Mechanics of Materials: cram pack

Formula sheets, the key method steps for every topic and 14 practice problems, with full solutions at the back.

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1Formulas and methods

Axial stress & strain

Normal stress
σ = F/A
Strain
ε = ΔL/L
Hooke’s law
σ = E·ε
Elongation
ΔL = FL/(EA)
Thermal strain
εT = α·ΔT

Torsion of shafts

Shear stress
τ = T·r/J
Solid shaft
J = πd⁴/32
Hollow shaft
J = π(D⁴ − d⁴)/32
Angle of twist
φ = TL/(GJ)
Power
P = T·ω = 2πnT/60

Method

  1. Find the polar moment of area: J = πd⁴/32 for a solid shaft.
  2. Shear stress at the surface: τ = T·r/J, with r the outer radius.
  3. Angle of twist: φ = TL/(GJ) in radians.
  4. If power is given, find the torque first with P = T·ω, ω = 2πn/60.

Shear force & bending moment

Shear and moment
V = ΣF on one side, M = ΣF·d on one side
Bending stress
σ = M·y/I
Rectangle
I = bh³/12
Section modulus
W = I/ymax
Simply supported, uniform load
Mmax = wL²/8

Method

  1. Find the support reactions from equilibrium of the whole beam.
  2. Cut the beam at the section you need and keep one side.
  3. Shear force: sum of the vertical forces on that side. Bending moment: sum of their moments about the cut.
  4. For the maximum moment, find where the shear force is zero.

Centroid & second moment of area

Centroid
ȳ = ΣAiyi/ΣAi
Rectangle
I = bh³/12
Parallel-axis theorem
I = Ic + A·d²
Composite section
I = Σ(Ic,i + Aidi²)

Mohr’s circle & stress transformation

Centre
C = (σx + σy)/2
Radius
R = √(((σx − σy)/2)² + τxy²)
Principal stresses
σ1,2 = C ± R
Principal direction
tan 2θp = 2τxy/(σx − σy)
Inclined plane
σθ = C + (σx − σy)/2·cos 2θ + τxy·sin 2θ

Method

  1. Calculate the centre of Mohr’s circle: C = (σx + σy)/2.
  2. Calculate the radius: R = √(((σx − σy)/2)² + τxy²).
  3. The principal stresses are C ± R and the largest in-plane shear stress is R.
  4. Angles on the circle are double the angles on the element: tan 2θp = 2τxy/(σx − σy).

Beam deflection

Point load at midspan
δ = PL³/(48EI)
Uniform load, simply supported
δ = 5wL⁴/(384EI)
Cantilever, end load
δ = PL³/(3EI)
Cantilever, uniform load
δ = wL⁴/(8EI)
Superposition
δ = δ1 + δ2

Column buckling

Euler load
Pcr = π²EI/(KL)²
Effective length factor
K = 1 pinned–pinned, 0.5 fixed–fixed, 0.7 fixed–pinned, 2 fixed–free
Critical stress
σcr = Pcr/A
Slenderness
λ = KL/r, r = √(I/A)

2Practice problems

1.Axial stress & strainMedium
P = ?12300 mm200 mmØ30Ø60δ = 0.4 mm

A bar is made of a steel segment (diameter 30 mm, length 300 mm, E = 200 GPa) joined end to end with a segment made of brass (diameter 60 mm, length 200 mm, E = 100 GPa). It is fixed at one end and pulled at the other. Find the axial load P that stretches it by 0.4 mm in total.

segment 1: steel, Ø30 mm, 300 mm, E = 200 GPasegment 2: brass, Ø60 mm, 200 mm, E = 100 GPaδ = 0.4 mm
P = kN
2.Axial stress & strainHard
Ø 25 mmBrass2 mØ 20 mmBrass1 mP = 80 kN

The stepped bar is fixed at the wall and loaded at its free end. Find the largest normal stress σmax in the bar.

P = 80 kNsegment 1: Ø25 mm, 2 m, brass (E = 100 GPa)segment 2: Ø20 mm, 1 m, brass (E = 100 GPa)
σmax = MPa
3.Torsion of shaftsMedium
T = 200 N·md = 50 mmL = 0.5 mφ = ?

A solid aluminium shaft is fixed at the wall and twisted by a torque T at its free end. Find the angle of twist φ of the free end, in degrees.

T = 200 N·md = 50 mmL = 0.5 mG = 26 GPa
φ = °
4.Torsion of shaftsHard
do​ = ?15 kW, 500 rpm

A hollow shaft must transmit 15 kW at 500 rpm. Its inner diameter is to be 0.75 times its outer diameter, and the shear stress must not exceed 50 MPa. Find the smallest outer diameter do.

P = 15 kWN = 500 rpmdi/do = 0.75τallow = 50 MPa
do = mm
5.Shear force & bending momentMedium
P1​ = 80 kNP2​ = 70 kNAB2 m2 m6 m

The simply supported beam carries two point loads. Find the maximum bending moment Mmax in the beam.

L = 10 mP1 = 80 kN at 2 mP2 = 70 kN at 4 m
Mmax = kN·m
6.Shear force & bending momentHard
w = 12 kN/mABC6 m2 m

The beam rests on a pin at A and a roller at B and overhangs B by 2 m to the free end C. A uniformly distributed load w acts over the whole length A–C. Find the distance xc from A to the point of contraflexure between the supports (where the bending moment changes sign).

L = 8 mw = 12 kN/m from 0 to 8 msupports at x = 0 and x = 6 m
xc = m
7.Centroid & second moment of areaMedium
1201528018xdimensions in mm

Find the second moment of area Ix of the T-section about the horizontal axis x through its centroid.

bf = 120 mmtf = 15 mmtw = 18 mmhw = 280 mm
Ix = × 10⁶ mm⁴
8.Centroid & second moment of areaHard
110460168xM = 100 kN·mdimensions in mm

A symmetric I-section has flanges 110 mm wide and 16 mm thick, an overall depth of 460 mm and a web 8 mm thick. It carries a bending moment of 100 kN·m about the axis x. Find the size of the bending stress σj at the junction of the web and the top flange.

B = 110 mmH = 460 mmtf = 16 mmtw = 8 mmM = 100 kN·m
σj = MPa
9.Mohr’s circle & stress transformationMedium
σx​ = 150σy​ = 110τxy​ = 50MPa

A point in a loaded part has σₓ = 150 MPa, σᵧ = 110 MPa and τₓᵧ = 50 MPa (tension positive). Find the maximum in-plane shear stress τmax.

σx = 150 MPaσy = 110 MPaτxy = 50 MPa
τmax = MPa
10.Mohr’s circle & stress transformationHard
σx​ = 110σy​ = 20τxy​ = 20MPa

A point in a thin plate is in plane stress: σₓ = 110 MPa, σᵧ = 20 MPa and τₓᵧ = 20 MPa (σz = 0). The material has a yield strength of 275 MPa. Find the factor of safety n against yielding by the Tresca (maximum shear stress) criterion.

σx = 110 MPaσy = 20 MPaτxy = 20 MPaσY = 275 MPa
n =
11.Beam deflectionMedium
P = 21 kNABδ3.5 m1.5 m

A simply supported beam carries a point load P at a = 3.5 m from support A. Find the deflection δP under the load.

P = 21 kNa = 3.5 mL = 5 mE = 70 GPa (aluminium)I = 120 × 10⁶ mm⁴
δP = mm
12.Beam deflectionHard
w = 5 kN/mδL = 8 m

A simply supported beam carries a uniformly distributed load w. Its deflection may not exceed span/360. Find the smallest second moment of area Ireq that meets this limit.

w = 5 kN/mL = 8 mE = 70 GPa (aluminium)
Ireq = × 10⁶ mm⁴
13.Column bucklingMedium
PL = 2.5 m20 × 80 mmcross-section

A column of length L made of aluminium is fixed at the base and pinned at the top. Using Euler’s formula, find its critical buckling load Pcr.

L = 2.5 mE = 70 GPa (aluminium)b × h = 20 × 80 mm
Pcr = kN
14.Column bucklingHard
P = 55 kNL = 2.5 md = ?cross-section

A solid round column of length L made of steel is fixed at the base and pinned at the top. It must carry 55 kN with a factor of safety of 3 against buckling. Find the smallest diameter d.

P = 55 kNn = 3L = 2.5 mE = 200 GPa (steel)
d = mm

3Solutions

1.Axial stress & strain

Answer: P = 141.4 kN

Two materials: in series (one after the other) every segment carries the same force and the elongations add: δ = P·Σ L/(E·A). In parallel (side by side between rigid plates) both parts shorten by the same amount, so their strains are equal: the stiffer part takes the larger share, Pi = P·EiAi/ΣEA, and σi = Ei·ε. A bar held between two rigid walls with a load at the junction is statically indeterminate: the two segments share the load in proportion to their stiffness k = EA/L.

Areas

A₁ = 706.9 mm², A₂ = 2827 mm²

Flexibilities

L₁/(E₁A₁) = 300/(200000·706.9) = 2.122 × 10⁻⁶ mm/N
L₂/(E₂A₂) = 200/(100000·2827) = 7.074 × 10⁻⁷ mm/N

Load

P = 0.4/2.829 × 10⁻⁶ = 141372 N = 141.4 kN

Answer

P = 141.4 kN
2.Axial stress & strain

Answer: σmax = 254.6 MPa

Axially loaded members: each prismatic segment obeys δ = PL/(AE). For members in series the elongations add.

Same force in both segments

The free end carries P, so every section of the bar carries the same axial force P. Only the areas and materials change.

A1 = π·25²/4 = 490.9 mm², A2 = π·20²/4 = 314.2 mm²
σ1 = 163 MPa
σ2 = 254.6 MPa

Largest stress

The thinner segment has the smaller area, so it carries the larger stress.

σmax = 254.6 MPa

Answer

σmax = 254.6 MPa
3.Torsion of shafts

Answer: φ = 0.3591 °

Torsion of circular shafts: shear stress grows linearly from zero at the centre to τmax = T·r/J at the surface, with J = πd⁴/32 for a solid shaft and J = π(do⁴ − di⁴)/32 for a hollow one. The angle of twist is φ = TL/(GJ) in radians. Power and torque are linked by P = T·ω.

Polar second moment of area

J = π·50⁴/32 = 613592 mm⁴

Angle of twist

φ = TL/(GJ) = 200·1000·500/(26000·613592) = 0.006268 rad
φ = 0.006268·180/π = 0.3591°

Answer

φ = 0.3591°
4.Torsion of shafts

Answer: do = 34.95 mm

Torsion of circular shafts: shear stress grows linearly from zero at the centre to τmax = T·r/J at the surface, with J = πd⁴/32 for a solid shaft and J = π(do⁴ − di⁴)/32 for a hollow one. The angle of twist is φ = TL/(GJ) in radians. Power and torque are linked by P = T·ω.

Torque

ω = 2πN/60 = 2π·500/60 = 52.36 rad/s
T = P/ω = 15000/52.36 = 286.5 N·m

Outer diameter from the allowable stress

T = 286.5 N·m = 286479 N·mm
1 − k⁴ = 1 − 0.75⁴ = 0.6836
do = ∛(16T/(π·τallow·(1 − k⁴))) = ∛(16·286479/(π·50·0.6836)) = 34.95 mm
di = 0.75·34.95 = 26.21 mm

Answer

do = 34.95 mm

A solid shaft would need d = 30.79 mm; the hollow one is a little larger but much lighter.

5.Shear force & bending moment

Answer: Mmax = 264 kN·m

Method of sections: cut the beam where you want the internal forces and keep one side. The shear force V balances the vertical forces on that side, and the bending moment M balances their moments about the cut. Maximum moment: since dM/dx = V, the bending moment has its peak where the shear force passes through zero, either at a point load or inside a distributed load.

Support reactions

Equilibrium of the whole beam.

ΣMA = 0: RB·10 = 80·2 + 70·4
RB = 440/10 = 44 kN
ΣFy = 0: RA = 150 − 44 = 106 kN

Moment under each load

Keep the part left of each load.

under P1: M = RA·2 = 106·2 = 212 kN·m
under P2: M = RB·6 = 44·6 = 264 kN·m

Largest value

Mmax = 264 kN·m (under P2)

Answer

Mmax = 264 kN·m
6.Shear force & bending moment

Answer: xc = 5.333 m

Method of sections: cut the beam where you want the internal forces and keep one side. The shear force V balances the vertical forces on that side, and the bending moment M balances their moments about the cut. Maximum moment: since dM/dx = V, the bending moment has its peak where the shear force passes through zero, either at a point load or inside a distributed load.

Support reactions

Equilibrium of the whole beam, including the load on the overhang.

UDL resultant: W = w·ℓ = 12·8 = 96 kN, acting at x̄ = 4 m
ΣMA = 0: RB·6 = 12·8·4
RB = 384/6 = 64 kN
ΣFy = 0: RA = 96 − 64 = 32 kN

Zero moment

Between the supports M(x) = RA·x − w·x²/2. Apart from x = 0 it is zero at x = 2RA/w.

RA·xc − w·xc²/2 = 0
xc = 2·32/12 = 5.333 m

Answer

xc = 5.333 m
7.Centroid & second moment of area

Answer: Ix = 61.82 × 10⁶ mm⁴

Composite areas: split the section into rectangles. The centroid is the area-weighted average ȳ = ΣAᵢyᵢ/ΣAᵢ. The second moment of area about the centroidal axis adds each part’s own bh³/12 and its parallel-axis term A·d², where d is the distance from the part’s centroid to the overall centroid. Bending stress is σ = M·y/I.

Split into two rectangles

Measure every y from the bottom edge.

flange: Af = 120·15 = 1800 mm², yf = 280 + 15/2 = 287.5 mm
web: Aw = 18·280 = 5040 mm², yw = 280/2 = 140 mm

Centroid

ȳ = (Afyf + Awyw)/(Af + Aw) = (1800·287.5 + 5040·140)/6840 = 178.8 mm

Parallel-axis theorem

flange: 120·15³/12 + 1800·(287.5 − 178.8)² = 2.13 × 10⁷ mm⁴
web: 18·280³/12 + 5040·(140 − 178.8)² = 4.052 × 10⁷ mm⁴
Ix = 2.13 × 10⁷ + 4.052 × 10⁷ = 6.182 × 10⁷ mm⁴ = 61.82 × 10⁶ mm⁴

Answer

Ix = 61.82 × 10⁶ mm⁴
8.Centroid & second moment of area

Answer: σj = 94.76 MPa

Composite areas: split the section into rectangles. The centroid is the area-weighted average ȳ = ΣAᵢyᵢ/ΣAᵢ. The second moment of area about the centroidal axis adds each part’s own bh³/12 and its parallel-axis term A·d², where d is the distance from the part’s centroid to the overall centroid. Bending stress is σ = M·y/I.

Outer rectangle minus the two side cut-outs

Both cut-outs together are (B − tw) wide and hw = H − 2tf high, and share the axis x.

hw = 460 − 2·16 = 428 mm
Ix = (B·H³ − (B − tw)·hw³)/12 = (110·460³ − 102·428³)/12
Ix = 2.258 × 10⁸ mm⁴

Bending stress

y = 230 − 16 = 214 mm
σ = M·y/I = 1 × 10⁸·214/2.258 × 10⁸ = 94.76 MPa

Answer

σj = 94.76 MPa
9.Mohr’s circle & stress transformation

Answer: τmax = 53.85 MPa

Plane stress transformation: on a plane rotated by θ, σ = (σₓ + σᵧ)/2 + (σₓ − σᵧ)/2·cos 2θ + τₓᵧ·sin 2θ. Mohr’s circle shows all planes at once: its centre is at C = (σₓ + σᵧ)/2 and its radius is R = √(((σₓ − σᵧ)/2)² + τₓᵧ²). The principal stresses are C ± R, and the largest in-plane shear stress is R.

στxyCτmax​

Radius of Mohr’s circle

τmax = R = √(((150 − 110)/2)² + 50²) = 53.85 MPa

Answer

τmax = 53.85 MPa
10.Mohr’s circle & stress transformation

Answer: n = 2.407

Plane stress transformation: on a plane rotated by θ, σ = (σₓ + σᵧ)/2 + (σₓ − σᵧ)/2·cos 2θ + τₓᵧ·sin 2θ. Mohr’s circle shows all planes at once: its centre is at C = (σₓ + σᵧ)/2 and its radius is R = √(((σₓ − σᵧ)/2)² + τₓᵧ²). The principal stresses are C ± R, and the largest in-plane shear stress is R. Yield criteria: von Mises predicts yield when σvM = √(σ₁² − σ₁σ₂ + σ₂²) reaches σY; Tresca when the absolute maximum shear stress reaches σY/2.

στxyCσ1​σ2​

Principal stresses

C = 65 MPa, R = 49.24 MPa
σ1 = 114.2 MPa, σ2 = 15.76 MPa, σ3 = 0

Tresca

σmax − σmin = 114.2 MPa
n = 275/114.2 = 2.407

Answer

n = 2.407

n > 1 means the point does not yield; Tresca is slightly more conservative than von Mises.

11.Beam deflection

Answer: δP = 4.594 mm

Beam deflection: deflections come from integrating the curvature M/(EI) twice. Standard cases are tabulated, for example PL³/(3EI) for a cantilever with an end load and 5wL⁴/(384EI) for a simply supported beam under a full uniform load. Deflections from separate loads add (superposition).

Consistent units

Work in N and mm: P in N, w in N/mm (kN/m = N/mm), L in mm, E in N/mm² (GPa × 1000), I in mm⁴.

P = 21000 N, a = 3500 mm, b = 1500 mm, L = 5000 mm
EI = 8.4 × 10¹² N·mm²

Deflection under the load

δP = Pa²b²/(3EIL) = 21000·3500²·1500²/(3·8.4 × 10¹²·5000) = 4.594 mm

Answer

δP = 4.594 mm
12.Beam deflection

Answer: Ireq = 171.4 × 10⁶ mm⁴

Beam deflection: deflections come from integrating the curvature M/(EI) twice. Standard cases are tabulated, for example PL³/(3EI) for a cantilever with an end load and 5wL⁴/(384EI) for a simply supported beam under a full uniform load. Deflections from separate loads add (superposition).

Deflection limit

δallow = L/360 = 8000/360 = 22.22 mm

Required second moment of area

I = 5wL⁴/(384·E·δallow) = 5·5·8000⁴/(384·70000·22.22) = 1.714 × 10⁸ mm⁴
Ireq = 171.4 × 10⁶ mm⁴

Answer

Ireq = 171.4 × 10⁶ mm⁴
13.Column buckling

Answer: Pcr = 12.03 kN

Euler buckling: a slender column becomes unstable at Pcr = π²EI/(KL)², where KL is the effective length: K = 1 for pinned–pinned, 2 for fixed–free, 0.7 for fixed–pinned and 0.5 for fixed–fixed. It buckles about the axis with the smallest I. The formula holds for slender columns, whose critical stress stays below the yield stress.

Smallest second moment of area

A rectangle buckles about its weak axis, using the smaller dimension cubed.

Imin = h·b³/12 = 80·20³/12 = 53333 mm⁴

Effective length

KL = 0.7·2500 = 1750 mm

Critical load

Pcr = π²EI/(KL)² = π²·70000·53333/1750² = 12032 N = 12.03 kN

Answer

Pcr = 12.03 kN
14.Column buckling

Answer: d = 47.79 mm

Euler buckling: a slender column becomes unstable at Pcr = π²EI/(KL)², where KL is the effective length: K = 1 for pinned–pinned, 2 for fixed–free, 0.7 for fixed–pinned and 0.5 for fixed–fixed. It buckles about the axis with the smallest I. The formula holds for slender columns, whose critical stress stays below the yield stress.

Required critical load

Pcr = n·P = 3·55000 = 165000 N
KL = 0.7·2500 = 1750 mm

Solve for the diameter

d = (64·n·P·(KL)²/(π³E))^(1/4) = (64·165000·1750²/(π³·200000))^(1/4) = 47.79 mm

Answer

d = 47.79 mm

Check: the slenderness KL/r is 146.5, so the column is slender and Euler applies.

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