7.

Combined Stress
Structural members often are subjected to the simultaneous action of bending loads and axial forces. Consider a
cantilever beam subjected to an inclined load P acting through the centroid of the end cross section. The load P can be
resolved in to two components, a lateral load Q and an axial load S. These loads produce stress resultants in the forms
of bending moments M, shear forces V, and axial forces N.
For a cross section at distance X from the support, these stress resultants are
M=Q (L-X) V=-Q and N=S
The axial force produce a uniform stress distribution given by σ =N/A
The bending moment M produces a linearly varying stress given by
MY
σ=
I
The final distribution of the normal stress acting on the cross section is obtained by combining (or superimposing) the
stresses produced by the force N and the moment M.Thus, the total stresses are obtained from
N MY
σ= ±
A I
The final distribution in the beam depends up on the relative algebraic values of the terms in the above equation.
Whenever bending and axial loads act simultaneously, the neutral axis is no longer through the centroid of the cross
section. As can be seen on fig. e, f and g the neutral axis may be out side the cross section, at the edge of the cross
section, or any where within the section.
Q
P V
N M
S
L x

(a) (b)

(+ ) (-) (+ ) (-)

(+ ) (+ ) (+ ) (+ )
(+ )

(f) (g)
(c) (d) (e)

Fig. 7.1 A beam subjected to inclined force

Beams with axial loads: - the beam should be relatively short & stiff, or stocky. This implies lateral deflection ≈ 0
BENDING WITH ECCENTRIC AXIAL LOADS
An important case of practical interest occurs when a bar is subjected to an axial load applied eccentrically, as
illustrated in the figure below. In this example, the tensile load P acts normal to the end cross-section at distance ez
and ey from the principal Y and Z axes, respectively.
X X

P
Mz
P
c c

ey My
ez z z

Mz= Pey P z
Y Y

My= Pez

Fig. 7.2 A member loaded by eccentric force.

The eccentric load P is statically equivalent to a force P applied at the centroid and bending couples P*ez and P*ey
about the Y and Z axes, respectively. Therefore at any point in a cross section (a point defined by coordinates y and z),
the resultant normal stress is:

P ( Pe z z ) (Pe y y )
σ= ± ± (7.1)
A Iy Iz
Where Iy and Iz are the moments of inertia about the Y and Z axes respectively.
1
In the above figure, the axial force p is positive if it is tensile, and ey and ez are positive in the coordinate directions
shown in the fig.7.3.
The equation of the neutral axis can be found by setting the normal stress σ equal to zero in equation (7.1) above.
With the corresponding coordinates denoted as y0 and z0, that equation becomes:-
(Aey / Iz) * y0 + (Aez / Iy)*z0 + 1=0 (7.2)
This equation is linear in y0 and z0, and therefore the neutral axis is a straight line, such as line n-n in figure 7.3.
The neutral axis may or may not intersect the cross-section, depending upon the shape of the cross-section and the
position of the load P.

Fig. 7.3 Eccentric axial force P producing bending

about both centroidal principal axes.
THE CORE OF A CROSS-SECTION
When the eccentricities e y and ez of the axial load P (Fig. 7.2) are small, the neutral axis will lie outside the cross-
section and the normal stresses will have the same sign throughout the cross-section. A condition of this kind is
important, for instance, when a compressive load acts on the material that is very weak in tension, such as glass,
concrete, stone and ceramic materials. For such materials, it may be necessary to ensure that the load produces no
tension at any point of the cross-section. This condition exists if the load remains within a certain small region
surrounding the centroid. Compressive force acting within that region produces compression over the entire cross-
section, and a tensile force acting within that region produces tension over the entire cross-section. This region is
called the CORE (or the KERN) if the section.
The core of a rectangular cross-section (Fig. 7.4) can be found in the following manner. If the load lies along the
positive y-axis ( ez = 0 ), the neutral axis nn will coincide with the upper edge of the section when the load is at point
p a distance e1 from the centroid.
−h bh3 h
Where, e1 can be obtained by setting, ez = 0, y0 = , Iz = , and A = bh into eqn. 7.2. Thus, e1 = .
2 12 6
Similarly, the neutral axis coincides with the left-hand edge of the section when the load P acts on the positive z-axis
( e y = 0 ) at point q a distance e2 from the centroid.

−b b 3h b
In this case e2 can be obtained by setting, e y = 0, z0 = , Iz = , and A = bh into eqn. 6.2. Thus e2 = .
2 12 6
As the load moves along a straight line between point p and q, the neutral axis will rotate about point R at the corner
of the rectangular cross section fig. 7.4 (a).hence, line pq is one of the sides of the core; the other three sides can be
located by symmetry. It can be seen that the core is a rhombus with diagonals of lengths b/3 and h/3 Fig. 7.4 (b).

Fig. 7.4 The core of a rectangular cross-section