Types of Forces Acting on a Structural Member

Force is an action which produces or tends to produce change in a body’s state of rest or motion.

Force is measured in Newton (N)

The different types of forces acting on a structural member are

  1. Tension (Tensile Force),
  2. Compression (Compressive Force),
  3. Shear (Shear Force),
  4. Torsion (Torque or Twisting Moment).

Tension

If the force applied on a body tends to elongate it, then the force is called a tensile force and the body is said to be under tension.

Compression

If the force applied on a body tends to decrease its length then the force is called a compressive force and the body is said to be under compression.

Shear

If the external force acting on a piece of material tends to slide one layer of the material over the adjacent layer, then the force is called a shear force.

Torsion

The moment which causes twisting of a member is called torsion or twisting moment or torque.

 

2 Comments on “Types of Forces Acting on a Structural Member”

  1. Can you send to me the notes of strucutre mechanic concern with types of force, truss and beam

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