CURVED BEAM NORMAL STRESS CALCULATOR

MENDOZA, Ken
VICTORINO, Maila

I. Objectives

The visual basic program will serve as a user friendly Curved Beam Normal Stress
Calculator. The program can calculate the normal stress for curved beams with cross-sections: circular,
rectangular, and triangular. The vertical scroll bar will be utilized by the program.

The program will yield:

 Area of the cross section

 Distance of the centroid from the center of curvature ( ŕ )
 Distance of the neutral axis from the center of curvature (R)
 A vertical scroll bar which displays the r and the corresponding normal
stress at that point

II. Derivation of Equations Used in the Program

ŕ
R2 R1 R

Figure 1 Curved beam

Input Variables:

R1 = shorter radius

R2 = longer radius

b = width of the rectangular or triangular cross-section

P = applied force ( + if applied away from the curved beam and – if applied

towards the curved beam)

 Output Variables:

ŕ = distance of centroid from the center of curvature

R = distance of the neutral axis from the center of curvature

A = area of the cross-section

h = height of the rectangular or triangular cross-section

d = diameter of the circular cross-section

Circular Cross-section:

d
c

r R ŕ

Figure 2 Circular cross-section

a. Diameter, d (mm)
d = R2 – R1

b. Area
π
A= d 2
4

c. Distance of the centroid from the center of curvature, ŕ (mm)

R 2−R 1
ŕ = +R1
2
d. Distance of the neutral axis from the center of curvature, R (mm)
 A
R=
dA
∫ r
dA
where: ∫ =2 π ¿
r

c = radius of the circle

e. Stress at any point in the curved beam, σ

P M ( R−r )
σ =± +
A Ar (ŕ −R)

Rectangular Cross-section:

r R ŕ

Figure 3 Rectangular cross-section

a. Height, h (mm)

h = R2 –R1

b. Area
A=bh

c. Distance of the centroid from the center of curvature, ŕ (mm)

 h
ŕ = +R 1
2
d. Distance of the neutral axis from the center of curvature, R (mm)

A
R=
dA
∫ r
dA R2
where: ∫ =b ln
r R1

e. Stress at any point in the curved beam, σ

P M ( R−r )
σ =± +
A Ar (ŕ −R)

Triangular Cross-section:

b
r R ŕ

Figure 4 Triangular cross-section

a. Height, h (mm)

h = R2 –R1

b. Area
1
A= bh
2
 c. Distance of the centroid from the center of curvature, ŕ (mm)

h
ŕ = +R1
3
d. Distance of the neutral axis from the center of curvature, R (mm)

A
R=
dA
∫ r

where: ∫ dA
r
= [ bR 2
ln
R2
R 2−R 1 R 1 ]−b

e. Stress at any point in the curved beam, σ

P M ( R−r )
σ =± +
A Ar (ŕ −R)

III. Graphical User Interface

Figure 5
Figure 5 shows the title page of the program, which contains a figure of the a curved beam and the
title of the program “Curved Beam Stress Calculator”. Along with the title, the frame which contains
the cross-sectional figures: circular, rectangular, and triangular, can be found on the right side of the
window. These pictures when clicked serve as the user’s portal to access the stress calculator for
each cross-section. Below the pictures of the cross-sections is the Exit button.

Figure 6

Figure 6 illustrates the frame containing the stress calculator for curved beams with rectangular
cross-section. The frame contains an image of curved beam with a vertical scroll bar. A statement is
included which says “click the scroll bar to compute”. Input values are R1, R2, b and P which also
includes a guide if the user should input a positive or negative value. P should be positive if applied
away from the beam and negative if applied towards the beam. If the user input wrong values for R1
and R2 (R1 and R2 <0 or R2>R1) an error message would appear telling the user to check the input
values for R1 and R2. The outputs are: R, ŕ , A, r (which values is dependent on the vertical scroll bar)
and sigma. The frame which contains the cross-sectional figures: circular, rectangular, and
triangular, can still be found on the right side of the window. Also included is the Exit button. A clear
button was also included for efficiency.
 Figure 7
Figure 7 illustrates the frame containing the stress calculator for curved beams with triangular cross-
section. The frame contains an image of curved beam with a vertical scroll bar. A statement is
included which says “click the scroll bar to compute”. Input values are R1, R2, b and P which also
includes a guide if the user should input a positive or negative value. P should be positive if applied
away from the beam and negative if applied towards the beam. If the user input wrong values for R1
and R2 (R1 and R2 <0 or R2>R1) an error message would appear telling the user to check the input
values for R1 and R2. The outputs are: R, ŕ , A, r (which values is dependent on the vertical scroll bar)
and sigma. The frame which contains the cross-sectional figures: circular, rectangular, and
triangular, can still be found on the right side of the window. Also included is the Exit button. A clear
button was also included for efficiency.
 Figure 8

Figure 8 illustrates the frame containing the stress calculator for curved beams with circular cross-
section. The frame contains an image of curved beam with a vertical scroll bar. A statement is
included which says “click the scroll bar to compute”. Input values are R1, R2 and P which also
includes a guide if the user should input a positive or negative value. P should be positive if applied
away from the beam and negative if applied towards the beam. If the user input wrong values for R1
and R2 (R1 and R2 <0 or R2>R1) an error message would appear telling the user to check the input
values for R1 and R2. The outputs are: d, R, ŕ , A, r (which values is dependent on the vertical scroll
bar) and sigma. The frame which contains the cross-sectional figures: circular, rectangular, and
triangular, can still be found on the right side of the window. Also included is the Exit button. A clear
button was also included for efficiency.

IV. Sample Computations

Circular cross-section:

Inputs:

R2 = 300 mm

R1 = 100 mm

P = -50 kN

r = 150 mm

a. Diameter, d (mm)
 d = R2 – R1 = 300 – 100 = 200 mm

b. Area
π π
A= d 2 = 2002 = 31415.93 mm
4 4

c. Distance of the centroid from the center of curvature, ŕ (mm)

R 2−R 1 300−100
ŕ = + R 1= +100 = 200 mm
2 2
d. Distance of the neutral axis from the center of curvature, R (mm)

A
R=
dA
∫ r
c = 100 mm

dA
∫ =2 π ¿= 2 π ¿ = 168.36 mm
r

A
R= 31415.93
dA = = 186.60
∫ r 168.36
e. Stress at any point in the curved beam, σ
P M ( R−r ) 1000 (−50 x 1000 x 200 ) ( 186.60−150 )
σ =± +
A Ar (ŕ −R)
= −50 ( + )
31415.93 (31415.93 x 150)(200−186.60)
= -7.39

MPa

Rectangular cross-section:

Inputs:

R2 = 300 mm

R1 = 100 mm

b = 50 mm

P = -50 kN

r = 150 mm

a. Height, h (mm)

h = R2 –R1 = 300 – 100 = 200 mm

 b. Area
A=bh =50 x 200 = 10000 mm

c. Distance of the centroid from the center of curvature, ŕ (mm)

h 200
ŕ = + R 1= +100 = 200 mm
2 2
d. Distance of the neutral axis from the center of curvature, R (mm)

A
R=
dA
∫ r
dA R2 300
∫ =b ln = 50 ln = 54.93 mm
r R1 100

A 10000
R= =
dA 54.93 = 182.05 mm
∫ r
e. Stress at any point in the curved beam, σ
P M ( R−r ) 1000 (−50 x 1000 x 200 ) ( 182.05−150 )
σ =± +
A Ar (ŕ −R)
= −50 (
10000
+ )
(10000 x 150)(200−182.05)
= -16.90 MPa

Triangular cross-section:

Inputs:

R2 = 300 mm

R1 = 100 mm

b = 50 mm

P = -50 kN

r = 150 mm

a. Height, h (mm)

h = R2 –R1 = 200 mm

b. Area
 1 1
A= bh= (50 x 200)= 5000
2 2

c. Distance of the centroid from the center of curvature, ŕ (mm)

h 200
ŕ = + R 1= +100= 166.67
3 3
d. Distance of the neutral axis from the center of curvature, R (mm)

A
R=
dA
∫ r

∫ dA
r
= [ bR 2
ln
R2
R 2−R 1 R 1
− b=
50 x 300
] [ ln
300−100 100
300
]
−50= 32.40 mm

5000
R= = 154.34
23.90

e. Stress at any point in the curved beam, σ

P M ( R−r ) 1000 (−50 x 1000 x 166.67 )( 154.34−150 )
σ =± +
A Ar (ŕ −R)
= −50 (
5000
+ )
(5000 x 150)(200−154.34)
= -13.91

MPa