V. Demenko.

Mechanics of Materials 1

LECTURE 11. Strength of a Bar in Tension and Compression

Tension and compression are the kinds of simple loading in which only

one kind of internal force factor, a normal force Nx appears in the cross section
of a bar: , .
1. Hypothesis of Plane Sections

Fig.1
If before loading the ends of the segments (points b, d, f, ...) form a plane,

then after loading they also form a plane (points b1, d1, f1,...).

It is hypothesis of plane sections, i.e. A A, B B.

This hypothesis is accepted as fundamental and confirmed by
experimental tests.
Note that elongations for all elemental segments (ab, cd, ef,....) taken in
the portion dx are the same

, (1)

i.e. the state of strain is homogeneous in the loaded bar.

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 V. Demenko. Mechanics of Materials 2

2. Determination of Stresses
It is known the relation between a normal force Nx and normal stresses

. (2)

According to Hooke's law

, (3)
where E is constant, and expression (1), we have

Then

. (4)

As it is seen from expression (4) the normal stresses in tension (or

compression) are distributed uniformly over the cross-section of a rod.
3. Condition of Strength
For estimating the strength of the bar in tension and compression, it is
essential to consider the evident condition of strength which states that the

maximum stress max in any section of the bar must not exceed the allowable
stress []
, and , where (5)
– allowable stress in tension; – allowable stress in compression.
The section of the bar in which the stress max is developed is the critical
section. Noting that

and following from the condition of strength

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 V. Demenko. Mechanics of Materials 3

. (6)

it is possible to solve three problems as follows:

(1) check the strength of a bar for the specified load and cross-sectional

area: or ;

(2) determine the cross-sectional area A for the specified load and
allowable stress []:
;
(3) determine the allowable load on a bar by the specified cross-sectional
area and allowable stress:
[Nx]=A[].
4. Determination of Strains
According to expression (3) .

Replace x by and x by . We obtain then

The total elongation of the bar in the length l is

or . (7)

When the bar is loaded at the ends only, then normal force Nx = F is
independent of x. If in addition, the bar has a constant cross-sectional area A, we
obtain from expression (7)

. (8)

For the stepped bar total elongation will be as follows:

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 V. Demenko. Mechanics of Materials 4

where 'i' is number of portions.

In solving many practical problems, elongations due to temperature
effects should be taken into account as well as elongations resulting from stress
. In this case the method of superposition is used and total elongation may be
written as the sum:

, (9)

where t is the coefficient of thermal expansion of the material; t is a

difference of temperature.
5. Condition of Rigidity
(a) in tension

; (10)

(b) in compression

, (11)

where [l] is the allowable elongation.

6. Statically Indeterminate Systems in Tension or Compression
By a statically determinate system is meant a system for which all the
reactions of the supports and internal force factors can be determined by means
of equations of equilibrium.
By a statically indeterminate system is meant a system for which the
external reactions and all the internal force factors cannot be determined by
means of the method of sections and equations of equilibrium.
Example 1.

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 V. Demenko. Mechanics of Materials 5

Fig.2
G: F, a, b. A straight homogeneous bar is rigidly fixed at the ends and subjected
to a longitudinal force F.
It is necessary to determine the normal force and to construct the
diagram .

Two reactions of supports RA and RB cannot be determined from one

equation of equilibrium
0 = RA + RB –F,
therefore the system is singly statically indeterminate.
It is necessary to have one more equation. It is the displacement equation
which must express the fact that the overall length of the bar remains unchanged
lAB =lAC + lCD =lI +lII = 0,
where

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 V. Demenko. Mechanics of Materials 6

In fig.2 it is seen that

NxI = RA; NxII = RA – F
then

, ,

Example 2. Thermal stresses.

Fig.3

G: l, A, t, E, t.

It is necessary to determine the force Nx in the rod when it is heated by

t.

(1) The equation of equilibrium

, ;
(2) The displacement equation must express the fact that the length of the
bar remains unchanged

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 V. Demenko. Mechanics of Materials 7

l = l(Nx, t)= l(Nx) +l(t) = 0.

where

= , because Nx = -RA.

l(t)=ttl.

Then

After that the diagram may be constructed easy.

Example 3. Assembly stresses.

When assembling a bar system (Fig.4) it was found that there were
inaccuracies in the length of the bars.
The bar (1) was put into place by brining the hinges C and C1 to one
point.
Determine the forces in the bars after assembly.

Fig.4

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 V. Demenko. Mechanics of Materials 8

We have four unknown reactions and three equations of equilibrium,

which are not available for determining the forces. Consequently, the system is
singly statically indeterminate.
Suppose that after assembly the hinge C has moved downward through a

distance and assumed the position C2, and the hinge C1 has moved upward
through .
From the condition of equilibrium
, RII = 2RI.
The displacement equation is

, (*)

where

; ,

NI = + RI NII = - RII
then

, ;

, .
It should be noted that relation (22) connects modeless of the
displacements.
VOCABULARY 11

allowable ___________________ допускаемый

thermal ___________________ термический
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 V. Demenko. Mechanics of Materials 9

assembling ___________________ монтаж, сборка

accurate ___________________ точный, правильный
joint ___________________ узел, стык
statically indeterminate ___________________ статически
system неопределимая система
singly statically ___________________ один раз статически
indeterminate неопределимый
two-fold statically ___________________ дважды статически
indeterminate неопределимый

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