Differentiate between strength of material and engineering mechanics.

Sol. : Three fundamental areas of mechanics of solids are statics, dynamics and strength
of materials. Strength of materials is basically a branch of `Solid Mechanics'. The other
important branch of solid mechanics is Engineering Mechanics: statics and dynamics.
Whereas `Engineering Mechanics' deals with mechanical behaviour of rigid (non-
deformable) solids subjected to external loads, the 'Strength of Materials' deals with
mechanical behaviour of non-rigid (deformable) solids under applied external loads. It is
also known by other names such as Mechanics of Solids, Mechanics of Materials, and
Mechanics of Deformable Solids. Summarily, the studies of solid mechanics can be
grouped as follows.

Fig. 14.1
Since none of the known materials are rigid, therefore the studies of Engineering
Mechanics are based on theoretical aspects; but because all known materials are
deformable, the studies of strength of materials are based on realistic concepts and
practical footings. The study of Strength of Materials helps the design engineer to select a
material of known strength at minimum expenditure. Studies of Strength of Materials are
applicable to almost all types of machine and structural components, all varieties of
materials and all shapes and cross-sections of components. There are numerous variety of
components, each behaving differently under different loading conditions. These
components may be made of high strength steel, low strength plastic, ductile aluminium,
brittle cast iron, flexiable copper strip, or stiff tungsten.
Q. 2: What is the scope of strength of materials?
Sol. : Strength of materials is the science which deals with the relations between
externally applied loads and their internal effects on bodies. The bodies are not assumed
to be rigid, and the deformation, however small are of major interest.
332 / Problems and Solutions in Mechanical Engineering with Concept
Or, we can say that, When an external force act on a body. The body tends to undergoes
some deformation. Due to cohesion between the molecules, the body resists deformation.

1
This resistance by which material of the body oppose the deformation is known as
strength of material, with in a certain limit (in the elastic stage). The resistance offered by
the materials is proportional to the deformation brought out on the material by the
external force.
So we conclude that the subject of strength of materials is basically a study of
(i) The behaviour of materials under various types of load and moment.
(ii) The action of forces and their effects on structural and machine elements such as
angle iron, circular bars and beams etc.
Certain assumption are made for analysis the problems of strength of materials such as:
(i) The material of the body is homogeneous and isotropic,
(ii) There are no internal stresses present in the material before the application of loads.
Q. 3: What is load?
Sol. : A load may be defined as the combined effect of external forces acting on a body.
The load is applied
on the body whereas stress is induced in the material of the body. The loads may be
classified as
1. Tensile load
2. Compressive load
3. Torsional load or Twisting load
4. Bending load
5. Shearing loads
Q. 4: Define stress and its type.
Sol. : When a body is acted upon by some load or external force, it undergoes
deformation (i.e., change
in shape or dimension) which increases gradually. During deformation, the material of
the body resists the
tendency of the load to deform the body, and when the load influence is taken over by the
internal resistance
of the material of the body, it becomes stable. The internal resistance which the body
offers to meet with the load is called stress.
Or, The force of resistance per unit area, offered by a body against deformation is known
as stress. Stress can be considered either as total stress or unit stress. Total stress
represent the total resistance to an external effect and is expressed in N,KN etc. Unit
stress represents the resistance developed by a unit area of cross section, and is expressed
in KN/m2.
If the external load is applied in one direction only, the stress developed is called simple
stress Whereas If the external loads are applied in more than one direction, the stress
developed is called compound stress.
Normal stress (s) = P/A N/m2
1 Pascal(Pa) = 1 N/m2
1KPa = 103 N/m2
1MPa = 106 N/m2
1GPa = 109 N/m2

2
Generally stress are divided in to three group as:

Compressive Stress
The stress induced in a body, when subjected to two equal and opposite pushs as shown
in fig (14.4 (a))
as a result of which there is an decrease in length, is known as tensile stress.
Let, an axial push P is acting on a body of cross sectional area A. Then compressive
stress(sc) is given
by;
sc = Resisting force (R)/Cross sectional area (A)
3
sc = P/A N/m2

4
Sol. : When an external force acts on a body, the body tends to undergo some
deformation. If the external force is removed and the body comes back to its original
shape and size (which means the deformation disappears completely), the body is known
as elastic body. This property, by virtue of which certain materials return back to their
original position after the removal of the external force, is called elasticity.
The body will regain its previous shape and size only when the deformation caused by
the external force, is within a certain limit. Thus there is a limiting value of force upto
and within which, the deformation completely disappears on the removal of the force.
The value of stress corresponding to this limiting force is known as the elastic limit of the
material.

lf the external force is so large that the stress exceeds the elastic limit, the material loses
to some extent its property of elasticity. If now the force is removed, the material will not
return to its origin shape and size and there will be a residual deformation in the material.

Sol. : It states that when a material is loaded within elastic limit, the stress is proportional
to the strain produced by the stress. This means the ratio of the stress to the
corresponding strain is a constant within the elastic limit. This constant is known as
Modulus of Elasticity or Modulus of Rigidity.
Stress /strain = constant
The constant is known as elastic constant
Normal stress/ Normal strain = Young's modulus or Modulus of elasticity (E)
Shear stress/ Shear strain = Shear modulus or Modulus of Rigidity (G)
Direct stress/ Volumetric strain = Bulk modulus (K)
Q. 8: What do you mean by Young's Modulus or Modulus of elasticity?
Sol. : It is the ratio between tensile stress and tensile strain or compressive stress and
compressive strain.
It is denoted by E. It is the same as modulus of elasticity

5
A hollow cast-iron cylinder 4 m long, 300 mm outer diameter, and thickness of
metal 50 mm is subjected to a central load on the top when standing straight. The
stress produced is 75000kN/m2. Assume Young's modulus for cast iron as 1.5 x 108
KN/m2 find
(i) magnitude of the load,
(ii) longitudinal strain produced and
(iii) total decrease in length.
Sol.: Outer diameter, D = 300 mm = 0.3 m Thickness, t = 50 mm = 0.05 m
Length, L = 4 m
Stress produced, s = 75000 kN/m2
E = 1.5 x 108 kN/m2
Here diameter of the cylinder, d = D – 2t = 0.3 – 2 × 0.05 = 0.2 m
(i) Magnitude of the load P:

6
Using the relation, s =P/A
or P = s × A = 75000 × P/4 (D2 – d2)
= 75000 × P/4 (0.32 – 0.22)
or P = 2945.2 kN .......ANS
(ii) Longitudinal strain produced, e :
Using the relation,
Strain, (e) = stress/E = 75000/1.5 x 108 = 0.0005 .......ANS
(iii)Total decrease in length, dL:
Using the relation,
Strain = change in length/original length = dLA/L
0.0005 = dLA/4
dLA = 0.0005 × 4m = 0.002m=2mm
Hence decrease in length = 2 mm
A steel wire 2 m long and 3 mm in diameter is extended by 0.75 mm when a weight
P is suspended from the wire. If the same weight is suspended from a brass wire, 2.5
m long and 2 mm in diameter, it is elongated by 4.64 mm. Determine the modulus of
elasticity of brass if that of steel be 2.0 x 105 N/mm2.
Sol.: Given: LS = 2 m,
ds = 3 mm,
dLS = 0.75 mm;
Es = 2.0 × 105 N/mm2;
Lb =2.5m;db = 2mm;
dLb =4.64m.
Modulus of elasticity of brass, Eb :
From Hooke's law, we know that;
E = s/e
= (P/A)/(dLA/L) = P.L/A. dLA
or, P = dLA.A.E/L
where,
dL = extension,
L = length,
A = cross-sectional area,
and E = modulus of elasticity.
Case I : For steel wire:
P = dLs.As.Es/Ls
or P = [0.75 × (P/4 × 32) × 2.0× 105]/2000 ...(i)
Case II : For bass wire
P = dLb.Ab.Eb/Lb
or P = [4.64 × (P/4 × 22) × Eb]/2500 ...(ii)
Equating equation (i) and (ii), we get
[0.75 × (P/4 x32) × 2.0x105 × 2.0 × 105]/2000 = P = [4.64 × (P/4 × 22) × Eb]/2500
Eb = 0.909 × 105 N/mm2 .......ANS

7
Q. 15: The wire working on a railway signal is 5mm in diameter and 300m long. If
the movement at the signal end is to be 25cm, make calculations for the movement
which must be given to the end of the wire at the signal box. Assume a pull of 2500N
on the wire and take modulus of elasticity for the wire material as 2 × 105 N/mm2.
Sol.: Given data:
P = 2500N
D = 5 mm
L = 300m = 300 × 1000 mm
Dm = 25cm
E = 2 × 105 N/mm2.
We know that, s = P/A
s = P/ (P/4 × D2)
s = 2500/ (P/4 × 52)
s = 127.32 N/mm2.
e = s/E = 127.32/2 × 105
e = 0.0006366
Since e = dL/L
dL = e.L = 0.0006366 × 300 × 1000 = 190.98mm = 19.098 cm
Total movement which need to be given at the signal box end = 25 + 19.098 = 44.098 cm
The following observations were made during a tensile test on a mild steel specimen
40 mm in diameter and 200 mm long. Elongation with 40 kN load (within limit of
proportionality),
dL = 0.0304 mm
Yield load =161 KN
Maximum load = 242 KN
Length of specimen at fracture = 249 mm
Determine:
(i) Young's modulus of elasticity
(ii) Yield point stress
(iii) Ultimate stress
(iv) Percentage elongation.
Sol.: (i) Young's modulus of elasticity E :
Stress, s = P/A
= 40/[P/4(0.04)2] = 3.18 × 104 kN/m2
Strain, e = dL/L = 0.0304/200 = 0.000152
E = stress/ strain = 3.18 × 104/0.000152
= 2.09 × 108 kN/m2 .......ANS
(ii) Yield point stress:
Yield point stress = yield point load/ Cross sectional area
= 161/[P/4(0.04)2]
= 12.8 × 104 kN/m2 .......ANS

8
(iii) Ultimate stress:
Ultimate stress = maximum load/ Cross sectional area
= 242/[P/4(0.04)2]
= 19.2 × 104 kN/m2 .......ANS
(iv) Percentage elongation:
Percentage elongation = (length of specimen at fracture - original length)/ Original length
= (249–200)/200
= 0.245 = 24.5%

9
10
11
12
13