Statics and Strength of Materials Formula Sheet 12/12/94 — A.

Ruina

Not given here are the conditions under which the formulae are accurate or useful.
Basic Statics Stress, strain, and Hooke’s Law
Stress Strain Hooke’s Law
Free Body Diagram
The FBD is a picture of any system for which you would like to apply mechanics equations and
of all the external forces and torques which act on the system. Normal: σ = P⊥ /A ² = δ/L0 =
L−L0
L0
σ = E²
[ ² = σ/E + α∆T ]

Action & Reaction ²tran = −ν²long

If A feels force F and couple M from B.
then B feels force −FF and couple −MM from A.
(With F and −F F acting on the same line of action.)
Shear: τ = Pk /A γ = change of
formerly right angle
τ = Gγ

Force and Moment Balance 2G = E

1+ν
These equations apply to every FBD in equilibrium:

F orce Balance
z X}| {
M oment Balance about pt C
z X}| { Stress and deformation of some things
F = 0 M /C = 0
Equilibrium Geometry Results
All external All external
forces torques
Tension P = σA ² = δ/L δ = PL
AE
• The torque M /C of a force depends on the reference point C. But, for a body in
[δ = P L + αL∆T ]
equilibrium, and for any point C, the sum of all the torques relative to point C must AE
add to zero ).
R
Torsion φ = TL
P P
T = ρτ dA γ = ρφ/L
• Dotting the force balance equation with a unit vector gives a scalar equation, JG
e.g. { F} · i = 0 ⇒ Fx = 0. Tρ
τ =
J
• P
Dotting the moment balance equation with a unit vector gives a scalar equation,
R
e.g. { M /C } · λ = 0 ⇒
Bending u00 = M
net moment about axis in direction λ through C = 0.
M = − yσ dA ² = −y/ρ = −yκ
EI
and
Some Statics Facts and Definitions Shear in dM = V ,
dx
dV = −w
dx
u00 = d2 u = 1 = κ
dx2 ρ
σ =
−M y
I

• The moment of a force is unchanged if the force is slid along its line of action.
Beams R VQ
V = τ dA τ =
It
• For many purposes the words ‘moment’, ‘torque’, and ‘couple’ have the same meaning.
τ t∆x = ∆M Q/I
• Two-force body. If a body in equilibrium has only two forces acting on it then the
two forces must be equal and opposite and have a common line of action.

• Three-force body. If a body in equilibrium has only three forces acting on it then the
Pressure pAgas = σAsolid σ =
pr
2t
(sphere)
three forces must be coplanar and have lines of action that intersect at one point. Vessels pr
σl = (cylinder)
2t
• truss: A collection of weightless two-force bodies connected with hinges (2D) or ball
pr
and socket joints (3D). σc = (cylinder)
t

• Method of joints. Draw free body diagrams of each of the joints in a truss.

• Method of sections. Draw free body diagrams of various regions of a truss. Try to
make the FBD cuts for the sections go through only three bars with unknown forces
(2D).
Buckling
2
Critical buckling load = Pcrit = π EI .
• Caution: Machine and frame components are often not two-force bodies. L2
ef f
R pinned-pinned clamped-free clamped-clamped clamped-pinned
• Hydrostatics: p = ρgh, F = p dA
Lef f = L Lef f = 2L Lef f = L/2 Lef f = .7L

Mohr’s Circle
Cross Section Geometry
Rotating the surface of interest an angle θ in physical space corresponds to a rotation of 2θ on
thin-wall the Mohr’s circle in the same direction.
annulus annulus
Definition Composite (circle: c1 = 0) (approx) rectangle
σ1 +σ2 σx + σy
R P C =
2
=

A= dA Ai π(c2 − c2 ) 2πct bh
2
r³ ´2
2 1
σ1 −σ2
p σx − σy
R R =
2
= 2
(σx − C)2 + τxy =
2
2
+ τxy
J= ρ2 dA π (c4 − c4 )
2 2 1
2πc3 t
2τ
τ
R P
tan 2θ = =
σ−C σx − σy
I= y 2 dA (Ii + d2 Ai )
i
π (c4 − c4 )
4 2 1
πc3 t bh3 /12

R P
R Pyi Ai
y dA
ȳ = center center center
dA Ai
Miscellaneous
R P 2
b( h −y 2 ) • Power in a shaft: P = T ω.
Q= y dA = A0 ȳ 0 A0 ȳ 0 4
i i 2
• Saint Venant’s Principle: Far from the region of loading, the stresses in a structure
would only change slightly if a load system were replaced with any other load system
having the same net force and moment.