Example - transformed sections

Fig. 1 shows a composite beam under load. Determine the maximum stress in the timber. Assume the
following material properties: Esteel = 210 kN/mm2, Ealuminium = 70 kN/mm2, Etimber = 6 kN/mm2

Aluminium

15
Timber
Steel 75 120
Fig. 1: 10 kN
30

1500 1500 40 10 40

Longitudinal section Cross-section

Solution:

y
A y i i
 68.4 mm
Atotal
 1050 153 2
15
120 - I    1050 15120  68.4  7.5  
 12 
120 75
 90  1053 
= 68.4 mm   90  10568.4  52.5  
2

 
30 12
90
 340  303 
  340  3068.4  15 
2

Total width = 40
 12 
 7.19  10 mm
7 4

Maximum timber stress (at max. distance from the N.A.) will be at the bottom of the cross-section i.e.

 max,timber 
M
y max 
 
5  1.5  106  68.4
 7.14 N/mm2
I 7.19  10 7