Strength of Materials

1.10 COMPOSITE SECTIONS

Composite sections may form by combination of two or more bars of equal lengths but of different material rigidity and fixity so as to act as one unit (Figure 1.14). In composite bars, the following factors are considered:

 

 

Fig. 1.14 Composite bars.

 

1. the change in length in each bar and the corresponding strain is equal and
2. the external load is shared by the bars based on their material property (i.e., on the modulus of elasticity).

Considering Figure 1.14, the load P is shared by the bar as P₁ and bar as P₂. Thus, ...