at isnfinity (e ):

stress distribution

yields M only linear stress

if M = Fe is given, N = F 0
distribution, u passes through C
9/20

SECTIONS OF TENSION-COMPRESSION MATERIALS

Eccentricity of the load and position of the neutral axis
Special position:
there is just no stress with
sign opposite to F
F ()
N ()
(u is just tangent to the cross
section, no intersection occurs)u
e

M
y2
x1
e = ? (point of appl. of F ?)

Definition:

assume that F is compressive,

but could be (F > 0) as well

F is located just at the

boundary of Culmann's kernel

CULMANN'S KERNEL:
Locii of points of application of F (axial) in the cross section, for which the neutral axis u
is tangent to (not intersecting) the boundary of the cross section.
10/20

SECTIONS OF TENSION-COMPRESSION MATERIALS

Eccentricity of the load and position of the neutral axis
CULMANN'S KERNEL:
Locii of points of application of F (axial) in the cross section, for which the neutral axis u
is tangent to (not intersecting) the boundary of the cross section.
Equivalent definition (without proof):
CULMANN'S KERNEL:
Inner envelope of neutral axes pertaining to axial loads F located at the convex hull of the
cross section (that is, Culmann's kernel is convex).
corollary: if F is located at the contour of the (convex hull of) the cross section, u is tangent to
Culmann's kernel and vice versa
(there also exists a pure geometric definition not considered here...)

let us analyse the increasing eccentricity of F :

11/20

SECTIONS OF TENSION-COMPRESSION MATERIALS

Eccentricity of the load and position of the neutral axis: z diagrams
u

F = N ()
e = 0

y2 C

(u)

F ()

F ()

y2

x1

y2
u

y2

y2

F ()

y2

F ()

F ()

F ()
e

y2

12/20

SECTIONS OF TENSION-COMPRESSION MATERIALS

Tracing the contour of Culmann's kernel
general case (using the method of superposition)
starting from the equation of u:

b
u

x1

Mx
My
z=0=
y
x
A Ix
Iy
N
Mx
My
N
=
y
x
A
Ix
Iy

Fe
M xy

Fe
M xy

F
N
=
y
A
Ix
Iy
A ey
Ae x
1=
y
x
Ix
Iy
2

Ix
ix
e y =
= ;
Ab
b

a
F

Mx = Fey

y2

My = Fex equation of u as a line

x

ey = ?

ex = ?

with axial segments a, b (here a, b < 0):

1=
2

Iy
iy
e x =
=
Aa
a

1
1
y x
b
a

Ix
Iy
ix=
; i y=
: radius of gyration
A
A
13/20

SECTIONS OF TENSION-COMPRESSION MATERIALS

Example: determine contour points of Culmann's kernel along y of a rectangular section
s

assume that F >0:

z=0=

F
N
A

Fe
Neyx
Ix

(if F was compressive: + )

x1

m
F

ey = ?

3
Ix
sm 2
m
ey =
=
=
Am/ 2
12 sm m
6

y2

m/6

If F is at one of the principal axes (2):

M || (1): uniaxial bending
u is also parallel to (1)
s/6

breakpoint line,
curve curve,
line breakpoint
14/20

SECTIONS OF TENSION-COMPRESSION MATERIALS

Culmann's kernel for simple sections
D/4
b/3

a/3

a/4

Importance of Culmann's kernel:

in the analysis of no tension materials
15/20

SECTIONS OF NO TENSION MATERIALS

Additional assumptions:
symmetric cross section and compressive force located at the axis of symmetry
principle of plane cross sections still applies but Hooke's law holds just in part..

TWO POSSIBLE CASES:

a) the force is located inside Culmann's kernel, then only compressive
stresses occur irrespective of the resistance to tension
SUPERPOSITION SHOULD STILL BE APPLIED
b) the force is located inside the convex hull of the section but outside the
kernel: compressive (z 0) and non-compressive (z = 0) parts
MODIFIED EQUILIBRIUM CONDITIONS ARE NEEDED

16/20

BEAM ELEMENTS OF NO TENSION MATERIAL

STATICAL equations

GEOMETRIAI equations

x' at the neutral axis

(not through C!)

F = (N, Mx)

Ad
F
u

c: known
x'

y'

yF: sought for

Ad

Mix': z (y',z)y' dA = yF F (z)

0 0 0
= 0 0 0
0 0 z

y'

yF F M x

Fiz:z (y',z) dA = F (z) < 0

Ad

dx

dw(y') = y'dx

dx(z)
zx = 0, zy = 0
y'
dz
= y =0
z(y',z) = x(z)y' + rig. c.s.: x
=0
z(y',z) =

MATERIAL equations

z (y',z) = Ez (y',z), if z (y',z) < 0,

z (y',z) = 0,
if z (y',z) 0

xy

0 0 0
= 0 0 0
0 0 z

17/20

BEAM ELEMENTS OF NO TENSION MATERIAL

STATICAL equations

GEOMETRIC equations

Fiz:z (y',z) dA = F (z) < 0

dx(z)
y'
dz
z(y',z) = x(z)y' + etc.
z(y',z) =

Ad

Mix': z (y',z)y' dA = yF F (z)

Ad

MATERIAL equations

Firstly, STAT.: Mix Fiz

z y ' , z y ' d A
y F z =

Ad

z y ' , z d A
Ad

z (y',z) = Ez (y',z), if z (y',z) < 0,

z (y',z) = 0,
if z (y',z) 0

MAT + GEOM

x E y ' d A

I x' z
yF z =
=
S x' z
x E y ' d A
Ad

?
?

Ad

moment equilibrium (line of F resultant of z (y',z))

implicite condition for yF

Fiz

Fz
F
x z =

ES x ' z

, max
ny
z =
z

FF z
Sx' z

y ' max z

(better with absolute values...)

18/20

SECTIONS OF NO TENSION MATERIALS

Two basic loading schemes
s

wedge-shaped stress distribution

F
2c

yF = ?
s

pyramid-shaped stress distribution

F
c
yF = ?

I x' s y F c 3
2
y F=
=
2
Sx'
3
s y F c
2
y F = y F c y F =2 c
3

I x' s y F c 3
6
y F=
=
2
Sx'
12
s y F c
1
y F = y F c y F =c
2
19/20

Criteria
30.Bending and tension or compression. Eccentric tension or compression.
31.Bending and tension or compression for bars of tension-compression materials.
Culmans (internal) kernel. Definition of neutral axis.
32.Stresses in cross section with eccentric compressive load in axis of symmetry
with no-tension material.

Other exam questions

71.Determine the stresses for eccentric tension/compression by using the general
method (method of neutral axis) of biaxial bending! The material behaviour is the
same for tension and compression. Draw the stress diagrams.
72.Determine the stresses for eccentric tension/compression by using the
superposition method of skew bending! The material behaviour is the same for
tension and compression.
73.--74.Calculate the stresses in a cross section loaded symmetrically by an eccentric
compressive force, if the material cannot resist tension.
20/20