What is the beam’s neutral axis?

When the beam is loaded by the direct stress or the bending moment, it begins to start sagging or hogging or in curve form. In this way just below the load fiber of the beam experiences compression and the last point of the beam experience tensile stress. Geometrically for an isotropic symmetrical beam neutral axis lies on the centroid of the beam.

Is this compulsory that the neutral axis always passes from the centroid?

Mostly in symmetric sections neutral axis passes on the centroid of the beam but in the case of unsymmetric sections or different loaded or different supporting structures, the location of the centroid and location of the neutral axis may differ. It depends on the geometric properties of the cross-section of the beam.

How is the neutral axis changes the location?

For the symmetrical section the neutral axis lines on a geometric centroid but when we take an unsymmetrical section like a reinforced embedded beam the neutral axis depth increases and the neutral axis starts to shift in the tensile zone.

What is the location of the neutral axis?

Neutral axis is the axis of the structural plane where the applied load and developed stress or strain value is zero. Generally the location of neutral lies on the symmetric, isotropic, and geometric centroid of the beam.

What is the value of stress and strain at the neutral axis?

We know the neutral axis as the point where tensile stress and compressive stress or strains of different nature form a transition zone. It means at just above and just below the point of the neutral axis all values of stress and strain change to zero on the exact point of the neutral axis Hence we can say at the point of the neutral axis is having zero value of stress and strain.

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Neutral Axis in Beam – What is Neutral Axis & its Formula

By BYJU'S Exam Prep

Updated on: September 25th, 2023

The neutral axis of a beam is the line that passes through the centroidal depth of the beam where no longitudinal stress either compressive or tensile stress or no strain exists. The neutral axis is represented by a dotted line.

From the neutral axis, the upper part of the beam is under compressive stress and the lower part of the neutral axis of the beam is under tensile stress. Hence the moment of area of any structure with respect to the neutral axis is always zero due to this from the neutral axis or centroidal axis for a beam subjected to the same simple bending moment.

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Table of content

1. What is a Neutral Axis in Beam?
2. Neutral Axis Formula
3. Neutral Axis for Different Types of Cross Sections
4. Important Points on Neutral Axis

What is a Neutral Axis in Beam?

Let’s take a beam that is initially unstressed. Now let us take direct stress over the surface of the beam. This direct stress creates some bending in the beam as the upper fiber experiences compressive stress while the lower fiber of the beam experiences tensile stress.

Neutral

Now a point in the beam remains unstressed, that is, a transition point where compressive stress changes into tensile stress. This changing point is considered a neutral axis. We consider this point as all types of stress at this locus is assumed to be zero. From this point, we measure the radius of curvature.

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Neutral Axis Formula

The neutral axis is considered a centroidal axis. It can be on the x-axis or on the y-axis or for the symmetrical cross-section it can be in both directions. The position of the neutral axis is always divided by the equal stress area to balance the section. This does not mean it will remain in the center of the structure; the position of the neutral axis follows the centroid of the structure. –

As per the theory-

lets in x direction = [(Total individual Center of gravity of member in x direction) * (total individual area)]/(Total area of the structure)

lets in y direction = [(Total individual Center of gravity of member in y direction) * (total individual area)]/(Total area of a structure)

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Neutral Axis for Different Types of Cross Sections

We know that the neutral axis is always passing through the centroid axis or center of gravity. As from this total stress is zero at the neutral axis. Let us know the different types of cross sections and their neutral axis.