LABORATORY EXERCISE 2

TOPICS:
STRESSES
1. Normal Stress
2. Shear Stress
3. Bearing Stress
4. Thin-walled pressure vessels

INTRODUCTION:

I. Normal Stress

Stress is defined as the strength of a material per unit area or unit strength. It is the force on
a member divided by area, which carries the force, usually expressed in psi and ksi (for
English Units) , and in MN/m2, N/mm2 or MPa (for US System of Units).

where P is the applied normal load in Newton and A is the area in mm2. The maximum
stress in tension or compression occurs over a section normal to the load.

Normal stress is either tensile stress or compressive stress. Members subject to pure
tension (or tensile force) are under tensile stress, while compression members (members
subject to compressive force) are under compressive stress.

Compressive force will tend to shorten the member. Tension force on the other hand will
tend to lengthen the member.

COMPILED BY: RICHIE CATHERINE SUPREMO-LOOD

Faculty, Department of Civil Engineering
SAMPLE PROBLEMS

PROBLEM 1: A hollow steel tube with an inside diameter of 100 mm must carry a tensile
load of 400 kN. Determine the outside diameter of the tube if the stress is limited to 120
MN/m2.

SOLUTION:

PROBLEM 2: An aluminum rod is rigidly attached between a steel rod and a bronze rod as
shown in the figure. Axial loads are applied at the positions indicated. Find the maximum
value of P that will not exceed a stress in steel of 140 MPa, in aluminum of 90 MPa, or in
bronze of 100 MPa.

SOLUTION:

COMPILED BY: RICHIE CATHERINE SUPREMO-LOOD

Faculty, Department of Civil Engineering
 II. Shear Stress

Forces parallel to the area resisting the force cause shearing stress. It differs from tensile
and compressive stresses, which are caused by forces perpendicular to the area on which
they act. Shearing stress is also known as tangential stress.

where V is the resultant shearing force which passes through the centroid of the area A
being sheared.

SAMPLE PROBLEMS

PROBLEM 1: What force is required to punch a 20-mm-diameter hole in a plate that is 25

mm thick? The shear strength is 350 MN/m2.

SOLUTION: The resisting area is the shaded area along the

perimeter and the shear force V is equal to the punching force
P.

PROBLEM 2: Find the smallest diameter bolt that can be used in

the clevis shown in the figure if P = 400 kN. The shearing
strength of the bolt is 300 MPa.

SOLUTION:

COMPILED BY: RICHIE CATHERINE SUPREMO-LOOD

Faculty, Department of Civil Engineering
 III. Bearing Stress

Bearing stress is the contact pressure between the separate bodies. It differs from
compressive stress, as it is an internal stress caused by compressive forces.

SAMPLE PROBLEMS

PROBLEM 1: The lap joint shown in the figure is fastened by four 3/4 in diameter rivets.
Calculate the maximum safe load P that can be applied if the shearing stress in the rivets is
limited to 14 ksi and the bearing stress in the plates is limited to 18 ksi. Assume the applied
load is uniformly distributed among the four rivets.

SOLUTION:

COMPILED BY: RICHIE CATHERINE SUPREMO-LOOD

Faculty, Department of Civil Engineering
PROBLEM 2: In the clevis shown in the figure, find the minimum bolt diameter
and the minimum thickness of each yoke that will support a load P = 14 kips
without exceeding a shearing stress of 12 ksi and a bearing stress of 20 ksi.

SOLUTION:

IV. Thin-Walled Pressure Vessels

A tank or pipe carrying a fluid or gas under a pressure is subjected to tensile forces, which
resist bursting, developed across longitudinal and transverse sections.

TANGENTIAL STRESS, σt (Circumferential Stress)

Consider the tank shown being subjected to an internal pressure p. The length of the tank is
L and the wall thickness is t. Isolating the right half of the tank:

The forces acting are the total pressures caused by

the internal pressure p and the total tension in the
walls T.

COMPILED BY: RICHIE CATHERINE SUPREMO-LOOD

Faculty, Department of Civil Engineering
If there exist an external pressure po and an internal pressure pi, the formula may be
expressed as:

LONGITUDINAL STRESS, σL

Consider the free body diagram in the transverse section of the tank:

The total force acting at the rear of the tank F must equal to the total longitudinal stress on
the wall PT = σLAwall. Since t is so small compared to D, the area of the wall is close to πDt

If there exist an external pressure po and an internal pressure pi, the formula may be
expressed as:

COMPILED BY: RICHIE CATHERINE SUPREMO-LOOD

Faculty, Department of Civil Engineering
SPHERICAL SHELL

If a spherical tank of diameter D and thickness t contains gas under a pressure of p = pi - po,
the stress at the wall can be expressed as:

SAMPLE PROBLEMS

PROBLEM 1: Calculate the minimum wall thickness for a cylindrical vessel that is to carry a
gas at a pressure of 1400 psi. The diameter of the vessel is 2 ft, and the stress is limited to
12 ksi.

SOLUTION:

PROBLEM 2: The wall thickness of a 4-ft-diameter spherical tank is 5/16 inch. Calculate the
allowable internal pressure if the stress is limited to 8000 psi.

SOLUTION:

COMPILED BY: RICHIE CATHERINE SUPREMO-LOOD

Faculty, Department of Civil Engineering
PROBLEM 3: A cylindrical steel pressure vessel 400 mm in diameter with a wall thickness of
20 mm, is subjected to an internal pressure of 4.5 MN/m2. (a) Calculate the tangential and
longitudinal stresses in the steel. (b) To what value may the internal pressure be increased if
the stress in the steel is limited to 120 MN/m2? (c) If the internal pressure were increased
until the vessel burst, sketch the type of fracture that would occur.

SOLUTION:

COMPILED BY: RICHIE CATHERINE SUPREMO-LOOD

Faculty, Department of Civil Engineering
MARCH 3, 2020