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5-e. Design of Prismatic Beams for Bending / Economic Sections
The design of a beam is usually controlled by the maximum absolute value of the bending moment that will occur
in the beam. The largest normal stress in the beam is found at the surface of the beam in the critical section where the
maximum moment occurs and can be obtained from Eq. 5.8, which can be written as
M max
m
S
A safe design requires that σm ≤ σall, where σall is the allowable stress for the material used. Substituting σall for σm in the
above equation and solving for S yields the minimum allowable value of the section modulus for the beam being
designed:
M max
S min
all
A proper procedure in the design of beams should lead to the most economical design. This means that
among beams of the same type and the same material and other things being equal, the beam with the smallest
weight per unit length (the smallest cross-sectional area) should be selected, since this beam will be the least
expensive.
EXERCISES
1. Determine the maximum height h of the beam shown if the flexural stress is not to exceed 20 MPa. (Pytel, 1987)
Ans. 136.93 mm
2. For the beam and loading shown, design the cross section of the beam, knowing that the grade of timber used has an
allowable normal stress of 12 MPa.
3. For the beam and loading shown, design the cross section of the beam, knowing that the grade of timber used has an
allowable normal stress of 12 MPa.
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4. Knowing that the allowable stress for the steel used is 160 MPa, select the most economical wide-flange beam to
support the loading shown.
5. Knowing that the allowable stress for the steel used is 24 ksi, select the most economical S-shape beam to
support the loading shown.
6. Two L102 × 76 rolled-steel angles are bolted together and used to support the loading shown. Knowing that the
allowable normal stress for the steel used is 140 MPa, determine the minimum angle thickness that can be used.
5-f. Unsymmetrical Beams
For materials that are equally strong in tension and compression, symmetrical beam sections are desirable; but for
materials that are not equally strong in tension and compression, it is desirable to use beam sections that are not
symmetrical with respect to the neutral axis. With such a section, the stronger fibers can be located at a greater distance
from the neutral axis than the weaker fibers. The ideal treatment for such materials is to locate the centroidal or neutral
axis in such a position that the ratio of the distances from it to the fibers in tension and compression is exactly the same as
the ratio of the allowable stresses in tension and in compression.
EXERCISES:
1. The inverted T section of a 4-m simply supported beam has the properties shown in the figure. The beam carries a
uniformly distributed load of intensity wo over its entire length. Determine wo if t 40 MPa and c 80 MPa.
(Pytel, 1987) Ans. 6000 N/m
wo
200 mm
NA
4m 80 mm
I = 30 106 mm4
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2. A beam carries a concentrated load W and a total uniformly distributed load of 4W as shown in the figure. What safe
value of W can be applied if c 100 MPa and t 60 MPa? (Pytel, 1987) Ans. 9600 N
75 mm
NA
125 mm
I = 24 106 mm4
3. A T beam supports the three concentrated load shown in the figure. Determine the maximum value of P so that t 4
ksi and c 10 ksi. (Pytel, 1987) Ans. 1469.7 lb
4. Determine the maximum tensile stress and maximum compressive stress due to the load P acting on the simple beam
AB. P = 6.2 kN, L = 3.2 m, d = 1.25 m, b = 80 mm, t = 25 mm, h = 120 mm, and h1 = 90 mm. (Gere, 2009) Ans. c =
61 MPa and t = 35.4 MPa
5. Determine the largest permissible distributed load w for the beam shown, knowing that the allowable normal stress is
80 MPa in tension and 130 MPa in compression. (Beer, 2006) Ans. 150 kN/m
6. For the beam and loading shown, determine the maximum normal stress due to bending. (Beer, 2006) Ans. 86.9 MPa
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7. A cast-iron beam 10 m long and supported as shown carries a uniformly distributed load of intensity wo. The
allowable stresses are t 20 MPa and c 80 MPa. Find the values of x and wo so that wo is a maximum.
(Pytel, 1987) Ans. wo = 3164 N/m
8. A beam ABC with an overhang from B to C supports a uniform load of 200 lb/ft throughout its length. The beam is a
channel section with dimensions as shown in the figure. The moment of inertia about the neutral axis equals 5.14 in 4.
Calculate the maximum tensile stress and the maximum compressive stress due to the uniform load. (Gere, 2001) Ans.
maximum t = 8194.55 psi; maximum c = 14568.09 psi.
9. Beams AB, BC, and CD have the cross section shown and are pin-connected at B and C. Knowing that the allowable
normal stress is 110 MPa in tension and 150 MPa in compression, determine a) the largest permissible value of w is
the beam BC is not to be overstressed, b) the corresponding maximum distance a for which the cantilever beams AB
and CD are not overstressed. (Beer, 2006) Ans. a) 1.485 kN/m; b) 1.935 m
