MECHANICS OF DEFORMABLE BODIES

Module 1: Simple Stresses

Objectives:

1. Identify the different type of loads and stresses.

2. Determine the various combinations of loadings under different conditions of support as
well as the relations among loads, area and stress.
3. Differentiate the stresses in terms of area affected by the load.

Contents:

A force exerted on a body can cause a change in either the shape or the motion of the body. The
unit of force is the newton, N.

The three main types of mechanical force that can act on a body are:

(i) tensile,

(ii) compressive, and

(iii) Shear

Tensile force

Tension is a force that tends to stretch a material.

Examples:

(i) the rope or cable of a crane carrying a load is in tension

(ii) rubber bands, when stretched, are in tension

(iii) when a nut is tightened, a bolt is under tension

A tensile force, i.e. one producing tension, increases the length of the material on which it acts.

Compressive force

Compression is a force that tends to squeeze or crush a material.

Examples:

(i) a pillar supporting a bridge is in compression

(ii) the sole of a shoe is in compression

(iii) the jib of a crane is in compression

A compressive force, i.e. one producing compression, will decrease the length of the material on
which it acts.

Simple stress can be classified as:

Normal stress - develops when a force is applied perpendicular to the cross-sectional area of the
material.

tensile stress - If the force is going to pull the material.

compressive stress - develops when the material is being compressed by two

opposing forces.

Shear stress - is developed if the applied force is parallel to the resisting area.

Bearing stress - it is the contact pressure between two bodies.

Simple stresses are expressed as the ratio of the applied force divided by the resisting area.

Normal stress:

The resisting area is perpendicular to the applied force, thus normal. There are two types of normal
stresses: tensile stress and compressive stress. Tensile stress applied to bar tends the bar to
elongate while compressive stress tends to shorten the bar

Where:

 = (sigma) Normal Stress

P = is the applied normal load in Newton

A = is the area in mm2.

**The maximum stress in tension or compression occurs over a section normal to the load.
Sample Problems:

1. A rectangular bar having across-sectional area of 75 mm² has a tensile force of 15 kN

applied to it. Determine the stress in the bar.

2. A circular wire has a tensile force of 60.0 N applied to it and this force produces a stress of
3.06 MPa in the wire. Determine the diameter of the wire.

3. 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.
4. A rod is composed of an aluminum section rigidly attached between steel and bronze
sections, as shown in Figure. Axial loads are applied at the positions indicated. If P = 3000 lb
and the cross-sectional area of the rod is 0.5 in2, determine the stress in each section.

5. Determine the stress in each section of the bar shown in figure below when subjected to an
axial tensile load of 20kN. The central section is 30mm square cross-section; the other
portions are of circular sections with diameter in millimeter being indicated.
Shear force

Shear is a force that tends to slide one face of the material over an adjacent face.

Example:

(i) a rivet holding two plates together is in shear if a tensile force is applied between the plates.

(ii) a guillotine cutting sheet metal, or garden shears, each provide a shear force

(iii) a horizontal beam is subject to shear force

(iv) transmission joints on cars are subject to shear forces

A shear force can cause a material to bend, slide or twist.

Shearing Stress

Forces parallel to the area resisting the force cause shearing stress. It differs to 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.
Sample Problems:

1. A rectangular block of plastic material 500 mm long by 20 mm wide by 300 mm high has its
lower face glued to a bench and a force of 200 N is applied to the upper face and in line with
it. Determine the shear stress.

2. 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.
3. Find the smallest diameter bolt that can be used in the clevis shown in Figure if P = 400 kN.
The shearing strength of the bolt is 300 MPa.

4. A circular hole of diameter 50 mm is to be punched out of a 2 mm thick metal plate. The

shear stress needed to cause fracture is 500 MPa. Determine (a) the minimum force to be
applied to the punch, and (b) the compressive stress in the punch at this value.
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:

1. In Figure, assume that a 20-mm-diameter rivet joins the plates that are each 110 mm wide.
The allowable stresses are 120 MPa for bearing in the plate material and 60 MPa for shearing
of rivet. Determine (a) the minimum thickness of each plate; and (b) the largest average
tensile stress in the plates.
2. The lap joint shown in Figure is fastened by four ¾-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.

3. The coupling shown in the figure below is constructed from steel of rectangular cross-
section and is designed to transmit a tensile force of 50 kN. If the bolt is of 15mm diameter
calculate:
a) the shear stress in the bolt;
b) the tensile stress in the plate;
c) the tensile stress in each of the forked end of the coupling.
d) the bearing stress in the bolt.
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 (Circumferential Stress)

LONGITUDINAL STRESS, σL
Consider the free body diagram in the transverse section of the tank:
SPHERICAL SHELL

Sample Problems:

1. 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.
2. The wall thickness of a 4-ft-diameter spherical tank is 5/16 in. Calculate the allowable
internal pressure if the stress is limited to 8000 psi.

3. 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.
4. The tank shown in Figure is fabricated from 1/8-in steel plate. Calculate the maximum
longitudinal and circumferential stress caused by an internal pressure of 125 psi.

5. A cylindrical pressure vessel is fabricated from steel plating that has a thickness of 20
mm. The diameter of the pressure vessel is 450 mm and its length is 2.0 m. Determine
the maximum internal pressure that can be applied if the longitudinal stress is limited to
140 MPa, and the circumferential stress is limited to 60 MPa.
Practice Problems:

1. A circular cable has a tensile force of 1 kN applied to it and the force produces a stress of
7.8 MPa in the cable. Calculate the diameter of the cable.
2. A square-sectioned support of side 12 mm is loaded with a compressive force of 10 kN.
Determine the compressive stress in the support.
3. A bolt having a diameter of 5 mm is loaded so that the shear stress in it is 120 MPa.
Determine the value of the shear force on the bolt.
4. A split pin requires a force of 400 N to shear it. The maximum shear stress before shear
occurs is 120 MPa. Determine the minimum diameter of the pin.
5. A 12-inches square steel bearing plate lies between an 8-inches diameter wooden post and
a concrete footing as shown in Figure. Determine the maximum value of the load P if the
stress in wood is limited to 1800 psi and that in concrete to 650 psi.

6. An aluminum rod is rigidly attached between a steel rod and a bronze rod as shown in
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.

7. Determine the largest weight W that can be supported by two wires shown in Figure. The
stress in either wire is not to exceed 30 ksi. The cross-sectional areas of wires AB and AC
are 0.4 in² and 0.5 in² , respectively.
8. As in Figure, a hole is to be punched out of a plate having a shearing strength of 40 ksi. The
compressive stress in the punch is limited to 50 ksi. (a) Compute the maximum thickness of
plate in which a hole 2.5 inches in diameter can be punched. (b) If the plate is 0.25 inch
thick, determine the diameter of the smallest hole that can be punched.

9. In the clevis shown in 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.

10. A 7/8-in.-diameter bolt, having a diameter at the root of the threads of 0.731 in., is used to
fasten two timbers together as shown in Figure. The nut is tightened to cause a tensile
stress of 18 ksi in the bolt. Compute the shearing stress in the head of the bolt and in the
threads. Also, determine the outside diameter of the washers if their inside diameter is 9/8
in. and the bearing stress is limited to 800 psi.
11. The strength of longitudinal joint in Figure is 33 kips/ft, whereas for the girth is 16 kips/ft.
Calculate the maximum diameter of the cylinder tank if the internal pressure is 150 psi.