Adam Pawe Zaborski

4. Eccentric axial loading, cross-section core

Introduction
We are starting to consider a more general case when the axial force and biaxial bending act
simultaneously in the cross-section of the bar. By virtue of Saint-Venants principle we can replace the
original loading by the statically equivalent eccentric longitudinal loading, Fig. 4.1, and vice versa.
z

My
Mz
N

zN
yN

Fig. 4.1 Eccentric axial loading

Due to superposition principle, we can add the solutions of the simple cases, tension and biaxial bending,
and obtain the normal stress equation for the eccentric axial loading:
x

M
N My

z z y .
A Jy
Jz

The relation obtained shows that the distribution of stresses across the section is linear. As before, we need
to know the neutral axis position. The most distant fibers from the neutral axis are the most exerted section
part, where the normal stress is maximal.
The neutral axis equation can be written in the form:
x 0

Jy Mz
N

y .
M y Jz
A

The neutral axis is the straight line, but this time it doesnt pass through the section centroid.
From the ultimate limit state we get the design condition:
max x R ,
where the maximum value of the normal stress is attained at the most distant points from the neutral axis.
Tip: Massive members in eccentric compression can be calculated as in tension with the change of the
stress sign.

Examples
Example 4.1
Determine the maximum value of the normal stress at the cross-section tensioned by the force N = 150 kN,
Fig. 4.2 (the dimensions in cm):

Adam Pawe Zaborski

z
9

3
6

Fig. 4.2 Eccentrically loaded section

Solution
1. The cross-section forces: N = 150 kN, My = -1500.03 = -4.5 kNm, Mz = -1500.02 = -3 kNm
2. The geometric characteristics of the cross-section: A = 96 cm2, Jy = 1152 cm4, Jz = 512 cm4
3. The normal stress distribution:
x

M
N My
150 10 3
4.5 10 3
3 10 3

z z y

y 15.7 391z 586 y MPa

A Jy
Jz
96 10 4 1152 10 8
512 10 8

4. The equation of the neutral axis:

z 1.5 y 0.04

5. The maximum stress will occur at the right lower corner:

max x 15.7 391 (0.06) 586 0.04 62.6 MPa

Example 4.2
Determine the cross-section parameter a, Fig. 4.3, knowing that the tension force is N = 150 kN and the
bending moment is My = 75 kNm. Assume R = 250 MPa.
2a

My

3a
N
3a
2a

3a

2a

Fig. 4.3 Box section loaded

Solution:
1. The cross-section characteristics: A = (56-9) a2 = 47 a2, zc = 3.9 a, Jy = 289 a4
2. The normal stress distribution:
x

N My
150 10 3 75 10 3

z
A Jy
47a 2
289a 4

3. The equation of the neutral axis: z 12.3a 2

4. The distribution of normal stress shows that the greatest normal stress occurs at bottom fibers (the most
distant). We write the design condition in the form:
max x x ( z 3.9a)

3190
a

1012
a3

R 250 10 6

Adam Pawe Zaborski

The above inequality can be solved numerically or as long as we dont need exact solution by the
trial and error method. As the first approximation, we can use separate solutions for the tension and the
bending, obtaining: a = 0.0036 m and a = 0.016 m, respectively.
5. Assuming a = 0.0165 m, we get the maximum normal stress: 237 MPa < R.
Example 4.3
Determine the maximum value of the normal stress in the section loaded by the bending moment My = 65
Nm and tensioned by axial force N = 0.2 kN, Fig. 4.4 (the section dimensions in cm):

My

1
1

Fig. 4.4 Cross-section with loading

Solution
1. The cross-section characteristics: A = 9 cm2, due to the oblique symmetry axis we start straight away
from the principal central axes (as a difference of two squares):
the centroid position: zc = 1.611 cm,
the inertia moment about the symmetry axis =

54 44
4

30.75 cm = Jy
12 12

the second inertia moment:

2

54
2
44
2
251.611 2
5
161.611 2
4 2 8.53

12
2
12
2

cm4 = Jz

2. The cross-section forces: N = 200 N, My = - Mz = 45.96 Nm

3. The normal stress distribution:

N My
M
200
45.96
45.96

z z y

z
y
4
8
A Jy
Jz
9 10
30.75 10
8.53 108
4. The neutral axis equation:

z 0.0015 3.7 y

5. The above equation shows, that the most distant point from the neutral axis is p. A; its coordinates in
the principal central coordinate set are:

A 4

2
2
2 1.611 2 2.38, 4
2.83 (in cm)

2
2

6. The extreme normal stress at the point A is:

x = 17.2 MPa.

Cross-section core
In the case of eccentric axial loading, the normal stress distribution can be written by means of the
eccentricities, Fig. 4.5:

Adam Pawe Zaborski

z
(yN,zN)

Fig. 4.5 Eccentric axial loading

x

Ny N
N Nz N
N z z v y

z
y 1 N2 N2 .
A
Jy
Jz
A
iy
i z

The neutral axis equation becomes:

x 0

yy N
i z2

zz N
i y2

1 0 .

Putting:
b

i y2
i z2
, c
,
yN
zN

we get the neutral axis equation in the two intercept form:

y z
1,
b c

where b and c are the y-intercept and z-intercept, respectively, Fig. 4.6.
z

c
y
b

Fig. 4.6 Two intercept form

There are three possibilities of the neutral axis location with respect to the cross-section:
the neutral axis passes through the cross-section,
the neutral axis is tangent to the cross-section,
the neutral axis doesnt pass through the cross-section.
In the first case, the neutral axis divides the cross-section into two regions with a different sign of the
normal stress: the compressed zone and the tensioned zone. The case of the neutral axis touching the crosssection is the most interesting as the limit case between both previous cases.
The case of one sign of the normal stress within the cross-section is of particular interest to the civil
engineers:
the material near the neutral axis doesnt work; a part of the cross-section is not used,
many materials have different compression strength towards tension strength; the ceramic materials
work in compression only.
A cross section core is a locus where applied axial force causes the normal stress of one sign within the
whole section. In this case the neutral axis doesnt intersect the cross-section.

Adam Pawe Zaborski

The cross-section core is limited by the convex core curve. The curve can be determined on the basis of the
neutral axis equation:
1

zN z
iy

yN y
iz 2

0.

The above equation has double interpretation:

when z and y are unknown, it is equation of the neutral axis for given position of the force (yN, zN),
when yN and zN are unknown, it is equation of the force position for given position of the neutral axis.
Moreover, for both interpretations, for the given point we get the line equation and vice versa, for the given
line equation we get the point.
We determine the core curve by coating the cross-section with the possible positions of the neutral axis,
finding for each position the corresponding force position.
The equation of the neutral axis passing through two given points has the parametric form, Fig. 4.7:
z
t>1
t=1

c
2

t=0

t<0

Fig. 4.7 Parametric form of equation

y y 2 y1 t y1

z z 2 z1 t z1

hence, for z 0 , y b and y 0 , z c , we get respectively:

b

y1 z 2 y 2 z1
y z y1 z 2
, c 2 1
.
z 2 z1
y 2 y1

The distance of the point P(yP, zP) from the neutral axis is:
d

bz P cy P bc
b2 c2

From the neutral axis equation follows the position of the force and corresponding neutral axis, se Tab. 4.1.
force position
neutral axis
at centroid
at infinity
within the core
outside the cross-section
on the core curve
tangent to the cross-section
within the cross-section, outside the core crosses the section outside the core
on the line tangent to the cross-section
tangent to the core
outside the cross-section
crosses the core
at infinity
crosses the centroid
Tab. 4.1 Force and neutral axis relative positions
The algorithm is as follows:
1. We coat the cross-section by the such lines that the cross-section is from one side (imagine that we use a
very long plank and there are protruding nails at each convex corner); we get the smallest convex figure
with the cross-section inside,
2. For each line we get the force position, using the appropriate formulae.

Adam Pawe Zaborski

Examples
Example 4.4
Determine the core for the rectangular and box cross-sections, Fig. 4.8.

Fig. 4.8 Rectangular and box cross-sections

Solution
For the rectangular cross-section a h we have the inertia radii squared:
i y2

h2
a2
, i z2
12
12

and the neutral axis positions are:

c

h
2

a
2

h
h2

2
12 z N

zN

a
a2

2
12 y N

h
6

yN

a
6

(we can use the symmetry property now).

For the box cross-section with the wall width of h/10 and a/10, the inertia radii squared are:
i y2 0.164h 2 , i z2 0.164a 2

and the coordinates of core curve are:

0.328a,0.328h

and the core is approximately two times greater.

Example 4.5
Construct the core for the cross-section in Fig. 4.9.
z

Fig. 4.9 Cross-section and the core

Solution
1. the centroid position
z0

2. the principal central inertia moments

8 4 4 2 3 1.5
4.58,
8 4 23

y0 0

Adam Pawe Zaborski

4 83
2 27
4 8 0.58 2
6(4.58 1.5) 2
12
12
170.7 10.7 4.5 56.8 120cm 4
8 64 3 8
Jz

42.7 2 40.7cm 4
12
12

Jy

3. the inertia radii squared

iy2

Jy
A

4.62, i z 2

Jz
1.56
A

4. the core curve:

1-1: b , c 3.42 y0 0, z0 1.35
2-2: b 2, c y0 0.782, z0 0
3-3: b , c 4.58 y0 0, z 0 1.01
(we use the symmetry property)
Example 4.6
Determine the core for the section, Fig. 4.10.
z
4

3
3
2
y

1
2

2 1
1

Fig. 4.10 T-section and its core

Solution
1. the centroid position
z0

5 1 2.5 5 1 5.5
4.0,
55

y0 0

2. the principal central inertia moments

Jy

1 5 3
5 1
5 (4 2.5) 2
5 (5.5 4) 10.42 11.25 0.42 11.25 33.33cm 4
12
12
1 125 5 1
Jz

10.42 0.42 10.83cm 4

12
12

3. the inertia radii squared

iy2

Jy
A

3.33, i z 2

4. the core curve:

1-1: b , c 4 y0 0, z0 0.833
2-2: b 2.1, c 5.25 y0 0.516, z0 0.635
3-3: b 2, c y0 0.433, z0 0
4-4: b , c 2 y0 0, z0 1.67

Jz
1.08
A

Adam Pawe Zaborski

Example 4.7
Determine the core for the angle profile, Fig, 4.11.
E

D
5a
3a

C
B

Fig. 4.11 Angle profile and its core

Solution
We use the results from the previous section:
J1 = 34.98 a4, J2 = 6.61a4, = 22.5
The corners coordinates in the principal central coordinate system as before.
The results are presented in Tab. 7.2.
Line
b
c
yN
zN
-5.67
a
-2.35
a
0.13
a
1.65
a
AB
3.08 a
-7.33 a
-0.24 a
0.53 a
BC
1.85 a
12.37 a
-0.40 a
0.31 a
CD
9.89 a
4.15 a
-0.07 a
-0.94 a
DE
-1.27 a
3.07 a
0.58 a
-1.27 a
AE

Review problems
Problem 4.1
Determine the parameter a, Fig. 4.12, assuming P = 1 MN and R = 220 MPa. (Ans.: a = 2.10 cm)
z
2a
2a

2cm

y
5cm

5a

5a

Fig. 4.12 Section loaded at constant eccentricities

Problem 4.2
Determine the parameter a, Fig. 4.13, assuming P = 1 MN and R = 220 MPa. (Ans.: a = 2.44 cm)
z
2a

2a
a
y

2a
5a

5a

Adam Pawe Zaborski

Fig. 4.13 Section loaded at variable eccentricities

Problem 4.3
Determine the normal stress distribution across the section in Fig. 4.14, a = 2 cm, loaded by a force N =
150 kN. The force is applied to a rigid plate, welded at the member end section. Draw the diagram of the
normal stress.
(Ans.: max =59.34 MPa at lower right corner)

a
2a
a
a
a a

3a

Fig. 4.14 Section with loading point

Problem 4.4
The spot footing, Fig. 4.15, is loaded by a moment M = 1.2 MNm and axial force N = 2.5 MN. Determine
the d dimension so that the normal stress distribution at the bottom of footing would be uniform.
(Ans.: d = 1.96 m)
N
M

1m

1m
1m

Fig 4.15 Spot footing

Problem 4.5
Determine the core for the cross-sections given in Fig. 4.16. Assume the geometry data. (Check your
calculations with the przekroj.exe program)

Adam Pawe Zaborski

Fig. 4.16 Core - review problems

Addendum
Glossary
eccentricity mimord
eccentric mimorodowy
constant/variable eccentricities stae/zmienne mimorody
spot footing stopa fundamentowa
core rdze
two intercept form rwnanie odcinkowe
core curve krzywa rdzeniowa