Chapter 3

Bending Deformation, Strain and

Stress in Beams
6.2 Bending Deformation and Strain

Key Points:
1. Bending moment
causes beam to
deform.
2. X = longitudinal axis
3. Y = axis of symmetry
4. Neutral surface – does
not undergo a change
in length
Key Points:
1. Internal bending moment causes beam to deform.
2. For this case, top fibers in compression, bottom in
tension.
Key Points:
1. Neutral surface – no change in length.
2. All cross-sections remain plane and perpendicular to longitudinal axis.
3. Neglect deformation of cros section within its own plane.
 Radius of
curvature

Length
decreases

Length =
constant

s 's (   y )   y

  lim  lim 
s 0 s s 0  
 y Says normal strain is
  linear
 Maximum at outer surface
(where y = c)

 y
    max
c
6.2 Bending Stress – The Flexure Formula

What about Stress????

Recall from section 6.1:

 y
    max
c
Therefore, it follows that

 y
    max
c
Sum moments about cut:

 y
M   ydF   y (dA)   y  max dA
A A A 
c
This is the
 max 2
M
c A y dA moment of
inertia, I
 The Flexure Formula:
Internal bending
moment, lb-in

Max bending stress,

psi

Mc
Distance from NA to
outer fiber, in

 max 
I Moment of inertia, in4

My
Or in general: 
I
 Examples:
• Find maximum moment
• Find area properties, I and c
• Calculate stress
WHERE IS
BENDING STRESS
MAXIMUM???

Answer:
• Outer surface
(furthest away from
Neutral Axis)
• Value of x along
length where
moment is
maximum!!
Example: The T-shape beam is subjected to the loading below.
1. Draw shear and moment diagram. Identify location and magnitude of Mmax.
2. Determine location and magnitude of maximum bending stress and draw stress
profile. Is the beam safe if the material is aluminum w/ sy = 15 ksi?

3. What is the largest internal moment the beam can resist if sallow = 2 ksi?
45K
 Statics: Example 1 - Pliers

Given: Typical
household pliers as
shown.
Find: Force applied to
wire and force in pin
that connects the two
parts of the pliers.

Do this for homework.

See solution Link

Side: what is the shear
stress in pin and bending
stress in handle? SofM
Statics: Example 2 – Crane Structure

Given: Crane structure

as shown.
Find: Forces and
FBD’s for cables A-B
and A-E, boom DEF
and post AFC.

Do this for homework. Side: what is the normal stress

in cables (average normal
See solution Link only) and normal stress in
boom and post (combined
loading)? SofM
Example 4: Determine the resultant internal
loadings acting on the cross sections located
through points D and E of the frame. (1-114)