Dr. D. B.

Wallace

Basic Stress Equations

Centroid of Centroid of
Cross Section Cross Section
Internal Reactions:
y
Shear Forces y
Bending Moments
6 Maximum (τ ) (σ)
(3 Force Components
& 3 Moment Components) x x
"Cut Surface" "Cut Surface"

Vx z Mx z
Vy P My T
Normal Force Torsional Moment
(σ) or Torque ( τ )
Force Components Moment Components

Normal Force:
Centroid y
σ P l Uniform over the entire cross section.
"Cut Surface" x
σ=
z
A l Axial force must go through centroid.
P
Axial Force
Axial Stress

Shear Forces:
Cross Section Point of interest
"y" Shear Force
y
V LINE perpendicular to V through point of interest
x
b = Length of LINE on the cross section
Vy z Aa = Area on one side of the LINE
τ y Centroid of entire cross section
y "x" Shear Force
Centroid of area on one side of the LINE
Aa
τ
x I = Area moment of inertia of entire cross section
about an axis pependicular to V.
Vx z
y = distance between the two centroids

τ=
b
V ⋅ Aa ⋅ y g
I⋅b
Note: The maximum shear stress for common cross sections are:
Cross Section: Cross Section:

Rectangular: τ max = 3 2 ⋅ V A Solid Circular: τ max = 4 3 ⋅ V A

I-Beam or Thin-walled
H-Beam: flange web τ max = V A web tube: τ max = 2 ⋅ V A
Basic Stress Equations Dr. D. B. Wallace

Torque or Torsional Moment:

Solid Circular or Tubular Cross Section:
y r = Distance from shaft axis to point of interest
T⋅r R = Shaft Radius
τ=
"Cut Surface" x
D = Shaft Diameter
J
z π ⋅ D4 π ⋅ R 4
T
Torque τ J= = for solid circular shafts
32 2

τ max =
16 ⋅ T
for solid circular shafts
J=
e
π ⋅ Do4 − Di4 j
π ⋅ D3 32
for hollow shafts
16 ⋅ T ⋅ Do
τ max =
e
π ⋅ Do 4 − D i 4 j for hollow shafts

Rectangular Cross Section:

y
τ2 Cross Section:
Centroid b
Note:
τ1
"Cut Surface" x
a a>b
z
T
Torque Torsional Stress

Method 1:
b
τ max = τ1 = T ⋅ 3 ⋅ a + 1.8 ⋅ b g ea 2
⋅ b2 j ONLY applies to the center of the longest side

Method 2:
T a/b α1 α2
τ1,2 = 1.0 .208 .208
α1,2 ⋅ a ⋅ b 2
1.5 .231 .269
2.0 .246 .309
Use the appropriate α from the table 3.0 .267 .355
on the right to get the shear stress at 4.0 .282 .378
6.0 .299 .402
either position 1 or 2.
8.0 .307 .414
10.0 .313 .421
∞ .333 ----

Other Cross Sections:

Treated in advanced courses.

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Basic Stress Equations Dr. D. B. Wallace

Bending Moment

"x" Bending Moment

y

x Mx ⋅ y My ⋅ x
σ σ= and σ=
Mx z Ix Iy
"y" Bending Moment
y
where: Mx and My are moments about indicated axes
x
y and x are perpendicular from indicated axes
My z
Ix and Iy are moments of inertia about indicated axes
σ
Moments of Inertia:
b D
b ⋅ h3 π ⋅ D4 π ⋅ R4
c
I= h is perpendicular to axis c R I = =
12 64 4
h
I b ⋅ h2 I π ⋅ D3 π ⋅ R3
Z= = Z = = =
c 6 c 32 4

Parallel Axis Theorem:

new axis I = Moment of inertia about new axis
d Area, A I = Moment of inertia about the centroidal axis
I = I + A ⋅d2 A = Area of the region
centroid d = perpendicular distance between the two axes.

Maximum Bending Stress Equations:

σ max =
M⋅c
I
=
M
Z
σ max =
32 ⋅ M
π⋅D 3
bSolid Circular g σ max =
6⋅ M
b ⋅ h2
a Rectangular f
The section modulus, Z, can be found in many tables of properties of common cross sections (i.e., I-beams,
channels, angle iron, etc.).

Bending Stress Equation Based on Known Radius of Curvature of Bend, ρ.

The beam is assumed to be initially straight. The applied moment, M, causes the beam to assume a radius of
curvature, ρ.
Before:
y
σ = E⋅
After: ρ

E = Modulus of elasticity of the beam material

M ρ
M
y = Perpendicular distance from the centroidal axis to the
point of interest (same y as with bending of a
straight beam with Mx).
ρ = radius of curvature to centroid of cross section

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Basic Stress Equations Dr. D. B. Wallace

Bending Moment in Curved Beam:

Geometry:

nonlinear σo centroid
stress centroidal
distribution axis co y A A = cross sectional area
rn =

σi
e

rn
ci
ρ r
ro z dA
area ρ
rn = radius to neutral axis
r = radius to centroidal axis
neutral axis ri e = r − rn e = eccentricity

Stresses:

Any Position: Inside (maximum magnitude): Outside:

−M ⋅ y M ⋅ ci − M ⋅ co
σ= σi = σo =
b
e ⋅ A ⋅ rn + y g e ⋅ A ⋅ ri e ⋅ A ⋅ ro

Area Properties for Various Cross Sections:

Cross Section r z
area
dA
ρ
A
Rectangle

ρ
r
ri +
h
t ⋅ ln
FG r IJ
o
h⋅t
t 2 Hr K
i
ri h
ro
Trapezoid
b
h ⋅ ti + 2 ⋅ to g
ρ
r ri +
b
3⋅ t i + t o g to − ti +
ro ⋅ t i − ri ⋅ t o FG IJ
r
⋅ ln o h⋅
ti + t o
ti to
For triangle:
h H K
ri 2
ri h set ti or to to 0
ro
Hollow Circle

ρ
r a
2⋅π LM r 2 − b2 − r 2 − a 2 OP e
π ⋅ a 2 − b2 j
r N Q
b

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Basic Stress Equations Dr. D. B. Wallace

Bending Moment in Curved Beam (Inside/Outside Stresses):

Stresses for the inside and outside fibers of a curved beam in pure bending can be
approximated from the straight beam equation as modified by an appropriate Centroidal
curvature factor as determined from the graph below [i refers to the inside, and o Axis
refers to the outside]. The curvature factor magnitude depends on the amount of c
curvature (determined by the ratio r/c) and the cross section shape. r is the radius M
of curvature of the beam centroidal axis, and c is the distance from the centroidal
axis to the inside fiber. r
M⋅c
Inside Fiber: σ i = Ki ⋅
I M

M⋅c
Outside Fiber: σ o = Ko ⋅
I

B A B A
b/8 b/4 b
4.0
Values of Ki for inside fiber as at A c
3.5
B A B A
U or T
c
3.0
b/2 b
Round or Elliptical B A
Curvature c
2.5
Factor
Trapezoidal
b/3 b
b/6
2.0 B A B A
I or hollow rectangular c
Ki r
1.5

1.0

I or hollow rectangular
Ko 0.5 U or T
Round, Elliptical or Trapezoidal Values of Ko for outside fiber as at B

0
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11
Amount of curvature, r/c