STRENGTH OF

MATERIALS
ECONOMIC SECTION
Prepared by ENGR. DENNIS C. LOPEZ
CIVIL ENGINEERING
DEPARTMENT
STRENGTH OF MATERIALS
(Mechanics of Deformable Bodies)
Table of Contents

LEARNING OUTCOMES
This course module deals with analysis of
beams. Definition, fundamental concepts,
formulas and sample problems are
presented here to give students clear
understanding about the topic.
At the end of this module, students
should be able to:
• Identify the different types of structural
steel and their properties.
• Determine the economical structural
steel to be used as a beam.

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 DEFINITION OF TERMS
• Beam – structural or mechanical member that carries floor slab, thin plate or
other members of the structure or machine. It is usually supported by
columns.
• Economical – the cheapest or lowest costing material to be used in
construction that passed the standard for quality and safety.
• Neutral axis – it is the axis of the cross-section of the beam in which there are
no longitudinal stresses (tension or compression) or no strains (or axial
deformation). Neutral axes coincides the centroidal axes of the cross-section.
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• Section modulus – a geometric property of any cross-section of the beam,

that is the ratio of moment of inertia and the distance from the neutral axis to
any surface of the beam. By formula: S = I/c.
• Structural steel – a profile of steel used to form structural parts in variety of
shapes or cross-sections.

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FUNDAMENTALS
Structural Steel
• Structural steel is used in construction or building
projects.
• It has a distinct cross-section, usually letters of the
alphabet.
• Structural steel is a carbon steel, meaning it has a
carbon content of up to 2.1 percent by weight. After
iron, carbon is the most important element in carbon
steel.
• Because of the ductility of structural steel, the variety of
shapes, thicknesses and even sizes can be customized to
meet specific building needs.
Source: benchmarsteel.com
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FUNDAMENTALS
Structural Steel
Examples of Structural Steel in Structures

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 FUNDAMENTALS
Structural Steel
• American Standard Beam: Also known as I-beam because of its
cross-section that looks like an “I”.
• Wide Flange: An I-beam with wider flanges. Flanges are the
horizontal member of an I-beam.
• American Standard Channel: Cross-section resembling a “C”
• Angle: An L-shaped cross section
• Tee: A T-shaped cross section
• Bar: A rectangular, cross-sectioned long piece of steel
• Plate: A rectangular , cross-sectioned long piece of steel, thinner
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than a bar
• Rod: A round or square long piece of steel
• Hollow: A round or square cross-section with hole at the middle.
Figure C: Cross-Section of Common Structural
Source: benchmarsteel.com Steel

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 FUNDAMENTALS
Economic Section
• The basic concept is to replace the existing beam
with the lightest structural steel that can carry the
loads of the existing beam.
• The selection process is based on the flexural
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strength and the properties of the structural steel.

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Properties of Wide Flange

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Properties of Wide Flange

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Properties of Wide Flange

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Properties of Wide Flange

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Properties of Wide Flange

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Properties of Wide Flange

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Properties of Wide Flange

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Properties of Wide Flange

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Properties of Wide Flange

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Properties of Wide Flange

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Properties of S-Beam

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Properties of Channel Section

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Properties of Angle Section

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Properties of Angle Section

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Properties of Angle Section

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Properties of Angle Section

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Properties of Angle Section

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Properties of Angle Section

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Properties of Angle Section

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 FUNDAMENTALS
Steps in choosing a structural steel
• Determine the maximum moment of the beam. Do not include the weight of the
existing beam.
• Use the formula of flexural stress (f) = Mc/I or f = M/S and the allowable flexural
stress of steel (fmax) to determine the minimum section modulus (Smin).
• Choose the lightest structural steel with section modulus (S) (from the properties
of structural steel) greater than the computed Smin.
• Replace the existing beam with the chosen structural steel and compute again the
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maximum bending moment. This time include the weight of the structural steel.
• Compute the actual flexural stress using the formula f = Mmax / S.
• The actual flexural stress must be less than the allowable flexural stress. If not, use
another structural steel.

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 ILLUSTRATIVE PROBLEM
PROBLEM 1
Replace the beam with a
wide flange. The
maximum flexural stress
of steel is 120 MPa.
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Figure 1: Simple Beam

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 ILLUSTRATIVE PROBLEM
PROBLEM 1 SOLUTION
• The reactions of the
supports are Ay = 28
KN and Cy = 27 KN.
• The maximum bending
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moment is 36.45 KN-m

based on the moment
diagram shown in the
figure.
Figure 1a: Shear and Moment Diagrams
 ILLUSTRATIVE PROBLEM
PROBLEM 1 SOLUTION
• Using f = M/S, solve the section
modulus:
𝑀
𝑆=
𝑓
𝑀𝑚𝑎𝑥
𝑆𝑚𝑖𝑛 =
𝑓𝑚𝑎𝑥
Prepared by Engr. Dennis C. Lopez

36.45𝑥106 𝑁 − 𝑚𝑚
𝑆𝑚𝑖𝑛 =
𝑁
120
𝑚𝑚23
𝑆𝑚𝑖𝑛 = 303,750 𝑚𝑚 𝑜𝑟
303.75 𝑥 103 𝑚𝑚3
Figure 1a: Shear and Moment Diagrams
 ILLUSTRATIVE PROBLEM
PROBLEM 1 SOLUTION
• Using the tabulated
properties, look for
the lightest wide
flange that has S
greater than the
computed Smin.
• Based on the
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properties, test
W310x28.3 if it is
safe.
 ILLUSTRATIVE PROBLEM
10 + 0.28 = 10.28 KN/m
PROBLEM 1 SOLUTION Reactions of supports:
• Weight of the beam: Σ𝑀𝐴 = 0
𝑊𝑏𝑒𝑎𝑚 = 𝑚𝑔 5 2 + 51.40 2.50 − 𝐶𝑦 5 = 0
𝑊𝑏𝑒𝑎𝑚 𝐶𝑦 = 27.70 𝐾𝑁
𝑘𝑔 𝑚
= 28.3 9.81 2 Σ𝐹𝑉 = 0
𝑚 𝑠 𝐴𝑦 + 27.70 − 5 − 51.40 = 0
𝑊𝑏𝑒𝑎𝑚 𝐴𝑦 = 28.70 𝐾𝑁 Figure 1b: Load Diagram
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𝑁 𝐾𝑁
= 277.62 𝑜𝑟 0.28
𝑚 𝑚
• Based on the
properties, test
W310x28.3 if it is safe.
 ILLUSTRATIVE PROBLEM
𝐵𝑦 𝑟𝑎𝑡𝑖𝑜 𝑎𝑛𝑑 𝑝𝑟𝑜𝑝𝑜𝑟𝑡𝑖𝑜𝑛: 10 + 0.28 = 10.28 KN/m
PROBLEM 1 SOLUTION 𝑥 3−𝑥
=
• Area of shear diagram: 3.14 27.70
1 27.70𝑥 = 9.42 − 3.14𝑥
𝑎1 = 2 28.70 + 8.14
2 30.84𝑥 = 9.42
𝑎1 = 36.84
1
𝑎2 = 0.31 3.14 𝑥 = 0.31 𝑚
2
𝑎2 = 0.49 3 − 𝑥 = 2.69 𝑚
1
𝑎3 = 2.69 27.70
2
𝑎3 = −37.26
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• Check:
𝑎1 + 𝑎2 + 𝑎3 = 36.84 + 0.49 − 37.26
𝑎1 + 𝑎2 + 𝑎3 = 0.07 ≈ 0
• Maximum Moment:
𝑎1 + 𝑎2 = 36.84 + 0.49
𝑎1 + 𝑎2 = 37.33 𝐾𝑁 − 𝑚
Figure 1c: Shear Diagram
 ILLUSTRATIVE PROBLEM
10 + 0.28 = 10.28 KN/m
PROBLEM 1 SOLUTION
• Maximum Moment:
𝑀𝑚𝑎𝑥 = 37.33 𝐾𝑁 − 𝑚
• Actual flexural stress:
𝑀
𝑓=
𝑆
37.33 𝑥 106 𝑁 − 𝑚𝑚
𝑓=
349 𝑥 103 𝑚𝑚3 (𝑓𝑟𝑜𝑚 𝑡𝑎𝑏𝑙𝑒)
𝑓 = 106.96 𝑀𝑃𝑎
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• Conclusion:
𝑓𝑚𝑎𝑥 > 𝑓
120 𝑀𝑃𝑎 > 106.96 𝑀𝑃𝑎 (𝑆𝑎𝑓𝑒!)

∴ 𝑈𝑠𝑒 𝑊310𝑥28.3 Figure 1c: Shear Diagram

 ILLUSTRATIVE PROBLEM
PROBLEM 2
Replace the
beam with an
I-Beam. The
maximum
Prepared by Engr. Dennis C. Lopez

flexural stress
of steel is 120 Figure 2: Load Diagram Figure 2a: Cross-Section of the Beam
MPa.
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 ILLUSTRATIVE PROBLEM
PROBLEM 2 SOLUTION
• The moment reaction at the fixed
support:
Σ𝑀𝐶 = 0
−20 4 − 75 2.50 + 𝐶𝑚 = 0
𝐶𝑚 = 267.50 𝐾𝑁 − 𝑚
• Maximum Moment:
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For cantilever beam, the maximum

bending moment is equal to the
moment reaction of the fixed support.
𝑀𝑚𝑎𝑥 = 267.50 𝐾𝑁 − 𝑚 Figure 2: Load Diagram

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 ILLUSTRATIVE PROBLEM
PROBLEM 2 SOLUTION
• Section modulus (S):
𝑀 267.50 𝑥 106
𝑆= =
𝑓 120
𝑆 = 2,229,166.67 𝑚𝑚3
𝑆𝑚𝑖𝑛 = 2,229.17 𝑥 103 𝑚𝑚3
Prepared by Engr. Dennis C. Lopez

• Using the tabulated properties, look

for the lightest S Beam that has S
greater than the computed Smin. Figure 2: Load Diagram

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 ILLUSTRATIVE PROBLEM
PROBLEM 2 SOLUTION
• Weight of the beam:
𝑊𝑏𝑒𝑎𝑚 = 𝑚𝑔
𝑊𝑏𝑒𝑎𝑚
𝑘𝑔 𝑚
= 128 9.81 2
𝑚 𝑠
𝑊𝑏𝑒𝑎𝑚
𝑁 𝐾𝑁
= 1,255.68 𝑜𝑟 1.26
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𝑚 𝑚
• Based on the properties,
test S510x128 if it is safe.

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 ILLUSTRATIVE PROBLEM
PROBLEM 2 SOLUTION
• The moment reaction at the fixed
support:
Σ𝑀𝐶 = 0
−20 4 − 81.30 2.50 + 𝐶𝑚 = 0
𝐶𝑚 = 283.25 𝐾𝑁 − 𝑚 15 + 1.26 = 16.26 KN/m
• Maximum Moment:
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For cantilever beam, the maximum

bending moment is equal to the
moment reaction of the fixed support.
𝑀𝑚𝑎𝑥 = 283.25 𝐾𝑁 − 𝑚 Figure 2a: Load Diagram

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 ILLUSTRATIVE PROBLEM
PROBLEM 2 SOLUTION
• Actual flexural stress:
𝑀 283.25 𝑥 106
𝑓= =
𝑆 2,540 𝑥 103
𝑓 = 111.52 𝑀𝑃𝑎
15 + 1.26 = 16.26 KN/m
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• Conclusion:
𝑓𝑚𝑎𝑥 > 𝑓
120 𝑀𝑃𝑎 > 111.52 𝑀𝑃𝑎 (𝑠𝑎𝑓𝑒!)
Figure 2a: Load Diagram
∴ 𝑈𝑠𝑒 𝑆510𝑥128
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 ONLINE RESOURCES
• https://mathalino.com/reviewer/mechanics-and-strength-of-
materials/economic-sections
• https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XTCuDUTKahs&t=672s
• https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JCZ5jmPm1hw
• https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cJm0OyOMv5o
• https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wnmIXODbfqg
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• https://pixabay.com/
• https://unsplash.com/

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 REFERENCES
• Pytel, Andrew & Kiusalaas, Jaan (2012). Strength of
materials. 2nd Edition: Cengage Learning
• Gere, James & Goodno, Barry (2013). Mechanics of
materials. 8th Edition: Cengage Learning
• Hibbeler, R.C. (1993). Strength of Materials. Macmillan
• Beer, Ferdinand P. (2012). Mechanics of materials. Mc-
Prepared by ENGR. DENNIS C. LOPEZ

Graw-Hill Education
• Besavilla, Venancio (1984). Solutions to Problems in
Strength of Materials. VIB Publisher.

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Prepared by Engr. Dennis C. Lopez

ECONOMIC SECTION

END

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