Mechanics of Machines Review

1 The principal stresses

A complex stress system is the one where a multi-axis direct
stress in addition to shear stress is acting on an element of a
material.
For an element subjected to a complex stress system, if we
analyzed the stresses acting on a plane inclined at an angle θ
to the X-axis, we find that the direct stress and the shear stress
on the said plane are functions of the angle θ, these are σ(θ )
and τ (θ ) as shown on the figure bellow.

At a certain value of θ= θ`, the shear stress vanishes, and only

the direct stress remains on the plane under focus.
The plane acted upon by direct stress only is called a principal
plane. The direct stress acting on the principal plane is called
the principal stress. There are two principal planes
perpendicular to each other, with two principal stresses σ 1 (the
maximum principal stress), and σ2 (the minimum principal
stress) acting on these planes.
Principal stresses are given by the following equations:
2
σ x+ σ y σ−
y σ
σ=
1
2
+
√( 2
x
)+ τ 2

2
σ x+ σ y σ−
y σ x
σ=
2
2
−
√( 2
+τ
2
)
2- Shear forces
Transverse forces which act perpendicular to the
longitudinal axis of a beam are called “shear forces”.
Shear forces cause bending moments on the different
cross-sections of the beam.
3- The simply supported beam SSB
SSB is a beam supported at both ends, in such a way
that, when the beam is acted upon by shear forces, no
resisting bending moments are created at the supports.
In other words a SSB is a beam loaded with shear
forces, while having zero bending moments at the
supports

.Bending moment -4
The bending moment at any section of a beam is the
algebraic some of the moments caused by the shearing
.forces at either side of the section
5- Bending Moment Diagram (BMD)
It is a diagram that shows the variation of the bending
.moment along the longitudinal axis of a beam
a- A simply supported beam with a single shear force

In the case of SSB with single shear force, the value of the
bending moment at the supports is zero (by definition).
The bending moment is maximum at the section where the
shear force is acting. At this section, the bending moment
is obtained as follows:
L1
M = L 1 .R 1 ,R =
1 F
L

L 1 .L 2
M= .F
L

or
L2
M = L 2 .R 2 ,R =
2 F
L

L 1 .L 2
M= emas
.F ( )
L

When the shear force acts at the mid point of the simply
supported beam, the maximum bending moment will be
obtained as follows:
 L F
M= R∧ R=
2 2

Or
L
M= F
4

The case of two shear forces

:The reaction at the support at the right, R1, is given by

L( 2+ L 3 ) .F 1+ L 3 .F 2
R=
1
L

:The reaction at the support at the left, R2, is given by

L( 1+ L 2 ) .F 2+ L 1 .F 1
R=
2
L

The mending moments are given by:

 M1=L1.R1 and, M2=L3.R2
6- The bending stress
Bending stresses are direct stresses initiated on cross
sections subjected to bending moments.

The neutral axis (N.A) is the layer of the material that does
not change its length when a bar is bent.
From the above diagram, it could be seen that after a beam is
bent by the manner shown, layers of material above the N.A
get shorter causing these layers to be subjected to compressive
stresses, while layers bellow the NA extent causing these
layer to be subjected to tensile stresses. The layer at the NA
does not change its length due to bending, thus the bending
stress there we be equal to zero.
The relation between the value of the bending stress σ on any
layer at a distance y from the neutral axis and the bending
moment M causing this stress is given by:

σ M
=
y I
Where, I is the second moment of area of the section about
the neutral axis.
When a solid shaft of diameter d is subjected to a bending
moment M, the bending stress assumes a maximum value at
the surface of the shaft (where y=d/2). Since, the second
moment of area of the section about the neutral axis is given
by:
.

л .d 4
I
=
46

Then the maximum value of the bending stress σ will be given

by:
M d 46
σ= y = .
I 2 л .d 4

or
23 M
σ=
л .d 3

It is important to note that, in the above equation, M is in

(N.m), d in (mm), and σ is in Mpa
In case of a hollow shaft of outer diameter D and inner
diameter d, the maximum value of the bending stress σ will be
given by:

.23 D M .
σ= 4 4
л .(D − d )
Shear stresses resulting from torsional moments
If a shaft is rotating at n rev/min, transmitting a power of H
Watt, then, the shaft will be subjected to a torsional moment
T. The relation between the transmitted power H, and the
torsional moment T is given by:
H= ω .T

Where, ω is the angular speed of the shaft in rad/sec. ω is

related to the angular speed in rev/min (n) by:
.2 л .n
ω=
06

Thus, the relation between the transmitted power H (in Watt),

and the torsional moment T (in N.m) will be given by:
.2 л .n
H= .T
06

Or
03 H
T=
л .n

When a shaft is subjected to a torsional moment T, then a

shear stress τ is induced on the cross sections of the shafts.
The shear stress τ assumes a value of zero at the shaft center
and increases proportionally to the radial distance from the
center. The basic equation that relates the shear stress τ to the
torsional moment T, and the radial distance r, is as follows:
τ T
=
r J

Where τ is the shear stress on a point at a radial distance r, T

is the torsional moment, and J the polar moment of area of the
section.
When a solid shaft of diameter d is subjected to a torsional
moment T, the shear stress assumes a maximum value at the
surface of the shaft (where y=d/2). Since, the polar moment of
area of the section about the neutral axis is given by:
.

4
л .d
J=
23

Then the maximum value of the bending stress σ will be given

T d 23
τ= r = .
J 2 л .d 4 :by

or
61 T
τ=
л .d 3

It is important to note that, in the above equation, T is in

(N.m), d in (mm), and σ is in Mpa
In case of a hollow shaft of outer diameter D and inner
diameter d, the maximum value of the shear stress τ will be
given by:
 .61 D .T
τ= 4 4
л .(D − d )