Strength of Materials

1.1 INTRODUCTION

Various structures like buildings, bridges, steel frames, and so on and machines like cranes, ships, aeroplanes, and so on are found to consist of numerous parts or members connected together. These members are connected in such a way so as to perform a specific function and to withstand externally applied loads.

Applied loads on a member may effect an axial tension or oval or axial compression or bending or a torsion (i.e. twist) or a combination of one or more of these. These four basic types of loading of a member are frequently encountered in both structural and machine design problems. They essentially constitute the principal subject matter of strength of materials.