CVG 2140

Mechanics of Materials I

Winter 2016

Axially Loaded Members

Lecture 8:
Normal Stress and Strain

Structural components subjected only to tension or compression are known as axially loaded members.
Examples include truss members, engine connecting rods, and building columns.

P
A

Uniform or Average Normal Stress = Axial force divided by cross-sectional area

Units: S.I.

F
L2

P
A

N
Pa
m2

1 MPa 1 mm2

Normal Strain = Elongation divided by length

(dimensionless)

Sign Convention

When the load P causes the member to elongate the normal stress is considered
positive and is called a tensile stress. The corresponding normal strain is known as
a tensile strain.
When the load P causes the member to shorten the normal stress is considered
negative and is called a compressive stress. The corresponding normal strain is
known as a compressive strain.

University of Ottawa

Lecture 8 - 1

CVG 2140

Mechanics of Materials I

Winter 2016

Limitations / Assumptions

(1)
(2)
(3)
(4)

Stress is uniformly distributed over the cross-sectional area.

The axial force P acts through the centroid.
The members are prismatic (uniform cross-section) and therefore the deformation is
uniform throughout the volume.
The material is homogeneous

Example 1:
For the hollow metal tube axially loaded in compression the strain gauge indicates a strain of 540
microstrains. In addition, the stress in the member was calculated to be 40 MPa. The outside and inside
diameters of the tube are 60 mm and 50 mm, respectively. Determine (a) the shortening , and (b) the
load P acting on the tube

Strain Gauge
P

out = 60 mm, in = 50 mm

L = 500 mm
Solution

(a) Measured = 540 x 10-6,

(b) Stress = 40 MPa,

P
A

=?

L 540 106 500 mm 0.270 mm

P=?
P A 40 MPa

(602 502 ) 34.5 kN

Changes in Lengths of Axially Loaded Members

P
L

University of Ottawa

Lecture 8 - 2

CVG 2140

Mechanics of Materials I

P
A

Winter 2016

If we assume that the material is linearly elastic, hence it follows Hookes Law, we can combine the
above relations to obtain a relation for the elongation of the bar:

E
A
L

PL
EA

(1)

The denominator EA is called the axial rigidity of the member.

(2)

Rearranging the expression for the elongation as follows

EA
k
L

then the ratio of the axial rigidity to the length EA/L defines the stiffness of the
member and is often denoted by k. Stiffness represents the force required to produce
a unit elongation.
(3)

The reciprocal of stiffness is the flexibility of the member and it represents the
elongation due to a unit load.

L
1

f
EA
k

Example 2:

H
A

L/2

University of Ottawa

L=6m
H = 1.5 m
A = 3000 mm2
E = 200 GPa (Steel)

L/2

Lecture 8 - 3

CVG 2140

Mechanics of Materials I

Winter 2016

For the above steel truss calculate (a) the horizontal displacement of joint C when P = 120 kN, and (b)
the maximum load P if the horizontal displacement of the joint cannot exceed 2.0 mm.
Solution

(a) P = 120 kN, c = ?

B

120 kN (T)

FBC

1.5
FDC

120 kN (T)

120 kN (T)

60 kN

D
120 kN
60 kN

60 kN

Fy 0

60

Fx 0

2
5

FBC 0

FDC 120 kN (T)

120 10 6 10
200 10 3000
3

1.2 mm

Pmax = ?

PL
EA

Pmax

EA
L

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FBC 134.2 kN (C)

60 5 FDC 0

PL

EA
(b) c 2.0 mm,

2.0 200 103 3000

6 10
3

200 kN

Lecture 8 - 4

CVG 2140

Mechanics of Materials I

Winter 2016

Changes in Lengths of Nonuniform Bars

PA
A
E1
L1

NL
i i
i 1 Ei Ai

PB
B
L2

E2
C

Example 3:

P1 = 400 kN

For the problem at right, given that the deformation cannot exceed
1.0 mm, determine (a) the minimum permissible area A1 when A2 =

A1

3A1, and (b) the area A1 if the compressive stresses in both parts of

P2 = 650 kN

2m

the pedestal are the same?

A2

E = 25 GPa

1.5 m

1.0 mm
Solution

1050 kN

a) A2 = 3A1, Minimum permissible A1

400 10 2000
25 10 A
3

400 kN

1050 10 1.5 10
25 10 3 A
3

24 105 1575 103 75 A1

1050 kN
N

University of Ottawa

A1 53,000 mm2

Lecture 8 - 5

CVG 2140

Mechanics of Materials I

Winter 2016

b) Compressive stresses in both parts are the same, A1 = ?

P1
A1

P2
A2

400 10 2000
25 10 A

1050 10 1.5 10
A
25 10 1050
400

P2
A1 2.625 A1
P1

A2

8 105 600 103 25 A1

A1 56,000 mm2
Bars with Continuously Varying Loads or Dimension

P(x)

P(x)
N(x)

dx

N(x)

dx

L
N( x ) dx
d
EA( x )

N( x ) dx
EA( x )

Note: Satisfactory results are obtainable if angle of taper is small.

Example 4:
A tapered bar AB, of solid circular cross section and length L, is supported at end A and subjected to a
tensile load P at the free end B. The diameters of the bars at ends A and B are A and B, respectively.
Determine the elongation of the bar due to the load P.

University of Ottawa

Lecture 8 - 6

CVG 2140

Mechanics of Materials I

Winter 2016

Solution:

dx

LB
LA

B LB

A LA
A( x )

x
x

A LA

[x ]2
4

N ( x ) dx

EA( x )

4PL2A

EA2

A x
LA

[x ]2 x 2
4L2A

LA

LB

P dx 4L2A
4PL2A

EA2 x 2
EA2

LA

LB

4PL2A
dx

x2
EA2

1
4PL2A LA LB
4PL2A
1

LA
EA2 LALB
EA2
LB

University of Ottawa

4PL
EA2

LA

LB

or

A
1

LB

LALB

4PL
EAB

Lecture 8 - 7

CVG 2140

Mechanics of Materials I

Winter 2016

Statically Indeterminate Structures

RA

A
A1

RA P RB 0

AB 0

(equilibrium equation)
(compatibility equation)

Change in length must be compatible with conditions at the

supports.

C
b

A2

AC

RA a
EA1

CB

RB b
EA2

(displacement relation)

AB AC CB 0

RB

Example 5:
A rigid bar of weight W =80 lb hangs from three equally spaced vertical wires, two of steel and one of
aluminium, as shown in the figure below. The wires also support a load P acting at the midpoint of the
bar. The diameter of the steel wires is 1/8 in., and the diameter of the aluminum wire is 3/16 in.
Determine what load P can be supported if the allowable stress in the steel wires is 20,000 psi and in the
aluminum wires is 12,000 psi? Assume ES = 30 106 psi and EA = 10 106 psi.

Aluminum
wire

Steel
wire

Steel
wire

Rigid
bar

P
Solution:

Steel wire:

s = 1/8

allow = 20,000 psi

ES = 30 106 psi

Aluminum wire:

A = 3/16

allow = 12,000 psi

EA = 30 106 psi

University of Ottawa

Lecture 8 - 8

CVG 2140

Mechanics of Materials I

Winter 2016

P=?
Free-body Diagram:
FS

FA

FS

P+W

2FS FA P W

FA 2FS P W

S A

FS L

ES AS

FA

2FS

E A AA
FS
ES AS

E A AA
FS
ES AS

E AA
FS 2 A

ES AS

FA L
E A AA

P W

W 2 P W

FS

ES AS
E A AA 2ES AS

ES AS
W

E A AA 2ES AS

ES AS
P W

E A AA 2ES AS

FA

FS

AS

ES
W

E A AA 2ES AS

20,000 psi

P 596 lbs ( governs ! )

FA

AA

EA
W

E A AA 2ES AS

12,000 psi

P 1136.8 lbs

where,
AA

A2
4

(32 )
4 16

0.0276 in

AS

S2
4

(12 )
4 8

0.0123 in2

E A AA 2ES AS 1,014,000 lbs

University of Ottawa

Lecture 8 - 9