Chapter INTRODUCTION

1 1.1 Strength of Materials

1.2 Aspects of Strength of Materials
1.3 Methods of Analysis
1.4 Engineering Design
1.5 Review of Static
1.6 Internal Force Resultants
1.7 Problem Formulation and Solution

1.1 Introduction:
Strength of Materials: is a branch of applied mechanics that deals with internal behavior of solid
bodies subjected to various types of loading. The three fundamental areas of engineering mechanics are
statics, dynamics and mechanics of materials.
Statics and dynamics are devoted primarily to the study of external forces and motions associated with
particles and rigid bodies (i.e. Idealized object in which any change of size or shape due to
forces can be neglected ).
Strength of Materials Course outlines:
• Deals with internal behavior of variously loaded solid bodies such as shafts, bars, beams, plates,
shells, columns, structures and machines that are assemblies of these components.
• Stress and deflection analyses, and the mechanical properties of materials are the main aspects of
solid mechanics course.
• This course is based upon an understanding of the equilibrium of rigid bodies under the action of
forces.
• This course concerned with the relationships between external loads (forces and moments) and
internal forces and deformations or displacements induced in the body.
• Stress and strain are fundamental quantities connected this subject.
• This course has several names: "Strength of Materials", "Mechanics of Deformable Bodies".

1.2 Aspects of Strength of Materials:

 Stress analysis: analysis of bodies under the action of external force, to determine the
internal stress and their deformation.
 Mechanical properties of materials: consideration of such things as material strength,
stability, fatigue and brittle fracture etc .

Regardless of the applications, a safe and successful design must address three mechanical concerns:
1.Strength: Is the object strong enough to carry the loads that will be applied to it? Will it break or fracture?

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Will it continue to perform properly under repeated loadings?
2.Stiffness: Will the object deflect or deform so much that it cannot perform its intended function?
3.Stability: Will the object suddenly bend or buckle out of shape at some elevated load so that it can no longer
continue to perform its function?

1.3 Methods of analysis:

Two methods or approaches are popular:
A.Mechanics of materials (also known as technical theory): uses assumptions, based upon experimental
evidence, and the lessons of engineering practice, to make a reasonable solution of the basic problem
possible. Reasonably quick solution of the basic problem is possible, for example, determination of strain.
B.Theory of elasticity: establishes every step rigorously from the mathematical point of view and hence
seeks to verify the validity of the assumptions introduced. This technique can provide ‘‘exact’’ results
where configurations of loading and shape are simple.
Instead of the equilibrium method, energy methods (based on strain energy theory) and numerical methods
(for example, finite element analysis) can be used as alternative methods of analysis. Generally, the basic
principles of analysis should be outlined in summary form as:
Equilibrium Conditions: The equations of static equilibrium of forces must be satisfied throughout the
member.
Material Behavior: The stress–strain or force–deformation relations (Hooke’s law) must apply to the
behavior of the material of which the member is made of.
Geometry of Deformation: The conditions of compatibility of deformations must be satisfied: that is,
each deformed portion of the member must fit together with adjacent portions. Boundary conditions are
used in the method of analysis.
In the study of this course, you will find that your efforts are divided naturally into two parts:
1.Understanding the logical development of the concepts
2. Applying those concepts to practical situations
1.4 Engineering Design:
Engineering design is the process of applying science and engineering methods to define a structure or system
in detail to permit its realization. The main objectives of a mechanical design process include determination of:
proper materials, dimensions, and the shape of the components of machine. The following is a rational
procedure in the design for strength of a load-carrying member:
Evaluate the mode of possible failure of the member.
Determine the relationship between the applied load and the resulting effect such as stress or deformation.
Determine the maximum usable value of stress or deformation.
Select the factor of safety as outlined in next section.
1.5 Review of Static:

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 a) Types of loads: External loads and Internal loads
•External loads are due to surface forces and body forces
–Surfaces forces can be for example, a concentrated load acting at a point or a distributed load both acting on
the surface of a body
–Body forces act on a volumetric portion of the body, forexample, magnetic force or gravitational force
–Reaction forces caused by the supports
•Internal loads can be considered as forces of interaction between the constituent material particles of the
body.
b) Conditions of Equilibrium: When a system of forces acting upon a body has zero resultant, the
body is said to be in force equilibrium. consider the equilibrium of a body in space, the equations
of statics under the equilibrium are:

∑ F x =0 ∑ F y =0 ∑ F z=0
∑ M x =0 ∑ M y =0 ∑ M z=0 … … … … … … ..(1)
In other words, for a body to be in static equilibrium, the sum of all forces acting upon a body in any direction
is zero and also the sum of all moments taken about any axis is also zero.
c) Planar Equations of Equilibrium: For a planar body to be in equilibrium, any one of the
following sets of 3 equations may be used to solve for the unknown variables.
1. ∑ F x =0 ∑ F y =0 ∑ M a=0, where the resultant moment is with respect to any axis z or any point a
in the xy-plane, or
2. ∑ F x =0 ∑ M a=0 ∑ M b=0, provided that the line connecting the points a and b is not
perpendicular to the x axis, or
3. ∑ M a =0 ∑ M b=0 ∑ M c =0 , where points a, b, and c are not collinear
d) Free body-Diagrams:
1.Select the free body to be used.
2.Detach this body from its supports and separate it from any other bodies. (If internal force resultants
are to be found, use the method of sections).
3.Show on the sketch all of the external forces acting on the body. Location, magnitude, and direction
of each force should be marked on the sketch.
4.Label significant points and include dimensions. Any other detail, however, should be omitted .

Systems of Units: Both systems of unit are used

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 1) International System of Units (SI unit) :
basic units are kg, sec, m
2) U.S. Customary System (USCS) : basic
units are lb, sec, ft. see table 1.2.

1.6 Internal Force Resultants:

Load: is a general term that can mean either a force, or a torque or a moment, or any combination
of them. Depending on how it is applied, a force can cause either an axial load or a torsion load or
a bending load or any combinations of these loads on a member. The resultant of the internal forces
for an axially loaded member is normal to a section cut perpendicular to the member axis. The
body responds to the application of external forces by deforming and by developing an internal
force system that hold together the particles forming the body. Method of sections together with
equations of equilibrium are used to determine the internal axial forces . We now deal with familiar
approach could the method of sections to predict the internal force system as shown in Fig. 1.1. The
steps of method of sections are:
1.Isolate the bodies. Sketch the isolated body and show all external forces acting on it: draw a free-
body diagram.
2.Apply the equations of equilibrium
to the diagram to determine the
unknown external forces.
3.Cut the body at a section of
interest by an imaginary plane,
isolate one of the segments, and
repeat step 2 for that segment. If the
entire body is in equilibrium, any part of it must be in equilibrium. That is, there must be internal
forces transmitted across the cut sections.
Components of internal forces: External loads or forces are balanced by internal loads or forces.
Each internal force and moment reflects a different effect of the applied loading on the member.
These effects can be described as follows (figure 1.2):
a)The axial force Fx , tends to elongate or contract the member (termed axial tension or axial

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 compression). This is denoted by P or N.
b)The shear force Fy and Fz , act parallel to the cross section. This is
denoted by Vy and/or Vz.
c)The twisting moment or torque Mx, is responsible for twisting the
member about its axis. This is denoted by T.
d)The bending moment My and Mz , cause the member to bend.
General Sign convention: as shown in figures 1.2 and 1.3 the
following sign convention roles are followed through this course:
i. When both the outer normal and internal force (and moment)
vector component point in a positive (+¿ ¿) (or negative−¿+ ¿¿ −¿¿
¿ ) coordinate direction, the force or
moment is defined as positive (+).Hence the tensile force at a section is positive (+). Observe that
the sense of a positive twisting moment vector is the same
as that of the positive axial force vector.
ii. When negatively (-) directed component acts on a positive

(+) or [vice versa (−¿ + ¿¿

¿ or −¿+ ¿¿ ¿ )], the force or moment is

negative. Hence the compressive force at a section is

negative (-).

iii. Figure 1.3 represent a negative (-) shear force for a beam.

iv. Interestingly, the general sign convention applies to the stress components as well in the next

chapters.

1.7 Problems Formulations and Solution:

The following outline may help in the formulation and solution of a problem:

1. Given: Define the problem and state briefly what is known.

2. Find: state consistently what is to be determine.

3. Assumptions: list simplifying idealization to be made.

4. Solution: apply the appropriate equations to determine the unknowns.

5. Comments: discuss the results briefly.

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 Significant Figures (Digits):

 Numbers beginning with 1 are recorded to 4- significant digits.

 All other numbers (that begin with 2 through 9) are recorded to 3- significant
digits.

Example 1.1:
Given: An L-shaped 3-D pipe
assembly. The pipe subjected to
vertical force of 50 N and couple
moment of 70 N·m at end A. It is
fixed to the wall at C.
Find: The resultant internal
loadings acting on cross section
at O of pipe?
Assumptions: The mass of pipes
AB & BC is 2 kg/m3.
SOLUTIONS:

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Example 1.2(P1.26):

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