CVE 201 STRENGTH OF MATERIALS 1

COURSE OUTLINE: Introduction to stress and strain; some simple states of stress and
strain; stresses; relationship between loading, shearing forces and bending moment, bending
stresses; combined bending and direct stress torsional loading; composite shaft and torsional
loading; composite shaft and torsional strain energy, concepts of determinacy and
indeterminacy, external and internal indeterminacy, statical and geometric indeterminacy.

MODULE 1: INTRODUCTION TO STRESS AND STRAIN

Strength of materials is the study of the behaviour of structural and machine members under
the action of external loads, taking into account the internal forces created and the resulting
deformations. The analysis is geared toward determining the limiting loads which the
member can stand before failure of the material or excessive deformation occurs.
When a material is subjected to an external force, a resisting force is set up within the
component.
-The internal resistance force per unit area acting on a material or intensity of the forces
distributed over a given section is called the stress at a point.

- In other words stress can be defined as the distribution of a force over the area on which it
acts and is expressed as force intensity, that is, as force per unit area
𝑃
Therefore 𝜎 = 𝐴 (1)
P

P
P is load or applied force expressed in Newton (N) and A, cross sectional area, in square
meters (m2), the stress σ is expresses in N/ m2 . This unit is called Pascal (Pa).

EXAMPLE: A rod 10 mm × 10 mm cross-section is carrying an axial tensile load 10 kN.

Calculate the tensile stress developed in the rod.
𝑃
Solution: 𝜎 = 𝐴

10𝑘𝑁× 103 𝑁
𝜎 = 10𝑚𝑚 × 10𝑚𝑚

𝜎 = 100𝑁/𝑚𝑚2

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Tensile stress (σt) The fibres of the component tend to elongate due to the external force. A
member subjected to an external force tensile P and tensile stress distribution due to the force
is shown in the given figure 2. A member subjected to an external force tensile P and tensile
stress distribution due to the force is shown in the given figure 2.

Figure 2.

Compressive stress (σc) The fibres of the component tend to shorten due to the external force.
A member subjected to an external compressive force P and compressive stress distribution
due to the force is shown in the given figure 3. A member subjected to an external
compressive force P and compressive stress distribution due to the force is shown in the
given figure 3

Figure 3

Shear stress (τ) When forces are transmitted from one part of a body to other, the stresses
developed in a plane parallel to the applied force are the shear stress. Shear stress acts parallel
to plane of interest. Forces P are applied transversely to the member AB as shown in figure 4.
The corresponding internal forces act in the plane of section C and are called shearing
forces.

𝑃
The corresponding average shear stress (τ) τ = (2)
𝐴𝑟𝑒𝑎

2
Figure 4

Strain (ε)

The displacement per unit length (which is dimensionless) is known as strain.

Tensile strain (εt) : The elongation per unit length is known as tensile strain. ε t = ∆ L/ Lo.

Figure 5

Stress – Strain Relationship and Diagram

In order to relate the loads on engineering structures to the deformation produced by the
loads, experiments must be performed to determine the load-deformation behaviour of the
materials (e.g., aluminum, steel, and concrete) used in fabricating the structures. Many
useful mechanical properties of materials are obtained from tension tests or compression tests
to establish its stress–strain relationship.

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Stress-Strain Diagrams
A plot of stress versus strain is called a stress-strain diagram, and from such stress-strain
diagrams we can deduce a number of significant mechanical properties of materials.
The values of normal stress and extensional strain that are used in plotting a conventional
stress-strain diagram are the engineering stress (load divided by original cross-sectional area
of the test section) and engineering strain (elongation divided by original gauge length), that
is conventional

𝑃
𝜎= (3)
𝐴

And
∆L
𝜀= (4)
𝐿𝑜

The ratio of stress to strain is called Young's modulus, or the modulus of elasticity, and is given
by

𝑆𝑡𝑟𝑒𝑠𝑠
𝐸= (5)
𝑆𝑡𝑟𝑎𝑖𝑛

But from equation 3 and 4 above

(𝑃⁄𝐴)
𝐸= (5)
(∆ L⁄𝐿)

Units for E are ksi or GPa or N/mm2

Figure 6 is a stress-strain diagram for structural steel commonly used in fabricating

bridges, buildings, automotive and construction of vehicles, and many other machines and
structures. A number of important mechanical properties of materials that can be
deduced from stress-strain diagrams are illustrated in Figure 6. In Figure 6 the stress is
plotted accurately. The stress at point B is called the proportional limit, PL. At B the
specimen begins yielding, that is, smaller and smaller increments of load are
required to produce a given increment of elongation. The stress at C is called the
upper yield point, while the stress at D is called the lower yield point. The upper yield point
has little practical importance, so the lower yield point is usually referred to simply as the
yield point. From D to E the specimen continues to elongate without any increase in stress.
The region DE is referred to as the perfectly plastic zone . The stress begins to increase to E ,
and the region from E to F is referred to as the zone of strain hardening. The stress at F is
called ultimate stress or ultimate strength. At F the load begins to drop and the specimen
begins to neck down. The neck down continues until at G fracture occurs at fracture stress.

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Figures 6 is a stress-strain diagram.