DEPARTMENT OF MECHANICAL ENGINEERING

FACULTY OF ENGINEERING
FEDERAL UNIVERSITY DUTSINMA (FUDMA)
MCE 441: (ADVANCED MECHANICS OF MATERIALS) LECTURE NOTE

By

Engr. Muhammad R. Abbas, PhD

1. Stress in composite bars – A summary

When a composite bar is constructed from members of different materials, lengths, areas, and
is subjected to an external tensile or compressive load W, the load carried by any single member
is given by
𝐸1 𝐴1 ⁄𝐿1
𝐹1 = 𝐸𝐴 𝑊 (1.1)
∑
𝐿
𝐸𝐴
where suffix 1 refers to the single member and ∑ is the sum of all such quantities for all the
𝐿

members.
However, in a situation where the bars have a common length, the composite bar can be
reduced to a single equivalent bar with an equivalent modulus of elasticity, termed a combined E
as shown in eqn. (1.2)
∑ 𝐸𝐴
𝐶𝑜𝑚𝑏𝑖𝑛𝑒𝑑 𝐸 = ∑𝐴
(1.2)

For the free expansion of the bar under a temperature change from T1 and T2 is
∝ (𝑇2 − 𝑇1 )𝐿
where, ∝ is the coefficient of linear expansion and L is the length of the bar.
If this expansion is prevented, a stress will be induced in the bar given by
∝ (𝑇2 − 𝑇1 )𝐸
To determine the stresses in a composite bar composed of two members of different free
lengths, two principles are used:
1) The tensile force applied to the short member by the long member is equal in magnitude
to the compressive force applied to the long member by the short member.
Engr. M. R. Abbas, PhD 1
 2) The extension of the short member plus the contraction of the long member equals the
difference in free lengths (see figure 1.1).
This difference in free lengths may result from the tightening of a nut or from a temperature
change in two members of different material (i.e. different coefficient of expansion) but of equal
length initially. If such a bar is then subjected to an additional external load, the resultant stresses
may be obtained by using the principle of superposition. With this method, the stresses in the
members arising from the separate effects are obtained and the results added, taking account of
sign, to give the resultant stresses. Note that the forgoing discussion concerned with composite
bars which are symmetrically proportioned such that no bending results.

1.1. Composite bars subjected to external load

Consider therefore, a composite bar consisting of n members, each having a different length,
cross-sectional area and being made up of different material.
𝑆𝑡𝑟𝑒𝑠𝑠 𝐹 𝐿
For the nth member, 𝐸𝑛 = 𝑆𝑡𝑟𝑎𝑖𝑛 = 𝐴𝑛 𝑥𝑛 (1.3)
𝑛 𝑛

where, 𝐹𝑛 is the force in the nth member and 𝐴𝑛 & 𝐿𝑛 are its cross-sectional area and length
respectively.
Therefore, the total load carried by this composite bar will be the sum of all such loads for all
the members.
𝐸𝑛 𝐴𝑛 𝑥 𝐸𝑛 𝐴𝑛
Hence, 𝑊 = ∑ = 𝑥∑ (x is comm. exten. of members) (1.4)
𝐿𝑛 𝐿𝑛

Now from eqn. (1.3), the force in member 1 is given by

𝐸1 𝐴1 𝑥
𝐹1 = (1.5)
𝐿1

Combining eqn. (1.4) with eqn. (1.5), you obtained eqn. (1.6)
𝑬𝟏 𝑨𝟏 ⁄𝑳𝟏
𝑭𝟏 = ∑𝑬𝑨⁄𝑳
𝑾 (see eqn. 1.1) (1.6)

i.e., each member carries a portion of the total load W proportional to its 𝐸𝐴⁄𝐿 value. Now if the
bars are all of equal length, eqn. (1.6) reduces to the expression of force in eqn. (1.7).
𝑬𝟏 𝑨𝟏 𝑭𝟏
𝑭𝟏 = ∑ 𝑬𝑨
𝑾; Hence, the stress 𝝈𝟏 = (1.7)
𝑨𝟏

Engr. M. R. Abbas, PhD 2

 1.2. Composite bars- “equivalent” or “combined” modulus
In order to determine the common extension of a composite/compound bar, it is convenient to
consider it as a single bar of an imaginary material with an equivalent or combined modulus Ec.
Here, it is necessary to assume that both the extension and the original lengths of the individual
members of the composite bar are the same; the strain in all members will then be equal.
Hence, the total load on the bar = 𝐹1 + 𝐹2 + ⋯ +𝐹𝑛 = 𝜎(𝐴1 + 𝐴2 + ⋯ + 𝐴𝑛 ),
𝜎 𝜎1 𝜎2 𝜎𝑛
and dividing through be strain, = (𝐴1 + 𝐴2 + ⋯ + 𝐴𝑛 ) = 𝐴1 + 𝐴2 + ⋯ + 𝐴𝑛
𝜀 𝜀 𝜀 𝜀

In other word, ⇒ 𝐸𝑐 (𝐴1 + 𝐴2 + ⋯ + 𝐴𝑛 ) = 𝐸1 𝐴1 + 𝐸2 𝐴2 + ⋯ + 𝐸𝑛 𝐴𝑛

𝑬𝟏 𝑨𝟏 +𝑬𝟐 𝑨𝟐 +⋯+𝑬𝒏 𝑨𝒏 ∑ 𝑬𝑨
Thus, 𝑬𝒄 = = ∑𝑨
(1.8)
𝑨𝟏 +𝑨𝟐 +⋯+𝑨𝒏

𝑾 𝑾 𝒙
With an external load W applied, the stress = ∑ 𝑨 and also, the strain is given by =𝑳
𝑬𝒄 ∑ 𝑨

and therefore, common extension is given by

𝑾𝑳
𝒙=𝑬 (The extension of single bar) (1.9)
𝒄∑𝑨

1.3. Composite bar subjected to temperature change

𝛼𝐿𝑇
From the elementary knowledge of physics, change in length = 𝛼𝐿𝑇, and strain = = 𝛼𝑇
𝐿

Therefore, the stress created in the material by the application of sufficient force to remove the
strain is
⇒ 𝜎 = 𝑠𝑡𝑟𝑎𝑖𝑛 × 𝐸 = 𝐸𝛼𝑇 (1.10)
Consider now a composite/compound bar constructed from two different materials rigidly
joined together as shown in figure 1.1. For simplicity of description therefore, consider that the
materials in this case are steel and brass. In general, the coefficients of expansion of the two
materials forming the composite bar will be different, so that as the temperature rises, each of the
material will attempt to expand by different amounts.
Figure 1.1 (b) shows the positions to which the individual materials will extend if they are
completely free to expand (i.e. not joined rigidly together as a composite bar). The extension of
any length L is given by
𝛼𝐿𝑇
Thus, the difference of “free” expansion lengths or so-called free lengths
= 𝛼𝐵 𝐿𝑇 − 𝛼𝑠 𝐿𝑇 = (𝛼𝐵 − 𝛼𝑠 )𝐿𝑇

Engr. M. R. Abbas, PhD 3

 Since in this case the coefficient of expansion of the brass 𝛼𝐵 is greater than that for steel 𝛼𝑠 .
The initial lengths L of the two materials are assumed equal.

Fig. 1.1: Thermal expansion of composite bar

If the two materials are now rigidly joined as a composite/compound bar and subjected to the
same temperature rise, each material will attempt to expand to its free length position but each will
be affected by the movement of the other. The higher coefficient of expansion material (brass) will
therefore seek to pull the steel up its free length position and conversely the lower coefficient of
expansion material (steel) will try to hold the brass back to the steel “free length” position. In
practice, a compromise is reached, a new composite bar as shown in figure 1 (c) emerged, resulting
in an effective compression of the brass from its free length position and effective extension of the
steel from its free length position. Therefore, from the sketch, it can be understood that the
following rules holds.
➢ Extension of steel plus compression of brass is equal to difference in “free” lengths.
Referring to the bars in their free expanded positions, the rule may be written as:
Extension of “short” member plus compression of “long” member is equal difference
in free lengths.
Applying Newton’s 3rd law of motion, the following second rule also hold:
➢ The tensile force applied to the short member by the long member is equal in magnitude
to the compressive force applied to the long member by the short member.
Thus, in this case, tensile force in steel = compressive force in brass
Now, from the definition of modulus of elasticity (Young’s modulus)

Engr. M. R. Abbas, PhD 4

 𝑆𝑡𝑟𝑒𝑠𝑠 𝜎
𝐸 = 𝑆𝑡𝑟𝑎𝑖𝑛 = 𝛿⁄𝐿 (1.11)
𝜎𝐿
where 𝛿 is the change in length, 𝛿 = (1.12)
𝐸
Also, force is 𝑆𝑡𝑟𝑒𝑠𝑠 × 𝑎𝑟𝑒𝑎 = 𝜎𝐴 (1.13)
𝜎𝑠 𝐿 𝜎𝐵 𝐿
Rule 1 becomes + = (𝛼𝐵 − 𝛼𝑠 )𝐿𝑇 (1.14)
𝐸𝑠 𝐸𝐵
and Rule 2 becomes 𝜎𝑠 𝐴𝑠 = 𝜎𝐵 𝐴𝐵 (1.15)
We thus have two equations with two unknowns 𝜎𝑠 and 𝜎𝐵 and it is possible to evaluate the
magnitudes of these stresses.

Example
A composite bar consists of an aluminium section rigidly fastened between a bronze section
and a steel section a shown below. Axial loads are applied at the positions indicated. Determine
the stress in each section.
A = 1.8m2 A = 1.6m2
A = 1.2m2
4000N Bronze Aluminium Steel
9000N 2000N 7000N

1.3m 1.6m 1.7m

Exercises
1. A compound bar consists of four brass wires 2.5 mm diameter and steel wire of 1.5 mm
diameter. (a) Determine the stresses in each of the wires when the bar supports a load of
500N, assuming that all of the wires are of equal lengths. (b) Calculate the “equivalent” or
combined modulus for the compound bar and determine its total extension if it is initially
0.75 m long. Hence, check the values of the stresses obtained in (a). [EBrass = 100 GNm-2
and ESteel = 200 GNm-2]. (Ans.: 𝜎𝑠 = 43.2𝑀𝑁𝑚−2; 𝜎𝐵 = 21.6𝑀𝑁𝑚−2 ; 𝐸𝑐 =
108.26 𝐺𝑁𝑚−2; 𝑥 = 0.162 𝑚𝑚).
2. A composite bar was constructed from three bars 50 mm wide by 12 mm thick fastened
together to form a bar of 50 mm wide by 36 mm thick. The middle bar was made from
aluminium alloy for which E = 70 GNm-2 and the outside bars are of brass with E = 100
GNm-2. (a) If the bars are initially fastened at the 18 ºC and the temperature of the whole
assembly is then raised to 50 ºC, determine the stresses set up in the brass and the
aluminium. (b) What will be the changes in these stresses if an external compressive load
of 15 kN is applied to the composite bar at the higher temperature? [𝜶𝑩 =
18 × 10−6 𝑝𝑒𝑟 ℃; 𝜶𝑨 = 22 × 10−6 𝑝𝑒𝑟 ℃]. (Ans.: 𝜎𝐵 = 3.32𝑀𝑁𝑚−2 ; 𝜎𝐴 =
6.64𝑀𝑁𝑚−2 ; 𝜎𝐵 = 9.26𝑀𝑁𝑚−2; 𝜎𝐴 = 6.48𝑀𝑁𝑚−2).

Engr. M. R. Abbas, PhD 5