Chapter 1

Concept of Stress

MEE 320: Strength of Materials

 Concept of Stress
Objectives
The main objective of the study of mechanics of materials is to provide the
future engineer with the means of analyzing and designing various machines
and load bearing structures.

Both the analysis and design of a

given structure involve the
determination of stresses and
deformations. This chapter is
devoted to the concept of stress.

MEE 320: Strength of Materials 2

 Statics Review
Example: Consider the structure shown below and assume that it is
designed to support a 30 kN load. The structure consists of a boom and rod
joined by pins (zero moment connections) at the junctions and supports.

Plan: Perform a static analysis to

determine the internal force in each
structural member and the reaction
forces at the supports

MEE 320: Strength of Materials 3

 Statics Review
FBD: free body diagram
Structure is detached from supports
loads and reaction forces are indicated

Conditions for static equilibrium

MC  0  Ax0.6m30kN0.8m
Ax  40kN
Fx  0 Ax Cx
Cx  Ax  40kN
Fy  0  Ay Cy 30kN 0
Ay Cy  30kN
Ay and Cy cannot be determined from these
equations need to find new equations
MEE 320: Strength of Materials 4
 Component Free-Body Diagram
In addition to the complete structure, each component
must satisfy the conditions for static equilibrium

Consider the FBD for the boom:

MB 0  Ay0.8m
Ay  0

Now the structure equilibrium equation yields

Ax  40kN
Cx  40kN
Cy 30kN

Reaction forces are directed along boom and rod

MEE 320: Strength of Materials 5

 Method of Joints
The boom and rod are 2-force members, i.e., the members are
subjected to only two forces which are applied at member ends
For equilibrium, the forces must be parallel to an
axis passing through the force application points,
equal in magnitude, and in opposite directions

Joints must satisfy the conditions for static

equilibrium which may be expressed in the form
of a force triangle:


FB 0
FAB  FBC  30kN
4 5 3
FAB 40kN FBC 50kN
MEE 320: Strength of Materials 6
 Definition: Stress
Stress : in a member, stress is defined as force per unit area, or intensity
of the forces distributed over a given section.

Units:
 P P in N
A A in m2
σ in N/m2 = Pa (Pascal)

Positive stress: member in tension

Negative stress: member in compression

MEE 320: Strength of Materials 7

 Stress Analysis
Can the structure safely support the 30 kN load ?

FAB = 40 kN (compression)
From a statics analysis: F = 50 kN (tension)
BC

At any section through member BC, the internal

force is 50 kN with a force intensity or stress of
P
BC  50103N
159MPa
A 31410 m
-6 2

From the material properties

of steel, the allowable stress is
all165MPa

Conclusion: the strength

of member BC is adequate

MEE 320: Strength of Materials 8

 Design
Design of new structures requires selection of appropriate materials and
component dimensions to meet performance requirements

For reasons based on cost, weight, availability, etc., the choice is made to
construct the rod from aluminum (σall = 100 MPa). What is an appropriate
choice for the rod diameter?
all  P
A
A P 50103
N 500106m2
all 100106Pa
2
A d
4
d 4 A  4 
500  6 2
10 m 
 
d  2.52102m 25.2mm

An aluminum rod 26 mm or more in diameter is adequate

MEE 320: Strength of Materials 9
 Axial Loading: Normal Stress
The resultant of the internal forces for an axially loaded member
is normal to a section cut perpendicular to the member axis.

The force intensity on that section   lim F   P

is defined as the normal stress. A0 A ave
A

The normal stress at a particular point may not

be equal to the average stress but the resultant of
the stress distribution must satisfy

PaveAdF dA
A

The detailed distribution of stress is statically

indeterminate, i.e., cannot be found from statics
alone.
MEE 320: Strength of Materials 10
 Centric & Eccentric Loading
A uniform distribution of stress in a section infers that the line of
action for the resultant of the internal forces passes through the
centroid of the section.
A uniform distribution of stress is only possible if the concentrated
loads on the end sections of two-force members are applied at the
section centroids. This is referred to as centric loading.

If a two-force member is eccentrically

loaded, then the resultant of the stress
distribution in a section must yield an axial
force and a moment.

The stress distributions in eccentrically loaded

members cannot be uniform or symmetric.

MEE 320: Strength of Materials 11

 Shearing Stress
Forces P and P’ are applied transversely to the member AB.

Corresponding internal forces act in the plane of

section C and are called shearing forces. The resultant
of the internal shear force distribution is defined as the
shear of the section and is equal to the load P.

The corresponding average shear stress is,

ave P
A
Shear stress distribution varies from zero at the
member surfaces to maximum values that may
be much larger than the average value.

The shear stress distribution cannot be

assumed to be uniform.
MEE 320: Strength of Materials 12
 Shearing Stress Examples
Single Shear Double Shear

P
ave  F
A A ave P  F
A 2A
MEE 320: Strength of Materials 13
 Bearing Stress in Connections

Bolts, rivets, and pins create stresses

on the points of contact or bearing
surfaces of the members they connect.

The resultant of the force distribution

on the surface is equal and opposite to
the force exerted on the pin.

Corresponding average force intensity

is called the bearing stress,

P
b   P
A td
MEE 320: Strength of Materials 14
 Procedure for Analysis
The statement of the problem should be clear and precise. It should contain
the given data and indicate what information is required. A simplified
drawing showing all essential quantities involved should be included.

1. Write the equilibrium equations of the system, this will require the
drawing of one or several FBDs.
2. Determine the reactions at supports and internal forces and couples.
3. Compute the required stresses and deformations.
4. After the answer has been obtained, it should be carefully checked. It can
be done by substituting the numerical values obtained into an equation
which has not yet been used and verifying that the equation is satisfied.

MEE 320: Strength of Materials 15

 Stress Analysis & Design Example
Example: determine the stresses in the
members and connections of the structure shown.

From a statics analysis:

FAB = 40 kN (compression)
FBC = 50 kN (tension)

Must consider maximum normal

stresses in AB and BC, and the
shearing stress and bearing stress
at each pinned connection

MEE 320: Strength of Materials 16

 Rod & Boom Normal Stresses
The rod is in tension with an axial force of P = 50 kN
and circular cross-sectional area ABC = 314×10-6m2

At the rod center, the average normal stress in

the circular cross-section is σBC = +159 MPa.

At the flattened rod ends, the smallest cross-

sectional area occurs at the pin centerline,
A20mm40mm25mm300106m2
P
BC,end   50103
N 167MPa
A 300106m2

The boom is in compression with an axial force of 40 kN and average

normal stress of –26.7 MPa. The minimum area sections at the boom ends
are unstressed since the boom is in compression.
MEE 320: Strength of Materials 17
 Pin Shearing Stresses
The cross-sectional area for pins at A, B, and C,
2
Ar 
2  25mm  491106m2
 2 
 

The force on the pin at C is equal to the

force exerted by the rod BC,
P
C,ave  50  3N
10 102MPa

A 49110 m
6 2

The pin at A is in double shear with a

total force equal to the force exerted by
the boom AB,
A,ave P  20kN  40.7MPa
A 491106m2
MEE 320: Strength of Materials 18
 Pin Shearing Stresses
Divide the pin at B into sections to determine the section with the largest
shear force

PE 15kN PG  25kN (larges

Evaluate the corresponding average shearing stress,

P
B,ave 
G 25kN 50.9MPa
A 491106m2

MEE 320: Strength of Materials 19

 Pin Bearing Stresses

To determine the bearing stress at A in the boom

AB, we have t = 30 mm and d = 25 mm,
P
b   40kN 53.3MPa
td 30mm25mm

To determine the bearing stress at A in the bracket,

we have t = 2(25 mm) = 50 mm and d = 25 mm,
P
b   40kN 32.0MPa
td 50mm25mm

MEE 320: Strength of Materials 20

 Example 1
1-4: Two solid cylindrical rods AB and BC are welded together at B and
loaded as shown. Knowing that d1=50 mm and d2=30 mm, find the average
normal stress at the midsection of (a) rod AB, (b) rod BC

MEE 320: Strength of Materials 21

 Example 2
1-7: Each of the four vertical links has an 8×36-mm uniform rectangular cross
section and each of the four pins has a 16-mm diameter. Determine the
maximum value of the average normal stress in the links connecting (a) points
B and D, (b) points C and E.

MEE 320: Strength of Materials 22

 Example 2

MEE 320: Strength of Materials 23

 Example 3
1-17: When the force P reaches 8 kN, the wooden specimen shown failed in
shear along the surface indicated by the dashed line. Determine the average
shearing stress along that surface at the time of failure.

MEE 320: Strength of Materials 24

 Example 3

MEE 320: Strength of Materials 25

 Example 4
1-25: Knowing that θ = 40° and P = 9 kN, determine (a) the smallest
allowable diameter of the pin at B if the average shearing stress in the pin is
not to exceed 120 MPa, (b) the corresponding average bearing stress in
member AB at B, (c) the corresponding average bearing stress in each of the
support brackets at B.

MEE 320: Strength of Materials 26

 Example 4

MEE 320: Strength of Materials 27

 Example 4

MEE 320: Strength of Materials 28

 Stress in Two Force Members
Axial forces on a two force member result
in only normal stresses on a plane cut
perpendicular to the member axis.

Transverse forces on bolts and pins result

in only shear stresses on the plane
perpendicular to bolt or pin axis.

We will show that either axial or transverse

forces may produce both normal and shear
stresses with respect to a plane other than
one cut perpendicular to the member axis.

MEE 320: Strength of Materials 29

 Stress on an Oblique Plane
Pass a section through the member forming
an angle θ with the normal plane.
From equilibrium conditions, the distributed
forces (stresses) on the plane must be
equivalent to the force P.

Resolve P into components normal and

tangential to the oblique section,
F  Pcos V  Psin
The average normal and shear stresses on the
oblique plane are

  F  Pcos  P cos2 
A A0 cos A0
  V  Psin  P sin cos
A A0 cos A0
MEE 320: Strength of Materials 30
 Maximum Stresses

Normal and shearing stresses on an oblique plane

P P
  cos    sin cos
2
A0 A0

The maximum normal stress occurs when the

reference plane is perpendicular to the member axis,

m  P ,  0
A0

The maximum shear stress occurs for a plane at

±45o with respect to the axis,

m  P sin45cos45 P 
A0 2A0
MEE 320: Strength of Materials 31
 Example 5
1-30: Two wooden members of uniform rectangular cross section are joined
by the simple glued scarf splice shown. Knowing that the maximum allowable
shearing stress in the glued splice is 620 kPa, determine (a) the largest load P
that can be safely applied, (b) the corresponding tensile stress in the splice.

MEE 320: Strength of Materials 32

 Example 5

MEE 320: Strength of Materials 33

 Stress Under General Loadings
A member subjected to a general combination of
loads is cut into two segments by a plane passing
through Q. The distribution of internal force
components may be defined as,

Fx normal force acting on a small area ΔA

Vx shearing force acting on a small area ΔA
Vx  Vyx Vzx

Vyx component parallel to the y-axis

Vzx component parallel to the z-axis

MEE 320: Strength of Materials 34

 Stress Under General Loadings
The distribution of internal stress
components may be defined as,

x  limF x
A0 A
Vyx V x
xy  lim xz  lim z
A0 A A0 A

xy The y component of the shear stress exerted on the face

perpendicular to the x-axis
xz The z component of the shear stress exerted on the face
perpendicular to the x-axis

For equilibrium, an equal and opposite internal force and stress

distribution must be exerted on the other segment of the member.
MEE 320: Strength of Materials 35
 State of Stress
Stress components are defined for the
planes cut parallel to the x, y and z axes.

For equilibrium, equal and opposite

stresses are exerted on the hidden planes.

Stress components are defined for the

planes cut parallel to the x, y and z axes.
For equilibrium, equal and opposite
stresses are exerted on the hidden planes.

The combination of forces generated by

the stresses must satisfy the conditions for
equilibrium:

Fx  Fy  Fz  0

Mx  My  Mz  0
MEE 320: Strength of Materials 36
 State of Stress

Consider the moments about the z axis:

Mz 0  xyAayxAa
xy yx

yz zy
xz zx
Similarly

It follows that only 6 components of stress are

required to define the complete state of stress
x,y,z,xy, yz andzx

MEE 320: Strength of Materials 37

 Factor of Safety
Structural members or machines must be designed such that the working
stresses are less than the ultimate strength of the material.

Factor of safety considerations:

•
•
Uncertainty in material properties
Uncertainty of loadings
FS Factor
ofsafety
• Uncertainty of analyses
FS u  ultimate
stress
• Number of loading cycles all allowable
stress
• Types of failure
• Maintenance requirements
• Deterioration effects

MEE 320: Strength of Materials 38

 Example 6
1-38: Link BC is 6 mm thick, has a width w = 25 mm, and is made of a steel
with a 480 MPa ultimate strength in tension. What was the safety factor used if
the structure shown was designed to support a 16 kN load P?

MEE 320: Strength of Materials 39

 Example 6

MEE 320: Strength of Materials 40

 Example 7
1-46: Three steel bolts are to be used to attach
the steel plate shown to a wooden beam. Knowing
that the plate will support a 110 kN load, that the
ultimate shearing stress for the steel used is 360
MPa, and that a factor of safety of 3.35 is desired,
determine the required diameter of the bolts.

MEE 320: Strength of Materials 41

 Example 8
1-55: In the structure shown, an 8 mm diameter pin is used at A, and 12-mm-
diameter pins are used at B and D. Knowing that the ultimate shearing stress is
100 MPa at all connections and that the ultimate normal stress is 250 MPa in
each of the two links joining B and D, determine the allowable load P if an
overall factor of safety of 3.0 is desired.

MEE 320: Strength of Materials 42

 Example 8

MEE 320: Strength of Materials 43

 Example 8

MEE 320: Strength of Materials 44