1.

Mechanics
Plane sections remain plane during bending implied that the planes remain normal to the bent
axis of the beam.

1.1 Moment-Curvature Relationship

The following relationships hold both for linear and nonlinear problems, if the material and
geometric stiffness are properly updated.

1
= lim = = lim
0 0

= = = = = ( )

Since curvature is related to the strain in the reference fiber, it is constant. Which mean that
any increase in moment capacity will be coupled with an increase in the flexural rigidity, for
instance by increasing the amount of reinforcement in a reinforced concrete member.

1.1.1 MATHEMATICS
Curvature, , is defined as the rate at which the tangent vector turns per unit length along the
curve.

The circle of curvature or osculating circle at a point P on a plane curve where 0 is the
circle in the plane of the curve that:

1. Is tangent to the curve at P (has the same tangent line the curve has).

2. Has the same curvature the curve has at P.

3. Lies towards the concave or inner side of the curve.

4. Curvature of a circle of radius a is the reciprocal of radius i.e. 1/a etc. Conversely,
radius of the curvature is the inverse of the curvature itself.

5. Greater the slope (rate at which tangent vector turns per unit length), sharply the
tangent vector turns along the unit length and vice versa.