Bending Stresses – Exercise Problems

1) Determine the moment of inertia of the I – section having 150 mm X 10 mm flanges and 8 mm
X 280 mm web, about the neutral axis.
(Ans: 150 mm from top and also from bottom, 77.73467 X 106 mm4)
2) Determine the moment of inertia of the I – section having 150 mm X 25 mm top flange, 25 mm
X 225 mm web and 250 mm X 50 mm bottom flange, about the neutral axis.
(Ans: 194.6429 mm from top and 105.3571 mm from bottom, 250.0233 X 106 mm4)
Solution: The given I – section is unsymmetrical about neutral axis.
(150𝑋25𝑋12.5)+(25𝑋225𝑋137.5)+(250𝑋50𝑋275)
𝑦̄ = = 194.6429 mm from top
(150𝑋25)+(225𝑋25)+(250𝑋50)
(i.e., 105.3571mm from bottom)
(150𝑋253 )
𝐼𝑁𝐴 = + (150𝑋25𝑋(194.6429 − 12.5)2 )
12

(25𝑋2253 )
+ + (25𝑋225𝑋(194.6429 − 25 − 112.5)2 )
12

(250𝑋503 )
+ + (250𝑋50𝑋(105.3571 − 25)2 )
12
= 195312.5 + 124410076.5
+23730468.75 + 18367346.94
+ 2604166.667 + 80715880.1
= 250023251.5 𝑚𝑚4
OR
The above calculation (for M.I. about N.A.) is shown below in the table form
2
element width (mm) depth (mm) Iself A xh Total
top flange 150 25 195312.5 124410076.5 124605389
web 25 225 23730468.75 18367346.94 42097815.7
bottom flange 250 50 2604166.667 80715880.1 83320046.8
250023251
N.A.position 194.6429 mm from top
i.e. 105.3571 mm from bottom
INA 6 4
= 250.0232515 X 10 mm
3) Find the maximum stress induced in a steel flat of 150 mm wide and 12 mm thick, when it is
bent into a circular arc of 12 m. Young’s modulus of elasticity of steel is 200 GPa.
(Ans: 100 MPa)
4) Find the maximum stress induced in a steel bar of 10 mm diameter, when it is bent into a circular
arc of 20 m. Young’s modulus of elasticity of steel is 200 GPa. (Ans: 50 MPa)
5) A steel scale of 310 mm long and 40 mm X 0.8 mm cross section is bent by applying couples
at the ends so that it subtends a central angle of 300. Find the moment applied and the maximum
stress induced. Young’s modulus of elasticity of steel is 200 GPa.
(Ans: angle shall be in radians, 576.52 N-mm, 135.12 MPa)
6) A beam of symmetrical section is 350 mm deep and has 131.6 X106 mm4 as moment of inertia
about its neutral axis. It is bent into circular arc without exceeding the allowable stress of 126
MPa. What is the radius of curvature? Also find the moment of resistance. Young’s modulus of
elasticity of beam material is 200 GPa. (Ans: 277.7778m, 94.752 kN-m)
7) Compare the flexural strength of following cross sections with an I-section having overall
dimensions of 150 mm X 300 mm, 10 mm thick flanges and 8 mm thick web. All beams are of
same material and same weight and same length.
i) Rectangular cross section having depth as twice of its width
ii) Square cross section
iii) Circular cross section (Ans: 0.1725, 0.1219 and 0.10323)

September 2024 Bending Stresses – Problems 1/6

 Solution:
Same length, Same material  Same unit weight in all beams
& Same allowable bending stress in all beams
Same weight  𝑊𝐼 = 𝑊𝑅 = 𝑊𝑆 = 𝑊𝐶  𝐴𝐼 = 𝐴𝑅 = 𝐴𝑆 = 𝐴𝐶
𝐼
𝑀𝑅 = 𝜎𝑎𝑙𝑙𝑜𝑤 𝑍 = 𝜎𝑎𝑙𝑙𝑜𝑤 [ ]
𝑦𝑚𝑎𝑥
Comparison of flexural strength  Comparison of section modulus Z

8) Find the strongest rectangular beam that can be cut out of a (D =) 300 mm diameter
circular log of wood. (Ans: b= 𝑫/√𝟑 , h= 𝑫(√𝟐/𝟑) )
Solution:
D = diameter of Circular cross section
b = width of rectangular cross section
h = height of rectangular cross section
√𝑏 2 + ℎ2 = 𝐷  ℎ2 = 𝐷2 − 𝑏 2
𝑴𝑹 = 𝝈𝒂𝒍𝒍𝒐𝒘 𝒁
Material is same, therefore allowable bending stress is
constant.
For strongest rectangular cross section, the section modulus of cross section ‘Z’
shall be maximum. 𝑑𝑏 = 0   𝑏 = √3
𝑑𝑍 𝐷 2
or ℎ = 𝐷√3

9) A simply supported beam of 5 m span is subjected to 28 kN/m uniformly distributed load

over the entire span. The cross section of beam is symmetrical I section with flanges of
150 mm X 12 mm size and 10 mm X 296 mm web. Young’s modulus of beam material
is 200 GPa. Determine the following:
a) Bending stress at a point located 1 m from left support and 6 mm below the top
surface.
b) Bending stress at a point located 3 m from right support and 50 mm above the neutral
axis.
c) Bending stress at a point located 0.8 m from right support and 100 mm below the
neutral axis.
d) Maximum bending stress at junction of flange and web.
e) Maximum bending stress and its location.
f) Minimum bending stress and its location.
g) Radius of curvature at any point located 1 m from left support
h) Radius of curvature at any point located 3 m from right support
i) Radius of curvature at any point located 0.8 m from right support
j) Radius of curvature at any point located at mid-span
Solution:
Width of beam = 150 mm Depth of beam = 320 mm
Neutral axis is at 160 mm from top as well as from bottom
September 2024 Bending Stresses – Problems 2/6
 M.I. about neutral axis = 107.0328 X 106 mm4
𝑤𝑙 28𝑋5
Support reactions = = = 70 kN each
2 2

A
B
N S
C

Section 1 Section 2 Mid-Span Section 3

BMD

Mid-Span section:
𝑤𝑙 2 28𝑋52
Maximum bending moment = = =87.5 kN-m (at mid span)
8 8
Section-1:
1
Bending moment at 1 m from left support = 70𝑋1 − (28𝑋1) 2 = 56 kN-m
Section-2:
3
Bending moment at 3 m from right support = 70𝑋3 − (28𝑋3) 2 = 84 kN-m
Section-3:
0.8
Bending moment at 0.8 m from right support = 70𝑋0.8 − (28𝑋0.8) 2 = 47.04 kN-m
𝑀 𝜎 𝐸 𝑴
Bending stress: = =  𝝈= 𝒚
𝐼 𝑦 𝑅 𝑰
a) Bending stress at a point (A) located at 1 m from left support and 6 mm below the top surface
𝑀 56𝑋106
𝜎= (𝑦) = 𝑋154 = 80.5735 MPa (compressive)
𝐼 107.0328𝑋106
b) Bending stress at a point (B) located at 3 m from right support and 50 mm above the n.a.
𝑀 84𝑋106
𝜎= (𝑦) = 𝑋50 = 39.2403 MPa (compressive)
𝐼 107.0328𝑋106
c) Bending stress at a point (C) located at 0.8 m from right support and 100 mm below the n.a.
𝑀 47.04𝑋106
𝜎= (𝑦) = 𝑋100 = 43.9492 MPa (tensile)
𝐼 107.0328𝑋106
d) Maximum bending stress at junction of flange and web
𝑀 87.5𝑋106
𝜎= (𝑦) = 𝑋148 = 120.991 MPa
𝐼 107.0328𝑋106
(Compressive at top junction and Tensile at bottom junction located at mid-span section)
e) Maximum bending stress and its location
𝑀𝑚𝑎𝑥 87.5𝑋106
𝜎𝑚𝑎𝑥 = (𝑦𝑚𝑎𝑥 ) = 𝑋160 = 130.8011 MPa
𝐼 107.0328𝑋106
(Compressive in the extreme top fiber and Tensile in the extreme bottom fiber
located at mid-span section)
f) Minimum bending stress and its location: 𝜎 = 0 at any point on the support section
𝜎 = 0 at any point on neutral axis at any section

September 2024 Bending Stresses – Problems 3/6

 𝑀 𝜎 𝐸 1 𝑀 𝐸𝐼
Radius of curvature: = =  =  𝑅=
𝐼 𝑦 𝑅 𝑅 𝐸𝐼 𝑀
g) Radius of curvature at any point located 1 m from left support
EI 2X105 X107.0328X106
R= = = 382259.8095 mm = 382.2598 m
M 56X106
h) Radius of curvature at any point located 3 m from right support
EI 2X105 X107.0328X106
R= = = 254839.873 mm = 254.8398 m
M 84X106
i) Radius of curvature at any point located 0.8 m from right support
EI 2X105 X107.0328X106
R= = = 455071.2018 mm = 455.0712 m
M 47.04X106
j) Radius of curvature at any point located at mid-span
EI 2X105 X107.0328X106
R= = = 244646.2781 mm = 244.6464 m
M 87.5X106
10) The cross section of a 2 m long cast iron beam consists of 150 mm X 25 mm top flange,
25 mm X 225 mm web and 250 mm X 50 mm bottom flange. The allowable bending
stresses for cast iron are 100 MPa in compression and 25 MPa in tension. Determine
the safe load on the beam when it is used as,
a) Cantilever beam subjected to uniformly distributed load over the entire span.
b) Simply supported beam subjected to uniformly distributed load over the entire span.
(Ans: 118.6551 kN/m & 16.0565 kN/m)
11) A simply supported beam of 5m span carries uniformly distributed load of w per unit run.
The allowable bending stress of beam material is 120 MPa. The cross section of beam
consists of 150 mm X 10 mm flanges and 8 mm X 280 mm web. Determine the safe
value of ‘w’. Also find the compressive and tensile forces acting on the cross section to
formulate the couple. What is the distance between these two forces?
(Ans: 62.1878 kN-m, 236.72 kN, 262.7059 mm)
Solution: 𝑦̄ = 150 𝑚𝑚 (symmetrical I section), 𝐼𝑁𝐴 = 77.7347𝑋106 𝑚𝑚4
C1
C
C2

T2
T
T1

12) A simply supported beam of 6m span carries uniformly distributed load of w per unit run over
the entire span. The cross section of beam is rectangular of 200 mm wide and 350 mm deep.
The allowable bending stress and Young’s modulus of elasticity of beam material are 60 MPa
and 100 GPa respectively. Determine the safe value of ‘w’,
i) If the self-weight of beam is neglected.
ii) If the self-weight of beam 5 kN/m is also considered
Also find the minimum value of radius of curvature in the above two cases.
(Ans: 54.4444 and 49.4444 kN/m, R= 291.6667 and 321.16 m)
13) A simply supported beam of 6m span carries uniformly distributed load of w per unit run. The
allowable bending stress of beam material is 160 MPa. The cross section of beam is
symmetrical I section having 100 mm X 200 mm overall size with 12 mm thick flanges and 10
mm web. Determine the safe value of ‘w’. Also find the compressive and tensile forces acting

September 2024 Bending Stresses – Problems 4/6

 on the cross section to formulate the couple. What is the distance between these two forces?
Also find the distance of these forces from the respective extreme fibers.
(Ans: M.I.=25.7783X106 mm4, w = 9.1656 kN/m, C=C1+C2= 180480+61952= 242432 N,
y1 = 5.8723mm, y2 = 41.3333mm and y = 14.9342mm from top, j = 170.1316 mm)
14) Two timber planks of 150 mm wide and 50 mm thick are glued together to form a T-section.
This section is subjected to a maximum sagging bending moment of 4 kN-m. Find the (i)
Maximum bending stresses, (ii) compressive and tensile forces and their location.
(Ans: 5.6471 MPa (C), 9.4118 MPa (T), C=C1+C2= 28235.29412+1176.4706= 29411.7647 N,
C1 at 20.8333mm, C2 at 58.3333 mm and C at 22.3333 mm from top,
T = 29411.7647 N at 41.6667 from bottom and j = 136 mm)
15) The cross section of a 3 m long cast iron simply supported beam consists of 100 mm X 20 mm
top flange, 20 mm X 200 mm web and 200 mm X 20 mm bottom flange. The allowable bending
stresses are 100 MPa in compression and 25 MPa in tension. Determine the safe load on the
beam. Also find the compressive and tensile forces acting on the cross section to formulate the
couple. What is the distance between these two forces? Also find the distance of these forces
from the respective extreme fibers.
(Ans: N.A. at 142 mm from top, M.I.=81.2933X10 6 mm4, 36.2245 MPa (C), 25 MPa (T),
18.4339 kN/m, C=C1+C2= 67346.9388+37969.3878= 105316.3265 N,
C1 at 9.7475 mm, C2 at 60.6667 mm and C at 28.1052 mm from top,
T=T1+T2= 89795.91837+15520.40816= 105316.3265 N,
T1 at 9.6212 mm, T2 at 46 mm and T at 14.9823 mm from bottom, and j = 196.9124 mm)
16) A cantilever beam of 4.5 m span with 250 mm deep and 125 mm wide carries a varying load of
intensity 6 kN/m at fixed end and 2 kN/m at the free end. Determine the location and magnitude
of maximum bending stress in the beam. Also find the stress in a fiber at 25 mm from top of
cross section located at one-third span from free end.
(Ans: 27 MPa at support section, 1.76 MPa tensile)
17) A cantilever beam of 1.5 m span is loaded with 6 kN concentrated load at the free end. The
cross section of beam is 240 mm wide throughout the span but the depth is tapering uniformly
from 200 mm at the free end to 500 mm at the fixed end. Determine the location and magnitude
of maximum bending stress in the beam. Also find the maximum bending stress at support
section. (Ans: 0.9375 MPa at 1 m from free end, 0.9 MPa)
18) A simply supported beam having cross section of is 200 mm X 300 mm is subjected to a central
concentrated load of 450 kN. If the allowable bending stress is 120 MPa, find the allowable
value of span. Determine the maximum compressive force and tensile force on cross section of
beam. Also calculate the distance between them. (Ans: 3.2m, 1800 kN, 200 mm)
19) A timber beam of 3.6 m long is simply supported at the ends and carries a concentrated load of
16 kN at one-third span from left support. The cross section of beam is 150 mm X 300 mm.
Determine the,
i) Magnitude and location of maximum bending stress
ii) Bending stress in extreme compression fiber at mid span section.
iii) Bending tensile stress in a fiber located at 60mm from neutral axis on a section of one-
third span from right support.
(Ans: (i) 5.6889 MPa in extreme fibers at 1.2 m from left support,
ii) 4.2667 MPa (C) in top fiber at mid-span,
iii) 1.1378 MPa (T) in fiber at 60 mm below N.A., at 1.2 m from right support)
20) A cantilever beam of 4.5 m span with 200 mm deep and 75 mm wide carries a varying load of
intensity 2 kN/m at fixed end and zero at the free end. Determine the location and magnitude of
maximum bending stress in the beam. Also find the stress in a fiber at 20 mm from top of cross
section located at one-third span from free end. (Ans: 13.5 MPa at support section, 0.4 MPa tensile)
21) A cantilever wooden mast 12 m high tapers linearly from 200 mm diameter at the base to 100
mm at the top. At what point will the mast break under a horizontal load at the top? If the ultimate
strength of mast material is 35 MPa, find the magnitude of horizontal load which causes failure
of mast. (Ans: 6 m from top, 1933 N)
22) A beam of length ‘L’ and total weight of ‘W’ is simply supported and carries a concentrated load
of ‘P’ at the mid span. If the error in evaluating the bending stress is ‘e’ percent when the self-
weight is neglected, what is the ratio ‘P’ and ‘W’ ? Find the numerical value of this ratio when
𝑷 𝟏 𝟏𝟎𝟎
‘e’ = 4. (Ans: = [ − 𝟏] )
𝑾 𝟐 𝒆

September 2024 Bending Stresses – Problems 5/6

23) For the given material, compare the flexural strength of a beam cross section of square shape
placed, (i) as two sides horizontal (ii) as one of diagonals in the plane of bending.
(Ans: case (i) is stronger by 41.4 % than case (ii))
24) A simply supported beam of rectangular cross section over 4 m span supports a total load of 20
kN. The depth of beam is twice of its width. The allowable bending stress of beam material is
60 MPa. By neglecting the self-weight of beam, find the dimensions of beam cross section,
when
(i) the given load 20 kN is uniformly distributed
(ii) the given load 20 kN is concentrated at mid span.
(Ans: (i) b = 63 mm, (ii) b = 79.37 mm)
25) A vertical flag staff standing 7.5 m above the ground is of square section throughout, the
dimensions being 75 mm X 75 mm at the top, tapering uniformly to 150 mm X 150 mm at the
ground. A horizontal pull of 4 kN is applied at the top, the location of loading being along a
diagonal of the cross section. Find the magnitude and location of maximum bending stress.
(Ans: 89.4 MPa at 3.75 m from top)

oOo

September 2024 Bending Stresses – Problems 6/6