ABSTRACT
The subject of stresses under bending loads is rather extensive. In addition to the topics already discussed in Chapter 3, there are many other subjects of interest that could be included in a textbook such as this. A few such subjects have been selected for inclusion in this chapter. Thus, in Section 4.2, we discuss the stresses in a member made of two or more materials when subjected to symmetric bending loads; in Section 4.3, we introduce the topic of stresses under unsymmetric loading, which results when the plane of the bending loads does not coincide with one of the two centriodal principal axes of inertia of the beam’s cross section; in Section 4.4, we deal with the analysis of thin-walled open sections and the concept of the shear center, at which point the loads must be applied if the beam is to experience only bending with no twisting action; in Section 4.5, we discuss the behavior of curved beams; in Section 4.6, we deal with beams stressed beyond the elastic limit, and with the concepts of elastoplastic behavior and the plastic hinge; finally, in Section 4.7, we discuss the concept of fatigue failure due to repetitive loading.
