Composite beams

The section of the beam consists of material 1 with elastic modulus E1

and material 2 with elastic modulus E2 .

Step I
Assume material 1 (generally the with smaller E1 ) as reference mate-
rial.
Define n1 = EE1 = 1, n2 = EE2 .
1 1

Step II
Figure 58: Composite beam section.
Estimate the position of the neutral axis Ȳ using

Âi ni Ai ȳi
Ȳ =
Âi ni Ai

Step III
Calculate the moment of inertia of the cross-sectional area about the
neutral axis (NA)

1
Ix = Â 12 ni bi h3i + ni Ai d2i
i

Essentially the cross-sectional area is transformed into section

shown here made up of only the reference material.

Step IV
Calculate the stress developed
Figure 59: Transformed beam section.
ni My
s=
Ix

The radius of curvature is given by

1 M
=
r E1 Ix

where E1 is the elastic modulus of the reference material.

Scan
Problem 6.

For the section shown here made of wood (E1 = 16 GPa) and steel
(E2 = 200 GPa) calculate the bending stress at B and C when sub-
jected to a moment of 1.5 kNm.

Subhayan De, USC

Scanned by CamScanner
 Figure 60: Problem 6.

Step I
Assume wood with E1 = 10 GPa as reference material.
Define n1 = EE1 = 1, n2 = EE2 = 200/16 = 12.5.
1 1

Step II
The distance is measured from bottom of the beam
ni Ai (mm2 ) ȳi (mm) ni Ai ȳi (mm3 )
1 20 ⇥ 103 120 2400 ⇥ 103
2 12.5 ⇥ 103 10 125 ⇥ 103
S 32.5 ⇥ 103 2525 ⇥ 103
Estimate the position of the neutral axis Ȳ using
Âi ni Ai ȳi
Ȳ = = 77.7 mm
Âi ni Ai

Step III
Moment of inertia of the cross-sectional area of the wood about the
neutral axis (NA)
1
I1 = n b h3 + n1 A1 d21
12 1 1 1
1
= · (1) · (0.1 m) · (0.2 m)3 + (1) · (20 ⇥ 10 3
m2 ) · (0.120 m 0.0777 m)2
12
= 102.5 ⇥ 10 6 m4

Subhayan De, USC

 Figure 61: Problem 6 (transformed
section).

Moment of inertia of the cross-sectional area of the steel plate

about the neutral axis (NA)

1
I2 = n2 b2 h32 + n2 A2 d22
12
1
= · (12.5) · (0.05 m) · (0.02 m)3 + (12.5) · (1 ⇥ 10 3
m2 ) · (0.015 m)2
12
= 57.7 ⇥ 10 6 m4

Hence, the moment of inertia of this composite beam is

6
Ix = I1 + I2 = 160.2 ⇥ 10 m4

Essentially the cross-sectional area is transformed

Scanned byinto section
CamScanner
shown below made up of only the reference material (wood here).

Step IV

The stress developed at point B

n1 My B
sB =
Ix
(1) · (1.5 ⇥ 103 Nm) · (0.22 m 0.077 m)
=
160.2 ⇥ 10 6 m4
= 1.33 MPa = 1.33 MPa (C )

Subhayan De, USC

 The stress developed at point C

n2 MyC
sC =
Ix
(12.5) · (1.5 ⇥ 103 Nm) · ( 0.077 m)
=
160.2 ⇥ 10 6 m4
= 9.09 MPa ( T )

The radius of curvature is given by

1 M
=
r E1 Ix
1.5 ⇥ 103 Nm
=
(16 ⇥ 109 Pa) · (160.2 ⇥ 10 6 m4 )
3 1
= 0.585 ⇥ 10 m
) r = 1708.8 m

where E1 is the elastic modulus of the reference material (wood here).

Reinforced concrete sections

Reinforced concrete is made up of concrete and steel bars. Since

concrete can not take any tension and cracks appear in it only the
area of the concrete section above neutral axis and the steel bars
should be considered for the calculation of Ix .

Problem 7.

For the reinforced concrete section shown here (with 4 Re bars

@20mm dia.) calculate the bending stress in the concrete at B (the
top) and in the steel when subjected to a moment of 20 kNm. Use
20 GPa as the elastic modulus of concrete and 200 GPa as the elastic
modulus of steel.

Figure 62: Problem 7.

Subhayan De, USC

 Figure 63: Problem 7 (transformed
section).

Step I

Assume concrete with E1 = 20 GPa as reference material.

Define n1 = EE1 = 1, n2 = EE2 = 200/20 = 10.
1 1

Step II

Assume the position of the neutral axis as shown in the figure. De-
note the distance from the bottom of the top flange to the neutral axis
to be x.
The distance is measured from the assumed neutralScanned
axis of the
by CamScanner
beam

Material ni Ai (mm2 ) ȳi (mm) ni Ai ȳi (mm3 )

1 20000 20 + x 20000(20 + x )
Concrete x
2 200x 2 100x2
(10) · (4 · p4 · (20)2 )
Steel 3 (180 x) 12566(180 x)
= 12566
20000(20 + x ) + 100x2
S
12566(180 x )

The position of the actual neutral axis Ȳ from our assumed one is

Âi ni Ai ȳi
Ȳ =
Âi ni Ai

Subhayan De, USC

If our assumption of the neutral axis is true then

Ȳ = 0
Âi ni Ai ȳi
) =0
Âi ni Ai
) Â ni Ai ȳi = 0
i
) 20000(20 + x ) + 100x2 12566(180 x) = 0
2
) x + 200(20 + x ) 125.66(180 x) = 0
2
) x + 200x + 4000 22619 + 125.66x = 0
2
) x + 325.66x 18619 = 0
) x ⇡ 50 mm

Step III
Moment of inertia of the cross-sectional area of the concrete parts
about the neutral axis (NA)

1
I1 = n b h3 + n1 A1 d21
12 1 1 1
1
= · (1) · (0.5 m) · (0.04 m)3 + (1) · (20 ⇥ 10 3
m2 ) · (0.07 m)2
12
= 100.7 ⇥ 10 6 m4

1
I2 = n b2 h3 + n1 A2 d22
12 1 2
✓ ◆2
1 3 0.05
= · (1) · (0.2 m) · (0.05 m) + (1) · (0.2 m ⇥ 0.05 m) · m
12 2
6
= 8.3 ⇥ 10 m4

Moment of inertia of the cross-sectional area of the steel about the

neutral axis (NA)

Is = n2 As d2s
p
= (10) · (4 · · (0.02 m)2 ) · (0.13 m)2
4
= 212.4 ⇥ 10 6 m4

Note that we are ignoring the 1/12bh3 part for the transformed steel
section.
Hence, the moment of inertia of this composite beam is
6
Ix = I1 + I2 + Is = 321.4 ⇥ 10 m4

Essentially the cross-sectional area is transformed into section

shown below made up of only the reference material.

Subhayan De, USC

Step IV
The stress developed at point B (i.e., the top fiber) in the concrete
n1 My B
sB =
Ix
(1) · (20 ⇥ 103 Nm) · (0.09 m)
=
321.4 ⇥ 10 6 m4
= 5.6 MPa = 5.6 MPa (C )
This is the maximum compressive stress in the concrete.
The stress developed in the steel
n2 MyC
sC =
Ix
(10) · (20 ⇥ 103 Nm) · ( 0.13 m)
=
321.4 ⇥ 10 6 m4
= 80.9 MPa ( T )
The radius of curvature is given by

1 M
=
r E1 Ix
20 ⇥ 103 Nm
=
(20 ⇥ 109 Pa) · (321.4 ⇥ 10 6 m4 )
3 1
= 3.111 ⇥ 10 m
) r = 321.4 m
where E1 is the elastic modulus of the reference material (concrete
here).

Problem 8.

For the reinforced concrete section shown here (with 4 Re bars

@20mm dia.) calculate the bending stress at B and C when sub-
jected to a moment of 20 kNm. Use 20 GPa as the elastic modulus of
concrete and 200 GPa as the elastic modulus of steel.

Step I
Assume concrete with E1 = 20 GPa as reference material.
Define n1 = EE1 = 1, n2 = EE2 = 200/20 = 10.
1 1

Step II
Assume the position of the neutral axis as shown in the figure. De-
note the distance from the bottom of the top flange to the neutral axis
to be x.

Subhayan De, USC

 Figure 64: Problem 8.

The distance is measured from the assumed neutral axis of the

beam

Material ni Ai (mm2 ) ȳi (mm) by3 )CamScanner

ni Ai ȳi (mm
Scanned
x
Concrete 1 400x 2 200x2
(10) · (4 · p4 · (20)2 )
Steel 2 (570 x) 12566(570 x)
= 12566
S 200x2 12566(570 x)
The position of the actual neutral axis Ȳ from our assumed one is
Âi ni Ai ȳi
Ȳ =
Âi ni Ai
If our assumption of the neutral axis is true then

Ȳ = 0
Âi ni Ai ȳi
) =0
Âi ni Ai
) Â ni Ai ȳi = 0
i
) 200x2 12566(570 x) = 0
2
) x + 62.83x 35813 = 0
) x ⇡ 160 mm

Step III
Moment of inertia of the cross-sectional area of the concrete parts
about the neutral axis (NA)
1
Ic = n b h3 + n1 A1 d21
12 1 1 1
✓ ◆
1 0.16 m 2
= · (1) · (0.4 m) · (0.16 m)3 + (1) · (0.4 m ⇥ 0.16 m) ·
12 2
6
= 546 ⇥ 10 m4

Subhayan De, USC

 Moment of inertia of the cross-sectional area of the steel about the
neutral axis (NA)

Is = n2 As d2s
p
= (10) · (4 ·· (0.02 m)2 ) · (0.41 m)2
4
= 2112 ⇥ 10 6 m4

Note that we are ignoring the 1/12bh3 part for the transformed steel
section.
Hence, the moment of inertia of this composite beam is
6
Ix = Ic + Is = 2658 ⇥ 10 m4

Essentially the cross-sectional area is transformed into section

shown below made up of only the reference material.

Step IV
The stress developed at point B (i.e., the top fiber) in the concrete

n1 My B
sB =
Ix
(1) · (20 ⇥ 103 Nm) · (0.16 m)
=
2658 ⇥ 10 6 m4
= 1.2 MPa = 1.2 MPa (C )

This is the maximum compressive stress in the concrete.

The stress developed in the steel

n2 MyC
sC =
Ix
(10) · (20 ⇥ 103 Nm) · ( 0.41 m)
=
2658 ⇥ 10 6 m4
= 30.85 MPa ( T )

The radius of curvature is given by

1 M
=
r E1 Ix
20 ⇥ 103 Nm
=
(20 ⇥ 109 Pa) · (2658 ⇥ 10 6 m4 )
3 1
= 0.376 ⇥ 10 m
) r = 2658 m

where E1 is the elastic modulus of the reference material (concrete

here).

Subhayan De, USC