Stress Analysis in Curved Beams

(Moment Applied Normal to Plane of Curvature)

If the initial Curvature of the member is small, i.e. the radius of curvature is large compared to
the depth of the cross section; a good approximation can be obtained for distribution of stresses
by assuming the member to be straight.
However, when the radius of curvature and the dimensions of the cross section of the member
are of the same order of magnitude, we must use a different method of analysis, which was first
introduced by E. Winkler.
Consider the curved member of uniform cross section with center C.

Due to applied moments M and M in the plane of symmetry C will move to C

A 'C ' < AC
A ' B ' < AB
F 'G ' > FG
The length of the neutral surface will remain constant
DE = D ' E '
R = R ' '

Now consider the arc JK located at distance y above the neutral surface

r ' ' r
The deformation in JK=

r= R y
r=' R ' y

= ( R ' y ) ' ( R y )
Setting = '
y ( ' )
=
R ' ' y ' R + y =

= y

=
x

=
L0

y
r

y
x =
y
=

r
R y

This relation shows that x does not vary linearly with the distance y from N.A
x = E x

y
R r
E
=
E
x =
R y

Location of the neutral axis and value of E

From equilibrium

dA =
0

R r
dA =
0

r
R r
r dA = 0
dA
R
dA =
0
r
dA
R=
dA
r

R: is the distance from center of curvature to the neutral surface

1
rdA
A
r`: the distance from center of curvature to the centroid of the section.
r'=

We thus conclude that in curved members the neutral axis does not pass through the centroid

Radius of Neutral Surface for various cross-sectional shapes

Also from equilibrium

M z = M y x dA = M

R r
since y R - r
=
E r ydA M=

(R r )

dA = M
r
Expanding the square in the integral
E

(R

2rR + r 2 )
r

dA = M

2 dA

M
R r 2RA + rdA =

dA A
=
r
R

E
M
[ RA + rA ] =

E
=
[ RA + rA ] =
A (r R )

setting r R =
e
M
E
=
Ae

> 0
r R >0

Recall x = E

for
for

Note

y
R y

My
Ae ( R y )

M >0
R <r

M (r R )
Aer

or

x =
x =

Change in curvature
1
1 '
=
'
R
R
'= +

1
1 1
= 1 +
=
'
R
R
R
M
1 1
=
'
R R EAeR

1 +

EAe

Example 1
A curved rectangular bar has a mean radius of 6in and cross section width b=2.5 in and depth
=1.5 in.
1. Determine the distance between the centroid and the neutral axis of the cross section
2. Determine the largest tensile and compressive stresses due to bending moment M=8
kip.in

R
=

dA
A
bh
h
=
=
= =
dA
dr
r dAr bdr

r
r
r2

r2

r2

r1

r1

r1

h
r
ln 2
r1

Foe the given data we have

1
r1 =
r
h =
6 0.75 =
5.25in
2
1
r2 =+
r
h =+
6 0.75 =
6.75in
2
h
1.5
=
R =
= 5.9686in
r2
6.75
ln ln

5.25
r1
The distance between the centroid and the neutral axis
of the cross section

e =r R =6 5.9686 =0.0314in

b) Maximum tensile and compressive stresses

M (r R )
Aer
M ( r2 R )
8 ( 6.75 5.969 )

=
=
7.86ksi
( max )tension =
Aer2
( 2.5 1.5)( 0.0314 )( 6.75)

x =

( max )compression

M ( r1 R )
8 ( 5.25 5.969 )
=

=
=
9.30ksi
Aer1
( 2.5 1.5)( 0.0314 )( 5.25)

Remarks
Let us compare these values with the result for straight bar

max,min =

Mc
I

8 ( 0.75 )

max,min =
8
=
8.53ksi
1
3
( 2.5)(1.5)
12

Example 2

A machine component has a T-shape cross section and is loaded as shown. Knowing that the
allowable compressive stress is 50 MPa, determine the largest force P that can be applied to the
component.
20
40mm

20

20
80

30

40mm

60mm

20
80

30

Solution
Centroid
r A i = ri A i

r ( 20 80 + 40 20 ) =

( 20 80 )( 40 ) + ( 40 20 )( 70 )

=
r 50
=
mm 0.05m

Force and Moment at the centroid

Force =P
M=P(50+60mm)=0.11P

Radius of Neutral Surface

R
=

A
=
dA
r

2400

2400
=
= 45.61mm
50
90
80
20
30 r dr + 50 r dr 80 ln 30 + 20 ln 50
50

90

The maximum compressive stress

P M (r R )
+
x =
A
Aer
e = r R = 0.05 0.04561 = 0.00439m
Maximum Allowable load all =50MPa
The maximum compressive stress occurs at the lower edge of the cross section r=0.03m

M (r R )
Aer
( 0.11P )( 0.03 0.04561)
P
50 103 =

+
6
2400 10
( 2400 106 ) ( 0.00439 )( 0.03)
P
A

+
all =

50 103 =
417 P 5432P
P = 8.55kN