Flexure Formula

Defines bending stress

Flexure formula

Prof Schierle

Flexure Formula (derived for rectangular beam)

1 Beam with marked area
2 Bent beam deforms area into rhomboid
3 Stress block due to bending
Flexure formula derivation:
fy /y = f/c fy= y f/c
(similar triangles)
The internal resiting moment is the sum of forces F
times lever arm y about NA, the Neutral Axis
M=Fy
F = a fy

F = a y f/c
M = y a y f/c
M = a y2 f/c
f = Mc / I
f = Mc / a y2
I = a y2
I = Moment of Inertia
Calculus defines the area a as differential area da
and the sum sign as integration sign
I = y2 da
I = Moment of Inertia
f = Mc / I
Flexure Formula
f = bending stress at any distance c from NA.
For maximum stress the flexure formula simplifies to
f=M/S
S = I / c = Section Modulus
Flexure formula

Prof Schierle

Section Modulus (for rectangular beam)

1 Stress block of partial beam
C = T = b (d/2) (f/2)
Stress block centroids are d/3 from NA
Lever arm between C and T is 2/3 d
Internal resisting moment:
M = C 2/3 d = T 2/3 d
Substituting b (d/2) (f/2) for C and T, yields
M = 2/3 d b (d/2) (f/2)
M = 2/3 f bd2/4 M = f bd2/6
Solving for f (maximum stress)
f = M / bd2/6 f = M/ S
where
S = bd2/6
(Section Modulus)
Comparing a 2x12 joist upright and flat:
2 S=2 (12)2/6
S = 48 in3
3 S=12 (2)2/6
S = 8 in3
The upright joist is 6 times stronger !
Flexure formula

Prof Schierle

Moment of Inertia
1 Stress block
2 Moment of Inertia as parabolic volume
3 T-beam with asymmetric stress block
4 L-bar stress blocks about X, Y, and Z-axis
The Moment of Inertia formula
I = y2da
reveals, resistance of areas da increases quadratic
with the distance from NA (parabolic distribution).
The Moment of Inertia parabolic volume is
1/3 the volume of a cube of equal dimensions:
I = 1/3 bd (d/2)2 I = 1/3 bd3 / 4
I = Moment of Inertia
I = bd3/12
for rectangular beams only
From previous derivation, the flexure formula
f=Mc/I
defines stress at any distance c from NA (needed for
asymmetrical shapes, such as T or L-shapes).
Flexure formula

Prof Schierle

Moment of Inertia
Effect of shapes
1 Upright joist: 2x12, I = 2 (12)3/12 I = 288 in4
2 Flat joist: 12x2,

I = 12 (2)3/12

I = 8 in4

3 Wide flange beam: effective (flanges far from NA)

4 Cross beam: ineffective (cross bar at NA)
Note:
Beams at right deform more than beams at left
Material at NA is least effective (short lever arm)
Moment of Inertia defines strength and stiffness

Flexure formula

Prof Schierle

Area Method review

Shear at any point is:
V = load area left of the point
Bending at any point is:
M = shear area left of the point
Maximum bending occurs where shear goes
through zero
Negative bending causes convex deflection
Positive bending causes concave deflection
Inflection point (0 bending)
coincides with change of deflection curvature

Flexure formula

Prof Schierle

Examples
Design
Defines beam size for actual loads and allowable stress of selected material
Analysis
Checks if a given beam satisfies allowable stress of the actual material
Assume:
Wood
Allowable bending stress
Allowable shear stress (parallel to fiber)
Steel
Yield strength
Allowable bending stress (0.6 Fy)
Allowable shear stress (0.4 Fy)

Fb = 1200 psi
Fv = 95 psi
Fy = 50 ksi
Fb = 30 ksi
Fv = 20 ksi

Note:
F = allowable stress
f = actual stress
Flexure formula

Prof Schierle

Beam analysis
Mc=0 =16 Rb-1000(20)-300(4)18-200(16)8
Rb=(20000+21600+25600)/16
Rb = 4200 lb
Mb=0 =-16Rc-1000(4)-300(4)2+200(16)8
Rc=(-4000-2400+25600)/16
Rc = 1200 lb
Shear
Var = 0 - 1000
Var= -1000 lb
Vbl = -1000 - 300 (4)
Vbl =-2200 lb
Vbr = -2200 + 4200
Vbr = +2000 lb
Vcl = +2000 - 200(16) = - Rc
Vcl = -1200 lb
Find x (V = 0 Mmax)
Vbr - w X = 0; X = Vbr / w = 2000 / 200 X = 10 ft
Bending moment
Mb = 4(-1000-2200)/2
Mb= -6400 lb
Mx = -6400+10 (2000)/2
Mx= +3600 lb
Section modulus
S=bd2/6 =(3.5)11.252/6
S = 74 in3
Bending stress
fb=M/S= 6400(12)/74
fb=1038psi<1200
Shear stress
fv= 84 psi < 95
fv=1.5V/(bd)=1.5(2200)/[3.5(11.25)]
Flexure formula

Prof Schierle

2
30 k

-36k
30 k
360 k

Flexure formula

Steel beam design

1 Actual Beam
2 Beam diagram - ignore load at supports
(has no effect on beam but on columns)
Assume: L = 36, P = 30 k, Fb = 30 ksi, Fv = 20 ksi
Reactions
R = 2P/2 = 2 (30)/2
R = 30 k
Shear
Var = Vbl = R
Var = Vbl = 30 k
Vbr = Vcl = 30 30
Vbr = Vbr = 0
Vcr = Vdl = 0 -30
Vcr = Vdl = -30 k
Vdr = -30 + 30
Vdr = 0
Bending moment
Mb = Mc = 30 (12)
Mb = 360 k
Section modulus required
S = M/Fb = 360 k(12)/ 30 ksi
S = 144 in3
Use W18x75
S = 146>144
Shear stress
fv = V/(d tw) = 30k/(18.21x0.425)
fv = 3.88 ksi<<20
Note: steel beam shear stress is rarely critical
Prof Schierle

Flexure formula

Prof Schierle

10

Flexure formula

Concrete beam analysis

1 Actual beam
2 Beam diagram - ignore load at supports
(has no effect on beam but on columns)
Assume:
Span 30, point load P = 20k
DL = 2x1.33 x 150 pcf /1000 w = 0.4 klf
Reaction
R = (2P+w L)/2 = (2x20+0.4x30)/2
R = 26 k
Shear
Var = R
Var = 26 k
Vbl = 26 - 0.4 (10)
Vbl = 22 k
Vbr = 22 - 20
Vbr= 2 k
Vcl = 2 - 0.4 (10)
Vcl = -2 k
Vcr = -2 - 20
Vcr =-22 k
Vdl = -22 - 0.4 (10)
Vdl =-26 k
Bending moment
Mb = 10 (26+22)/2
Mb = 240 k
Mmax = Mb + 2(5)/2
Mmax = 245 k
Note: concrete stress will be covered in Arch 313
Prof Schierle

11

Flexure Formula
Dont over stress

or else
Flexure formula

Prof Schierle

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