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Prepared by: Ali Murat KAYIRAN

Room: A-209 Phone: 5266
E-mail: [email protected] Date: 17/10/2008
M3=1.25Nm
ME 307 – MACHINE ELEMENTS I
TUTORIAL 3 F3=100 N
“Bending of Curved Beams”

Prob.1. Following system is subjected to 100 N forces as shown. For the curved beam
with circular cross section, under the applied load determine the location and F=100 N Section 3
magnitude of the maximum stress.
In curved beams, stresses are developed by the combination of bending moment and
axial forces. Therefore, sections where either maximum bending moment or axial force
exists, should be analyzed.

For the part with larger radius (ri =22 mm), the critical section is section 1 since both
bending moment (M1=3 Nm) created by the applied force and the axial force are
maximum. Secondly, when the small radius part is considered, the maximum bending
moment (M2=1.75 Nm) occurs at the section where radius of curvature changes. Also,
at section 3 axial force is maximum for small radius part. These three critical sections
are candidates for the most critical section. In the following steps, stresses at these 3
F=100 N F=100 N sections will be calculated.

Sometimes, by comparison, some sections can be omitted. However, it should be done

so carefully. For example, it can be easily seen that bending moment at section 1 is
higher than at section 3 while under the same axial loading. However, at section 3 it is
Solution 1. First of all, one should determine the critical sections and obtain the free possible that higher stresses can be developed due to smaller radius of curvature.
body diagrams of critical sections. Since the system is symmetric, only half of the Therefore, both sections should be checked.
system will be analyzed.
Note: In the calculations, subscript number denotes the cross-section of interest. Also,
M1=3Nm subscript “i” stands for inner and “o” stands for outer fibers.
Section 1:
F1=100 N
F1 := 100⋅ N ri1 := 22⋅ mm ro1 := 28⋅ mm
d1
F2t=86.6N d 1 := ro1 − ri1 d 1 = 6 mm R1 := ri1 + R1 = 25mm
M2=1.75Nm 2
2
d1
rn1 := rn1 = 24.91mm
F2n=50 N ⎛ 2
4⋅ 2⋅ R1 − 4⋅ R1 − d 1
2⎞
⎝ ⎠
F=100 N F=100 N (Table 3.4 from Mechanical Engineering Design, 8th edition)
Section 1 Section 2 (R1 is the radius of the centroidal axis at section 1)

METU – ME 307 Machine Elements I – Fall 2008

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2
d1 2 These are the stresses at the inner and outer fibers of the critical section 1.
ci1 := rn1 − ri1 ci1 = 2.91mm A 1 := π⋅ A 1 = 28.27mm
4
Note that at this section, developed stress in the curved beam due to bending is much
co1 := ro1 − rn1 co1 = 3.09mm e1 := R1 − rn1 e1 = 0.09mm higher than the stress due to axial force. However, this may not be the case for other
instances. Therefore, axial stresses should not be neglected.

Section 2:
r
e

ro F2t=86.6 N
rc
M2=1.75N.m
rn
ri
F2n=50 N

O F=100 N
Note that, for all critical sections, moments should be calculated about the ri2 := 7⋅ mm ro2 := 13⋅ mm
centroids of the sections.
⎛
F2t := 100⋅ cos ⎜ 30⋅
π ⎞
For section 1, 5mm+R1 gives the moment arm required to calculate the created ⎟N F2t = 86.6N
moment.
⎝ 180 ⎠

⎛ π ⎞
(
M 1 := F1⋅ 5⋅ mm + R1 ) M 1 = 3 N⋅ m F2n := 100⋅ cos ⎜ 60⋅
⎝ 180
⎟N
⎠ F2n = 50 N

The force “F1” results in tensile stresses both at inner and outer fibers. The moment d2
due to this force creates tensile stress at the inner fibers, whereas, it creates d 2 := ro2 − ri2 d 2 = 6 mm R2 := ri2 + R2 = 10mm
compressive stress at the outer fibers. Therefore, 2

2
M 1⋅ ci1 F1 d2
σi1 + 155.4 + 3.5 158.9MPa rn2 := rn2 = 9.77mm
A 1⋅ e1⋅ ri1 A1 ⎛ 2
4⋅ 2⋅ R2 − 4⋅ R2 − d 2
2⎞
. ⎝ ⎠
(R2 is the radius of the centroidal axis at section 2)
−M 1⋅ co1 F1
σo1 + −129.6 + 3.5 −126.1⋅ MPa
A 1⋅ e1⋅ ro1 A1

METU – ME 307 Machine Elements I – Fall 2008

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Section 3:
ci2 := rn2 − ri2 ci2 = 2.77mm co2 := ro2 − rn2 co2 = 3.23mm
2
d2 2
e2 := R2 − rn2 e2 = 0.23mm A 2 := π⋅ A 2 = 28.274mm M3=1.25Nm
4

F3=100 N

Note that, for this section 5+R1sin(30o) is the moment arm. Then,

⎛ ⎛
M 2 := F1⋅ ⎜ 5⋅ mm + R1⋅ sin ⎜ 30⋅
π ⎞⎞ F=100 N
⎟⎟ M 2 = 1.75N⋅ m
⎝ ⎝ 180 ⎠⎠
F3 := 100N ri3 := 7⋅ mm ro3 := 13⋅ mm
Inner fibers are in compression(-) and the outer ones are in tension(+). One should not
be confused by looking at the figure to see where is in tension and compression. The d3
calculations are performed for the small radius of curvature R2. Outer fibers of R1 d 3 := ro3 − ri3 d 3 = 6 mm R3 := ri3 + R3 = 10mm
2
(ro1)corresponds to the inner fibers of R2 (ri2) at section 2.

2
d3
rn3 := rn3 = 9.77mm
⎛ 2
4⋅ 2⋅ R3 − 4⋅ R3 − d 3
2⎞
⎝ ⎠
(R3 is the radius of the centroidal axis at section 3)

ci3 := rn3 − ri3 ci3 = 2.77mm co3 := ro3 − rn3 co3 = 3.23mm
Then, 2
d3
−M 2⋅ ci2 F2n e3 := R3 − rn3 e3 = 0.23mm A 3 := π⋅ A 3 = 28.274mm
2
σi2 + −106.3 + 1.7 104.6MPa 4
A 2⋅ e2⋅ ri2 A2

M 2⋅ co2 F2n
σo2 + 66.7 + 1.7 68.4MPa
A 2⋅ e2⋅ ro2 A2 Note that, for this section 5+(R1+R3) sin(30o)-R3 is the moment arm. Then,

⎡ ⎛ π ⎞ ⎤
⎣
( )
M 3 := F3⋅ ⎢5⋅ mm + R1 + R3 ⋅ sin ⎜ 30⋅
⎝ 180
⎟ − R3⎥
⎠ ⎦
M 3 = 1.25N⋅ m

METU – ME 307 Machine Elements I – Fall 2008

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Similar to the section 2, inner fibers are in compression(-) and the outer ones are in Prob.2. A Crowbar shown at the left is used
tension(+). Then, extensively as a lever force apart two
objects. The material has yield strength of
−M 3⋅ ci3 F3 240 MPa both for tension and compression.
σi3 + −75.9 + 3.5 −72.4MPa Identify maximum allowable load P with a
A 3⋅ e3⋅ ri3 A3 safety factor 1.2 and the critical section due
to bending of the beam when 40mm straight
M 3⋅ co3 F3 part is confined between two objects. A
σo3 + 66.7 + 1.7 51.2MPa schematical view of the system and the
A 3⋅ e3⋅ ro3 A3 cross section of the crowbar are given in the
following figures.

One should also check the shear stress at the section 2 due to load F. Shear stress due
to transverse loading can be found by :
V ⋅Q
τ=
I ⋅t P
C O1
C A
As a special case, maximum shear stress of a beam with circular cross-section is at the
neutral axis and can be found by:

4⋅ F2t 6
τmax := τmax = 4.1 × 10 Pa. 4.1MPa O2 B
3⋅ A 2

which is negligible when compared to the normal stresses at the fibers.

So far, all the stresses at the inner and outer fibers of the two critical sections are
obtained. The most critical section is “Section 1” with the inner fiber stress value of
158.9 MPa. The stresses at all the other points of this system are lower than this value.

Solution 2. In our system section O1A is the most critical section due to maximum
bending stress and axial load.
First of all, the centroid of the cross section needs to be found:

METU – ME 307 Machine Elements I – Fall 2008

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ci = ( rn − ri ) = 50.92 − 45.00 = 5.92 ⋅ mm and

co = ( ro − rn ) = 55.00 − 50.92 = 4.08 ⋅ mm

Comparing the calculated stresses with the allowable stresses we obtain:

Amm2 r mm r ⋅ A mm3 F M ⋅ ci σ al
1 25 47.5 1187.5
σi = + =
A A ⋅ e ⋅ ri n
2 25 47.5 1187.5
3 125 52.5 6562.5 F 428.07 ⋅ F ⋅ 5.92 240
+ = ⇒ F = 93 N
∑ ∑ Ai = 175
∑ A ⋅ r =8937.5
i i 175 175 ⋅ 0.15 ⋅ 45 1.2
and for the outer surface:

F M ⋅ co σ al
r =
∑A ⋅r = 51.07 ⋅ mm
i i
=
8937.5 σo =
A
−
A ⋅ e ⋅ ro
=
n
∑A
175 i
F 428.07 ⋅ F ⋅ 4.08 240
The internal forces at section O1A is equivalent to a force and moment acting at the − = ⇒ F = 166 N
centroid of the section. 175 175 ⋅ 0.15 ⋅ 55 1.2
M = (377 + r ) ⋅ F = (428.07) ⋅ F N ⋅ mm The maximum weight that can be carried safely is the minimum of the above results,
Now the radius rn of the neutral axis can be be determined from equation 3.62 from i.e. 93N.
Shigley J.E, Mischke C.R. Mechanical Engineering Design, 8th Edition
In this question, the stress contribution of axial force is only 0.5 MPa therefore, stress
due to bending moment is more dominant than stress due to axial force. However, axial
A 175 175
rn = = = rn = 50.92 ⋅ mm stresses always should be checked. It may not be the case for other instances.
∫ ( ) ( )
50 55
2∫ +∫
dA 5⋅dr 25⋅dr 50 55
r 10 ⋅ ln + 25 ⋅ ln
45 r 50 r
Note that there is also section O1B that can be considered as critical because of shearing
45 50
due to the vertical force. However since the stresses developed due to shearing are
Also the distance from the centroidal axis to neutral axis is computed/ determined as: small compared to the ones due to bending, shear stress at section O1B is neglected
during design.
e = r − rn = 51.07 − 50.92 = 0.15 ⋅ mm
F 93
The average shear stress is τ av = = = 0.5 MPa
Since the moment M causes tension at the inner surface and compression at the outer A 175
surface, the stresses are:
In addition to this, there is no need to check the stresses at the inner and outer fibers of
F M ⋅ ci F M ⋅ co
σi = + at the inner surface and σ o = − at the outer surface section O2C. Since the moment M due to the load F at this section is less than that at
A A ⋅ e ⋅ ri A A ⋅ e ⋅ ro section O1A while they have the same radius of curvature, the stresses at the fibers of
for the curved side, where ci is the distance from neutral axis to inner fiber and co is O2C will obviously be less than those of O1A.
the distance from neutral axis to outer fiber. Note that the curved side is always
more critical than straight side.

METU – ME 307 Machine Elements I – Fall 2008