CHAPTER TWO SIMPLE BENDING THEORY

Bending stresses- shear force and bending moments cause certain deformations where the material of the
beam offer resistance or stresses against these deformation. Hence, these are stresses introduced by
bending moment referred to as bending stresses.
Concept of pure bending or simple bending
Consider fig. 2.1 if a length of a beam is subjected to constant bending moment and no shear, then the
stresses in that length experience pure bending or simple bending.

Fig. 2.1
A simply supported beam at A and B with a point load W is applied in each end of overhanging portion.
From the SF and BM diagrams, there is no shear force between A and B but the between A and B is
constant. This means that between A and B, the beam is subjected to constant bending moment only hence
experiencing pure bending or simple bending.
Assumptions made in analysing Theory of simple bending
1. The beam is initially straight and unstressed
2. The material of the beam is homogeneous i.e. of the same density and elastic properties
throughout.
3. The elastic limit is never exceeded and obeys Hooke’s Law.
4. The value of Young’s modulus of elasticity is the same in tension and compression.
5. The transverse sections which were plane before bending, remain plain after bending also.
Theory of Simple bending
Consider fig. 2.2 showing a part of a beam subjected to simple bending having a small length dx of this
part of beam.
Fig. 2.2

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- Top layer AC deforms by being subjected to compression stresses and shortens while bottom layer
BD elongates due to tensile stresses.
- The body has a Neutral Layer or Neutral Surface N-N hence the line of intersection of the neutral
layer on a cross section of a beam is known as Neutral Axis (N.A).
- The top layer has been shortened to maximum, there is no change in length at the neutral axis.
Therefore, compressive lengths will be maximum at the bottom layer.
- Now moving from bottom to N-N, the increase in length of layers increases.
- The amount by which a layer increases or decreases in length, depends upon the position of the layer
with respect to N-N.
- The above theory of bending is known as the theory of simple bending.
Expression for Bending Stress
Fig. 2.3 shows a small length 𝛿 of a beam subjected to a simple bending

Fig. 23
Let R= Radius of neutral layer 𝑁 𝑁
Consider EF at a distance y below the neutral layer which will elongate to 𝐸 𝐹 after bending
Original Length of layer EF= 𝛿
Neutral Layer NN= 𝛿
After bending, 𝑁 𝑁 remains unchanged but length of layer 𝐸 𝐹 will increase, hence,
𝑁 𝑁 = 𝑁𝑁 = 𝛿
𝑁 𝑁 = 𝑅×𝜃 = 𝛿
𝐸 𝐹 = (𝑅 + 𝑦) × 𝜃
But 𝐸𝐹 = 𝑁𝑁 = 𝛿 = 𝑅 × 𝜃
Increase in the length of the layer EF
= 𝐸 𝐹 − 𝐸𝐹 = (𝑅 + 𝑦) × 𝜃 − 𝑅 × 𝜃
= 𝑦×𝜃

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Strain in the layer EF=

𝑦×𝜃 𝑦×𝜃
𝜀= =
𝐸𝐹 𝑅×𝜃
𝑦
𝜀=
𝑅
R being a constant means 𝜀 ∝ 𝑦, hence the strain is proportional to its distance from the neutral axis
But

= Young’s Modulus E

Strain,𝜀 =

Equating the two equations of strain

𝜎 𝑦
=
𝐸 𝑅
Rearranging
𝜎 𝐸
=
𝑦 𝑅
Hence
𝐸
𝜎= 𝑦
𝑅
Again, E and R being constants means 𝜎 ∝ 𝑦, hence stress in any layer is directly proportional to the
distance of the layer from the neutral layer.
Neutral Axis and Moment of Resistance
Consider now a cross-section of the beam (Fig. 2.4)

Fig. 2.4
The stress on a fibre at distance y from the Neutral Axis(N.A), can be expressed in the following equation.
𝐸
𝜎= 𝑦
𝑅

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If the strip is of area 𝛿𝐴 the force on the strip is
𝐸
𝐹 = 𝜎. 𝛿𝐴 = 𝑦𝛿𝐴
𝑅
This has a moment(M) about the N.A of
𝐸
𝐹𝑦 = 𝑦 𝛿𝐴
𝑅
The total Moment , M, for the whole cross-section is therefore

𝐸
𝑀=Σ 𝑦 𝛿𝐴
𝑅

𝐸
= Σ𝑦 𝛿𝐴
𝑅
since E and R are assumed constant

The term Σ𝑦 𝛿𝐴 is called the second moment of area of the cross-section. It also represents the moment
of inertia of the section about the neutral axis and given the symbol I
𝐸
∴𝑀= 𝐼
𝑅
and
𝑀 𝐸
=
𝐼 𝑅
Recalling our earlier equations

𝜎 𝐸
=
𝑦 𝑅
We can conclude that
𝑀 𝜎 𝐸
= =
𝐼 𝑦 𝑅
The above equation is called the bending equation.

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Neutral axis
In bending, one surface of the beam is subjected to tension and the opposite surface to compression there
must be a region within the beam cross-section at which the stress changes sign ,i.e. where the stress is
zero, and this is termed the neutral axis.
Hence the bending stress in relation to the Moment, M, and Moment of Inertia I from the bending
equation can be re-written as follows;
𝑀
𝜎= 𝑦
𝐼
Therefore typical stress distribution affected by Moment of inertia for different sections is shown in fig.
2.5.

Fig. 2.5
It is evident that the material near the N.A. is always subjected to relatively low stresses compared with
the areas most removed from the axis. In order to obtain the maximum resistance to bending it is
advisable therefore to use sections which have large areas as far away from the N.A. as possible.
Reason why Railway lines use I-sections
Second moment of area of various sections ( Moment of Inertia I)
(1) I- Section
𝐵𝐷 (𝐵 − 𝑏)𝑑
𝐼 = −
12 12
(2) Circular-Section
𝑏𝑑
𝐼 =𝐼 =
64
(3) Rectangular- Section

𝑏𝑑
𝐼 =
12
𝑑𝑏
𝐼 =
12
(4) Hollow rectangular Section
𝐵𝐷 𝑏𝑑
𝐼=
12 12

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Section Modulus
The maximum stress obtained in any cross-section is given by
𝑀
𝜎 = 𝑦
𝐼
For any given allowable stress the maximum moment which can be accepted by a particular shape of
cross-section is therefore
𝐼
𝑀= 𝜎
𝑦
𝑀 = 𝑍𝜎

Where 𝑍 = and is referred to us the section modulus and represents the strength of the section.

The higher the value of Z for a particular cross-section the higher the B.M. which it can withstand for a
given maximum stress. Hence section modulus represent the strength of the section.
Section Modulus for various shapes
1. Rectangular Section
Moment inertia about axis N.A
𝑏𝑑
𝐼=
12
Distance of outermost layer from N.A
𝑑
𝑦 =
2
𝐼 𝑏𝑑 𝑏𝑑
𝑍= = =
𝑦 𝑑 6
12 ×
2
2. Hollow Rectangular Section
𝐵𝐷 𝑏𝑑 1
𝐼= = (𝐵𝐷 − 𝑏𝑑 )
12 12 12
𝐷
𝑦 =
2
1
𝐼 (𝐵𝐷 − 𝑏𝑑 )
𝑍= = 12
𝑦 𝐷
2
1
= (𝐵𝐷 − 𝑏𝑑 )
6𝐷

3. Circular Section
𝜋𝑑 𝑑
𝐼= 𝑎𝑛𝑑 𝑦 =
64 2
𝜋𝑑
𝐼 𝜋𝑑
𝑍= = 𝑍 = 64 =
𝑦 𝑑 32
2

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 4. Hollow Circular Section
𝜋(𝐷 − 𝑑 ) 𝐷
𝐼= 𝑎𝑛𝑑 𝑦 =
64 2
𝜋(𝐷 − 𝑑 )
𝐼 64
𝑍= = 𝑍=
𝑦 𝐷
2
𝜋(𝐷 − 𝑑 )
=
32𝐷

Problem 2.1 A steel plate of width 120 mm and of thickness 20 mm is bent into a circular arc of radius 10
m, Determine the maximum stress induced and the bending moment which will produce the maximum
stress. Take E= 2 x 105 N/mm2
×
Moment of Inertia, 𝐼= = = 8 × 10 𝑚𝑚

Radius of curvature, 𝑅 = 10𝑚 = 10 × 10 𝑚𝑚

Stress will be max, when y is max. But y will be max at the top layer or bottom layer
𝑡 20
𝑦 = = = 10 𝑚𝑚
2 2
Using equation
𝐸 2 × 10
𝜎 = 𝑦 = × 10 = 200 𝑁/𝑚𝑚
𝑅 10 × 10
Also
𝑀 𝐸
=
𝐼 𝑅
𝐸 2 × 10
𝑀= ×𝐼 = × 8 × 10 𝑚𝑚
𝑅 10 × 10
= 16 × 10 𝑁 𝑚𝑚 = 1.6 𝐾𝑁𝑚
Problem 2.2 Calculate the maximum stress induced in a cast iron pipe of external diameter 40 mm of
internal diameter 20 mm and of length 4 m when the pipe is supported at its ends and carries a point load
of 80 N at its center.

Incase of a simply supported beam carrying a point load at the center maximum BM is at the centre.
Maximum BM

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 𝑊×𝐿
=
4
80 × 4000
𝑀= = 8 × 10 𝑚𝑚
4
Moment of Inertia of the hollow pipe
𝜋
𝐼= (𝐷 − 𝑑 )
64
𝜋
= (40 − 20 ) = 117809.7𝑚𝑚
64
𝑀 𝜎
=
𝐼 𝑦
y is maximum, stress will be maximum, but y is at the top of from N.A
𝐷 40
𝑦 = = = 20 𝑚𝑚
2 2
𝑀 𝜎 𝑀
= 𝑜𝑟 𝜎 = ×𝑦
𝐼 𝑦 𝐼
8 × 10 𝑚𝑚
= × 20 = 𝟏𝟑. 𝟓𝟖 𝑵/𝒎𝒎𝟐
117809.7𝑚𝑚
Problem 2.3 A cantilever of length 2 m fails when a load of 2 kN is applied at the free end. If the section
of the beam is 40 mm x 60 mm, find the stress at the failure.

Section modulus of a rectangular section

𝑏𝑑 40 × 60
𝑍= = = 24000 𝑚𝑚
6 6
Max. BM for a cantilever is at the free end

𝑀 = 𝑊 × 𝐿 = 2000 × 2 × 10 = 4 × 10 𝑁𝑚𝑚
𝜎 = 𝑠𝑡𝑟𝑒𝑠𝑠 𝑎𝑡 𝑡ℎ𝑒 𝑓𝑎𝑖𝑙𝑢𝑟𝑒
𝑀 = 𝑍𝜎

𝑚 4 × 10 𝑁𝑚𝑚
𝜎 = = = 𝟏𝟔𝟔. 𝟔𝟕 𝑵/𝒎𝒎𝟐
𝑍 24000 𝑚𝑚

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Problem 1.4 A rectangular beam 200 mm deep and 300 mm wide is simply supported over a span of 8 m.
What uniformly distributed load per metre the beam may carry, if the bending stress is not to exceed 120
N/mm2
𝑏𝑑 300 × 200
𝑍= = = 2 × 10 𝑚𝑚
6 6
Max. B.M for simply supported beam with udl
𝑤×𝐿 𝑤×8
𝑀= = = 8𝑤 𝑁𝑚
8 8
= 8000𝑤 𝑁𝑚𝑚
Section Modular for Rectangular section
From
𝑀 = 𝑍𝜎
120 × 2 × 10
8000𝑤 = 120 × 2 × 10 𝑜𝑟 𝑤 =
8000
𝒘 = 𝟑𝟎 𝒌𝑵/𝒎
Problem 1.5 A square beam 20 mm × 20 mm in section and 2 m long is supported at the ends. The beam
fails when a point load of 400 N is applied at the centre of the beam. What uniformly distributed load per
metre length will break a cantilever of the same material 40 mm wide, 60 mm deep and 3 m long ?
Solution
Simply supported beam
𝑊×𝐿 400 × 2
𝑀= == = 200 𝑁𝑚
4 4
Section modulus for rectangular section = 200 × 10

× 𝑀 = 𝑍𝜎
𝑍= = = 𝑚𝑚
4000
200 × 10 = ×𝜎
3
𝜎 = 150 𝑁⁄𝑚𝑚
Uniformly distributed load

𝜎 = 150 𝑁⁄𝑚𝑚
𝑏𝑑 40 × 60
𝑍= = = 24000 𝑚𝑚
6 6
Maximum B.M for a cantilever
𝑤𝐿 𝑤×3
𝑀= = = 4.5𝑤 𝑁𝑚
2 2
= 4500𝑤 𝑁𝑚𝑚

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Again
𝑀 = 𝑍𝜎
24000 × 150
4500𝑤 = 24000 × 150 𝑜𝑟 𝑤 = = 𝟖𝟎𝟎 𝑵⁄𝒎
4500
Problem 1.6 A rolled steel joist of I-section has the dimensions as shown in Fig. P1.6. This beam of I-
section carries a u.d.l. of 40 kN/m run on a span of 10 m, calculate the maximum stress produced due to
bending.

Fig. P1.6
Solution
MOI of I-section
𝐵𝐷 (𝑏 − 𝑏)𝑑
𝑀𝑂𝐼 = −
12 12
200 × 400 (200 − 10) × 360
𝐼= − = 3.28 × 10 𝑚𝑚
12 12
Maximum B.M
𝑤×𝐿 40000 × 10
𝑀= = = 500000 𝑁𝑚 = 5 × 10 𝑁𝑚𝑚
8 8
𝑀 𝜎 𝑀
= 𝑜𝑟 𝜎 = ×𝑦
𝐼 𝑦 𝐼
𝑀 5 × 10
𝜎 = ×𝑦 = × 200 = 𝟑𝟎𝟒. 𝟗 𝑵⁄𝒎𝒎𝟐
𝐼 3.28 × 10

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Problem 1.7 An I-section shown in Fig. P1.7, is simply supported over a span of 12 m. If the maximum
permissible bending stress is 80 N/mm2, what concentrated load can be carried at a distance of 4 m from
one support ?
Solution
2 𝑊
𝑅 × 12 = 𝑊 × 8 𝑜𝑟 𝑅 = 𝑊 𝑎𝑛𝑑 𝑅 =
3 3
B.M at C which is maximum
8𝑊
𝑅 ×8= 𝑁𝑚 𝑜𝑟 2666.67𝑊 𝑁𝑚𝑚 𝑁𝑚𝑚
3
MOI=

𝐵𝐷 (𝑏 − 𝑏)𝑑
𝑀𝑂𝐼 = −
12 12
100 × 225 (100 − 7.5) × 202
𝐼= −
12 12
= 31.387 × 10 𝑚𝑚
𝑀 𝜎 𝑀 𝜎 225
= 𝑜𝑟 = 𝑎𝑛𝑑 𝑦 =
𝐼 𝑦 𝐼 𝑦 2
= 112.5 𝑚𝑚
2666.67𝑊 80
=
31.387 × 10 112.5
Taking moments about A
80 × 31.387 × 10
𝑊= = 𝟖𝟑𝟔𝟗. 𝟖 𝑵
112.5 × 2666.67

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