Mechanics of

Materials
CHAPTER 2: STRAIN

By: Suraya Sulaiman

Chapter Objectives
1. To understand the concept of normal and shear
strain
2. To apply the concept to determine the strains for
various types of problems
Outlines
2-1. Deformation
2-2. Strain
2.1 Deformation
• Whenever a force is applied to a body, it will undergo deformation
(change the body size and shape).
• The deformation can be highly visible but is often unnoticeable.
• Generally, the deformation of a body will not be uniform throughout
its volume, so the change in geometry of any line segment within
the body may vary along its length.

Before deformation Before deformation

After deformation
After deformation

Size change Shape change

Changes in lengths
Changes in angles
2.1 Deformation

• Note the before and after

positions of three different line
segments on this rubber
membrane which is subjected to
tension.
a) The vertical line is
lengthened.
b) The horizontal line is
shortened.
c) The inclined line changes
its length and rotates.
Before After
loading Loading
2.2 Strain
• To describe the deformation of a body by changes in length of
line segments and the changes in the angles between them,
the concept of strain is developed.
• Strain is measured by experiments, and once the strain is
obtained, it will be shown in the next chapter how it can be
related to the stress acting within the body.

• Strain: A quantity used to measure the intensity of

deformation.
• Stress: A quantity used to measure the intensity of internal
force.
• Two types of strain:
a) Normal strain, ε, used to measure change in size
b) Shear strain, 𝛾, used to measure change in shape
a) Normal Strain, ε
• The normal strain as the change in length of a line per unit length.

A’ B’ 𝜹 = 𝒅𝒆𝒇𝒐𝒓𝒎𝒂𝒕𝒊𝒐𝒏 = 𝒄𝒉𝒂𝒏𝒈𝒆 𝒊𝒏 𝒍𝒆𝒏𝒈𝒕𝒉

𝜹 = ∆𝒔′ − ∆𝒔

average normal strain

A B
∆𝒔′ −∆𝒔
Size change Normal strain:𝜺 = 𝐥𝐢𝐦
𝜟𝒔→𝟎 ∆𝒔

Unit: dimensionless Where:

Positive: elongation ∆𝒔′ is the new length (initial length)
Negative: contraction ∆𝒔 is the original length (final length)
Example 1

A shaft which 60.000 mm in length grows to 60.00s after

loading.
Determine: (a) deformation(b) strain
(a) 𝛿 = ∆𝑠 ′ − ∆𝑠 = 60.005 − 60.000 = 0.005 𝑚𝑚
∆𝑠 ′ −∆𝑠 0.005
(b) 𝜀 = = = 83.33𝑥10−6
∆𝑠 60.000
b) Shear Strain, 𝛾
• Deformations not only cause line segments to elongate or contract, but
they also cause them to change direction.

𝝅
Shear strain: 𝜸𝒏𝒕 = − 𝒍𝒊𝒎𝜽′
𝟐

Where:
𝜃′ is the new angle

Shape change Unit:

In radian is dimensionless
Change in the right angle:
Positive: angle become smaller
Negative: angle become larger
c) Cartesian Strain Components
Undeformed body Deformed Body

3D planar

Undeformed body Deformed Body

2D planar
d) Notes

• Normal strain and shear strain are both very small in general; the
measurements of strain are in micrometer per meter (µm/m)

• Approximation and simplification are often used for strain analysis;

this assumption has wide practical application in engineering.
• Example: sin 𝜃 = 𝜃, cos 𝜃 = 1 and tan 𝜃= 𝜃

• Just like stress, in general, strain varies with the location;

• The state of stress and strain are both subjected to the orientation of
the body.

• In chapter 3, stress transformation and strain transformation (Calculate

the stress and strain at the different orientations)
 Example 2
The initial positions of the two rods supporting a crate is shown in figure
below. If the ring C has been pulled to a displacement of 5 mm straight
down, determine the average normal strain in each rod.
 Example 2
The initial positions of the two rods supporting a crate is shown in figure
below. If the ring C has been pulled to a displacement of 5 mm straight
down, determine the average normal strain in each rod.
Example 3
When force P is applied to the rigid lever arm ABC in Figure a, the arm
rotates counterclockwise about pin A through an angle of 0.05°.
Determine the normal strain developed in wire BD.
Example 4
When force P is applied to the rigid lever arm ABC in Figure below, point
B displaces vertically downward through a distance 0.2 mm.
Determine the normal strain developed in wire CD.
Example 5
The rectangular plate is deformed into the shape of a rhombus shown by
the dashed line.
Determine the average shear strain at corner A with respect to the x
and y axes.
Example 6
If the applied force P causes the rigid arm ABC to rotate clockwise about pin
A through an angle of 0.02°,
Determine the normal strain developed in wires BD and CE.
Ans: 𝜀𝐵𝐷 = 0.524𝑋10−3 , 𝜀𝐶𝐸 = 0.698𝑋10−3
 Example 7
The triangular plate is deformed into the shape shown by the dashed line.
Determine:
a) The normal strain developed along edge BC and
b) The average shear strain at corner A with respect to the x and y
axes.
𝑚𝑚
𝜀𝐵𝐶 𝑎𝑣𝑔 = 0.00446 , 𝛾𝐴 𝑥𝑦 = −0.00741 𝑟𝑎𝑑
𝑚𝑚