Question No.

What are beams and its basic types? Why we study stresses in beams?

A beam is a structural member used for bearing loads. It is typically used for
resisting vertical loads, shear forces and bending moments.
Types of Beams:
Beams can be classified into many types based on three main criteria. They are as
follows:

1: Based on Geometry:
1. Straight beam Beam with straight profile
2. Curved beam Beam with curved profile
3. Tapered beam Beam with tapered cross section

2: Based on the shape of cross section:

1. I-beam Beam with I cross section
2. T-beam Beam with T cross section
3. C-beam Beam with C cross section
3: Based on equilibrium conditions:
1) Statically determinate beam For a statically determinate beam, equilibrium
conditions alone can be used to solve reactions.
2) Statically indeterminate beam For a statically indeterminate beam,
equilibrium conditions are not enough to solve reactions. Additional
deflections are needed to solve reactions.
4: Based on the type of support:
1. Simply supported beam
2. Cantilever beam
3. Overhanging beam
4. Continuous beam
5. Fixed beam
Classification of beams based on the type of support is discussed in detail below:

1. Simply supported beam:

A simply supported beam is a type of beam that has pinned support at one end and
roller support at the other end. Depending on the load applied, it undergoes
shearing and bending. It is the one of the simplest structural elements in existence.

The following image illustrates a simply supported beam.

Simply Supported Beam (SSB)

2. Cantilever beam:
A cantilever beam is fixed at one end and free at other end. It can be seen in the
image below.

Cantilever Beam

3. Overhanging beam:
A overhanging beam is a beam that has one or both end portions extending beyond
its supports. It may have any number of supports. If viewed in a different
perspective, it appears as if it is has the features of simply supported beam and
cantilever beam.

Overhanging Beam

4. Continuous beam:
A continuous beam has more than two supports distributed throughout its length. It
can be understood well from the image below.

Continuous Beam
5. Fixed beam:
As the name suggests, fixed beam is a type of beam whose both ends are fixed.

Fixed Beam

Stresses in Beams

Forces and couples acting on the beam cause bending (flexural stresses) and
shearing stresses on any cross section of the beam and deflection perpendicular to
the longitudinal axis of the beam. If couples are applied to the ends of the beam and
no forces act on it, the bending is said to be pure bending. If forces produce the
bending, the bending is called ordinary bending.

Question No.2
A. What are flexural stresses in beams? Why flexural test is required? Give its
formula.

Flexural stresses in beam

General:

A beam is a structural member whose length is large compared to its cross sectional
area which is loaded and supported in the direction transverse to its axis. Lateral
loads acting on the beam cause the beam to bend or flex, thereby deforming the
axis of the beam into a curved line. We shall now consider the stresses and strains
associated with bending moments.

Stresses in Beams
Forces and couples acting on the beam cause bending (flexural stresses) and
shearing stresses on any cross section of the beam and deflection perpendicular to
the longitudinal axis of the beam. If couples are applied to the ends of the beam and
no forces act on it, the bending is said to be pure bending. If forces produce the
bending, the bending is called ordinary bending.

Pure Bending Assumptions:

1. Beam is straight before loads are applied and has a constant cross-sectional area.
2. Beam has a longitudinal plane of symmetry and the bending moment lies within
this plane.
3. Beam is subjected to pure bending (bending moment does not change along the
length).
4. Beam material is homogeneous and isotropic.

Experiments show that beams subjected to pure bending (see above) deform is such
a way that plane sections remain plane. In other words, planes perpendicular to the
longitudinal axis before loading remain plane and perpendicular to the axis after
loading. Beam sections rotate relative to one another when the beam deforms.

Consider the following rubber beam with grid lines subjected to pure bending.
Flexural test is required?

Flexure tests are generally used to determine the flexural modulus or flexural
strength of a material. A flexure test is more affordable than a tensile test and test
results are slightly different. The material is laid horizontally over two points of
contact (lower support span) and then a force is applied to the top of the material
through either one or two points of contact (upper loading span) until the sample
fails. The maximum recorded force is the flexural strength of that particular sample.

Flexural formula

Forces that are acting perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the beam cause
bending stresses which are termed as flexural stresses, beside flexural stresses
beams also undergo shear stresses and normal stresses.
We know from the basic concepts of internal forces in the beams that whenever
some load either dead load, live load, imposed load, superimposed load or
whatever is applied, it produces some internal forces and resultant stresses within
the fibers of the beam. These internal forces within the fiber includes, Bending
Moment M, Shear Forces V and normal forces P.

Bending Moment as the name suggests is a bending force that is caused as a result of
the moment of the force given by the magnitude of the force multiplied by the
distance to the point of consideration along the length of the beam. Bending moment
varies throughout the length of the beam and is thus given by a diagram called
Bending Moment Diagram.

Therefore it is concluded that the Stresses that are caused as a result of bending is
called flexural stresses.

In order to calculate flexural stresses there is a very well-known formula called

flexural formula. Flexural formula is derived while considering some assumptions
which are as follows:-

1. Plane section of the beam normal to its longitudinal axis prior to loading remains
plane after the forces and couples have been applied,
2. The beam is initially straight and of uniform cross section
3. The module of elasticity in tension and compression are equal.

=

Where
 = Flexural Stresses

M is the bending moment at any point along the longitudinal axis of the beam

Y is the internal fiber distance from neutral axis

I is the moment of Inertia of the Beam.