MODULE 1

SIMPLE STRESS
The learning objectives:
At the end of this lesson, the learner will be able to:
• Interpret the different types of stress
• Evaluate the normal and shearing stress in a certain element
• Evaluate bearing stress
• Evaluate tangential and longitudinal stress on thin-walled pressure vessels

COURSE MATERIAL:
INTRODUCTION
Stress is defined as the strength of a material per unit area of unit strength. It is the force on a
member divided by area, which carries the force, formerly expressed in psi, now in N/mm2 or
MPa.
𝑃
𝜎=
𝐴
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 or compressive. Members subject to pure tension (or tensile force)
are under tensile stress, while compression members (members subject to compressive force)
are under compressive stress.
The compressive force will tend to shorten the member. Tension force on the other hand will tend
to lengthen the member.
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.
PROBLEM 2: Two solid cylindrical rods AB and BC are welded together at B and loaded as
shown. Knowing that the average normal stress must not exceed 175 MPa in rod AB and 150
MPa in rod BC, determine the smallest allowable values of d1 and d2.
PROBLEM 3: Two solid cylindrical rods AB and BC are welded together at B and loaded as
shown. Determine the magnitude of the force 𝑃 for which the tensile stress in rod AB has the
same magnitude as the compressive stress in rod BC.
PROBLEM 4: A homogenous 800 kg bar AB is supported at either end by a cable as shown in
the figure. Calculate the smallest area of each cable if the stress does not to exceed 90 MPa in
bronze and 120 MPa in steel.
PROBLEM 5: Determine the largest weight 𝑊 that can be supported by two wires shown in the
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.
PROBLEM 6: Find the stresses in members BC, BD, and CF for the truss shown in the figure.
Indicate the tension or compression. The cross-sectional area of each member is 1600 mm2.
PROBLEM 7: Two steel plates are to be held together by means of 16-mm-diameter high-strength
steel bolts fitting snugly inside cylindrical brass spacers. Knowing that the average normal stress
must not exceed 200 MPa in the bolts and 130 MPa in the spacers, determine the outer diameter
of the spacers that yields the most economical and safe design.
SHEARING STRESS
Forces parallel to the area resisting the force causes shearing stress. It differs from tensile and
compressive stress, which are caused by forces perpendicular to the area on which they act.
Shearing stress is also known as tangential stress.
𝑉
𝜏=
𝐴
where 𝑉 is the resultant shearing force that passes through the centroid of the area 𝐴 being
sheared.
PROBLEM 8: 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.
PROBLEM 9: Compute the shearing stress in the pin at B for the member supported as shown
in the figure. The pin diameter is 20 mm.
PROBLEM 10: The 1.4-kip load 𝑃 is supported by two wooden members of a uniform cross-
section joined by the simple glued scarf splice shown. Determine the normal and shearing
stresses in the glued splice.
PROBLEM 11: Three pieces of wood, each 100 mm wide, are glued together as shown. If the
load joint is 50 kN, determine the average shearing stress in the glued joint.
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.

𝑃 𝑃
𝜎𝑏 = =
𝐴 𝑡𝑑
PROBLEM 12: In the 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 the rivet. Determine (a) the minimum thickness of each plate; and (b) the largest
average tensile stress in the plates.
PROBLEM 13: In the hanger shown, the upper portion of link ABC is 3/8 in thick and the lower
portions are each 1/4 in thick. Epoxy resin is used to bond the upper and lower portions together
at B. The pin at A is of 3/8-in diameter while a 1/4-in-diameter pin is used at C. Determine (a) the
shearing stress in pin A, (b) the shearing stress in pin C, (c) the largest normal stress in link ABC,
(d) the average shearing stress on the bonded surfaces at B, (e) the bearing stress in the link at
C.
THIN-WALLED PRESSURE VESSELS
A tank or pipe carrying a fluid or gas under pressure is subjected to tensile forces, which resist
bursting, developed across longitudinal and transverse sections.

Tangential (or Circumferential) Stress

𝐹 = 𝑝𝐴 = 𝑝𝐷𝐿
𝑇 = 𝜎𝑡 𝐴𝑤𝑎𝑙𝑙 = 𝜎𝑡 𝑡𝐿
𝐹 = 2𝑇
𝑝𝐷𝐿 = 2𝜎𝑡 𝑡𝐿
𝑝𝐷
𝜎𝑡 =
2𝑡
If there exists an external pressure 𝑝𝑜 and an internal pressure 𝑝𝑖 , the formula may be expressed
as:
(𝑝𝑖 − 𝑝𝑜 )𝐷
𝜎𝑡 =
2𝑡

Longitudinal Stress
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 the total longitudinal stress on the wall 𝑃𝑇 = 𝜎𝐿 𝐴𝑤𝑎𝑙𝑙 . Since 𝑡 is so
small compared to 𝐷, the area of the wall is close to 𝜋𝐷𝑡.

𝜋
𝐹 = 𝑝𝐴 = 𝑝 𝐷 2
4
𝑃𝑇 = 𝜎𝐿 𝜋𝐷𝑡
𝑃𝑇 = 𝐹
 𝜋
𝜎𝐿 𝜋𝐷𝑡 = 𝑝 𝐷 2
4
𝑝𝐷
𝜎𝐿 =
4𝑡
If there exists an external pressure 𝑝𝑜 and an internal pressure 𝑝𝑖 , the formula may be expressed
as:
(𝑝𝑖 − 𝑝𝑜 )𝐷
𝜎𝑡 =
4𝑡
It can be observed that tangential stress is twice that of the longitudinal stress.
𝜎𝑡 = 2𝜎𝐿

Spherical Shell
If a spherical tank of diameter D and thickness t contains gas under a pressure of p, the stress at
the wall can be expressed as:
𝑝𝐷
𝜎=
4𝑡
PROBLEM 14: 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?
PROBLEM 15: 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.