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Bending Stress Calculator

Construction & Home Improvement

Calculate the maximum bending stress in a rectangular or circular beam cross-section from an applied bending moment.

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1 lb-ft1,000,000 lb-ft
0.1 in60 in
0.1 in60 in
0.1 in60 in

Maximum Bending Stress

1,125.0

Maximum bending stress at the outer fiber of the section.

Section Modulus (S)

21.333

Moment of inertia divided by the distance to the outer fiber.

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Odeh Ahwal

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Odeh Ahwal
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Frequently Asked Questions

What is the bending stress formula?

Bending stress equals the bending moment times the distance from the neutral axis to the outer fiber, divided by the area moment of inertia: sigma equals M c over I. This is the standard flexure formula from mechanics of materials.

What is section modulus?

Section modulus, S, equals the moment of inertia divided by the distance to the outer fiber, I over c. It combines both terms into a single property so bending stress can be written more simply as moment divided by section modulus.

How do I know if this stress is safe for my material?

Compare the calculated bending stress to the allowable bending stress for your specific material and grade, for example the Fb value for a wood species and grade, or the yield strength divided by a safety factor for steel. This calculator only computes the applied stress, not whether it is within a safe limit for your material.

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