FLITCHED BEAM

Some materials have different material properties in tension and compression as CI, concrete,
wood etc. These are strong in compression as compared to tension. It implies that if the cross-
section of these materials are symmetrical than they are not used to their full strength. A
rectangular section beam (Syc > Syt) subjected to bending moment will have same value of
induced stress in compression and tension (𝜎𝑐 𝑚𝑎𝑥 = 𝜎𝑡 𝑚𝑎𝑥 ). We can load this beam till 𝜎𝑐 𝑚𝑎𝑥
reaches it maximum permissible value 𝜎𝑑𝑐 based on 𝑆𝑦𝑐 . The unsymmetrical section about
neutral axis allows us to design a section such that the maximum stress in compression and
tension reaches simultaneously to their respective design values. In such a section NA is shifted
to the side of lower strength to reduce the distance of point of maximum stress from the NA.
The other alternative is to use two different materials bonded properly. This, we can achieve
either by putting the two materials in any of the following form or any other equivalent forms.

1
1 1
2 1
2

In above sections (b) and (c) are symmetrical about NA whereas (a) and (d) are not. The
material so attached that the strain at the interface is same for both the materials. The total
moment of resistance is shared by the cross-section of the material.

𝜀𝑐 𝜎1𝑐 𝜎1𝑐
1 𝜎2𝑐 𝜎2𝑐
1 11 12
1

2 1 1

𝜎2𝑡 𝜎2𝑡
𝜀𝑡 𝜎1𝑡 1 𝜎1𝑡 1
1 1 1
(a) (b) (c) (d) (e) (f) (g)

𝐼1 𝐼2
𝑀 = 𝑀1 + 𝑀2 = 𝜎1 + 𝜎2
𝑦1 𝑦2
𝜎 𝜎 𝑦
𝑀 = 𝑦1 (𝐼1 + 𝜎2 𝑦1 𝐼2 ) …1
1 1 2
 From 𝜎/𝑦 = 𝐸/𝑅
𝜎1 𝜎2
=
𝐸1 𝑦1 𝐸2 𝑦2
𝑜𝑟
𝜎2 𝑦1 𝐸2
= =𝑚
𝜎1 𝑦2 𝐸1
𝐸
Where 𝑚 = 𝐸2 and is called modular ratio.
1

From Equation (1)

𝜎1
𝑀 = (𝐼1 + 𝑚𝐼2 )
𝑦1
𝜎1
𝑀 = 𝐼𝑒𝑞 2
𝑦1
Where 𝐼𝑒𝑞 = 𝐼1 + 𝑚𝐼2 and is called equivalent second moment of area of the section in terms
material 1. The shape of equivalent section is determined by original shape of material 1 and
the modified shape of material 2. The shape of the cross-section of material 2 is determined
such that the second moment of area of the modified shape is 𝐼2′ = 𝑚𝐼2 .
For rectangular section
𝑏ℎ3 𝑏′ℎ3
𝐼2′ =𝑚 =
12 12
Where 𝑏′ = 𝑚𝑏.

b mb

1 2 1

Original Section
Equivalent Section

b mb

1 1 1

Equivalent Section
2 Original Section
The Equation 2 gives the stress in the equivalent section throughout the depth of the beam. The
results are valid for the all the point in the original section in the original material. The stress
at any point in the material which has been converted (material 2 in the above two composite
section), we first calculate the stress at the corresponding point (in terms of y) in material 1 and
then multiply the stress by modular ratio.
We can use Hooke’s law for relating stress in both material
𝜎1 = 𝐸1 𝜀 𝑎𝑛𝑑 𝜎2 = 𝐸2 𝜀
Or
𝜎1 𝐸1
=
𝜎2 𝐸2
𝐸2
𝜎2 = 𝜎 = 𝑚𝜎1
𝐸1 1