STRUCTURE DESIGN-III

ART-336
TOPIC: CURVED BEAMS AND ITS USES
SUBMITTED TO: SUBMITTED BY:
ASST. PROFFESOR JAYESH LUNAWAT
ER. MOHIT BAJAJ 18BAR1108
CURVED BEAMS
The approach to curved beams explored in this section was developed by E. Winkler (1835—1888). As an extension of the
elementary theory of straight beams, Winkler′s theory assumes that all conditions required to make the straight-beam formula
applicable are satisfied except that the beam is initially curved.
Consider the pure bending of a curved beam,The distance from the center of curvature to the centroidal axis is The positive y
coordinate is measured toward the center of curvature O from the neutral axis.The outer and inner fibers are at distances of ro
and ri from the center of curvature, respectively.

(a) Curved beam in pure bending with a cross-sectional vertical

(y) axis of symmetry; (b) cross section; (c) stress distributions
over the cross section.
THEORY

The sketch below shows a curved member subject to a bending moment M. The neutral axis r n and the
centroid r c are not the same. This is the primary difference between a straight beam and a curved beam.

The strain at a radius r =

The strain is clearly 0 when r = at the neutral axis and is maximum when r = the outer radius of the beam (r = r o )
Using the relationship of stress/strain = E the normal stress is simply.
The location of the neutral axis is obtained from summing the product of the normal stress and the area
elements over the whole area and equating to 0

BENDING STRESS IN CURVED BEAMS

Consider an initially curved beam which is subjected to the bending moment M. The assumptions are made as
same as the straight beams(Mentioned at the end of the article). The following are the notable things that we
will be observed while finding the bending stress in the curved beams.
1.In curved beams, the bending stress induced in the inside fibres tends to tensile stress whereas the outside
fibre tends to compress.
2.If the section is symmetric (Circular or the rectangle I-beam sections) the maximum bending stress will be
induced in the inside fibre
3.If the section is unsymmetric then the maximum bending stress may be observed either in inside fibres or
outside fibres. (See conclu
The bending stress at any fibre at a distance y from the neutral axis is given by

Where
M =Bending moment acting at the given section about the centroidal axis.
A = Area of cross-section
e = Distance from the centroidal axis to the neutral axis R – Rn
R = Radius of curvature of the centroidal axis
Rn = Radius of curvature of the neutral axis
y = Distance between the neutral axis to the considered fibre which bending stress needed to be calculated
(+vefor distance towards the centre of curvature, -ve for the distance away from the centre of curvature)
from the above equation, we can find out the bending stress for the curved beam at any fibre.
CURVED BEAMS WITH VARIOUS CROSS SECTIONS
CURVED BEAM IN BENDING STRESS

The stress resulting from an applied bending moment is derived from the fact that the resisting moment is simple
the integral over the whole section of the moment arm from the neutral axis (y) multiplied by σdA (=
dF). Moment equilibrium is achieved if
The curved beam flexure formula is in reasonable agreement for beams with a ratio of curvature to beam
depth of rc/h of > 5 (rectangular section). As the beam curvature/depth radius increases the difference
between the maximum stress calculated by curved beam formula and the normal beam formula reduces. If
the ratio is about 8 then a maximum stress error of only about 5% results from using the straight beam
formulae.

AXIAL AND BENDING LOADS ON CURVED BEAMS

If a curved beam carries an axial load P s well as bending loads, the maximum unit stress is

where K is a correction factor for the curvature. The sign of M is taken positive in this equation when it
increases the curvature, and P is positive when it is a tensile force, negative when compressive.
Slope and Deflection of Curved Beams
If we consider two sections of a curved beam separated by a differential distance ds (Fig. 5.42), the change in angle d
between the sections caused by a bending moment M and an axial load P may be obtained from Eq. (5.76), noting that
d ds/R.

be taken into account; but unless the curvature is sharp, its effect on deformations may be neglected. So only Eq. (5.86) and
the first term in Eq. (5.85) need be used.
(S. Timoshenko and D. H. Young, ‘‘Theory of Structures,’’ McGraw-Hill Publishing Company, New York.)
 EXAMPLE: MAXIMUM STRESS IN A CURVED RECTANGULAR BAR

A rectangular aluminum bar having mean radius carries end moments M, as illustrated in Fig. 5.26. Calculate the stresses in
the member using (a) the flexure formula and (b) the curved beam formula.

Given: M = 1.2 KN·m, b = 30 mm, h = 50 mm and

Solution The subscripts i and o refer to the quantities of the inside and outside fibers, respectively

Figure 5.26. Example 5.13. (a) Rectangular curved beam in pure bending; (b) cross section.
•Applying the flexure formula, Eq. (5.38) with y = hl2, we obtain

•This is the result we would get for a straight beam.

•We first derive the expression for the radius R of the neutral axis. From Fig. 5.26, A = bh and dA = bdr.
Integration of Eq. (5.68) between the limits ri and ro results in
The given data lead to

Then, Eqs. (5.73) and (5.69) yield, respectively

Note that the radius of the neutral axis R must be calculated with five significant figures.
The maximum compressive and tensile stresses are calculated by using Eq. (5.70) as follows:
EXAMPLES OF CURVED BEAMS RELATED TO ARCHITECTURE

The curved beams to the right are part of an outdoor stage near Sedona, Arizona. The open wood structure blends well with the
open environment. The beams get their dark color from the application of a preservative (applied by others). Preservative
treatment is common in timbers exposed to moisture and helps to insure a long service life.

In addition to making curved beams, American Laminators can also manufacture

beams with one side curved and the other side straight. This is done by either cutting
a curve into one side of a straight beam or by making a straight cut on one side of a
curved beam. The glue lines are usually exaggerated on the cut side. If both sides are
to be exposed, request our nearly invisible glue or a coverboard.
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