Question

In a bar of rectangular section, the width tapers from 25mm to 15 mm, while thickness tapers from 12mm to 8mm over a length of 500 mm. The bar is subjected to a tensile force P and E = 200 GPa. Determine the magnitude of P if the change in its axial length is 0.2mm (Fig.1.45).

Answer 1

Consider a section at a distance x from one end as shown in Fig. 1.45.