Unit No 1
Stresses in the bars of Composite section
A bar made up of two or more different materials, joined together is called a composite bar. The bars are joined
in such a manner, that the system extends or contract as one unit, equally when subjected to tension or
compression. Following two points should always be kept in view while solving the problem on composite bars.
1. Extension or contraction of the bar being equal, the strain, i.e., deformation per unit length is also
equal.
2. The total external load, on the bar, is equal to the sum of the loads carried by the different materials.
Consider a composite bar made up of two different materials as shown in Fig below.
Let
p = Total load on the bar,
l = Length of the bar,
A1= area of bar 1,
E1= Modulus of elasticity of bar 1
P1= Load shared by bar 1, and
A2, E2, P2= Corresponding values for bar 2
1 2
l
D D
P
Fig 12
We know that total load on the bar,
P = P1+P2 …(i)
P1
Stress in bar 1, 1
A1
1 P1
and strain in bar 1, 1
E1 A1E1
P1l
Elongation, l 1.l …(ii)
A1E1
Similarly, elongation of bar 2,
P2l
…(iii)
A2 E2
Since both the elongations are equal, therefore equating (ii) and (iii), we get
P1l Pl P1 P
2 or 2 …(iv)
A1E1 A2 E2 A1E1 A2 E2
A2 E2
or P2 P1
A1E1
But P= P1 + P2
𝑃 = 𝑃1 [𝐴1𝐸1 + 𝐴2𝐸2]/𝐴1𝐸1
A1E1
or P1 P …(v)
A1E1 A2 E2
A2 E2
Similarly, P2 P …(vi)
A1E1 A2 E2
From these equations we can find out the loads shard by the different materials. We have also seen in equation
(iv) that
P1 P
2
A1E1 A2 E2
1 2 P
or ... Stress
E1 E2 A
E1
1 2 …(vii)
E2
E2
Similarly, 2 1 …(viii)
E1
From the above equations, we can find out the stresses n the different materials. We also know that the total
load,
P P1 P2 1 A1 2 A2
From the above equations, we can also find out the stress in the different materials.
Notes: 1. For the sake of simplicity, we have considered the composite bar made up of two different materials
only. But this principle may be extended for a bar made up of more than two different materials also.
2. If the lengths of the two bars are different, then elongation should be separately calculated and equated.
3. The ratio E1/E2 is known as modulus ratio of the two materials and is denoted by the letter.
Problem 1.
A reinforced concrete circular section of 45000 mm2 cross-sectional area carries 8 reinforcing bars whose total
area is 1650 mm2. Find the safe load, the column can carry, if the concrete is not to be stressed more than 2.9
MPa. Take modular ratio for steel and concrete as 16.
Solution:
Given: Area of column = 45000mm2, No. of reinforcing bars = 8, total area of steel bars (AS) = 1650 mm2, Max
ES
stress in concrete (C) = 2.9 N/mm2 and modular ratio = 16.
EC
We know that area of concrete,
AC 45,000 1650 43350 mm 2
stress in steel,
ES
S C 16 2.9 46.4 N/mm 2
EC
Safe load the column can carry
P S . AS C . AC 46.4 1650 2.9 43350 N
202.275kN
Problem 2. A reinforced concrete column 450 mm x 450 mm in section is reinforced with 4 steel bars of
20 mm diameter, one in each corner. The column is carrying a load of 1250 kN. Find the stresses in the concrete
and steel bars. Take E for steel = 200 GPa and E for concrete = 18 GPa.
Solution
Given: Area of column = 450x450 = 202500mm2, No. of steel bars (n) = 4, Diameter of steel bars (d) = 20
mm, Load on Column (P) = 1250 kN, Modulus of elasticity of steel (ES) = 200 GPa and modulus of elasticity of
concrete (EC) = 18 GPa.
Let
S = Stress in steel, and
C = Stress in concrete.
We know that area of steel bars
AS 4 d 2 mm 2 …(i)
4
4 20 1256.63 mm 2
2
4
Area of concrete, AC 202500 1256.63 mm 2
201243.36 mm 2
We also know that stress in steel,
ES 200
S C C 11.11 C …(ii)
EC 18
and total load (P),
1250 10 3 S . AS C . AC
11.11 C 1256.63 C 202500 216461.15 C
1250 10 3
C 5.77 MPa Ans.
216461.15
and S 11.11 C 11.11 5.77 64.10 MPa
Problem 3.
A reinforced concrete circular column of 350 mm diameter has 6 steel bars of 16 mm diameter embedded in it.
Find the maximum load which the column can carry, if the stresses in steel and concrete are not to exceed 110
MPa and 4.5 MPa respectively. Take modulus of elasticity of steel as 17 times that of concrete.
Solution
Given: Diameter of column (D) = 350 mm; No. of reinforcing bars = 6, Diameter of bars (d)=16 mm;
Maximum stress in steel (S(max)) = 110N/mm2 and modulus of elasticity of steel (ES)=17EC
We know that total area of the circular column.
D 350 96211.275 mm 2
2 2
4 4
and area of reinforcement (i.e., steel),
AS 6 d 6 16 mm 2
2 2
4 4
1206.37 mm 2
Area of concrete,
AC 96211.275 1206.37 95004.905 mm 2
The maximum stresses developed in the steel and concrete. We know that if the stress in steel is 110 N/mm2,
then stress in the concrete.
EC 1
C S 110 6.47 N/mm 2 …(i)
ES 17
It is more than the stress in the concrete (i.e., 4.5 N/mm2). Thus these stresses are not accepted. Now if the stress
in concrete is 4.5N/mm2, then stress in steel,
EC
S C 17 4.5 76.5 N/mm 2 …(ii)
ES
It is less than the stress is steel (i.e., 110 N/mm2). It is thus obvious that stresses in concrete and steel will be
taken as 4.5 N/mm2 and 76.5 N/mm2 respectively. Therefore maximum load, which the column can carry.
P C . AC S . AS 4.5 95004.905 76.5 1206.37 N
519800N 519.8 kN
Problem 4 A load of 300 kN is carried by a short concrete column 275 mm x 275 mm in size. The
column is reinforced with 6 bars of 20 mm diameter. Find the stresses in concrete and steel, if the modulus of
elasticity for the steel is 17 times that of concrete. If the stress in concrete is not to exceed 4 MPa, find the area
of steel required, so that the column may carry a load of 450 kN.
Solution
Given: Load on column (P1) = 300x103N, Area of column = 275 x 275 = 75625 mm2, No. of reinforcing bars
= 6, Diameter of reinforcing bars (d) = 20 mm, modular ratio (ES/EC) =17, Maximum stress in concrete (C) = 4
MPa and load the column may carry (P2) =450 x103 N.
Stresses in concrete and steel when the column carries a load of 300 kN
Let C = Stress in concrete, and
S = Stress in steel.
We know that area of reinforcement (i.e., steel)
AS 6 d 6 20
2 2
4 4
1884.95 mm 2
Area of concrete AC 75625 1884.95 73740.05 mm 2
We also know that stress in steel,
ES
S C 17 C
EC
total load (P1),
300 10 3 S . AS C . AC
17 C 1884.95 C 73740.05 75625 C
300 10 3
C 3.9666 N/mm 2 3.9666 MPa
75625
S 17 3.9666 67.438 MPa
Area of steel required, so that the column may carry a load of 450 kN
Let AS1 = Area of steel required, if the stress in concrete (C) is not to exceed 4 MPa (i.e., 4 N/mm2)
Area of concrete,
AC1 = 75625 - AS1
Total load (P2)
450 10 3 S . AS1 C . AC1
= [(17 x σc) x As1] + [σc x (75625 - As1]
= [(17x4) x As1] + [4 x (75625 - As1]
= 68 As1 + (302.5 x 103) – 4 As1
= (302.5 x103) + 64 As1
64 AS1 450 10 3 302.5 10 3 147.5 10 3
147.5 103
or AS1 2304.68 mm 2
64
