Mechanics of Materials – MAE 243 (Section 002)

Spring 2008

Dr. Konstantinos A. Sierros

Problem 1.4-4
A circular bar of magnesium alloy is 800 mm long. The stress-strain diagram for the
material is shown in the figure. The bar is loaded in tension to an elongation of 5.6 mm,
and then the load is removed.
(a) What is the permanent set of the bar?
(b) If the bar is reloaded, what is the proportional limit?
(Hint: Use the concepts illustrated in Figs. 1-18b and 1-19.)
Problem 1.5-6
A tensile test is performed on a brass specimen 10 mm in diameter using a gage length
of 50 mm (see figure). When the tensile load P reaches a value of 20 kN, the distance
between the gage marks has increased by 0.122 mm.
(a) What is the modulus of elasticity E of the brass?
(b) If the diameter decreases by 0.00830 mm, what is Poisson’s ratio?
 1.6: Shear stress and strain

• Shear stress acts tangential to the surface

of the material and not perpendicular

tangential
perpendicular

• Consider the bolted connection of fig. Bolted connection in which the bolt
FIG. 1-24
is loaded in double shear
1-24 where A is a flat bar, C a clevis and
B a bolt
Copyright 2005 by Nelson, a division of Thomson Canada Limited

This tendency is resisted

• When load P is applied, the bar and by shear stresses in the
clevis will press against the bolt and bolt
bearing stresses will be developed
• The bar and clevis tend to shear the bolt
 1.6: Shear stress and strain
• If we have a closer look from the side
view (fig 1-24b) and draw a FBD (fig 1-
24c)
• Bearing stresses exerted by the clevis
against the bolt appear on the left-hand
side (1 and 3)
• Stresses from the bar are on the right-
hand side (2)
Bolted connection in which the bolt
FIG. 1-24
is loaded in double shear
• Based on the assumption of uniform
stress distribution we can calculate an
Copyright 2005 by Nelson, a division of Thomson Canada Limited

average bearing stress σb

total bearing force

bearing area
 1.6: Shear stress and strain
• The bearing area Ab is defined as the projected area of the curved
bearing surface. For example (for stresses labeled 1) the projected area
on which the stresses act is a rectangle with height equal to the thickness
of the clevis and width equal to the diameter of the bolt
• The bearing force Fb (for stresses labeled 1) is equal to P/2
• The same area and force apply for stresses labeled 3
• For bearing stresses labeled 2 the bearing area is a rectangle with
height equal to the thickness of the flat bar and width equal to the
diameter of the bolt. The force is equal to P

Bolted connection in which the bolt

FIG. 1-24
is loaded in double shear

Copyright 2005 by Nelson, a division of Thomson Canada Limited

 1.6: Shear stress and strain

• The FBD (c) shows that there is a tendency to shear the bolt along the
cross sections mn and pq
• From the FBD (d) of the portion mnqp of the bolt we see that the shear
forces V act over the cut surfaces of the bolt. There are two planes of
shear (plane mn and plane pq). Therefore, the bolt is in double shear
• The shear stresses acting on the cross section mn are shown (e)
• Shear stresses are denoted by τ
 1.6: Shear stress and strain: Single shear

• The axial force P in the metal bar is

transmitted to the flange of the steel
column through a bolt
• A cross section of the column (fig 1-25b)
shows more details FIG. 1-25
Bolted connection
• Fig 1-25c shows the assumed in which the bolt is
loaded in single

distribution of the bearing stresses acting shear

on the bolt
• Cutting through the bolt at section mn Copyright 2005 by Nelson, a division of Thomson Canada Limited

(fig 1-25d) we see the shear force V

(equal to load P). V is the resultant of the
shear stresses that act over the cross-
sectional area of the bolt
 1.6: Shear stress and strain: Single shear

• Fig 1-26 shows the deformation of a bolt

loaded almost to fracture in single shear

FIG. 1-26 Failure of a bolt in single shear

Copyright 2005 by Nelson, a division of Thomson Canada Limited

 1.6: Shear stress and strain
• Discussing about bolted connections we disregard friction which is
produced by tightening the bolts
• Average shear stress on the cross section of a bolt is obtained by
dividing the total shear force V by the area A of the cross section on
which it acts:

• Shear stresses have the same units as normal stresses

• The two previous examples (double and single shear) are examples of
direct shear
• Direct shear arises in the design of bolts, pins, rivets, keys, welds and
glued joints
 1.6: Equality of shear stresses on perpendicular planes

• Consider a small rectangular

parallelepiped element
• Assume that a shear stress τ1 is uniformly
distributed over the right-hand side area bc
(τ1bc)
• For equilibrium in the y direction the τ1bc
must be balanced by an equal and of
opposite direction shear force on the left- Small element of material
FIG. 1-27

hand side subjected to shear stresses

Copyright 2005 by Nelson, a division of Thomson Canada Limited

• The forces τ1bc acting on the right-hand

and left-hand side faces form a couple
having a moment about z-axis equal to τ1 abc
(counterclockwise direction)
 1.6: Equality of shear stresses on perpendicular planes
• Similarly, in order to have equilibrium of
the element, we have a shear force τ2ac and
consequently a clockwise couple of
moment τ2abc
• It is therefore evident that for moment
equilibrium we have:
Small element of material
τ1 = τ2
FIG. 1-27
subjected to shear stresses
Copyright 2005 by Nelson, a division of Thomson Canada Limited

1. Shear stresses on opposite and parallel faces of an element are equal

in magnitude and opposite in direction
2. Shear stresses on adjacent and perpendicular faces of an element are
equal in magnitude and have directions such that both stresses point
toward, or both point away from, the line of intersection of the faces
 1.6: Shear strain
• Shear stresses acting on an element of
material (fig 1-28a) are accompanied by
shear strains
• The lengths of the sides of the element
do not change but, the shear stresses
produce a change in the shape of the
element
• Rectangular parallelepiped becomes Element of material subjected to
FIG. 1-28
shear stresses and strains
oblique parallelepiped. Front and rear Copyright 2005 by Nelson, a division of Thomson Canada Limited

faces become rhomboids

• The angle γ (fig 1-28b) is a measure of
distortion of the element and is called
shear strain
 1.6: Sign conventions for shear stresses and strains
• We refer to the faces oriented toward the
positive directions of the axes as the positive
faces of the element
• Right-hand, top and front faces are the positive
x, y and z faces and the opposite faces are the
negative ones
A shear stress acting on a positive face of an
element is positive if it acts in the positive
direction of one of the coordinate axes and
negative if it acts in the negative direction of an
axis. A shear stress acting on a negative face of
an element is positive if it acts in the negative
direction of an axis and negative if it acts in a
positive direction
Shear strain in an element is positive when the
angle between two positive faces, or two
negative, is increased
 1.6: Hooke’s law in shear
• We can plot shear stress-strain diagrams
• Hooke’s Law in shear: shear modulus of elasticity

shear stress τ = Gγ shear strain

• G has the same units as E (Young’s modulus)

• G and E are also related by: Poisson’s ratio

G = E / (2(1+ν))

• For mild steel G = 75 GPa and for aluminum alloys G = 28 GPa

• Additional values can be found in Table H-2, Appendix H
Please do not forget to correct your Statics quiz and return it on
Wednesday 30th of January during class