Determine the minimum cross-sectional area of a steel bar required to support a tensile force of 50 kips if the allowable unit tensile stress is 20 ksi.

Question

Determine the minimum cross-sectional area of a steel bar required to support a tensile force of 50 kips if the allowable unit tensile stress is 20 ksi.

Answer 1

Transforming the stress equation from τ = F/A to A = F/τ. Plugging the numbers τ = 20,000 psi and 50,000 lbs into the prior equation. We get

A = 50,000/20,000 = 2.5 in².