Mechanics of Solids-I

Simple Stresses
 Introduction
• Mechanics of materials or Mechanics of solids is a branch of
applied mechanics that deals with the behavior of solid bodies
subjected to various types of loading.

• The solid bodies considered in this Course include bars with

axial loads, shafts in torsion, beams in bending, and columns
in compression.

• Modern Mechanics have many fields and/or types e.g quantum

mechanics, fluid mechanics, engineering mechanics,
automotive mechanics etc.
 Introduction
• When an external force acts on the body the body tends

to undergo some deformation.

• Due to cohesion between the molecules, the body resist

this deformation.

• The resistance by which the material opposes the

deformation is known as strength of material.

 Introduction
• Within certain limit (i.e. elastic range) the resistance offered
by the material is directly proportional to deformation.

• Also within this limit the resistance is equal to the external

applied force.

• But beyond the elastic range the resistance offered by the

material is less than external applied force.

• In such cases the deformation continues, until failure take

place.
 Stress
• The force of resistance per unit area, offered by a body
against deformation is known as stress.

• The external force acting on the body is called load or

force.

• The load is applied on the body while the stress is induced

in the material of the body.

• The material remains in equilibrium when the applied force

and the resistance offered by the material is equal.
 Stress
• Mathematically stress is written as,
𝑃
𝜎=
𝐴

• Where

• 𝜎 = Stress (also called intensity of stress)

• 𝑃 = External force or Load

• 𝐴 = Cross-sectional area
 Units of Stress
• The unit of stress depends upon the unit of applied force

and resisting area.

• In S.I. units the force in expressed in newton (written as

“𝑁”) and the area is expressed in “𝑚²”, thus the unit of

stress in S.I. system is; “𝑁/𝑚²”

• 1 𝑁/𝑚² = 1 𝑃𝑎𝑠𝑐𝑎𝑙 = (1 𝑃𝑎)

• If the area is in “𝑚𝑚” then the unit becomes “𝑁/𝑚𝑚²”

 Units of Stress
• 1 𝑁/𝑚𝑚² = 10⁶ 𝑁/𝑚² = 10⁶ 𝑃𝑎

• Thus, 1 𝑁/𝑚𝑚² = 1 𝑀𝑃𝑎

• The large quantities are represented by;

• 𝐾𝑖𝑙𝑜 = 103 and represented by -----𝐾

• 𝑀𝑒𝑔𝑎 = 106 and represented by ----−𝑀

• 𝐺𝑖𝑔𝑎 = 109 and represented by -----𝐺

• 𝑇𝑒𝑟𝑎 = 1012 and represented by ----−𝑇

 Units of Stress
• The small quantities are represented by;

• 𝑚𝑖𝑙𝑖 = 10−3 and represented by -----𝑚

• 𝑚𝑖𝑐𝑟𝑜 = 10−6 and represented by -----μ

• 𝑛𝑎𝑛𝑎 = 10−9 and represented by -----η

• 𝑝𝑖𝑐𝑎 = 10−12 and represented by -----𝑝

 Units of Stress
• In US customary units the force in expressed in pounds

(written as “lb”) and the area is expressed in “𝑓𝑡²”, thus the

unit of stress in US customary units is; “𝑙𝑏/𝑓𝑡²”

• 1 𝑙𝑏/𝑓𝑡² = 1 𝑃𝑠𝑓

• If the area is in “𝑖𝑛𝑐ℎ𝑒𝑠” then the unit becomes “𝑙𝑏/𝑖𝑛²” or

𝑃𝑠𝑖.
 Types of Stresses
• There are three types of simple stress namely;

1. Normal stress

2. Shearing stress

3. Bearing stress
 Normal stress
• When the resisting area is perpendicular to the applied

force the stress is said to be Normal

• Normal Stress is further divided into two types;

• Tensile stress

• Compressive stress
 Tensile stress
• The stress induced in a body by a force that act

perpendicular to the resisting area and tends to elongate

the body is known is tensile stress.

𝑃 𝑃
 Compressive stress
• The stress induced in a body by a force that act

perpendicular to the resisting area and tends to shorten the

body is known is compressive stress.

𝑃 𝑃
 Procedure for stress analysis
1. If necessary, find the external reactions using a free-body
diagram (FBD) of the entire structure.

2. Compute the axial force “P” in the member using the method of
sections.

3. After the axial force has been found by equilibrium analysis,

the average normal stress in the member can be obtained
from;

𝑃
𝜎=
𝐴
Pb#01: Find the minimum diameter of a steel wire which is support a
load of 4000 N if the stress in the wire is limited to 95 MPa.

𝐺𝑖𝑣𝑒𝑛

𝑃 = 4000 𝑁, 𝜎 = 95 𝑀𝑃𝑎

𝑅𝑒𝑞𝑢𝑖𝑟𝑒𝑑 = 𝑑𝑖𝑎 𝑜𝑓 𝑤𝑖𝑟𝑒 = 𝐷 =?

𝑊𝑒 𝑘𝑛𝑜𝑤 𝑡ℎ𝑎𝑡;

𝑃
𝜎=
𝐴

4000
95 =
𝐴
 4000
𝐴= = 42.105 𝑚𝑚2
95
𝐴 = 42.105 𝑚𝑚2
𝜋𝐷 2
𝑊𝑒 𝑎𝑙𝑠𝑜 𝑘𝑛𝑜𝑤 𝑡ℎ𝑎𝑡; 𝐴 =
4

𝜋𝐷 2
= 42.105 𝑚𝑚2
4

42.105 × 4
𝐷2 =
𝜋
𝐷 2 = 53.609

√𝐷 2 = √53.609

𝐷 = 7.321 𝑚𝑚
Pb#02: The bar ABCD in Fig. consists of three cylindrical steel
segments with different lengths and cross-sectional areas. Axial loads
are applied as shown. Calculate the normal stress in each segment.

1.3′ 1.6′ 1.7′

1.8 𝑖𝑛2
1.2 𝑖𝑛2 1.6 𝑖𝑛2
4000 𝑙𝑏 9000 𝑙𝑏 2000 𝑙𝑏 7000 𝑙𝑏

𝐴 𝐷
𝐵 𝐶
1 2 3
From Section (1)
Σ𝐹𝑥 = 0
1.2 𝑖𝑛2
4000 𝑙𝑏
𝑃𝐴𝐵 = 4000 𝑙𝑏 (𝑇)
𝐴
From Section (2)
Σ𝐹𝑥 = 0

1.8 𝑖𝑛2
1.2 𝑖𝑛2
4000 𝑙𝑏 9000 𝑙𝑏
𝑃𝐵𝐶 = 5000 𝑙𝑏 (𝐶)

𝐴 𝐵

From Section (3)

Σ𝐹𝑥 = 0 1.6 𝑖𝑛2
7000 𝑙𝑏
𝑃𝐶𝐷 = 7000 𝑙𝑏 (𝐶)
𝐷
 Axial Force diagram is given by

𝑃(𝑙𝑏)

4000 𝑙𝑏

𝐵 𝐶 𝐷
𝑥(𝑓𝑡)
𝐴

−5000 𝑙𝑏
−7000 𝑙𝑏
 𝑃𝐴𝐵 4000
𝜎𝐴𝐵 = = = 3333.33 𝑝𝑠𝑖 (𝑇)
𝐴𝐴𝐵 1.2

𝑃𝐵𝐶 −5000
𝜎𝐵𝐶 = = = 2777.77 𝑝𝑠𝑖 (𝐶)
𝐴𝐵𝐶 1.8

𝑃𝐶𝐷 −7000
𝜎𝐶𝐷 = = = 4375 𝑝𝑠𝑖 (𝐶)
𝐴𝐶𝐷 1.6
Pb#03: Figure shows a two-member truss supporting a block of weight W.
The cross-sectional areas of the members are 800 mm2 for AB and 400
mm2 for AC. Determine the maximum safe value of W if the working
stresses are 110 MPa for AB and 120 MPa for AC.
Consider the free body diagram of point “A”
𝑦
Σ𝐹𝑥 = 0

𝑃𝐴𝐵 𝑠𝑖𝑛 40° 𝑃𝐴𝐶 𝑐𝑜𝑠60° − 𝑃𝐴𝐵 𝑐𝑜𝑠40° = 0

𝑃𝐴𝐶 𝑠𝑖𝑛 60°
𝑃𝐴𝐶 0.5 𝑃𝐴𝐶 − 0.766 𝑃𝐴𝐵 = 0 (𝑖)
𝑃𝐴𝐵

40° 60° Σ𝐹𝑦 = 0

𝑥
A 𝑃𝐴𝐶 𝑐𝑜𝑠 60°
𝑃𝐴𝐵 𝑐𝑜𝑠 40°
𝑃𝐴𝐶 𝑠𝑖𝑛60° + 𝑃𝐴𝐵 𝑠𝑖𝑛40° − 𝑊 = 0

𝑊
0.866 𝑃𝐴𝐶 + 0.642 𝑃𝐴𝐵 = 𝑊 (𝑖𝑖)
From (i)

0.5 𝑃𝐴𝐶 − 0.766 𝑃𝐴𝐵 = 0 (𝑖)

0.766
𝑃𝐴𝐶 = 𝑃𝐴𝐵
0.5

𝑃𝐴𝐶 = 1.532 𝑃𝐴𝐵 Put this in (ii)

0.866 𝑃𝐴𝐶 + 0.642 𝑃𝐴𝐵 = 𝑊 (𝑖𝑖)

0.866(1.532 𝑃𝐴𝐵) + 0.642 𝑃𝐴𝐵 = 𝑊

1.3267 𝑃𝐴𝐵 + 0.642 𝑃𝐴𝐵 = 𝑊

1.9687 𝑃𝐴𝐵 = 𝑊
𝑊
𝑃𝐴𝐵 = = 0.508 𝑊
1.9687
𝑃𝐴𝐵 = 0.508 𝑊

As we derived earlier

𝑃𝐴𝐶 = 1.532 𝑃𝐴𝐵

𝑃𝐴𝐶 = 1.532(0.508 𝑊)

𝑃𝐴𝐶 = 0.778 𝑊

𝑃
As we know that 𝜎=
𝐴

So;

𝑃𝐴𝐵
𝜎𝐴𝐵 =
𝐴𝐴𝐵
 𝑃𝐴𝐵 0.508 𝑊
𝜎𝐴𝐵 = 110 =
𝐴𝐴𝐵 800

110 × 800
𝑊= = 173228.34 𝑁 𝑜𝑟 173.22 𝑘𝑁
0.508

And;

𝑃𝐴𝐶 0.778 𝑊
𝜎𝐴𝐶 = 120 =
𝐴𝐴𝐶 400

120 × 400
𝑊= = 61696.65 𝑁 𝑜𝑟 61.69 𝑘𝑁
0.778

The maximum safe value of W is the smaller of the two values namely,
W =61.69 kN
Pb#04: A hollow steel tube with an inside diameter of 80 mm must carry an
axial tensile load of 330 kN. Determine the smallest allowable outside
diameter of the tube if the working stress is 110 MPa.

80 𝑚𝑚 𝐷 =?

𝑃 = 330 𝑘𝑁
 𝑃
We know that; 𝜎=
𝐴

𝜎 = 110 𝑀𝑃𝑎 𝑃 = 330 𝑘𝑁 = 330 × 103 𝑁

330
110 =
𝐴

330 × 103
𝐴= = 3000 𝑚𝑚2
110
𝜋(𝐷 2 − 802 )
For the given hollow tube; 𝐴=
4

𝜋(𝐷 2 − 802 ) 3000 × 4

= 3000 = 𝜋 𝐷 2 − 802 = 3000 × 4 = 𝐷 2 − 802 =
4 𝜋
𝐷 2 − 802 = 3819.709 = 𝐷 2 = 3819.709 + 802 = 10219.709

√𝐷 2 = √10219.709 𝐷 = 101.09 𝑚𝑚
 1
Pb#05: The wood pole is supported by two cables of 𝑖𝑛𝑐ℎ diameter. The
4

turnbuckles in the cables are tightened until the stress in the cables
reaches 60,000 psi. If the working compressive stress for wood is 200 psi,
determine the smallest permissible diameter of the pole.

Dia of cable = dst = 1/4 in = 0.25 in

Stress in the cable = σst =60,000 psi

Stress in wood= σwd =200 psi

Consider the free body diagram

𝑃𝑠𝑡 cos 60° 𝑃𝑠𝑡 cos 60°

60° 60°

𝑃𝑠𝑡 𝑃𝑠𝑡
𝑃𝑠𝑡 si𝑛 60° 𝑃𝑠𝑡 si𝑛 60°

60° 60°

𝑃𝑤𝑑
From the free body diagram it is clear that the horizontal components
cancels out each other so;

Σ𝐹𝑦 = 0

𝑃𝑤𝑑 − 2𝑃𝑠𝑡 𝑠𝑖𝑛60° = 0 (𝑖)

𝑃𝑠𝑡
𝜎𝑠𝑡 = 𝑃𝑠𝑡 = 𝐴𝑠𝑡 × 𝜎𝑠𝑡
𝐴𝑠𝑡

2
𝜋 𝑑𝑠𝑡
𝐴𝑠𝑡 =
4

𝜋 0.25 2
𝐴= = 0.049 𝑖𝑛2
4

𝑃𝑠𝑡 = 0.049 × 60000 = 2945.25 𝑙𝑏

From (i)

𝑃𝑤𝑑 − 2𝑃𝑠𝑡 𝑠𝑖𝑛60° = 0 (𝑖)

𝑃𝑤𝑑 − 2(2945.25) 𝑠𝑖𝑛60° = 0

𝑃𝑤𝑑 = 5101.32 𝑙𝑏

𝑃𝑤𝑑 5101.32
𝜎𝑤𝑑 = = 200 =
𝐴𝑤𝑑 𝐴𝑤𝑑

5101.32
𝐴𝑤𝑑 = = 25.506 𝑖𝑛2
200
𝜋 𝑑𝑤𝑑 2 25.506 × 4
= 25.506 𝑑𝑤𝑑 2 = = 32.475
4 𝜋

√ 𝑑𝑤𝑑 2 = √32.475 𝑑𝑤𝑑 = 5.69 𝑖𝑛

Pb#06: The column consists of a wooden post and a concrete footing,
separated by a steel bearing plate. Find the maximum safe value of the
axial load P if the working stresses are 1000 psi for wood and 450 psi for
concrete.

Stress in the concrete = σcon =450 psi

Stress in wood= σwd =1000 psi

 𝑃𝑤𝑑
𝜎𝑤𝑑 =
𝐴𝑤𝑑

𝜋 𝑑𝑤𝑑 2 𝜋 × 82
𝐴𝑤𝑑 = = = 50.26 𝑖𝑛²
4 4

𝑃𝑤𝑑
1000 =
50.26

𝑃𝑤𝑑 = 1000 × 50.26 = 50260 𝑙𝑏

 𝑃𝑐𝑜𝑛
𝜎𝑐𝑜𝑛 =
𝐴𝑐𝑜𝑛

𝐴𝑐𝑜𝑛 = 12 × 12 = 144 𝑖𝑛²

𝑃𝑐𝑜𝑛
450 =
144

𝑃𝑐𝑜𝑛 = 450 × 144 = 64800 𝑙𝑏

𝑆𝑎𝑓𝑒 𝑣𝑎𝑙𝑢𝑒 𝑜𝑓 𝑡ℎ𝑒 𝑎𝑥𝑖𝑎𝑙 𝑙𝑜𝑎𝑑 𝑃 = 50260 𝑙𝑏

Pb#07: The homogeneous 6000-lb bar ABC is supported by a pin at C and
a cable that runs from A to B around the frictionless pulley at D. Find the
stress in the cable if its diameter is 0.6 in.

3
𝜃 = tan−1 = 30.96°
5
Consider the free body diagram

𝑇 𝑠𝑖𝑛30.96° 𝑇
𝑇 𝐶y

30.96° 5′ 5′
𝐶𝑥
𝐴 𝑇 𝑐𝑜𝑠30.96° 𝐵 𝐶

6000 𝑙𝑏

Σ𝑀𝑐 = 0

𝑇𝑠𝑖𝑛30.96° × 10 + 𝑇 × 5 − 6000 × 5 = 0

10.144𝑇 = 30000

30000
𝑇= = 2957.4 𝑙𝑏
10.144
Stress in the cable is given by

𝑇𝑐𝑎𝑏𝑙𝑒
𝜎𝑐𝑎𝑏𝑙𝑒 =
𝐴𝑐𝑎𝑏𝑙𝑒

𝜋𝐷 2 𝜋(0.62 )
𝐴𝑐𝑎𝑏𝑙𝑒 = = = 0.2827 𝑖𝑛²
4 4

𝑇𝑐𝑎𝑏𝑙𝑒 = 2957.4 𝑙𝑏

2957.4
𝜎𝑐𝑎𝑏𝑙𝑒 =
0.2827

𝜎𝑐𝑎𝑏𝑙𝑒 = 10461.2 𝑝𝑠𝑖