Strength of Materials

(RdM)
Course

1. Introduction, purpose of the RdM

The strength of materials has three main objectives:
the knowledge of the mechanical characteristics of materials. (behavior
under the effect of a mechanical action
the study of the resistance of mechanical parts. (strength or breakage)
the study of the deformation of mechanical parts.

2. Hypothesis of the RdM, scope of application

2-1) The materials:

It is homogeneous: Continuous and identical structure in all directions; This

the hypothesis is false for all granular or fibrous materials (concrete, stone, wood,
composites,...
Isotropic: Same mechanical properties in all directions.
This hypothesis is false for all granular or fibrous materials.

2-2) Cases of parts that can be assimilated to beams

Arrangement of matter, definition of a beam:

Beam: we callbeam (see fig.) a generated solid

by a flat surface (S) whose center of
surface G describes a plane curve (C) called
average line.

The characteristics of the beam are:

Straight line or large radius of curvature.
Straight section (S) constant or gradually varying.
Long length relative to the transverse dimensions.
Existence of a symmetry plan.

Deformations:
The deformations being small compared to the dimensions of the beam, the
actions exerted on it will be calculated based on the fundamental principle
of the static.
The supports of the forces will be them.
considered as constants.

Navier & Bernoulli: The plane sections

normals to the fibers before deformation remain
planes and normals to the fibers after deformation.
Barré de St Venan: The results obtained by the RDM do not apply
valid only at a distance sufficiently far from the region
of the application of concentrated efforts.

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2-2) Case of parts with a complex shape

If the part is not a beam, then it is necessary to use software that performs calculations.
finite elements.
The principle is as follows:
blade of the pruning shears

a) Mesh of the part,

The finite element method is based on a

cutting of the part according to a mesh.
Usually, a square mesh is chosen or
triangular but nothing prevents choosing ones
more complex meshes. We can tighten the
networking near places where we think that the
The solution will vary a lot. The more this mesh
the tighter it is, the better the solution we obtain
the finite element method will be accurate.

b) Definition of connections and loading

It is necessary to indicate a surface considered as

fixed and it is necessary to model the efforts applied
on the play

c) Interpretation of the results.

Constraints in the material: Deformations :

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3. Cohesion efforts
To study a beam (E) in equilibrium under the action of Y
several external forces, it is necessary to model what is happening x
in the matter. To do this, a fictitious cut is made.
from the beam located at the abscissa x which separates it into 2 sections
E1 and E2. X
G
Cohesion efforts reflect contact actions.
of (E2) on (E1). These cohesion efforts allow for the
beam not to 'dislocate' under the effect of actions Z E1 E2
outdoors.
We note the cohesion efforts as follows:
Resultant : Moment :

N Mt
N: normal effort MTtwisting moment
R Ty cutting efforts
MG Mfy Mfy itMfzbending moments

R
Tz R
Mfz

Simple solicitations
y

TENSION–COMPRESSION:
F
x N 0 Mt 0 If N > 0: Traction
If N < 0 : Compression
T 0 Mf 0

THE TWISTING: SHEAR STRESS:

F
y
F
N 0 Mt 0 y
N 0 Mt 0
very
small

T 0 Mf 0 T 0 Mf 0
x
x

F
F

In summary:
THE SIMPLE FLEXION :
y
Components Solicitation
F N 0 Traction
<0 Compression
You Shear
x
Tz
Mt Torsion
Mfy Flexion
N 0 Mt 0 Mfz
Note: We receive requests composed each time
T 0 Mf 0 that there is, for the same beam, an addition of simple stresses.

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5. Notion of constraints
5-1) Definition:
Cohesion efforts induce constraints within the piece that characterize the actions.
mechanics of internal cohesion in the material that exist between the grains of matter.
Note: A constraint is comparable to pressure. It is a force per unit area.

5-2) NORMAL Stress – TANGENTIAL Stress :

Depending on the orientation of the stress relative to the normal of the section, we define 2 types of
constraints:
. Normal constraint :
The normal constraint is normal to the right section (S)

n .n
. Tangential constraint :
The tangential constraint is located in the tangent plane to the
right section (S)

(S) .t y .y z .z

6. Traction - Compression Requests

6-1) Determination of the normal stress:

When a piece is subjected at its two ends to two forces F parallel to the longitudinal axis of the
part, the distribution of stresses in the section (S) is uniform and normal to the surface:
F The normal tensile stress is:

n X .n with
(S)
>0: Traction External efforts tend to elongate the piece: Elongation

<0: Compression External efforts tend to shorten the piece: Shortening

6-2) Hooke's Law:

When a piece deforms within its elastic range, its elongation is proportional to the stress.
"E" called Young's Modulus corresponds to the stiffness of the material.

Hooke's Law:
normal tensile stress (MPa)
=E . With:
E: Longitudinal elastic modulus (MPa)
unit elongation (deformation per unit length)

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6-3) Expression of elastic deformation:

Elastic elongation The length of a piece in tension depends on the tensile force N, the section S and
from the rest length of the piece L.
F: force norm (N)
With: L: rest length of the part (mm)
L Young's modulus (MPa)
Cross-sectional area of the piece (mm²)

6-4) Condition of resistance:

For a part to withstand tensile forces without undergoing permanent deformation, it is necessary that the
The internal constraint does not exceed the elastic limit Re (in MPa) of the material.
For security reasons and given the assumptions made with the modeling, the constraint
normal must remain below a threshold value called practical constraint to the extension Rpe (also noted
It is considered to be the maximum allowable constraint.

Rpe With s: safety coefficient >1

s = 1.5 to 3 for common structures.

s = 8 to 10 for structures posing a danger to humans and their environment

Condition of resistance:

7. Simple FLEXION solicitation

7-1) Constraints:
Y-coordinate of point M
In the case of simple plane bending, the
(here y>0)
constraints essentially reduce to some
Max
normal constraints.
Zone of
compression (S) M
M. x (Co train in M)

Zone of x
traction

S1 Max
Neutral fiber

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Mnormal stress at point M due to bending (in MPa)

Bending moment according to (G, ) in

z (S) (in [Link])
Mf
.y With: IGzquadratic moment of the cross section (S) / to its axis
From neutral (in mm)4)

y: ordinate of point M in (G,x,y,z (in mm)

Note: - The maximum normal stress is located at the furthest point from the neutral axis (fiber
average.
The flexural resistance condition is the same as in tension by taking the value
maximum of the constraint.

7-2) Quadratic moment:

The quadratic moment characterizes the stiffness
from the beam to the bending.

Example of the ruler:

A ruler will easily bend if it is flat but
much less if it is on the edge.
Form of
the section

8. Shear Request
8-1) Constraint in the right section:

The tangential constraints are significantly uniformly

spread across a straight section. G

:contrainte tangentielle de cisaillement (Mpa)

T
my=
With: T:shear force norm (N)
S
Area of the right section (mm²)

8-2) Resistance condition:

my Rpg
With: Reg: Elastic resistance to slipping (MPa)
Rpg: Practical resistance to sliding (MPa)
Reg s: safety factor
Rpg
s

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9. TORSION solicitation
9-2) Constraint in the right section:
The value of the tangential constraint at a point M is proportional to the
distance from this point to the center of the section. Hence the distribution of stresses
tangents in the straight section:

What leads to this relationship linking the radius to the tangential stress:

M :Contrainte tangentielle dans le matériau.(Mpa)

M With :
G: shear modulus of the material
(or Coulomb module) (Mpa)

M radius considered for analysis (mm)

In the elastic field, the torsion moment Mt is proportional to the unit angle of torsion. .

Mt: Torque moment ([Link])

G: Shear modulus (MPa)

Mt = G. Io With: Unit torsion angle (rad/mm)
Quadratic moment of (S) relative to (O) x ) (mm4)

10. Concentration of stresses

Constraint concentrations occur when the
the section of a piece varies in a way
brutal: hole (drilling), groove, shoulder, channel,…

This phenomenon is sometimes

wanted for example in the case
packaging.
To limit the concentrations
To meet constraints, the geometry of the parts must be varied.
progressively.

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