Module 9th term:

Materials Technology and

Fracture Mechanics

NTNU

Norwegian University of Science and Technology.

Faculty of Marine Technology
Department of Marine Structures.

Torsion and Bending

of Box Girder
MEASUREMENT OF TORSION AND BENDING STRESSES
IN BOX GIRDER
The purpose of the exercise is to demonstrate strain bridge configurations for
measurement of specific components of stress.
Introduction
Structural members may be subjected to combined loading, e. g. combinations of
bending, tension, shear and torsion. For a ship hull structure load components interact
in a complicated way, by random wave loading. In many cases measurements are
required for assessment of stress resulting from separate load components. By
observing symmetry and by utilisation of different bridge configurations this may be
achieved by simple means. At the same time the signal/noise ratio may be improved,
and temperature compensation may be achieved. For field measurements and
measurements in industrial environments that may be important considerations.
The following equation for the output of a four arm bridge is essential:

1
1 2 3 4
4

(1)

A prismatic box girder is used as model. The girder is provided with longitudinal slits
to increase torsional flexibility. The girder could be a simplistic model of a ship hull.
Considering global wave loading, ship hulls are subjected to combined loading (hull
bending, shear and torsion). The strain in one location will be the sum of strains from
individual load components. Measurement of strain at individual locations will in this
1

case be of limited value, due to the complicated load pattern. Measurements should
therefore be carried out in relation to individual load components, in this case bending
and torsion.

Problem
A cantilever beam with prismatic cross section is loaded as shown below. Loading at
Point A will give bending only. At points B and C the loading will be a combination of
bending and torsion. Warping is in this case restrained and the direction of stress will
be axial as shown schematically below. Stresses from the two load components,
bending and torsion, shall be measured individually.
The four strain gauges, 1 4, may be assumed to be symmetrical with respect to the
axes of the box girder.

a) Bending stress
The four strain gauges shall be wired such that bending stress b is measured only
(four arm bridge).
Is temperature compensation achieved?
Check that the wiring is correct by moving the load between points A, B and C. If the
wiring is correct, the signal should be constant, except for effect of possible asymmetry
in the position of the strain gauges. If the load level is varied, the signal should be
proportional to the load.

Check the measurements against calculated stress. Some formulae (from elementary
Mechanics of structures):
Bending stress in beam with rectangular cross section BxH:
b

(2)

M H
I 2

Moment of inertia for a rectangular cross section:

I

(3)

BH 3
12

Parallel axis theorem (Steiners theorem), cf. figure below:

I z I z Ab 2

(4)

z1
b
z
A
b) Torsional stress:
The four strain gauges shall be wired such that torsional stress t is measured only
(four arm bridge).
Is temperature compensation achieved?
Check that the wiring is correct by applying load at point A (the strain should be zero).
By moving the load between points A, B and C the strain should vary proportional to
the moment arm, check also this.
In this case the stress cannot be calculated by simple methods, and we have to rely on
the measurements.

Report
Each group should write a short report with tables showing measurements, and
comments to the results.

SB
2004-09-15