Lecture Note 3 Example 4

The above figure shows a cantilever beam. The dimensions drawn on the cross-sectional view
represent the dimensions of the centerlines of the walls. The walls are 5 mm thick. The beam
is subjected two bending moments – 1 kNm in the y-z plane and 2 kNm in the x-z plane.
The tip of the beam is subjected to a force of 1 kN along the z-direction. Adopt the thin-wall
approximation. Calculate the axial at the top right corner of the cross-section.
Solution

Width Height
Top member 0.05 t = 0.005
Middle member t = 0.005 0.1
Bottom member 0.025 t = 0.005

Set the left end of the bottom member as the reference point x = 0, y = 0.

xc
= (0.05 x 0.005 x 0.05 / 2 + 0.025 x 0.005 x 0.025 / 2) / (0.05 x 0.005 + 0.005 x 0.1 + 0.025 x
0.005)
= 0.0089286 m

yc
= (0.05 x 0.005 x 0.1 + 0.005 x 0.1 x 0.05) / (0.05 x 0.005 + 0.005 x 0.1 + 0.025 x 0.005)
= 0.057143 m

Ixx
= 0.05 x t3 / 12 + 0.05 x t x (0.1 – yc)2 + t x 0.13 / 12 + t x 0.1 x (0.05 – yc)2 + 0.025 x t3 / 12 +
0.025 x t x yc2
= 1.3095 x 10-6 m4

Iyy
= 0.053 x t / 12 + 0.05 x t x (0.025 – xc)2 + t3 x 0.1 / 12 + t x 0.1 x xc2 + 0.0253 x t / 12 + 0.025
x t x (0.0125 – xc)2
= 1.6462 x 10-7 m4

Ixy
= 0.05 x t x (0.1 – yc) x (0.025 – xc) + t x 0.1 x (0.05 – yc) x -xc + 0.025 x t x -yc x (0.0125 –
xc)
= 1.7857 x 10-7 m4

At the top right corner of the top member (x = 0.05, y = 0.1025)

Bending-induced axial stress

= (My x Ixx – Mx x Ixy) / (Ixx x Iyy – Ixy2) x (x – xc) + (Mx x Iyy – My x Ixy) / (Ixx x Iyy – Ixy2) x (y –
yc)
= 1.3286 x 1010 x (x – xc) – 1.0481 x 109 x (y – yc)
= 498.14 MPa

Normal force-induced axial stress

=F/A
= 1000 / (0.0525 x 0.005 + 0.005 x 0.095 + 0.0275 x 0.005)
= 1.1429 MPa

Total axial stress

= 495.46 + 1.1429
= 499.28 MPa