MEC103

MECHANICS OF DEFORMABLE BODIES

BEARING STRESS

ENGR. ROGELIO FRETTEN C. DELA CRUZ, CE

INSTRUCTOR
 BEARING STRESS

If two bodies are pressed against each other,

compressive forces are developed on the area of
contact. The pressure caused by these surface
loads is called bearing stress.
stress

Bearing stress is a contact pressure between

separate bodies.
Bearing stress between
a rivet and a plate.
Bearing stress caused by
the bearing force Pb is
assumed to be uniform on
projected area td.

Actual contact pressure

between a rivet and the side
of its hole.

Ab  td
Actual bearing stress distribution
on the side of the hole is not Ab  td
constant.

Bearing stress, σb Bearing stress on the contact area

between a rivet and a plate:
Pb Pb
b  b 
Ab td
1.) Assume that the axial load P applied to the lap joint
is distributed equally among the three 20-mm-diameter
rivets. What is the maximum load P that can be applied
if the allowable stresses are 40 MPa for shear in rivets,
90 MPa for bearing between a plate and a rivet, and
120 MPa for tension in the plates?
2.) The steel end-cap is fitted into grooves cut in the
timber post. The working stresses for the post are
1.8 MPa in shear parallel to the grain and 5.5 MPa
in bearing perpendicular to the grain. Determine the
smallest safe dimensions a and b.
3.) The figure shows a roof truss and the detail of the
connection at joint B. Members BC and BE are angle
sections with the thickness shown in the figure. The working
stresses are 70 MPa for shear in the rivets and 140 MPa for
bearing stress due to the rivets. How many 20-mm-diameter
rivets are required to fasten members BC and BE to the
gusset plate.
4.) The cylindrical steel column has an outer diameter of 4 in.
and inner diameter of 3.5 in. The column is separated from
the concrete foundation by a square bearing plate. The
working compressive stress is 26 000 psi for the column, and
the working bearing stress is 1200 psi for concrete. Find the
largest force P that can be applied to the column.
END