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How do I locate the neutral axis in a beam?

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Jordan Kull, Studied Civil Engineering - Ended up doing Structural Engineering.

Answered Nov 3, 2016

Locating the Neutral Axis (NA) can be very complicated.

In the simplest of beams the NA is found at the vertical centroid of the shape. See figure 1.

For composite beams, those made of different materials adjustments need to be made. See
figure 2 below. An “equivalent Section” needs to be drawn, where the width of one of the
materials is multiplied by the factor “n”. n is the ratio of the two materials Young’s moduli.
In the example below n>1 so the area increased. Then the centroid of the Equivalent section
is found as described above.
For prestressed members the NA location depends on the loading conditions as well as the
initial stressing. A structural analysis will need to be performed to find the stress block
diagram. Where the stress passes through the vertical (0, zero) axis is where the NA is
located.
The NA is only found at 1/2 the beam height for a homogeneous doubly symmetric section. And it is
only found at the centroid of the shape of isotropic homogeneous beams.
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 Prithivirajan Veerappan, Mechanician for more than a decade !
Updated Nov 22, 2017

Originally Answered: How can I locate the neutral axis in a beam?

Neutral axis, by definition is the axis wherein the beam experiences zero strain and stress.
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For a homogeneous beam ( made up of 1 material) , it would be at the geometric center. For a
heterogeneous beam, you need to locate where the stress becomes zero. Using the force and
Moment equilibrium, you can find the location of neutral axis.

Mechanics eBook: Composite Beams

-Prithivi
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Additional stuff :

Here is another video explaining the basic concepts of strength of materials ( State of stress,
principal stresses , Mohr circle and failure theories ) without math equations :

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 Kamran Khademi, MS. Architecture & Structural Engineering, University of Tehran
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(1970)
Answered Nov 17, 2017

The natural axis is the axis where there is no stress.

Generally this could be calculated by:

Dividing the section of the beam into differential elements.

Multiplying the area of this element by its modules of elasticity, then by its distance from an
arbitrary assumed reference axis.

Repeat this for all other differential elements and sum up.

Divide the sum by the sum of all differential elements areas multiplied by each module of elasticity.

Basically it is like finding the center of geometry for a new section where the differential areas are
scaled up or down to their respective modules of elasticity.
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Idris Manaqibwala, BTech Civil Engineering, Visvesvaraya National Institute of

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Technology,Nagpur (2016)
Updated Aug 15, 2017

In order to find the position of neutral axis, one need to satisfy the relation between the
compression and tension forces on the section developed as result of bending.

If axial force acting on the beam section is zero, then compression equal tension and that is the
usual case for a beam.
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 Miguel López, studied at Universidad De San Carlos De Guatemala
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Answered Oct 26, 2016

Originally Answered: How can I locate the neutral axis in a beam?

I assume you’re talking about flexure. If the beam in question has a square or rectangular cross
section its neutral axis would be in the geometric center of said cross section, which also happens to
be the center of inertia. However, in general, if you want to find the neutral axis of a beam you
would have to look at its cross section and find the center of inertia. This is given that the beam is
simply supported or articulated on both ends, its cross section is the same along its entire lenght
and its under flexural stress.
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Raj Kiran, Civil Engineer

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Answered Oct 26, 2016

Always neutal axis will be perpendicular to the load

Neutral axis is also known as centroidal axis that means when you find the centroid then
automatically the plane which passes through the centroid is known as centroidal axis

Thatsall
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Richard Guy, Richard Guy is a Structural Engineer: worked all over the World.
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Answered Oct 31, 2016

1/2 the Beam Height is the Neutral Axis

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J Ranganathan, lives in Irvine, CA (1997-present)

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 p
Answered Apr 10

For all linear analysis it is the cg of the cross section of the beam.
1.3k Views · Answer requested by David Streit

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RELATED QUESTIONS & ANSWERS

What is the difference between "Neutral axis" and "Centroidal axis"?

Vivek Kothari, studied Civil Engineering

Updated Feb 2

Thanks for A2A. First of all let's discuss what is centroidal axis. So, centroidal axis is just an
imaginary line passing through centroid of an element. Now comes, neutral axis. Before defining
neutr... Read More