Simple Stresses and Strains

Example 3.15 Deformation under self-weight

A uniform rod of length L is hung from its top end. Determine the elongation of the bar.
What is the maximum stress in the bar?
Solution The situation is represented in Fig. 3.11. L is the length of the bar, A its area of
cross section, y its density, and E the modulus of elasticity of the material. We isolate a
length dx of the bar at a distance of x from the bottom end. The free body diagram of this
elementary length is shown in Fig. 3.1 l(b).
Change in length of elementary length 6 . = PL/AE. Here, P = A x y and L = 6x.

A L for length 6x = A x y & - x y &

~ ~

AE E
For the whole bar,
A L =L ---(x
x~ Y ~d x - Y 2 lo
L =-YL2
E 2E 2E
If W is the total weight of bar, then
W = AL y
W
=+ y= -
AL
Then,
WL2 WL
AL=--- -
AL x 2E 2AE
Note that this is half the elongation of a bar of the same dimensions subjected to a load W at
the end.

pt P = Axy

(b)
Fig. 3.11
0
Example 3.16 Elongation of a steel bar under self-weight
Determine the elongation of a steel bar of circular section under its own weight, if it is hung
from the top, its diameter tapering from 100 mm at the top to 50 mm at the bottom over a
length of 1 m. The unit weight of steel is 78.5 kN/m3 and E = 200 GPa.
 96 I Strength of Materials

Solution The situation is represented in Fig. 3.12(a). We derive a general formula for this
case by considering the general values shown in Fig. 3.12(b).
Consider an elementary length d x at a distance x from the bottom end. The diameter at x
is given by

d, = dl +-d2 - ” x = d , + k x
L
where k = (d2- d,)/L.

.
The free body diagram of the elementary length d x is given in Fig. 3.12(c). The distance
y (the length remaining to make a full cone) is given by, from the principles of similar
triangles,

I
//

I000

(4
Fig. 3.12
 Simple Stresses and Strains

The force P, acting on the elementary length is due to the weight of the truncated cone
below it. If y is the weight density of the material, knowing that the volume of a cone is
given by m2h/3 or zd2h/12,we have

Yz
P, = -[(dl +kx)2(y+x)-d:y]
12

-“[(d,+h)’(++x)-d:+]
- 12

= [(d,+ k ~- d3,]
) ~
12k
The increase in length for the elementary length Sx is given by
PL ( y z / 1 2 k )[(d,+h)3 - d:]dx
S(AL) = -=
AE (z/4) (d, + kx), E

3Ek
For the total elongation of the bar, integrate from 0 to L:

AL = L j L [ ( d l+h)- d’ ]dx
3Ek o (d, + h>2

Therefore,

”- 3d: d2 +td’
AL =-
1 [substituting k = (d2- d,)/L]

[Note: If d, = 0 and d2 = d, for a cone hanging under its own weight, AL = yL2/6E.]
In our case, d2 = 100 mm, d, = 50 mm, L = 1000 mm, E = 200,000 N/mm2, and
y = 78.5 x N/mm3. Substituting these values,

AL =( 78.5 x l o 6 x 1000 x 1000

6 x 200,000
loo3 - 3 x 50, x 100 + 2 x 503
lOO(100 - 50), 1
= 0.000131 mm 0
 98 I Strength of Materials

Example 3 . 1 7 Constant stress problem

Find the relation between the area of section and height y for the case shown in Fig. 3.13 for
constant stress. The body is subjected to a force P at the lower end and self-weight. Unit
weight of the bar material is 7 If the area at the lower end is A b, find the area at the upper
end.
Solution The situation is shown in Fig. 3.13. As the height y increases, the load acting on
the section increases due to the self-weight. The area, therefore, has to change for keeping
the stress constant.

the free end. This element is subjected to the following \ /

forces.
,
(i) Upward force of o(A + dA)
(ii) Downward force of oA,
(iii) Downward force due to the self-weight of dY
the element yA ,dy
The stress in the bar remains constant at PIA b. Let Y
the change in the area between 1-1 and 2-2 be dA. Area
at section 1-1 is A, and the area at 2-2 is A, + dA. +p
For equilibrium of the element, the upward force Fig. 3.13
must be equal to the sum of downward forces.
o(A ,+ dA) = oA, + yA,dy
odA = yA,dyordA/A, = ydylo
Integrating,

J [dAIA,l = J [yloldy
log,A,= yylo+ C
The constant of integration can be found from the condition that at y = 0, A = A b.
c = lOg,Ab
Therefore,
log,A,= Yy/O+lOg,Ab
or lOg,[A,lAb] = Y y I0

or A,IA = eyylo
This is the general equation relating the area at height y to the base area.
A, = A $lo

Area at the top is obtained when x = L.

so, A,= Abe*Io 0

Example 3.18 Equation between cross-sectional area and height for

constant stress
When a bar is hung from a point such that it is subjected to self-weight and the stress at
different sections varies as the weight causing elongation varies. If the bar has to have
constant stress along the length, the cross-section has to vary. Derive an equation relating
the area of cross-section to the height above the base for a bar subjected to a force 100 kN
at the bottom end and hanging freely if a constant stress of 50 N/mm2 is desired. Unit
weight of the material is 78.5 kN/m3.
Solution The situation is shown in Fig. 3.14.
If the stress has to remain constant at 50 N/mm2, the area at the bottom has to be 100,000/
50 = 2000 mm2.
We consider an elementary strip of thickness
dy at a height y from the free end. From the free
body diagram of the strip, we can write
o(A,+dA) =oA,+yA,dy,
where y = 78,500 N/m3 dYL
= 0.0785 N/mm3
Reducing, we get
odA = yA,dy

Integrating, Fig. 3.14 Sectional variation

for constant stress
log,A, = (y/o)y + C
,
The constant can be found from the condition that at y = 0, A = 2000 mm3.
c = 10g,(2000)
so,+ log,A,= (yl@y + l0g,2000
or log, [A,/2000] = (y/@y
or A ,/2000 = e(y/dly
This is the general equation relating the area at any section to the base area.
( y/@ = 0.0785/50 = 0.00157
The area at the top where y = 1 m = 1000 mm is
2000 e0.00157 X 1000 -
- 2000 x = 9613.3 mm2

3.5 COMPOSITE SECTIONS

A composite section consists of two or more materials bonded together rigidly
such that the straining action of the external load is shared by the materials forming
the section. Figure 3.15 shows some composite sections in which the load P is
shared by the two materials as they undergo deformations. In the problems we
have considered so far, we have used only the conditions of static equilibrium and
Hooke’s law to find the deformations. In the case of composite sections, the
conditions of static equilibrium are not enough to determine the forces in the
members. Let us take a look at the composite section shown in Fig. 3.15. Such a
section has two components of different materials which are constrained to deform
together. This figure shows a composite section subjected to a load P. This load is
shared by the two materials in a particular, unknown ratio, and it is not possible to
find this ratio from the equilibrium conditions alone. If the loads shared by the
materials are P, and P2, then, from the conditions of equilibrium, P, + P2 = P.