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 = ?12400 mm400 mmØ25Ø30δ = 0.2 mm

A bar is made of a steel segment (diameter 25 mm, length 400 mm, E = 200 GPa) joined end to end with a segment made of brass (diameter 30 mm, length 400 mm, E = 100 GPa). It is fixed at one end and pulled at the other. Find the axial load P that stretches it by 0.2 mm in total.

segment 1: steel, Ø25 mm, 400 mm, E = 200 GPasegment 2: brass, Ø30 mm, 400 mm, E = 100 GPaδ = 0.2 mm
P = kN
2.Axial stress & strainHard
Ø 30 mmCopper2 mØ 20 mmCopper1.5 mP = 10 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 = 10 kNsegment 1: Ø30 mm, 2 m, copper (E = 117 GPa)segment 2: Ø20 mm, 1.5 m, copper (E = 117 GPa)
σmax = MPa
3.Torsion of shaftsMedium
do​ = ?T = 1500 N·m

A hollow shaft must carry a torque of 1500 N·m. Its inner diameter is to be 0.6 times its outer diameter, and the shear stress must not exceed 75 MPa. Find the smallest outer diameter do.

T = 1500 N·mdi/do = 0.6τallow = 75 MPa
do = mm
4.Torsion of shaftsHard
d = 50 mmT0​ = 250 N·mACBa = 0.8 mb = 1.2 m

A solid aluminium shaft of diameter 50 mm is fixed to rigid walls at both ends A and B. A torque of 250 N·m is applied at C, 0.8 m from A and 1.2 m from B. Find the reaction torque TA at wall A.

d = 50 mmT0 = 250 N·ma = 0.8 mb = 1.2 m
TA = N·m
5.Shear force & bending momentMedium
35 kN45 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.

35 kN @ 2 m45 kN @ 4 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 = 5 kN/mABC6 m1.5 m

The beam rests on a pin at A and a roller at B and overhangs B by 1.5 m to the free end C. A uniformly distributed load w acts over the whole length A–C. Find the maximum sagging bending moment Mmax between the supports.

L = 7.5 mw = 5 kN/m from 0 to 7.5 msupports at x = 0 and x = 6 m
Mmax = kN·m
7.Centroid & second moment of areaMedium
1001022018xdimensions in mm

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

bf = 100 mmtf = 10 mmtw = 18 mmhw = 220 mm
Ix = × 10⁶ mm⁴
8.Centroid & second moment of areaHard
190230143702014xdimensions in mm

A welded I-section has a top flange 190 × 14 mm, a web 370 mm high and 14 mm thick, and a bottom flange 230 × 20 mm (width × thickness). Find its second moment of area Ix about the horizontal axis x through its centroid.

top flange: 190 × 14 mmweb: 14 × 370 mmbottom flange: 230 × 20 mm
Ix = × 10⁶ mm⁴
9.Mohr’s circle & stress transformationMedium
σx​ = 120σy​ = 30τxy​ = 50MPa

A point in a thin plate is in plane stress: σₓ = 120 MPa, σᵧ = 30 MPa and τₓᵧ = 50 MPa, with σz = 0. Find the absolute maximum shear stress τabs at the point (considering all planes in three dimensions).

σx = 120 MPaσy = 30 MPaτxy = 50 MPaσz = 0
τabs = MPa
10.Mohr’s circle & stress transformationHard
σx​ = −20σy​ = −50τxy​ = 30MPa

A point in a loaded part has σₓ = −20 MPa, σᵧ = −50 MPa and τₓᵧ = 30 MPa (tension positive). Find the normal stress σθ on a plane whose normal is rotated 45° counter-clockwise from the x-axis.

σx = −20 MPaσy = −50 MPaτxy = 30 MPaθ = 45°
σθ = MPa
11.Beam deflectionMedium
w = 12 kN/mδL = 3 m

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

w = 12 kN/mL = 3 mE = 11 GPa (timber)I = 120 × 10⁶ mm⁴
δmax = mm
12.Beam deflectionHard
w = 8 kN/mP = 13 kNδL = 6 m

A simply supported beam carries a uniformly distributed load w and a point load P at midspan. Using superposition, find the midspan deflection δmax.

P = 13 kNw = 8 kN/mL = 6 mE = 70 GPa (aluminium)I = 36 × 10⁶ mm⁴
δmax = mm
13.Column bucklingMedium
PL = 2.5 md = 20 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 = 2.5 mE = 200 GPa (steel)d = 20 mm
Pcr = kN
14.Column bucklingHard
PL = 1.5 md = 50 mmcross-section

A column of length L made of aluminium is fixed at the base and free at the top. Find its slenderness and the critical buckling stress σcr from Euler’s formula.

L = 1.5 mE = 70 GPa (aluminium)d = 50 mm
σcr = MPa

3Solutions

1.Axial stress & strain

Answer: P = 20.55 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) = 400/(200000·490.9) = 4.074 × 10⁻⁶ mm/N
L₂/(E₂A₂) = 400/(100000·706.9) = 5.659 × 10⁻⁶ mm/N

Load

P = 0.2/9.733 × 10⁻⁶ = 20548 N = 20.55 kN

Answer

P = 20.55 kN
2.Axial stress & strain

Answer: σmax = 31.83 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·30²/4 = 706.9 mm², A2 = π·20²/4 = 314.2 mm²
σ1 = 14.15 MPa
σ2 = 31.83 MPa

Largest stress

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

σmax = 31.83 MPa

Answer

σmax = 31.83 MPa
3.Torsion of shafts

Answer: do = 48.91 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.

Outer diameter from the allowable stress

T = 1500 N·m = 1.5 × 10⁶ N·mm
1 − k⁴ = 1 − 0.6⁴ = 0.8704
do = ∛(16T/(π·τallow·(1 − k⁴))) = ∛(16·1.5 × 10⁶/(π·75·0.8704)) = 48.91 mm
di = 0.6·48.91 = 29.35 mm

Answer

do = 48.91 mm

A solid shaft would need d = 46.7 mm; the hollow one is a little larger but much lighter.

4.Torsion of shafts

Answer: TA = 150 N·m

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. When both ends are fixed, statics alone gives only TA + TB = T₀; the second equation is compatibility (equal twist of both parts at the loaded section).

Equilibrium and compatibility

TA + TB = 250
TA·a = TB·b
TA = 250·1.2/2 = 150 N·m
TB = 250·0.8/2 = 100 N·m

Answer

TA = 150 N·m
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 = 59.17 kN, R2 = 20.83 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 = 118.3, MC = 166.7 kN·m, MD = 125, ME = 83.33, MF = 41.67, MG = 0

Answer

Mark C: MC = 166.7 kN·m
6.Shear force & bending moment

Answer: Mmax = 19.78 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, including the load on the overhang.

UDL resultant: W = w·ℓ = 5·7.5 = 37.5 kN, acting at x̄ = 3.75 m
ΣMA = 0: RB·6 = 5·7.5·3.75
RB = 140.6/6 = 23.44 kN
ΣFy = 0: RA = 37.5 − 23.44 = 14.06 kN

Zero shear

RA − w·x0 = 0 → x0 = 14.06/5 = 2.813 m

Maximum sagging moment

Mmax = RA·x0 − w·x0²/2 = RA²/(2w) = 14.06²/(2·5) = 19.78 kN·m

Answer

Mmax = 19.78 kN·m
7.Centroid & second moment of area

Answer: Ix = 26.54 × 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 = 100·10 = 1000 mm², yf = 220 + 10/2 = 225 mm
web: Aw = 18·220 = 3960 mm², yw = 220/2 = 110 mm

Centroid

ȳ = (Afyf + Awyw)/(Af + Aw) = (1000·225 + 3960·110)/4960 = 133.2 mm

Parallel-axis theorem

flange: 100·10³/12 + 1000·(225 − 133.2)² = 8.438 × 10⁶ mm⁴
web: 18·220³/12 + 3960·(110 − 133.2)² = 1.81 × 10⁷ mm⁴
Ix = 8.438 × 10⁶ + 1.81 × 10⁷ = 2.654 × 10⁷ mm⁴ = 26.54 × 10⁶ mm⁴

Answer

Ix = 26.54 × 10⁶ mm⁴
8.Centroid & second moment of area

Answer: Ix = 320.3 × 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 three rectangles

Measure every y from the bottom edge.

top flange: A = 2660 mm², y = 397 mm
web: A = 5180 mm², y = 205 mm
bottom flange: A = 4600 mm², y = 10 mm

Centroid

ȳ = (2660·397 + 5180·205 + 4600·10)/12440 = 173.9 mm

Parallel-axis theorem

top flange: 190·14³/12 + 2660·223.1² = 1.324 × 10⁸ mm⁴
web: 14·370³/12 + 5180·31.05² = 6.409 × 10⁷ mm⁴
bottom flange: 230·20³/12 + 4600·163.9² = 1.238 × 10⁸ mm⁴
Ix = 1.324 × 10⁸ + 6.409 × 10⁷ + 1.238 × 10⁸
Ix = 3.203 × 10⁸ mm⁴ = 320.3 × 10⁶ mm⁴

Answer

Ix = 320.3 × 10⁶ mm⁴
9.Mohr’s circle & stress transformation

Answer: τabs = 71.13 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. In three dimensions the absolute maximum shear stress is (σmax − σmin)/2 over all three principal stresses; in plane stress the third one is zero.

στxyCσ1​σ2​

In-plane principal stresses

C = 75 MPa, R = √(45² + 50²) = 67.27 MPa
σ1 = 142.3 MPa, σ2 = 7.732 MPa, σz = 0

Largest of the three circles

τ = max(|σ1 − σ2|, |σ1|, |σ2|)/2 = max(134.5, 142.3, 7.732)/2 = 71.13 MPa

Answer

τabs = 71.13 MPa

Here the out-of-plane circle governs: the absolute maximum is larger than the in-plane maximum R.

10.Mohr’s circle & stress transformation

Answer: σθ = −5 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 = −35 + 15·0 + 30·1 = −5 MPa

Answer

σθ = −5 MPa
11.Beam deflection

Answer: δmax = 9.588 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 = 12 N/mm, L = 3000 mm
EI = 1.32 × 10¹² N·mm²

Deflection

δmax = 5wL⁴/(384EI) = 5·12·3000⁴/(384·1.32 × 10¹²) = 9.588 mm

Answer

δmax = 9.588 mm
12.Beam deflection

Answer: δmax = 76.79 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 = 13000 N, w = 8 N/mm, L = 6000 mm, EI = 2.52 × 10¹² N·mm²

Each load on its own

δP = PL³/(48EI) = 13000·6000³/(48·2.52 × 10¹²) = 23.21 mm
δw = 5wL⁴/(384EI) = 5·8·6000⁴/(384·2.52 × 10¹²) = 53.57 mm

Add them

δmax = 23.21 + 53.57 = 76.79 mm

Answer

δmax = 76.79 mm
13.Column buckling

Answer: Pcr = 9.922 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 round section has the same I about every axis.

I = πd⁴/64 = π·20⁴/64 = 7854 mm⁴

Effective length

KL = 0.5·2500 = 1250 mm

Critical load

Pcr = π²EI/(KL)² = π²·200000·7854/1250² = 9922 N = 9.922 kN

Answer

Pcr = 9.922 kN
14.Column buckling

Answer: σcr = 11.99 MPa

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 round section has the same I about every axis.

I = πd⁴/64 = π·50⁴/64 = 306796 mm⁴

Radius of gyration and slenderness

A = 1963 mm²
r = √(I/A) = √(306796/1963) = 12.5 mm
KL = 2·1500 = 3000 mm
KL/r = 3000/12.5 = 240

Critical stress

σcr = π²E/(KL/r)² = π²·70000/240² = 11.99 MPa

Answer

σcr = 11.99 MPa

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