SWK 210

Strength of Materials - CLASS EXAMPLES QUESTIONS

2023 Academic Year

Chapter 4
Pure Bending

2
4. Stresses in Beams
Question 1: Normal Stresses in Beams
During construction of a highway bridge, the main girders are cantilevered
outward from one pier toward the next (see figure). Each girder has a
cantilever length of 48 m and an I-shaped cross section with dimensions
shown in the figure. The load on each girder (during construction) is
assumed to be 9.5 kN/m, which includes the weight of the girder
Determine the maximum bending stress in a girder due to this load.
4. Stresses in Beams
Question 2: Normal Stresses in Beams
A railroad tie (or sleeper) is subjected to two rail loads, each of magnitude
P = 175 kN, acting as shown in the figure. The reaction q of the ballast is
assumed to be uniformly distributed over the length of the tie, which has
cross-sectional dimensions b = 300 mm and h = 250 mm. Assume the
distance L = 1500 mm and the overhang length a = 500 mm.
Calculate the maximum bending stress 𝜎𝑚𝑎𝑥 in the tie due to the loads P.

Mmax
 max =
S
4. Stresses in Beams
Question 3: Normal Stresses in Beams
A fiberglass pipe is lifted by a sling, as shown in the figure. The outer diameter of
the pipe is 150 mm, its thickness is 6 mm, and its weight density is 18 kN/m3. The
length of the pipe is L = 13 m and the distance between lifting points is s = 4 m.
(a) Determine the maximum bending stress in the pipe
due to its own weight.

(b) Find the spacing s between lift points which will

minimize the bending stress. What is the minimum
bending stress?

(c) What spacing s will lead to maximum bending

stress? What is that stress?
4. Stresses in Beams
4.4. Composite Beams
Example
A composite beam is constructed from wood beam and Mh1E1
steel plate. M = 6 kNm, E1 = 10.5 GPa, E2 = 210 GPa.  1( A) =− = −8.42 MPa
E1I1 + E2I2
calculate 𝜎𝑚𝑎𝑥 and 𝜎𝑚𝑖𝑛 in wood and steel.
M ( −(h2 − 12))E1
 1(C ) = − = 1.7 MPa
E1I1 + E2I2
M ( −(h2 − 12))E2
 2(C ) = − = 34 MPa
E1I1 + E2I2
M ( −(h2 ))E2
 2( B) = − = 50.2 MPa
E1I1 + E2I2

 2(C ) 34 E2 210
Note: = = = = 20
 1(C ) 1.7 E1 10.5
4. Stresses in Beams
4.4. Transformed-Section Method
Example
Mh1
A composite beam is constructed from wood beam and  1( A) = − = −8.42 MPa
IT
steel plate. M = 6 kNm, E1 = 10.5 GPa, E2 = 210 GPa.
calculate 𝜎𝑚𝑎𝑥 and 𝜎𝑚𝑖𝑛 in wood and steel. M ( −(h2 − 12))
 1(C ) = − = 1.7 MPa
IT

M ( −(h2 − 12))
 2(C ) = − n = 34 MPa
IT
M ( −(h2 ))
 2( B) = − n = 50.2 MPa
IT

 2(C ) 34 E2 210
Note: = = = = 20
 1(C ) 1.7 E1 10.5
4. Stresses in Beams
4.6. Eccentric Axial Loading

Maximum tensile and compressive

stresses
t 0 m
6.189 66.02 t 72.2 MPa
c 0 m
6.189 66.02 c 59.8 MPa

y0 0.562 mm

An open-link chain is obtained by bending low-

carbon steel rods into the shape shown. For
700 N load, determine (a) maximum tensile
and compressive stresses, (b) distance
between section centroid and neutral axis
4. Stresses in Beams
4.6. Eccentric Axial Loading
The largest allowable stresses for the cast iron link
are 30 MPa in tension and 120 MPa in compression.
Determine the largest force P that can be applied to
the link.
P = 77.0 kN

A = 3 10−3 m 2
Y = 0.038 m
I = 868 10−9 m 4
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4. Stresses in Beams
4.8. Unsymmetric Bending Analysis

max 6.64 MPa

A 180 N  m couple is applied to a

rectangular wooden beam in a plane
forming an angle of 30° with the vertical. 71.1
Determine (a) the maximum stress in the
beam, (b) the angle that the neutral axis
forms with the horizontal plane.