EXERCISES ON BENDING OF BEAMS

1/
q A simple beam AB with span
length L = 3.5m carries a
h
unifiorm load of intensity q =
L b 6.4 kN/m (see figure).
Calculate the maximum bending stress max due to the load q if the
beam has a rectangular cross section with width b = 140 mm and
height h = 240 mm.
Ans.  max = 7.29 MPa

2/
A steel beam with over-
q = 115 hanging ends and wide-
kN/m flange cross section is
supported as shown in the
figure. The beam carries a
3m 6m 3m uniform load of intensity q =
115 kN/m on each overhang.
Assuming that the section modulus of the cross sectional area is A =
6.78x106 mm2, determine the maximum bending stress max in the
beam due to the load q.
Ans.  max = 76.3 MPa

3/
A simple beam AB of span
length L = 7m is subjected
P d P to two wheel loads acting at
distance d = 1.5 m apart
A B (see figure). Each wheel
transmits a load P = 14 kN,
L and the carriage may occupy
any position on the beam.
Determine the maximum bending stress max due to the wheel loads
if the beam is an I-beam having sections modulus W = 265x10 3
mm3.
Ans.  max = 147.4 MPa

4/
b A rectangular wood beam is to be cut from a
circular log of diameter d (see figure). What
should be the dimensions b and h in order
x h d that the beam will resist the largest possible
bending moment?
Ans: b = d/ 3; h = d 2/ 3
y
5/
A wood beam ABC of square
q = 1.5 cross section is supported at
kN/m b A and B and has an overhang
b BC (see figure). A uniform
L= L= load of intensity q = 1.5 kN/m
2.5m 2.5m acts on the beam.
Calculate the required side dimension b of the square cross section
assuming L = 2.5 m and allow = 12 MPa. Include the the effect of the
weight of the beam and assume the specific weight of the wood is 
= 5.5 kN/m3.
Ans. : b = 136 mm
6/
b A beam having a cross section in the
form of an unsymmetric I section (see
40
figure) is subjected to a bending
mm
30 mm moment acting about the x axis.
300 mm Determine the the width b of the top
x flange in order that the stresses at the
top and bottom of the beam will be in
40
y mm the ratio 4:3, respectively.
Ans. : b = mm
400 259 mm
7/ q 450 30
mm mm A simple beam AB supports
A B a uniform load q that
L= includes the weight of the
14m beam (see figure).
1800 Determine the maximum
mm permissible load q based
upon: (a) allow = 110 MPa,
and (b) allow = 50 MPa
Ans.: (a) q = 144 kN/m; (b) q = 174 kN/m
30
8/ mm
A laminated wood beam is built up by gluing
50 mm together three 50 mm x 100 mm boards
(actual dimensions) to form a solid beam
50 mm 100 mm x 150 mm, as shown in the figure.
The allowable shear stress in the glued joints
50 mm
is 0.35 MPa and the allowable bending stress
100 is 11 MPa. If the beam is 1m long cantiliver,
mm what is the allowable load P at the free end?
(Disregard the weight of the beam)
Ans.: P = 3.94 kN
9/
A steel beam ABC with an overhang BC is 36 subjected to two
concentrated load P as shown in the figure. Compute the maximum
value of P, if the allowable
P normal
P stress is 160 MPa. 3
A B
C 30
3
600 600 300
3
9
Ans.: Pmax = 530 N

10/
Two metric rolled-steel channels
are to be welded back to back
and used to support the loading
shown. Knowing that the
allowable normal stress for the
steel used is 190 MPa, determine
the most economical channels
that can be used.
Ans.: C 230x22