Composite Beam

Composite beam is one which is constructed from a E1 d1

combination of material.
E2 d2
Assume equivalent section of material 1 for material 2.
b
Both sections must produce the same stress resultants: Original Section

F x and M z E1 d1

We need to change width of section containing material 2 E1 d2

only to an equivalent width b* while retaining its vertical
depth since moment resultant involves the moment arm y. b*
Transformed Section
Composite Beam
Elemental axial force due to bending in original and E1 d1
equivalent sections must also be equal: dy

dFx   x  bdy 2   x*  b*dy    x 2  b   x*  b* E2

d2

 E2 x b  E1 x*b* b

Original Section
Assuming perfect bonding, longitudinal strain  x   y
must be equal since curvature same for both original and E1 d1
equivalent sections, i.e.  x   x
*
dy
E d2
 b*  nb where n  2 E1
E1 *
b b*
 x 2  b   x*  b*   x 2   x*  n x*
b Transformed Section
Transformed-Section Method
Equivalent area used to represent increased (or decreased) E1 d1
stiffness of second material.
E2 d2
New equivalent cross section is assumed to be made
completely from material 1. b
Original Section
Area of material 2 is simply scaled to account for the
stiffness difference using the scaling factor, n, E1 d1
E
n 2 E1 d2
E1
Area scaling must only be done in the horizontal direction. b*
Vertical dimension of either material cannot be changed.
Transformed Section
Transformed-Section Method
Neutral axis can be found by finding the centroid of the E1 d1
equivalent cross section, as was done with single material
E2 d2
beams.
Bending stresses can be determined from the basic beam b
bending equation, Original Section

My My
 x 1    x  2   n E1 d1
I I
E1 d2
where I is the moment of inertia of the full equivalent cross
section, and y the distance from the neutral axis. b*
Transformed Section
 Transformed Sections
Equivalent area of
steel
wood replacing steel
Es
n
Ew
wood wood
b b*  nb
wood
b b*  nb
Concrete Slab Equivalent area of steel
replacing concrete
Steel Steel
I-Beam I-Beam Ec
n
Es
Example

Steel 10 mm

Timber 75 mm

Steel 10 mm
50 mm

A rectangular section timber beam is 50 mm wide and 75 mm deep. It is clad with

steel plate 10 mm thick on the top and bottom. Calculate the maximum stress in the
steel and the timber when a moment of 4 kNm is applied. E for timber is 10 GPa
and for steel 200 GPa.
Solution
Steel 10 mm

Timber 75 mm

Et 10 Steel
b*  nb  b  50  2.5 mm 10 mm
Es 200 50 mm

Steel 10 mm

Steel
b* 75 mm

Steel 10 mm
50 mm
Solution
Steel 10 mm

50  10  75  10   50  2.5    75 
3 3
75 mm
Iz    1.9025 106 m 4 Timber
12 12
Steel 10 mm
50 mm
My 4000  0.0375
x   6
 78.85 MPa Steel 10 mm
y 37.5mm
Iz 1.9025 10
 x,max t  n  78.85 = 20010
 78.85  3.94 MPa #(ANS)
Steel
b* 75 mm

4000  0.0475
 x,max s   x y 47.5mm  My
Iz

1.9025 10 6
 99.9 MPa
#(ANS)
Steel 10 mm
50 mm