Civil Engineering/material science

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Expert: - 9/30/2008


Question
Is the stress value indicates the capacity of the object? how shear force originates in structural member ? please. discuss in details.

Answer
Hi Kalyan,

Stress is force divided by area- for example, if there is a beam member 2cm wide by 3cm deep, so the cross sectional area is 6 cm2. If this beam is subjected to an axial load of say 60 kN, then it has an internal longitudinal stress of 10 kN/cm2, but no shear stress. Various materials can take different stress levels before they yield or break, so this is a measure of designing within capacity of the material.

If the same member is say 1m long, supported at both ends and is subjected to a total load of say 100 kN, then the shear force at each support is 50 kN and the shear stress at each end is 50/6= 8.33 kN/cm2. The member will also be subjected to bending stresses, but that is another subject!  

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Arshad Khan

Expertise

I can answer any questions to do with civil and structural engineering consultancy and construction industry in East Africa and the Middle East, and specifically with the analysis and design of reinforced concrete structures. My particular expertise is in the aseismic design and optimisation of tall buildings.

Experience

Employment history: 36 years in Construction and consultancy in the UK, Kenya, Tanzania, Uganda, Ethiopia, Eritrea, South Africa, Somalia, Zambia, Austria, Bahrain, Kuwait, Doha and the U.A.E.

Organizations
.Fellow of Institution of Structural Engineers (UK) .Fellow of Institution of Civil Engineers(UK) .Member of the Institution of Engineers, Kenya .Registered Engineer, ERB, Kenya .Member of the Architectural Association of Kenya (Engineers Chapter) .Chartered Engineer (UK)

Publications
•1984: International Conference on the Art and Practice of Structural Design, London •1994: 3rd Int. Kerensky Conference in Structural Engineering, Singapore •2008: International Conference on High-Rise Towers, Abu Dhabi

Education/Credentials
BSc, 1st Class Hons, in Building Engineering, University of Bath, UK MSc in Concrete Structures and Technology, University of London. Diploma of Imperial College, UK.

Awards and Honors
•Science Congress Special Award (for 2-seater Hovercraft - 1968) •Institution of Civil Engineers Award for outstanding performance at Bath University (1975) •Concrete Society Postgraduate study Bursary Award (1976) •Consular Representative for British High Commission, Nairobi. (1995 to 1998) •Examiner for Institution of Civil Engineers Professional Interviews, Nairobi. (1997 to 1998) •Branch Representative in Vienna for PI assessment for Inst. of Struct. Engrs. (1999 to date)

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