Types of Stresses

Abstract

How forces are applied to particular components and the kinds of stresses which result from these applications, are probably the aspects of design the student is first called upon to consider. His ability to discern the nature of stresses and how they are caused will have been developed by his earlier studies of the strength of materials, metallurgy, the theory of machines and other relevant subjects. These, compared with engineering design in itself, are somewhat abstract and attenuated. He may be confronted by the necessity for creating a new entity embodying the above abstractions in an original relationship. The multiplicity of addition detail involved in the design, such as conformity with economic requirements, appearance, function and method of production may obscure the significance (in terms of stress) of a particular form of loading. In this way essential stress analysis can be overlooked. To remind the reader of their ever-present existence, an outline of some of the more important forms of stress is given in this chapter and is accompanied by references to later chapters in which the best examples of these forms appear.