Stress calculation for a semicircular bar at support
Problem statement
A semicircular bar AB lying in a horizontal plane is supported at B. The bar has centreline radius
R = 500 mm and self-weight per unit length q = 40 N/m (acting into the page). The bar’s cross-
section is circular with diameter d = 25 mm. Determine, at point P (the top of the cross section at
the support B):
• the maximum tensile stress σt ,
• the maximum compressive stress σc ,
• the maximum shear stress τmax .
Assume the straight-beam (small cross-section compared with radius) formulae. Also show the
original stress element, principal stress element and max-shear element (with orientations).
Solution
1. Resultant weight and its moment about the support
Length of semicircular centreline:
L = πR.
Total weight (resultant):
W = qL = qπR.
Centroid of a semicircular arc measured from the circle center O toward the mid-point of the arc:
2R
a= .
π
If B is at x = +R (to the right of O), the horizontal distance from B to the resultant W (point C)
is
2
xBC = R + a = R 1 + .
π
Numerical values (SI):
R = 500 mm = 0.5 m, q = 40 N/m, d = 25 mm = 0.025 m.
Compute W and the bending moment M at B:
W = qπR = 40 · π · 0.5 = 20π ≈ 62.8319 N,
2
xBC = 0.5 1 + ≈ 0.818 31 m,
π
M = W xBC ≈ 62.8319 × 0.8183099 ≈ 51.4159 N · m.
1
The shear force at the support is
V = W ≈ 62.8319 N.
2. Section properties
Circular section of diameter d:
πd2 π(0.025)2
A= ≈ ≈ 4.908 738 5 × 10−4 m2 ,
4 4
πd4 π(0.025)4
I= ≈ ≈ 1.917 475 98 × 10−8 m4 ,
64 64
d
c = = 0.0125 m.
2
3. Bending (normal) stress at P
Using the flexure formula:
Mc
σb = .
I
Numerically
51.4159265 N · m × 0.0125 m
σb ≈ ≈ 3.3517973 × 107 Pa = 33.517 973 MPa.
1.91747598 × 10−8 m4
The top fibre at P is in tension (take positive tensile), so
σt ≈ 33.518 MPa.
The opposite (bottom) fibre would be compressive of the same magnitude:
σc ≈ −33.518 MPa.
4. Transverse shear at P
For a circular section the maximum shear stress due to transverse shear V is
4V
τs,max = .
3A
Numerically,
4 · 62.8318531
τs,max = ≈ 1.706 67 × 105 Pa = 0.170 67 MPa.
3 · 4.9087385 × 10−4
This shear is small compared to the bending normal stress. We will denote the shear on the
element at P by τ ≈ 0.170 67 MPa.
2
5. Principal stresses and maximum shear (plane stress)
At point P in the section plane we have a normal stress σ = σb and shear τ = τs,max . The principal
stresses are r
σ σ 2
σ1,2 = ± + τ 2.
2 2
Using σ ≈ 33.517 973 MPa and τ ≈ 0.170 667 MPa:
σ1 ≈ 33.518 84 MPa,
σ2 ≈ −0.868 98 MPa.
Maximum shear (on a plane through the point) is
r
σ 2
τmax = + τ 2 ≈ 16.759 MPa.
2
6. Final boxed results
σt ≈ 33.518 MPa (tension at P ),
σc ≈ −33.518 MPa (opposite fibre),
shear at P (τ ) ≈ 0.1707 MPa,
principal stresses: σ1 ≈ 33.5188 MPa, σ2 ≈ −0.868 98 MPa,
maximum shear: τmax ≈ 16.759 MPa.
Stress-element sketches (schematic)
Original σelement
= 33.52atMPa
P 1 ≈ 33.519τMPa
Principalσelement τmax
Max-shear element
max
τ = 0.171 MPa
τmax ≈ 16.759 MPa
σ2 ≈ −0.869 MPa
Remarks
• The straight-beam formula σ = M c/I is used; this is acceptable because R/d = 500/25 = 20
(cross-section small relative to curvature). For very tight curvature a curved-beam (thick-ring)
solution should be used.
• The shear due to the transverse force is negligible compared with bending normal stress in
this case.
• Principal directions are rotated from the original element by angle θp with tan 2θp = 2τ /σ.
Because τ ≪ σ, θp is very small.