BS 1

BENDING STRESSES IN BEAMS

Bending is usually combined with the shearing

action. However, to simplify, the effect of shear may
be neglected ( this is true when the maximum
bending moment is considered---- shear is ZERO) in
calculating the stresses due to bending only. Such a
theory wherein stresses due to bending alone is
considered is known as PURE BENDING or
SIMPLE BENDING theory.
BS 2
Example of pure bending
W W

A C D B
a a
VA= W VB= W

+ SFD
-

Wa Wa
Pure bending
+ between C & D
BMD
BS 3

BENDING ACTION:

Sa gging

M
NEUTRAL AXIS

NEUTRAL LAYER
σc

Neutral Axis
σt
BS 4

Ho g g ing

Neutral layer

σt

Neutral Axis
σc
 BS 5 BENDING ACTION

•Sagging : Fibres below the neutral axis (NA) get stretched

[Fibres are under tension]
Fibres above the NA get compressed
[Fibres are in compression]

•Hogging -> Vice-versa

•The trace of this layer on the c/s is called the Neutral Axis.

•In between there is a fibre or layer which neither undergoes

tension nor compression. This layer is called Neutral Layer
(stresses are zero).
 BS 6

Assumptions made in Pure bending theory

1) The beam is initially straight and every layer is free to

expand or contract.
2) The material is homogenous and isotropic.
3) Young’s modulus (E) is same in both tension and
compression.
4) Stresses are within the elastic limit.
5) The radius of curvature of the beam is very large in
comparison to the depth of the beam.
 BS 7

6) A transverse section of the beam which is plane before

bending will remain plane even after bending.
7) Stress is purely longitudinal.
 BS 8
DERIVATION OF PURE BENDING EQUATION
PART I:
Relationship between bending stress and radius of curvature
 BS 9

Consider the beam section of length “dx” subjected to pure

bending. After bending the fibre AB is shortened in length,
whereas the fibre CD is increased in length.
In b/w there is a fibre (EF) which is neither shortened in
length nor increased in length (Neutral Layer).
Let the radius of the fibre E’F’ be R . Let us select one
more fibre GH at a distance of ‘y’ from the fibre EF as
shown in the fig.
EF= E’F’ = dx = R dθ
The initial length of fibre GH equals R dθ
After bending the new length of GH equals
 BS 10

GlHl = (R+y) dθ = R dθ + y dθ
Change in length of fibre GH = (R dθ + y dθ) - R dθ = y dθ

Therefore the strain in fibre GH

change in length y dθ y
Є= => Є = =
original length R dθ R

If σь is the bending stress and E is the Young’s modulus of

the material, then strain
σь
Є=
E
 BS 11

σь y E
= => σь = y --------(1)
E R R

i.e. bending stress is proportional to distance y, and hence

maximum bending stress occurs at the farthest fibre from
the neutral axis.
Part II : Moment of resistance

da Consider an elemental area ‘da’ at a

y distance ‘y’ from the neutral axis.
N A
 BS 12

da The force on this elemental area

y = σь × da
N A
E
= × y × da {from (1)}
R

∴ the moment of resistance = moment of this force

offered about neutral axis.

E E
Therefore, dM = y da × y = y² da
R R
 BS 13

Total moment of resistance offered by the beam section,


E E
M= y² da =  y² da
R R

y² da = second moment of the area E

= moment of inertia about the M = INA
R
neutral axis.

E M
= --------(2)
R INA
 BS 14

Note: (1) For equilibrium the moment of resistance equals

bending moment at that section
(2) Neutral axis coincides with the horizontal
centroidal axis of the cross section

From equation 1 & 2,

M E σь
= = ----BENDING EQUATION.
INA R y
(Bernoulli-Euler bending equation)
Where E= Young’s modulus R= Radius of curvature,
M= Bending moment at the section
 BS 15

INA= Moment of inertia about neutral axis

σ ь= Bending stress
y = distance of the fibre from the neutral axis
SECTION MODULUS:
M σь INA INA
= => M = σь × => M = σь(max) ×
INA y y ymax
=> M = σь(max) × Z
INA
Where, Z = = section modulus
ymax (property of the section)
Unit ----- mm3 , m3
 BS 16

Where σb(max) = maximum permissible bending stress

M = maximum bending moment on the section

(1) Rectangular cross section

INA
b Z=
ymax
d/2
bd3 d
N A
=
12 2
Ymax=d/2
bd2
=
6
 BS 17

(2) Hollow rectangular section

B
INA BD3 - bd3 D
D/2
b Z= =
d/2
ymax 12 2
D
N A BD3 - bd3
Ymax=D/2 =
6D

(3) Circular section INA πd4 D

Z= =
ymax 64 2
Ymax=d/2 d πd3
N A =
32
 BS 18

(4) Triangular section INA

Z=
ymax
h Y max = 2h/3 bh3 2h
N A
=
36 3
bh2
b =
24
 BS 1 PRACTICE PROBLEMS

1) Find the width “x” of the flange of a cast iron beam having
the section shown in fig. such that the maximum compressive
stress is three times the maximum tensile stress, the member
being in pure bending subjected to sagging moment.
( Ans: x= 225 mm)

25m m

100m m
N A

WEB

25m m

X
 BS 2

2)A cast iron beam has a section as shown in fig. Find

the position of the neutral axis and the moment of inertia
about the neutral axis. When subjected to bending
moment the tensile stress at the bottom fibre is 25
N/mm². Find, a) the value of the bending moment b) the
stress at the top fibre.
( Ans: M= 25070 Nm, σc =33.39 N/mm²)
120
20 20
20

150

40
300m m
 BS 3

3)A cast iron beam has a section as

shown in fig .The beam is a simply 30MM

supported on a span of 1.25 meters

and is used to carry a downward point
load at midspan. Find the magnitude 120m m
of the load if the maximum tensile
stress on the beam section is 30
N/mm². Determine also the maximum
compressive stress. 80m m

(Ans. W= 174.22 N, σc =40.73 N/mm²)

 BS 4

4)A groove 40mm×40mm is cut symmetrically throughout

the length of the circular brass section as shown in fig. If
the tensile stress shall not exceed 25 N/mm², find the safe
uniformly distributed load which the brass can carry on a
simply supported span of 4 meters.
( Ans: 5150 N/m)

40
40
100mm
 BS 5

5) A simply supported beam of rectangular cross section

100mm200mm has a span of 5m. Find the maximum safe
UDL, the beam can carry over the entire span, if the
maximum bending stress and maximum shear stress are
not to exceed 10 MPa & 0.60 MPa respectively.

( Ans: w = 2.13 KN/m)

 BS 6

6) A cantilever beam of square cross section 200mm200mm

which is 2m long, just fails at a load of 12KN placed at its
free end. A beam of the same material and having
rectangular cross section 150mm 300mm is simply
supported over a span of 3m.Calculate the central point
load required just to break this beam.

(Ans: P = 27KN)
 BS 7

7) In an overhanging beam of wood shown in Fig., the

allowable stresses in bending and shear are 8MPa &
0.80MPA respectively. Determine the minimum size of a
square section required for the beam.
60KN 30 KN

A B
3m 3m 2m

( Ans: 274mm274mm)