176

Advanced Mechanics of Materials

Example 6.1
A cantilever of angle section is 1m long and is fixed at one end, while it is
subjected to a load of 3kN at the free end at 20O to the vertical. Calculate the
bending stress at A,B and C and also the position of the neutral axis.

Figure E6.1a

Figure E6.1b
Solution
Let the centroid of section be at O at a distance of z and y from the edges
of the section. The section is having an axis of symmetry inclined by 45O to
z-axis (h-h axis).

Figure E6.1c

Special Problems in Bending

z =y =

177

100 10 50 + 90 10 5
= 28.7mm
100 10 + 90 10

100 103

I z = I y =
+ 100 10 23.72
12

3
10 90

+
+ 10 90 26.32 = 1.8 106 mm4
12

Product of inertia,
I zy = A1z1y1 + A2z 2y2

= (100 10)(50 28.7)(28.7 5)

+ (90 10)(28.7 + 5)(45 10 + 28.7)
= 1.074 106 mm4

Let h-h be inclined to z-z by an angle . Then,

2I zy
tan 2 =
=

Iy Iz

2 = 90 and = 45

I h ,k =
Ih =

Iz + Iy
2

Iz Iy
2

+ I zy
2

1.8 106 2
+
2

( 0 )2 + (1.074 106 )

= 1.8 106 + 1.074 106 = 2.874 106 mm4

Ik =

1.8 106 2

( 0 )2 + (1.074 106 )

= 1.8 106 1.074 106 = 0.726 106 mm4

Maximum bending moment about z-z axis

M z = 3000 cos 20 1000 = 2.819 106 N.mm

Maximum bending moment about y-y axis

M y = 3000 sin 20 1000 = 1.026 106 N.mm

Resolving moments Mz and My about axes h-h and k-k,

M h = M z cos M y sin
= 2.816 106 cos 45 1.026 106 sin 45

= 1.268 106 N.mm

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Advanced Mechanics of Materials

M k = M z sin + M y cos

= 2.816 106 sin 45 + 1.026 106 cos 45

= 2.719 106 N.mm

Bending stresses at any point (h,k) is
=

M
Mk
2.719 106
1.268 106
h
k
h
 + hk=
+
Ih
Ik
0.726 106
2.874 106
= 3.745h + 0.441k

h = z cos + y sin
k = y cos z sin

For point A, h=-28.7cos45-71.3sin45=-70.71mm

k=-71.3cos45+28.7sin45=-30.12mm

A = 3.745 (70.71) + 0.441 (30.12) =-278.1 MPa

For point B, h=-28.7cos45+28.7cos45=0

k=28.7cos45-(-28.7sin 45)=40.58mm

B = 3.745 0 + 0.441 40.58 =17.9MPa

For point C, h=71.3cos45+28.7cos45=70.71mm

k=28.7cos45-71.3sin 45=-30.12mm

C = 3.745 70.71 + 0.441 (30.12) =251.5MPa

The angle between neutral axis and h-axis can be obtained from,
tan =

M k Ih
2.719 106 2.874 106
=
M h Ik
1.268 106 0.726 106
= 8.4886

= 83.3

Inclination of neutral axis with z-axis = -83.3+45=-38.3O

Maximum compressive and tensile stresses act at points farthest from the
neutral axis. Here, from the figure it is clear that A and C are the farthest points.
Maximum tensile stress acts at C and is 251.5 MPa. Maximum compressive
stress acts at A and is 278.1MPa.
Example 6.2
A cantilever beam of I section is used to support the loads inclined to k axis
as shown in figure. Compute the stresses at the corners A, B, C and D of the

Special Problems in Bending

179

section near to the wall. What is the inclination of the neutral axis with h-axis?

Figure E6.2a

Solution

Figure E6.2b

Resolving the loads along the h and k directions, we get

M h = 707 cos 45 2 + 1000 sin 30 1 = 1499.85N.m

The component Mh being positive will cause tension at A and B, compression

at C and D.
M k = 707 sin 45 2 + 1000 cos 30 1 = 133.82N.m

This component being negative will cause tension at A and D, compression
at B and C.

I h = 4917.5cm4

I k = 1135cm4

The section being symmetric, the co-ordinates of A,B,C,D are: A(-7.5,9.5),

B(7.5,9.5),C(7.5,-9.5) and D(-7.5,-9.5)
A =

M
Mh
1499.85 100
133.82 100
A=
9.5 +
(7.5)
kA + k h
Ik
4917.5
1135
Ih
= 289.75 + 88.43 = 378.18 N/cm2

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Advanced Mechanics of Materials

M
M
1499.85 100
133.82 100
9.5 +
7.5
B = h kB + k h B =

Ik
4917.5
1135
Ih
= 289.75 88.43 = 201.32 N/cm2

C =

M
Mh
1499.85 100
133.82 100
(9.5) +
7.5
kC + k hC =
Ik
4917.5
1135
Ih
= 289.75 88.43 = 378.18 N/cm2

D =

M
Mh
1499.85 100
133.82 100
(9.5) +
(7.5)
kD + k h D =
Ik
4917.5
1135
Ih
= 289.75 + 88.43 = 201.32 N/cm2

Position of neutral axis can be determined using the equation:

tan =

M k Ih
4917.5 133.82
=
1135 1499.85
M h Ik
= 0.3866

= 21.14 is the inclination of neutral axis with h-axis.

Example 6.3
A cantilever of rectangular cross section of breadth 4cm and depth 6cm is
subjected to an inclined load W at free end. The length of cantilever is 2m and
the angle of inclination of the load with vertical is 20O. What is the maximum
value of W if the maximum stress due to bending is not to exceed 200N/mm2.
(CU, Dec 2007)

Solution

Figure E6.3a

Moment at the built in end of beam about z axis, M z = W cos 20 2N.m

Moment at the built in end of beam about y axis, M y = W sin 20 2N.m

Iz =

4 63
= 72mm4
12

Iy =

6 43
= 32mm4
12

Special Problems in Bending

181

Figure E6.3b
Neutral axis is inclined at to the z axis, such that

tan =

MyIz
M z Iy

W sin 20 2 72 72 sin 20
=
= 0.723
W cos 20 2 32 32 cos 20

= 35.8

Points A and B are the farthest from neutral axis and are subjected to
maximum stresses.
My
M
W cos 20 2
W sin 20 2
z A =
(3) +
2
A = z yA +
Iz
Iy
72
32
= 0.078W + 0.04
43W = 0.035W

B =

My
Mz
W cos 20 2
W sin 20 2
yB +
z B =
3+
(2)
Iz
Iy
72
32
= 0.078W 0.043
3W = 0.035W

Maximum allowable stress is 200N/mm2 = 0.035W
So, W=5714N

6.3 Shear Centre

When a beam has unsymmetrical cross section, and if the applied load
passes through the centroid of the cross section of beam, then there will be
twisting in addition to bending in the beam. In order to avoid twisting of the
beam, and to have pure bending, the load has to be applied through some
other appropriate point. This point is called shear centre of flexure or flexural
centre or centre of twist.
Flexural axis or bending axis of a beam is that longitudinal axis through
which the transverse loads that cause bending must pass through to prevent
twisting of the beam. This means, the flexural axis is to pass through the
shear centre to avoid twisting of the beam.

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Figure 6.5

Advanced Mechanics of Materials