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Forces, Loads and Structure

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6 views

Forces, Loads and Structure

Uploaded by

yacalo2
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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Forces, loads and structure

A force is anything that can deform a body (static effect) or make it move or stop
(dynamic effect).

1. Fixed or permanent loads are constant-they don’t vary over time. An example
would be the weight of the structure of a bridge and its component parts
(columns, road surface, etc.).
2. Variable loads vary over time, like the traffic going across a bridge or the wind
hitting it.
A load is a force that acts on a structure. It can be fixed or variable.

Loads produce stress on the structure of a body. The same load can cause different
effects depending on the shape of the structure, the point of application, the
direction, and the trajectory.

If we pull one of our fingers, bend it backwards, or push our palms together, we can
feel a tension that grows as we pull, bend or push harder.

We also notice that the feeling is different in each case because we have applied
force in a different way each time.

Stress is the internal tension which all bodies experience when one or more forces
are applied to them.

Mechanical properties of materials

1. Resistance (or Stiffness)

● Definition: The ability of a material to resist deformation when a force is


applied.
● Examples:
○ Wooden table legs: They resist bending when you put a heavy object
on the table.
○ Metal beams in construction: They resist bending or deforming under
heavy loads.
○ Concrete: Used in buildings because it resists compression and
doesn’t easily deform.

2. Toughness (or Tenacity)


● Definition: The ability of a material to absorb energy and deform without
breaking.
● Examples:
○ Car tires: Absorb the impact from the road without tearing.
○ Safety helmets: Tough enough to protect your head from strong
impacts.
○ Leather: Often used for protective clothing because it can take a lot of
force without tearing.

3. Fragility

● Definition: The tendency of a material to break or shatter easily when a small


force is applied.
● Examples:
○ Glass cups: Easily break if dropped.
○ Porcelain plates: Crack or shatter when hit.
○ Eggshells: Extremely fragile and break with minimal force.

4. Elasticity

● Definition: The ability of a material to return to its original shape after being
stretched or compressed.
● Examples:
○ Rubber bands: Stretch and return to their original shape when
released.
○ Springs: Compress or stretch and then return to their original length.
○ Trampoline fabric: Bounces back when someone jumps on it.

5. Plasticity

● Definition: The ability of a material to undergo permanent deformation


without breaking.
● Examples:
○ Modeling clay: Can be shaped and stays in that shape without
breaking.
○ Playdough: Once shaped, it stays that way unless molded again.
○ Gold: Can be hammered into thin sheets and retains that shape.

6. Ductility

● Definition: The ability of a material to be stretched into a thin wire without


breaking.
● Examples:
○ Copper wires: Common in electrical wiring because copper can be
stretched into long, thin wires.
○ Gold: Used in jewelry because it can be drawn into fine threads.
○ Steel cables: In suspension bridges, steel is ductile enough to form
long cables.

7. Malleability

● Definition: The ability of a material to be hammered or rolled into thin sheets


without breaking.
● Examples:
○ Aluminum foil: Can be made into very thin sheets used in cooking.
○ Gold: Often hammered into thin sheets used in decoration and jewelry.
○ Copper: Used for making thin metal sheets or pipes.

8. Hardness

● Definition: The resistance of a material to being scratched, indented, or worn.


● Examples:
○ Diamonds: The hardest known material, used to cut other materials.
○ Ceramic tiles: Hard enough to resist scratches and wear in flooring.
○ Stainless steel: Resistant to scratches and is used for kitchen
appliances and tools.

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