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Curved Beams and Design
Curved Beams and Design
σ = Stress, MPa.
σd = Direct stress, tensile or compressive, MPa.
σi = Stress at inner fibre, MPa.
σo = Stress at outer fibre, MPa.
σbi = Normal stress due to bending at inner fibre, MPa.
σbo = Normal stress due to bending at outer fibre, MPa.
Mb = Bending moment for critical section, N-mm.
ci = Distance of neutral axis from inner fibre, mm.
co = Distance of neutral axis from outer fibre, mm.
e = Eccentricity, mm.
ri = Distance of inner fibre from centre of curvature, mm.
ro = Distance of outer fibre from centre of curvature, mm.
rc = Distance of centroidal axis from centre of curvature, mm.
rn = Distance of neutral axis from centre of curvature, mm.
d = Diameter of circular rod used in curved beam, mm.
h = Depth of curved beam [square, rectangular, trapezoidal or I-section], mm.
τ max = Maximum shear stress, MPa.
A = Area of cross-section of member, (curved beam), mm2.
P = Load on member, N.
INTRODUCTION
Machine frames having curved portions are frequently subjected to bending or axial loads or to
a combination of bending and axial loads. With the reduction in the radius of curved portion,
the stress due to curvature become greater and the results of the equations of straight beams
when used becomes less satisfactory. For relatively small radii of curvature, the actual stresses
2 Design of Machine Elements - II
may be several times greater than the value obtained for straight beams. It has been found from
the results of Photoelastic experiments that in case of curved beams, the neutral surface does
not coincide with centroidal axis but instead shifted towards the centre of curvature. It has also
been found that the stresses in the fibres of a curved beam are not proportional to the distances
of the fibres from the neutral surfaces, as is assumed for a straight beam.
dα ydA
dφ ∫ rn – y
E =0 … (1.3)
Design of Curved Beams 3
Also the external moment Mb applied is resisted by internal moment. From equation 1.2
we have,
∫ y (σdA ) = M
E y2 dαdA
i.e., ∫ (rn – y) dφ =M
dα y 2dA
dφ ∫ (rn − y )
E =M … (1.4)
Edα ydA
i.e., M =
dφ ∫ ( − y )dA + rn ∫
(rn − y ) … (1.5)
Note: In equation 1.5, the first integral is the moment of cross sectional area with respect to
neutral surface and the second integral is zero from equation 1.3.
dα
Therefore, M = E Ae … (1.6)
dφ
Here ‘e’ represents the distance between the centroidal axis and neutral axis.
i.e., e = rc − rn
Rearranging terms in equation 1.6, we get
dα M
= ... (1.7)
dφ AeE
dα M
Substituting = in equation 1.2,
dφ AeE
Ey dα
Stress σ=
( n − y ) dφ becomes
r
1
C C
H dα
A
Outer fibre
h y
D
1 Centroidal axis
e D
B dα Mb
v
dφ
rn ri Neutral axis
rc
Mb ro
Inner fibre
O
Centre of curvature
Figure: 1.1
4 Design of Machine Elements - II
Ey M
=
(rn − y ) AeE
My
i.e., σ= … (1.8)
( n y) Ae
r –
From figure 1.1,
rn = v + y
or y = rn – v
Therefore, from equation 1.3
ydA (rn – v ) dA
∫ (rn – y) = ∫ (rn – y)
dA
= rn ∫
v ∫
– dA = 0
dA
= rn ∫ −A=0
V
A
or rn = …(1.9)
dA
∫ v
Note: Since e = rc – rn, equation 1.9 can be used to determine ‘e’. Knowing the value of ‘e’,
equation 1.8 is used to determine the stress σ.
Normal stress
Centre of gravity axis due to bending (Compressive)
coinciding with neutral axis −σb
Mb B Mb
−y
+y
A
σb
Normal stress
due to bending (Tensile)
Figure: 1.2
Design of Curved Beams 5
M b σb E M b σb
= = ; =
I y R I y
Mb
i.e., Bending stress σb = y
I
For a given beam, Mb and ‘I’ are constant and hence σb αy, i.e., the variation of bending
stress is linear and is directly proportional to its distance from centre of gravity axis which
coincides with neutral axis. The maximum bending (tensile) stress σb tensile at A and
compressive at B are equal in magnitude at ‘A’ and ‘B’ as shown in the Fig. 1.2.
σbo
co
e Mb
ci σbi
rc
ri rn
ro
Mb Centre of curvature
C
Figure: 1.3
The neutral axis is shifted towards the centre of curvature by a distance called eccentricity
‘e’. The value ‘e’ should be computed very accurately since a small variation in the value of ‘e’
causes a large variation in the values of stress.
i.e., e = rc – rn
ci = Distance between neutral axis and inner fibre = rn – ri
co = Distance between outer fibre and neutral axis = ro – rn