STRENGTH OF MATERIALS

LECTURE AND SAMPLE PROBLEMS

A. Normal Stress

Stress is defined as the strength of a material per unit area (N/mm2 or MPa)

P is the applied normal load in Newton and A is the area in mm2. The maximum stress
in tension or compression occurs over a section normal to the load.

Normal stress is either tensile stress or compressive stress.

SP1.

A homogeneous 800 kg bar AB is supported at either end by a cable as shown.

Calculate the smallest area of each cable if the stress is not to exceed 90 MPa in bronze
and 120 MPa in steel.
SP2.

Determine the largest weight W that can be supported by two wires shown. The stress
in either wire is not to exceed 30 ksi. The cross-sectional areas of wires AB and AC are
0.4 in2 and 0.5 in2, respectively.

SP3.

An aluminum rod is rigidly attached between a steel rod and a bronze rod as shown.
Axial loads are applied at the positions indicated. Find the maximum value of P that will
not exceed a stress in steel of 140 MPa, in aluminum of 90 MPa, or in bronze of 100
MPa.
SP4.

The homogeneous bar shown is supported by a smooth pin at C and a cable that runs
from A to B around the smooth peg at D. Find the stress in the cable if its diameter is
0.6 inch and the bar weighs 6000 lb.
B. Shear Stress

Forces parallel to the area resisting the force cause shearing stress. It differs to
tensile and compressive stresses, which are caused by forces perpendicular to
the area on which they act. Shearing stress is also known as tangential stress.

V is the resultant shearing force which passes through the centroid of the area A
being sheared

SP5.

What force is required to punch a 20-mm-diameter hole in a plate that is 25 mm

thick? The shear strength is 350 MN/m2.

SOLUTION:

The resisting area is the shaded area along the perimeter and the shear force is
equal to the punching force.
SP6.

Compute the shearing stress in the pin at B for the member supported as shown.
The pin diameter is 20 mm.
C. Bearing Stress

Bearing stress is the contact pressure between the separate bodies. It differs
from compressive stress, as it is an internal stress caused by compressive
forces.

SP7.
In Fig. assume that a 20-mm-diameter rivet joins the plates that are each 110
mm wide. The allowable stresses are 120 MPa for bearing in the plate material
and 60 MPa for shearing of rivet. Determine (a) the minimum thickness of each
plate; and (b) the largest average tensile stress in the plates.
SP8.

In the clevis shown, find the minimum bolt diameter and the minimum thickness
of each yoke that will support a load P = 14 kips without exceeding a shearing
stress of 12 ksi and a bearing stress of 20 ksi.

SP9.

The lap joint shown is fastened by four -in.-diameter rivets. Calculate the
maximum safe load P that can be applied if the shearing stress in the rivets is
limited to 14 ksi and the bearing stress in the plates is limited to 18 ksi. Assume
the applied load is uniformly distributed among the four rivets.
 D. Thin-walled cylinder

TANGENTIAL STRESS (Circumferential Stress) Consider the tank shown being

subjected to an internal pressure p. The length of the tank is L and the wall
thickness is t.

The forces acting are the total pressures caused by the internal pressure p and the total
tension in the walls T.
LONGITUDINAL STRESS Consider the free body diagram in the transverse section of the
tank

The total force acting at the rear of the tank F must equal to the total longitudinal
stress on the wall PT = LAwall. Since t is so small compared to D, the area of the wall is
close to Dt
SP10.

The wall thickness of a 4-ft-diameter spherical tank is 5/6 inch. Calculate the
allowable internal pressure if the stress is limited to 8000 psi.

SP11.

A cylindrical pressure vessel is fabricated from steel plating that has a thickness of
20 mm. The diameter of the pressure vessel is 450 mm and its length is 2.0 m.
Determine the maximum internal pressure that can be applied if the longitudinal
stress is limited to 140 MPa, and the circumferential stress is limited to 60 MPa.

Based on circumferential stress (tangential):

Based on longitudinal stress: