STRENGTH OF MATERIALS LECTURE 1

INTRODUCTION AND REVIEW
Preamble
Engineering science is usually subdivided into number of topics such as
1.  Solid Mechanics
2.  Fluid Mechanics
3.  Heat Transfer
4.  Properties of materials and soon Although there are close links between them in terms
of the physical principles involved and methods of analysis employed.
The solid mechanics as a subject may be defined as a branch of applied mechanics that
deals with behaviours of solid bodies subjected to various types of loadings. This is
usually subdivided into further two streams i.e Mechanics of rigid bodies or simply
Mechanics and Mechanics of deformable solids.
The mechanics of deformable solids which is branch of applied mechanics is known by
several names i.e. strength of materials, mechanics of materials etc.
Mechanics of rigid bodies:
The mechanics of rigid bodies is primarily concerned with the static and dynamic
behaviour under external forces of engineering components and systems which are
treated as infinitely strong and undeformable Primarily we deal here with the forces and
motions associated with particles and rigid bodies.
Mechanics of deformable solids :
Mechanics of solids:
The mechanics of deformable solids is more concerned with the internal forces and
associated changes in the geometry of the components involved. Of particular importance
are the properties of the materials used, the strength of which will determine whether the
components fail by breaking in service, and the stiffness of which will determine whether
the amount of deformation they suffer is acceptable. Therefore, the subject of mechanics
of materials or strength of materials is central to the whole activity of engineering design.
Usually the objectives in analysis here will be the determination of the stresses, strains,
and deflections produced by loads. Theoretical analyses and experimental results have an
equal roles in this field.
Analysis of stress and strain :


Concept of stress : Let us introduce the concept of stress as we know that the main
problem of engineering mechanics of material is the investigation of the internal
resistance of the body, i.e. the nature of forces set up within a body to balance the effect
of the externally applied forces.
The externally applied forces are termed as loads. These externally applied forces may be
due to any one of the reason.
(i)   due to service conditions
(ii)  due to environment in which the component works
(iii)  through contact with other members
(iv)  due to fluid pressures
(v)   due to gravity or inertia forces.
As we know that in mechanics of deformable solids, externally applied forces acts on a
body and body suffers a deformation. From equilibrium point of view, this action should
be opposed or reacted by internal forces which are set up within the particles of material
due to cohesion.
These internal forces give rise to a concept of stress. Therefore, let us define a stress
Therefore, let us define a term stress
Stress:
Let us consider a rectangular bar of some cross – sectional area and subjected to some
load or force (in Newtons )
Let us imagine that the same rectangular bar is assumed to be cut into two halves at
section XX. The each portion of this rectangular bar is in equilibrium under the action of
load P and the internal forces acting at the section XX has been shown