Chapter

p
4
Axial Load
Elastic Deformation of an Axially Loaded
Component (4.2)
Statically Indeterminate Axially Loaded
Member
e be ((4.4))
Principle of Superposition (4.3)
The Force Method of Analysis for Axially
Loaded Members (4.5)
(4 5)

E = constant
Y

A(x)
X

F
P(x)
( )

L
P(x)
Generally, internal axial load P(x) varies with position x,

( x)

P ((xx)
A( x)

and ( x)

d
dx

dx

Now apply Hookes law:

( x) E ( x)

P( x)
d
E
A( x)
dx
Solve for the elemental displacement d:

P( x)dx
d
EA( x)
The total displacement
p
is :
L

P( x)dx
d
EA( x)
0
0

E (4-1)
Eq.
(4 1)

P(x): internal axial force

E Youngs
E:
Y
modulus
d l
A(x): cross-sectional area

This is the GENERAL equation for deflection of a

body subjected to an axial applied force.

SPECIAL CASE 1: The axial displacement

for a body of constant cross sectional area
subjected to a constant axial force:
L

P
A

PL

EA

P ( x)dx
d
P

dx
EA( x) EA
0

Eq. (4-2)

Example 1:
The shipp is pushed
p
through
g the water usingg an A-36 steel ppropeller
p
shaft that is 8 m long,
g, measured
from the propeller to the thrust bearing D at the engine. The shaft has an outer diameter of 400 mm and
a wall thickness of 50 mm. The force exerted on the shaft from the propeller can be assumed as an axial
force. When this force is 5 kN, determine the amount of axial contraction of the shaft. The bearings at B
and C are jjournal bearings.
g

SPECIAL CASE 2: The total axial displacement

of a series components connected in series:
Each component has different axial internal loading or
Each component is made of different material or
Each
c hass ddifferent
e e constant
co s
cross
c oss section
sec o or
o
All the above conditions are satisfied (a general example below)
a
b
c
d
Pa
I
Pc III
II
Pd
Pb

deflection of end d w.r.t. end a:

d /a d /c c/b b/a
d /a

PIIILIII
PIILII
PILI

E III AIII E II AII E I AI

i 1

PiLi
Ei Ai

Eq.
q ((4-3))

CAUTION:
IIn order
d tto apply
l E
Eq. (4
(4.3)
3) tto d
determine
t
i th
the di
displacement
l
t off
one end of the bar to the other end, the sign convention
MUST be followed
Sign Convention: Tension (elongation): POSITIVE
Compression (contraction): NEGATIVE

Tips: It is convenient to assume that the internal normal loading

is always tensile when draw the FBD of the sectioned segment.
If the result calculated from equilibrium
q
equations
q
is ppositive,,
it is real positive (tensile) according to the sign convention for
the normal loading; if the result is negative, it is real
negative (compressive).
(compressive) Then this internal loading can be applied
DIRECTLY into Eq. (4.3) to calculate displacement.

Example 2:

Calculation of the axial deformation of a tube assembly

Given:

The assembly shown below consists of an aluminum tube AB having a

cross-sectional area of 500 mm2. A steel rod having a cross-sectional area
of 80 mm2 is attached to a rigid collar at B and passes through the tube. A
tensile load of 100 kN is applied to the rod.
B

Al tube

Steel rod
100 kN
C

400 mm

600 mm

Find:

The displacement of the end C of the rod. Take Esteel = 200 GPa and Eal =
70 GPa.

Example 3: Calculation of the axial deformation of a rigid beam

Given: A rigid beam AF rests on two posts. Post AC is made of steel and has a diameter of 20 mm.
P BD iis made
Post
d off aluminum
l i
andd has
h a diameter
di
off 40 mm.

Find: The displacement of point F if a vertical load of 90 kN is applied downward at this point.
Take Esteel = 200 GPa and Eal = 70 GPa.
GPa

How to calculate F:
A/C

03m
0.3

A
A

04m
0.4
B

B B/D

by similar triangles:

BB' AA' FF ' AA'

0.3
0.7
B / D A/ C
0.3

F
F
F
A/C

F A/ C
0.7

B / D A / C F A / C

0.3
0 .7

Attention: Each length component has absolute value

A problem is Statically Indeterminate if:

# of equilibrium equations < # of unknown
reactions
Otherwise, reactions can be determined from equilibrium
equations-Statically Determinate Problem

**These problems cant be solved with simple

statics but can often be solved by considering the
deflection of the components.

Example 4: Calculation of the axial deformation of a rigid beam using the compatibility method
Given: A rigid beam AG rests upon three 20 mm diameter posts (AC, BD, and EF).
P
Posts
AC and
d EF are made
d off steell while
hil post BD is
i made
d off aluminum.
l i

Find: The displacement of point G if a vertical load of 90 kN is applied downward at this point.
Take Esteel = 200 GPa and Eal = 70 GPa.

FBD:
Y

A
X

90 kN
B

300mm 300mm

Ay

By

Ey

G
600mm

0.3 m

A/C

B/D

0.6 m

A
A

0.3 m

by similar triangles:

G
G

E/F
E
BB' AA' EE ' AA'

0.3
0.6

B / D A/ C
0.3

E / F A/ C
0.6

B / D ( A / C ) E / F ( A / C )

0.3
0.6

Now finally calculate the deflection of end G

0.3 m 0.3 m
0.6 m
A/C
A
E
B/D
E/F
B
G
A
B
E
G
by similar triangles:

EE ' AA' GG ' AA'

0.6
1.2

E / F A/ C
0.6

G A/ C
1.2

G
A/C

E / F A / C G A / C

0 .6
1.2

Methods for solving statically indeterminate problems

Method 1

The compatibility method:

1 Draw a Free-Body Diagram of the member to identify all the forces that act on it.
2 Write the equations of equilibrium for the member.
3 Add additional equations by describing the displacement of the various axially
loaded components of the member keeping in mind the condition that, at points
where the sections meet the displacements must be equal (i.e. compatibility must
be maintained throughout the member)
member).
4 These additional equations are used to determine the number of unknown reaction
forces.

Compatibility (kinematic) condition is introduced,

which specifies the conditions for displacement

Example 4: Calculation of the deflection of a rigid beam

Given:

The rigid bar AB is supported by a central spring and two wooden posts,
Ewood =13.1 GPa, each of 1 m length with cross-sectional area of 600 mm2.
The spring has a stiffness of k = 2 MN/m and an unstretched length of 1.02
m

Find:

The vertical displacement of A and B after the distributed load is applied.

F = 100 kN

FBD:
A

Ay
y

Cy
y

Ay

Cy = k(- 0.02)

1m

By
By
B

wood
d

wood
d

Methods for solving statically indeterminate problems

Method 2

The force superposition method:

Draw a Free-Bodyy Diagram

g
of the member to identify
y all the forces that act on it.

Write the equations of equilibrium for the member.

Remove one of the unknown reaction forces so that the number of equilibrium
equations
ti
equals
l th
the number
b off remaining
i i unknown
k
reactions.
ti
C
Calculate
l l t the
th
remaining unknown reactions and the resulting displacement at the point where
the reaction force was removed.

Re apply the removed reaction force and calculate the force required to negate the
Re-apply
displacement in generated in step 3.

The addition, i.e. the superposition, of the calculated reactions in steps 3 and 4 provides
the solution to the problem.

Example 6: Calculation of the reaction forces in a

member using the force superposition method
Given:

Rod AB is fixed rigidly at the top and attached to rod BC at its other end.
od BC
C iss fixed
ed rigidly
g d y at the
t e bottom.
botto . Both
ot are
a e solid
so d rods
ods made
ade of
o steel
stee
Rod
and are each 0.5 m long. Rod AB has diameter of 30 mm while rod BC has
a diameter of 15 mm. A 400 kN load is applied to point B.

A
0.5 m
B
400 kN

0.5 m

Find:

The reaction forces at ends A and C. Take Esteel = 200 GPa.

Example 7:
The distributed loading is supported by the three suspender bars.
bars AB and EF are made of aluminum and
CD is made of steel. If each bar has a cross-sectional area of 450 mm2, determine the maximum
intensity w of the distributed loading so that an allowable stress in the steel and in the
aluminum is not exceeded. Assume ACE is rigid. Est = 200 GPa, Eal = 70 GPa. allow st 180MPa

allow al

94 MPa