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 mm500 mmØ25Ø30δ = 0.25 mm

A bar is made of a steel segment (diameter 25 mm, length 300 mm, E = 200 GPa) joined end to end with a segment made of copper (diameter 30 mm, length 500 mm, E = 120 GPa). It is fixed at one end and pulled at the other. Find the axial load P that stretches it by 0.25 mm in total.

segment 1: steel, Ø25 mm, 300 mm, E = 200 GPasegment 2: copper, Ø30 mm, 500 mm, E = 120 GPaδ = 0.25 mm
P = kN
2.Axial stress & strainHard
Ø 40 mmSteel2 mØ 20 mmCopper2 mP = 30 kN

The stepped bar is fixed at the wall and loaded at its free end. Find the total elongation δ.

P = 30 kNsegment 1: Ø40 mm, 2 m, steel (E = 200 GPa)segment 2: Ø20 mm, 2 m, copper (E = 117 GPa)
δ = mm
3.Torsion of shaftsMedium
d = ?T = 1000 N·mL = 1.5 m

A solid aluminium shaft 1.5 m long carries a torque of 1000 N·m. The angle of twist between its ends must not exceed 1°. Find the smallest diameter d that meets this limit.

T = 1000 N·mL = 1.5 mG = 26 GPaφallow = 1°
d = mm
4.Torsion of shaftsHard
do​ = ?20 kW, 1800 rpm

A hollow shaft must transmit 20 kW at 1800 rpm. Its inner diameter is to be 0.6 times its outer diameter, and the shear stress must not exceed 60 MPa. Find the smallest outer diameter do.

P = 20 kWN = 1800 rpmdi/do = 0.6τallow = 60 MPa
do = mm
5.Shear force & bending momentMedium
4 kN/m25 kNABCDEFG2 m2 m2 m2 m2 m2 m

The marks A to G split the beam into six equal parts. At which mark is the bending moment largest in size, sagging or hogging? Click it in the diagram.

25 kN @ 4 m4 kN/m, 4–8 m
  1. 1A (x = 0 m)
  2. 2B (x = 2 m)
  3. 3C (x = 4 m)
  4. 4D (x = 6 m)
  5. 5E (x = 8 m)
  6. 6F (x = 10 m)
  7. 7G (x = 12 m)
6.Shear force & bending momentHard
w = 4 kN/mAB5 m3 m

The simply supported beam carries a uniformly distributed load over part of its span. Find the distance x0 from A to the section where the bending moment is largest.

L = 8 mw = 4 kN/m from 5 to 8 m
x0 = m
7.Centroid & second moment of areaMedium
200 mm150 mm105 mmØ30xIx​ = ?

A 200 mm × 150 mm plate has a circular hole of diameter 30 mm on its vertical centre line, with its centre 105 mm above the bottom. Find the second moment of area Ix about the horizontal axis through the centroid.

b = 200 mmh = 150 mmd = 30 mmhole centre: y = 105 mm
Ix = × 10⁶ mm⁴
8.Centroid & second moment of areaHard
2403010018xM = 50 kN·mdimensions in mm

The T-section is used as a beam with the flange on top and carries a sagging bending moment of 50 kN·m. Find the size of the bending stress σtop at the top edge.

bf = 240 mmtf = 30 mmtw = 18 mmhw = 100 mmM = 50 kN·m
σtop = MPa
9.Mohr’s circle & stress transformationMedium
σx​ = 50σy​ = −50MPaτxy​ = ?

A point has σₓ = 50 MPa and σᵧ = −50 MPa. How large can the shear stress τxy (magnitude) become before the largest principal stress reaches 100 MPa?

σx = 50 MPaσy = −50 MPaσ1 = 100 MPa
τxy = MPa
10.Mohr’s circle & stress transformationHard
σx​ = 160σy​ = 40τxy​ = 50MPa

A point in a loaded part has σₓ = 160 MPa, σᵧ = 40 MPa and τₓᵧ = 50 MPa (tension positive). Find the normal stress σθ on a plane whose normal is rotated 30° counter-clockwise from the x-axis.

σx = 160 MPaσy = 40 MPaτxy = 50 MPaθ = 30°
σθ = MPa
11.Beam deflectionMedium
w = 10 kN/mδL = 5 m

A simply supported beam carries a uniformly distributed load w over its whole span. Find the maximum deflection δmax, at midspan.

w = 10 kN/mL = 5 mE = 200 GPa (steel)I = 84 × 10⁶ mm⁴
δmax = mm
12.Beam deflectionHard
w = 5 kN/mδL = 2.5 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 = 2.5 mE = 200 GPa (steel)
Ireq = × 10⁶ mm⁴
13.Column bucklingMedium
PL = 2 m30 × 40 mmcross-section

A column of length L made of steel is fixed at both ends. Using Euler’s formula, find its critical buckling load Pcr.

L = 2 mE = 200 GPa (steel)b × h = 30 × 40 mm
Pcr = kN
14.Column bucklingHard
P = 45 kNL = 6 md = ?cross-section

A solid round column of length L made of aluminium is fixed at the base and pinned at the top. It must carry 45 kN with a factor of safety of 2 against buckling. Find the smallest diameter d.

P = 45 kNn = 2L = 6 mE = 70 GPa (aluminium)
d = mm

3Solutions

1.Axial stress & strain

Answer: P = 27.93 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 = 490.9 mm², A₂ = 706.9 mm²

Flexibilities

L₁/(E₁A₁) = 300/(200000·490.9) = 3.056 × 10⁻⁶ mm/N
L₂/(E₂A₂) = 500/(120000·706.9) = 5.895 × 10⁻⁶ mm/N

Load

P = 0.25/8.95 × 10⁻⁶ = 27932 N = 27.93 kN

Answer

P = 27.93 kN
2.Axial stress & strain

Answer: δ = 1.871 mm

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·40²/4 = 1257 mm², A2 = π·20²/4 = 314.2 mm²
σ1 = 23.87 MPa
σ2 = 95.49 MPa

Add the segment elongations

δ1 = σ1L1/E1 = 23.87·2000/200000 = 0.2387 mm
δ2 = σ2L2/E2 = 95.49·2000/117000 = 1.632 mm
δ = δ1 + δ2 = 1.871 mm

Answer

δ = 1.871 mm
3.Torsion of shafts

Answer: d = 76.17 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.

Required polar moment

T = 1000 N·m = 1 × 10⁶ N·mm
L = 1.5 m = 1500 mm
G = 26 GPa = 26000 MPa
φ = 1·π/180 = 0.01745 rad
J = TL/(Gφ) = 1 × 10⁶·1500/(26000·0.01745) = 3.306 × 10⁶ mm⁴

Diameter

d = (32J/π)1/4 = 76.17 mm

Answer

d = 76.17 mm

In practice you would round up to the next standard size.

4.Torsion of shafts

Answer: do = 21.79 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·1800/60 = 188.5 rad/s
T = P/ω = 20000/188.5 = 106.1 N·m

Outer diameter from the allowable stress

T = 106.1 N·m = 106103 N·mm
1 − k⁴ = 1 − 0.6⁴ = 0.8704
do = ∛(16T/(π·τallow·(1 − k⁴))) = ∛(16·106103/(π·60·0.8704)) = 21.79 mm
di = 0.6·21.79 = 13.07 mm

Answer

do = 21.79 mm

A solid shaft would need d = 20.81 mm; the hollow one is a little larger but much lighter.

5.Shear force & bending moment

Answer: C (x = 4 m)

Largest bending moment: M changes slope wherever the shear force changes, so its peaks sit where the shear force crosses zero: under a point load, inside a distributed load, or over a support of an overhang. At a fixed support of a cantilever the moment is largest at the wall. Compare the size of M at those places, sagging or hogging.

Support reactions

Take moments about one support, then use the vertical force balance.

R1 = 24.67 kN, R2 = 16.33 kN

Bending moment at every mark

Sum the moments of all forces on one side of the cut. Sagging is positive, hogging negative.

MA = 0, MB = 49.33, MC = 98.67 kN·m, MD = 90, ME = 65.33, MF = 32.67, MG = 0

Answer

Mark C: MC = 98.67 kN·m
6.Shear force & bending moment

Answer: x0 = 5.563 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.

UDL resultant: W = w·ℓ = 4·3 = 12 kN, acting at x̄ = 6.5 m
ΣMA = 0: RB·8 = 4·3·6.5
RB = 78/8 = 9.75 kN
ΣFy = 0: RA = 12 − 9.75 = 2.25 kN

Zero shear

The shear force starts at RA, stays constant over any unloaded part and falls with slope w inside the load.

RA − w·(x0 − 5) = 0
x0 = 5 + 2.25/4 = 5.563 m

Answer

x0 = 5.563 m
7.Centroid & second moment of area

Answer: Ix = 55.56 × 10⁶ mm⁴

Sections with holes: treat a hole as a negative area. The centroid is ȳ = (A₁y₁ − A₂y₂)/(A₁ − A₂), with A₁, y₁ for the full plate and A₂, y₂ for the hole. For the second moment of area about the centroidal axis, use the parallel-axis theorem for each part and subtract the hole: I = (Ic1 + A₁d₁²) − (Ic2 + A₂d₂²), where d is the distance from each part's own centroid to the axis through ȳ. A rectangle has Ic = bh³/12 and a circle Ic = πd⁴/64.

Centroid

ȳ = (30000·75 − 706.9·105)/(30000 − 706.9) = 74.28 mm

Full plate about ȳ

200·150³/12 + 30000·0.7239² = 56.27 × 10⁶ mm⁴

Hole about ȳ

π·30⁴/64 + 706.9·30.72² = 0.707 × 10⁶ mm⁴

Subtract

Ix = 55.56 × 10⁶ mm⁴

Answer

Ix = 55.56 × 10⁶ mm⁴
8.Centroid & second moment of area

Answer: σtop = 172.3 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.

Split into two rectangles

Measure every y from the bottom edge.

flange: Af = 240·30 = 7200 mm², yf = 100 + 30/2 = 115 mm
web: Aw = 18·100 = 1800 mm², yw = 100/2 = 50 mm

Centroid

ȳ = (Afyf + Awyw)/(Af + Aw) = (7200·115 + 1800·50)/9000 = 102 mm

Parallel-axis theorem

flange: 240·30³/12 + 7200·(115 − 102)² = 1.757 × 10⁶ mm⁴
web: 18·100³/12 + 1800·(50 − 102)² = 6.367 × 10⁶ mm⁴
Ix = 1.757 × 10⁶ + 6.367 × 10⁶ = 8.124 × 10⁶ mm⁴

Bending stress

The top edge is h − ȳ from the axis.

y = 130 − 102 = 28 mm
σ = M·y/I = 5 × 10⁷·28/8.124 × 10⁶ = 172.3 MPa

Answer

σtop = 172.3 MPa
9.Mohr’s circle & stress transformation

Answer: τxy = 86.6 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.

Required radius

C = (50 + (−50))/2 = 0 MPa
R = σ1 − C = 100 − 0 = 100 MPa
στxyCσ1​σ2​

Shear stress

τxy = √(R² − ((σₓ − σᵧ)/2)²) = √(100² − 50²) = 86.6 MPa

Answer

τxy = 86.6 MPa
10.Mohr’s circle & stress transformation

Answer: σθ = 173.3 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.

Transformation equation

σθ = 100 + 60·0.5 + 50·0.866 = 173.3 MPa

Answer

σθ = 173.3 MPa
11.Beam deflection

Answer: δmax = 4.844 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.

w = 10 N/mm, L = 5000 mm
EI = 1.68 × 10¹³ N·mm²

Deflection

δmax = 5wL⁴/(384EI) = 5·10·5000⁴/(384·1.68 × 10¹³) = 4.844 mm

Answer

δmax = 4.844 mm
12.Beam deflection

Answer: Ireq = 1.831 × 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 = 2500/360 = 6.944 mm

Required second moment of area

I = 5wL⁴/(384·E·δallow) = 5·5·2500⁴/(384·200000·6.944) = 1.831 × 10⁶ mm⁴
Ireq = 1.831 × 10⁶ mm⁴

Answer

Ireq = 1.831 × 10⁶ mm⁴
13.Column buckling

Answer: Pcr = 177.7 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 = 40·30³/12 = 90000 mm⁴

Effective length

KL = 0.5·2000 = 1000 mm

Critical load

Pcr = π²EI/(KL)² = π²·200000·90000/1000² = 177653 N = 177.7 kN

Answer

Pcr = 177.7 kN
14.Column buckling

Answer: d = 82.72 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 = 2·45000 = 90000 N
KL = 0.7·6000 = 4200 mm

Solve for the diameter

d = (64·n·P·(KL)²/(π³E))^(1/4) = (64·90000·4200²/(π³·70000))^(1/4) = 82.72 mm

Answer

d = 82.72 mm

Check: the slenderness KL/r is 203.1, so the column is slender and Euler applies.

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