Composite Beams

(http://www.roymech.co.uk/Useful_Tables/Beams/Beam_theory.html#composite)

Beams constructed of more than one material can be treated by using the
equivalent width technique if the maximum stresses in each of the materials is
within the relevant materials elastic limit. Consider a composite beam as
shown below. The steel has an elastic modulus ES = 210.103 N/mm2 and the
aluminium has an EA = 78.103 N/mm2.

Now to obtain the equivalent section which is all aluminium the dimensions of
the replacement aluminium must be such that the mechanical properties are
equivalent to the original material. The overall depth of the transformed
section is the same as the orginal section. The resulting strain in any element
dA of the transformed section must be the same as in the orginal section

The equivalent area of the transformed section based on aluminium is equal to

the area of the original steel section x n SA. If the depth of the transformed
section is the same as the original section then the width of the transformed
aluminium section is equal to nSA x width of original steel section.

The equivalent area of the aluminium section must be subject to the same strain
as original steel section positioned at the same distance from the section neutral
axis. The simple beam theory can be used to calculate the bending stresses in
the transformed section. The actual stresses will, of course, be n x the
calculated stresses in the transformed section.

Example on composite beams

 Consider a composite beam comprising steel, brass, and aluminium sections.
Produce an equivalent section based on Aluminium. Calculate the position of
the neutral axis and the moment of inertia of the equivalent section.

Problem No. 1
The ceiling beam is composed of three parts, two
steel plates and a wood member. The plates are
rigidly attached to the top and bottom surface of the
wood member as shown in the diagram at the left.
The beam must support a continuous load of 2 kN/m
over a simple support span of 5 m.

The beam is a composite beam of only two materials

even though there are three sections. The wood will
be treated as one material and the two plates will be
treated as a single material with two areas.

Determine the maximum bending stresses in the

wood and steel.

Beam Cross-Section
Applications of Composite Sections:

Steel Channel and Concrete or other material

Section made of different types of wood

Metal and wood

Reinforced Concrete T-Beam