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 = ?12500 mm200 mmØ40Ø60δ = 0.5 mm

A bar is made of a steel segment (diameter 40 mm, length 500 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 0.5 mm in total.

segment 1: steel, Ø40 mm, 500 mm, E = 200 GPasegment 2: brass, Ø60 mm, 200 mm, E = 100 GPaδ = 0.5 mm
P = kN
2.Axial stress & strainHard
Ø 25 mmSteel0.5 mØ 20 mmSteel1.5 mP = 35 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 = 35 kNsegment 1: Ø25 mm, 0.5 m, steel (E = 200 GPa)segment 2: Ø20 mm, 1.5 m, steel (E = 200 GPa)
σmax = MPa
3.Torsion of shaftsMedium
T = 250 N·md = 20 mmL = 1.2 mφ = ?

A solid steel 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 = 250 N·md = 20 mmL = 1.2 mG = 80 GPa
φ = °
4.Torsion of shaftsHard
d = 40 mmTB​ = 1000 N·mTC​ = 400 N·mABC2 m1.2 m

A solid aluminium shaft of diameter 40 mm is fixed at A. A torque of 1000 N·m acts at B, 2 m from A, and a torque of 400 N·m in the opposite direction acts at the free end C, a further 1.2 m along. Find the maximum shear stress τmax in the shaft.

d = 40 mmTB = 1000 N·mTC = 400 N·mAB = 2 mBC = 1.2 m
τmax = MPa
5.Shear force & bending momentMedium
M0​ = 25 kN·mAB1 m3 m

The simply supported beam carries a clockwise couple M0 = 25 kN·m at x = 1 m from A, and no other load. Find the bending moment Mx just to the right of the couple. Use sagging moments positive and upward shear on the left face positive.

L = 4 mM0 = 25 kN·m clockwise, at 1 m
Mx = kN·m
6.Shear force & bending momentHard
w = 16 kN/mAB4 m4 m

The simply supported beam carries a uniformly distributed load over part of its span. Find the maximum bending moment Mmax in the beam.

L = 8 mw = 16 kN/m from 0 to 4 m
Mmax = kN·m
7.Centroid & second moment of areaMedium
2803016012xdimensions in mm

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

bf = 280 mmtf = 30 mmtw = 12 mmhw = 160 mm
Ix = × 10⁶ mm⁴
8.Centroid & second moment of areaHard
120 mm200 mm140 mm30 × 30xIx​ = ?

A 120 mm × 200 mm plate has a rectangular cut-out 30 mm wide and 30 mm high, centred on the vertical centre line with its centre 140 mm above the bottom. Find the second moment of area Ix about the horizontal axis through the centroid.

b = 120 mmh = 200 mmcut-out: 30 × 30 mmhole centre: y = 140 mm
Ix = × 10⁶ mm⁴
9.Mohr’s circle & stress transformationMedium
σx​ = 30σy​ = −50MPaτxy​ = ?

A point has σₓ = 30 MPa and σᵧ = −50 MPa. How large can the shear stress τxy (magnitude) become before the largest principal stress reaches 75 MPa?

σx = 30 MPaσy = −50 MPaσ1 = 75 MPa
τxy = MPa
10.Mohr’s circle & stress transformationHard
σx​ = 60σy​ = 100τxy​ = 60MPa

A point in a thin plate is in plane stress: σₓ = 60 MPa, σᵧ = 100 MPa and τₓᵧ = 60 MPa (σz = 0). The material has a yield strength of 275 MPa. Find the factor of safety n against yielding by the von Mises (distortion energy) criterion.

σx = 60 MPaσy = 100 MPaτxy = 60 MPaσY = 275 MPa
n =
11.Beam deflectionMedium
w = 2 kN/mABθ3 m

A simply supported beam carries a uniformly distributed load w over its whole span. Find the slope θA of the beam at support A, in radians.

w = 2 kN/mL = 3 mE = 11 GPa (timber)I = 23 × 10⁶ mm⁴
θA = rad
12.Beam deflectionHard
w = 15 kN/mδL = 6 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 = 15 kN/mL = 6 mE = 70 GPa (aluminium)
Ireq = × 10⁶ mm⁴
13.Column bucklingMedium
PL = 3 m20 × 60 mmcross-section

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

L = 3 mE = 200 GPa (steel)b × h = 20 × 60 mm
Pcr = kN
14.Column bucklingHard
PL = 2 md = 60 mmcross-section

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

L = 2 mE = 200 GPa (steel)d = 60 mm
σcr = MPa

3Solutions

1.Axial stress & strain

Answer: P = 185.4 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 = 1257 mm², A₂ = 2827 mm²

Flexibilities

L₁/(E₁A₁) = 500/(200000·1257) = 1.989 × 10⁻⁶ mm/N
L₂/(E₂A₂) = 200/(100000·2827) = 7.074 × 10⁻⁷ mm/N

Load

P = 0.5/2.697 × 10⁻⁶ = 185405 N = 185.4 kN

Answer

P = 185.4 kN
2.Axial stress & strain

Answer: σmax = 111.4 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 = 71.3 MPa
σ2 = 111.4 MPa

Largest stress

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

σmax = 111.4 MPa

Answer

σmax = 111.4 MPa
3.Torsion of shafts

Answer: φ = 13.68 °

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·20⁴/32 = 15708 mm⁴

Angle of twist

φ = TL/(GJ) = 250·1000·1200/(80000·15708) = 0.2387 rad
φ = 0.2387·180/π = 13.68°

Answer

φ = 13.68°
4.Torsion of shafts

Answer: τmax = 47.75 MPa

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.

Internal torques

Sense of TC taken as positive.

TBC = TC = 400 N·m
TAB = TC − TB = 400 − 1000 = −600 N·m

Maximum shear stress

The segment with the largest internal torque has the largest stress (same diameter).

|T|max = 600 N·m
τmax = 16·600000/(π·40³) = 47.75 MPa

Answer

τmax = 47.75 MPa
5.Shear force & bending moment

Answer: Mx = 18.75 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. An applied couple makes the bending moment diagram jump by the size of the couple.

Support reactions

Moments about A, counter-clockwise positive: RB·L − M0 = 0. Vertical balance: RA + RB = 0.

RB = M0/L = 25/4 = 6.25 kN (upward)
RA = −RB = −6.25 kN (downward)

Cut just right of the couple

The left part now contains RA and the couple.

Mx = RA·a + M0 = −6.25·1 + 25 = 18.75 kN·m

Answer

Mx = 18.75 kN·m
6.Shear force & bending moment

Answer: Mmax = 72 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.

UDL resultant: W = w·ℓ = 16·4 = 64 kN, acting at x̄ = 2 m
ΣMA = 0: RB·8 = 16·4·2
RB = 128/8 = 16 kN
ΣFy = 0: RA = 64 − 16 = 48 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 − 0) = 0
x0 = 0 + 48/16 = 3 m

Maximum moment

Mmax = RA·x0 − w·(x0 − 0)²/2 = 48·3 − 16·3²/2 = 72 kN·m

Answer

Mmax = 72 kN·m
7.Centroid & second moment of area

Answer: Ix = 18.83 × 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 = 280·30 = 8400 mm², yf = 160 + 30/2 = 175 mm
web: Aw = 12·160 = 1920 mm², yw = 160/2 = 80 mm

Centroid

ȳ = (Afyf + Awyw)/(Af + Aw) = (8400·175 + 1920·80)/10320 = 157.3 mm

Parallel-axis theorem

flange: 280·30³/12 + 8400·(175 − 157.3)² = 3.254 × 10⁶ mm⁴
web: 12·160³/12 + 1920·(80 − 157.3)² = 1.558 × 10⁷ mm⁴
Ix = 3.254 × 10⁶ + 1.558 × 10⁷ = 1.883 × 10⁷ mm⁴ = 18.83 × 10⁶ mm⁴

Answer

Ix = 18.83 × 10⁶ mm⁴
8.Centroid & second moment of area

Answer: Ix = 78.44 × 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 = (24000·100 − 900·140)/(24000 − 900) = 98.44 mm

Full plate about ȳ

120·200³/12 + 24000·1.558² = 80.06 × 10⁶ mm⁴

Hole about ȳ

30·30³/12 + 900·41.56² = 1.622 × 10⁶ mm⁴

Subtract

Ix = 78.44 × 10⁶ mm⁴

Answer

Ix = 78.44 × 10⁶ mm⁴
9.Mohr’s circle & stress transformation

Answer: τxy = 75 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 = (30 + (−50))/2 = −10 MPa
R = σ1 − C = 75 − (−10) = 85 MPa
στxyCσ1​σ2​

Shear stress

τxy = √(R² − ((σₓ − σᵧ)/2)²) = √(85² − 40²) = 75 MPa

Answer

τxy = 75 MPa
10.Mohr’s circle & stress transformation

Answer: n = 2.027

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 = 80 MPa, R = 63.25 MPa
σ1 = 143.2 MPa, σ2 = 16.75 MPa, σ3 = 0

Von Mises

σvM = √(143.2² − 143.2·16.75 + 16.75²) = 135.6 MPa
n = 275/135.6 = 2.027

Answer

n = 2.027

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

11.Beam deflection

Answer: θA = 0.008893 rad

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). The slope θ = dv/dx is the first integral of M/(EI); in consistent units it comes out in radians.

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 = 2 N/mm, L = 3000 mm
EI = 2.53 × 10¹¹ N·mm²

End slope

θA = wL³/(24EI) = 2·3000³/(24·2.53 × 10¹¹) = 0.008893 rad

Answer

θA = 0.008893 rad

That is 0.5095°.

12.Beam deflection

Answer: Ireq = 217 × 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 = 6000/360 = 16.67 mm

Required second moment of area

I = 5wL⁴/(384·E·δallow) = 5·15·6000⁴/(384·70000·16.67) = 2.17 × 10⁸ mm⁴
Ireq = 217 × 10⁶ mm⁴

Answer

Ireq = 217 × 10⁶ mm⁴
13.Column buckling

Answer: Pcr = 8.773 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 = 60·20³/12 = 40000 mm⁴

Effective length

KL = 1·3000 = 3000 mm

Critical load

Pcr = π²EI/(KL)² = π²·200000·40000/3000² = 8773 N = 8.773 kN

Answer

Pcr = 8.773 kN
14.Column buckling

Answer: σcr = 226.6 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·60⁴/64 = 636173 mm⁴

Radius of gyration and slenderness

A = 2827 mm²
r = √(I/A) = √(636173/2827) = 15 mm
KL = 0.7·2000 = 1400 mm
KL/r = 1400/15 = 93.33

Critical stress

σcr = π²E/(KL/r)² = π²·200000/93.33² = 226.6 MPa

Answer

σcr = 226.6 MPa

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