Stress Analysis in Curved Beams

(Moment Applied Normal to Plane of Curvature)

If the initial Curvature of the member is small, i.e. the radius of curvature is large compared to
the depth of the cross section; a good approximation can be obtained for distribution of stresses
by assuming the member to be straight.
However, when the radius of curvature and the dimensions of the cross section of the member
are of the same order of magnitude, we must use a different method of analysis, which was first
introduced by E. Winkler.
Consider the curved member of uniform cross section with center C.


Due to applied moments M and M in the plane of symmetry C will move to C
' '
' '
' '
A C AC
A B AB
F G FG
<
<
>

The length of the neutral surface will remain constant
' '
' '
DE D E
R R
=
=

Now consider the arc J K located at distance y above the neutral surface
The deformation in J K ' ' r r =

( ) ( )
( )
' '
' '
'
' ' ' '
r R y
r R y
R y R y
Setting
R y R y y
y




=
=
=
=
= + =
=

0
x
x
y
L r
y
y
r R y

= =

= =

This relation shows that x does not vary linearly with the distance y from N.A
x x
x
E
y R r
E E
R y r

=

= =

Location of the neutral axis and value of E

From equilibrium

0 0
0
0
0
x x
F dA
R r
E dA
r
R r
dA
r
dA
R dA
r
dA
R
dA
r

= =

=

=
=
=

R: is the distance from center of curvature to the neutral surface
1
' r rdA
A
=


r`: the distance from center of curvature to the centroid of the section.

We thus conclude that in curved members the neutral axis does not pass through the centroid




Radius of Neutral Surface for various cross-sectional shapes


Also from equilibrium
( )
( )
2
2 2
2
since -
Expanding the square in the integral
2
2
z x
M M y dA M
R r
E ydA M y R r
r
R r
E dA M
r
R rR r
E dA M
r
dA
E R RA rdA M
r

= =

= =

=
+

=
(
+ =
(

| |
| |
( )
dA A
r R
E RA rA M
M
E RA rA
A r R
setting r R e
M
E
Ae

+ =

= + =

Note
0 0
0
for M
r R for R r
> >
> <

Recall
x
y
E
R y

( )
( )
x x
M r R
My
or
Ae R y Aer


= =

Change in curvature
'
'
'
1 1 '
'
1 1 1
1 1
1 1
R R
M
R R R EAe
M
R R EAeR

=
= +
| | | |
= + = +
| |
\ . \ .
=




Example 1
A curved rectangular bar has a mean radius of 6in and cross section width b=2.5 in and depth
=1.5 in.
1. Determine the distance between the centroid and the neutral axis of the cross section
2. Determine the largest tensile and compressive stresses due to bending moment M=8
kip.in







2 2 2
1 1 1
2
1
ln
r r r
r r r
dA
A bh h h
R
dA
r dA bdr dr
r
r r r r
= = = = =
| |
|
\ .

Foe the given data we have
1
2
2
1
1
6 0.75 5.25
2
1
6 0.75 6.75
2
1.5
5.9686
6.75
ln
ln
5.25
r r h in
r r h in
h
R in
r
r
= = =
= + = + =
= = =
| | | |
|
|
\ .
\ .

The distance between the centroid and the neutral axis
of the cross section
6 5.9686 0.0314 e r R in = = =


b) Maximum tensile and compressive stresses
( )
( )
( ) ( )
( )( )( )
( )
( ) ( )
( )( )( )
2
max
2
1
max
1
8 6.75 5.969
7.86
2.5 1.5 0.0314 6.75
8 5.25 5.969
9.30
2.5 1.5 0.0314 5.25
x
tension
compression
M r R
Aer
M r R
ksi
Aer
M r R
ksi
Aer

=

= = =

= = =

Remarks
Let us compare these values with the result for straight bar
( )
( )( )
max,min
max,min
3
8 0.75
8 8.53
1
2.5 1.5
12
Mc
I
ksi

=
= =


Example 2

A machine component has a T-shape cross section and is loaded as shown. Knowing that the
allowable compressive stress is 50 MPa, determine the largest force P that can be applied to the
component.




Solution
Centroid
( ) ( )( ) ( )( ) 20 80 40 20 20 80 40 40 20 70
50 0.05
i i i
r A r A
r
r mm m
=
+ = +
= =


Force and Moment at the centroid
Force =P
M=P(50+60mm)=0.11P


Radius of Neutral Surface

50 90
30 50
2400 2400
45.61
50 90
80 20
80ln 20ln
30 50
A
R mm
dA
dr dr
r
r r
= = = =
| | | |
+
+
| |
\ . \ .

The maximum compressive stress
( )
0.05 0.04561 0.00439
x
M r R
P
A Aer
e r R m

= +
= = =

Maximum Allowable load
all
The maximum compressive stress occurs at the lower edge of the cross section r=0.03m
=50MPa

60mm
30
20
40mm
20
80
30
20
40mm
20
80
( )
( )( )
( )( )( )
3
6 6
3
0.11 0.03 0.04561
50 10
2400 10 2400 10 0.00439 0.03
50 10 417 5432
8.55
all
M r R
P
A Aer
P
P
P P
P kN

= +

= +

=
=