At the end of the lesson, you should be able

to:
identify the part of the structure that
undergoes bearing stress.
define bearing stress and determine its
effect on the material.
solve problems involving bearing stress.
 Bearing Stress is a contact pressure
between two surfaces.
It differs from normal stress which is an
internal stress caused by an axial force
 Bearing Stress:
 Example:
The lap joint shown below is fastened by four
rivets of 3/4-in. diameter. Find the maximum
load P that can be applied if the working stresses
are 14 ksi for shear in the rivet and 18 ksi for
bearing in the plate. Assume that the applied
load is distributed evenly among the four rivets,
and neglect friction between the plates.
 Answer:
Design for Shear Stress in Rivets:

Design for Bearing Stress in Plate

Maximum safe load is 24,700 lb.

 Example:
Assume that a 20-mm-diameter rivet joins
the plates that are each 110mm wide. The
allowable stresses are 120 MPa for bearing
in the plate material and 60 MPa for shearing
in the rivet. Determine (a) the minimum
thickness of each plate; and (b) the largest
average tensile stress in the plates.
 Answer:
(a) the minimum thickness of each plate :
From shearing of the rivet:
=

=

=

From bearing of plate material:

=
6000 = 120 20 2
= .
 Answer:
(b) the largest average tensile stress in
the plates :

=


=
.
= .
 Example:
Assume that the axial load P applied to the lap
joint is distributed equally among the three 20-
mm-diameter rivets. What is the maximum load P
that can be applied if the allowable stresses are
40MPa for shear in rivets, 90MPa for bearing
between a plate and a rivet, and 120MPa for
tension in the plates?
 Answer:
Consider bearing stress:
=
= 90 20 (25)(3)2
=
Consider shearing stress:
=

= 40 20 2 (3)2
4
= .
Consider tensile stress:
=
= 120 130 20 (25)2
=
= .
 Example:
The steel end-cap is fitted into grooves cut in
the timber post. The working stresses for the
post are 1.8MPa in shear parallel to the grain and
5.5MPa in bearing perpendicular to the grain.
Determine the smallest safe dimensions a and b.
 Answer:

Consider shearing stress:

Consider bearing stress:

= . = .
 Example:
The figure shows a roof truss and the detail of
the connection at joint B. Members BC and BE
are angle sections with the thickness shown in
the figure. The working stresses are 70MPa for
shear in the rivets and 140MPa for bearing
stress due to the rivets. How many 19-mm-
diameter rivets are required to fasten members
BC and BE to the gusset plate.
 Answer:
PBC= 96 kN

Consider shearing stress:

=
3
9610 = 70 (19)2 ()2
4
= .

Consider bearing stress:

=
96103 = 140 (19)(6)()2
= .

 Answer:
PBE= 80 kN

Consider shearing stress:

=
3
8010 = 70 (19)2 ()2
4
= .

Consider bearing stress:

=
80103 = 140 (19)(13)()2
= .