GATE ME · SOM · Formula Sheet

Strength
of Materials

Complete theory cards aur GATE formula sheet — ek mechanical engineer ki taraf se. Sirf ratta nahi, concept samjho.

10–13%GATE Weightage
9Theory Cards
50+Key Formulas
Exam Ready
01

Stress & Strain

📐 Stress — Kya Hota Hai? HIGH PRIORITY

Jab kisi body pe external force lagta hai, toh internal resistance develop hoti hai. Yeh internal resistance per unit area hi Stress hai. Simple words mein — material ke andar kitna "khicha" hai.

Normal StressShear Stress TensileCompressive
Normal Stress (σ)
σ = P / A
P = Force (N), A = Cross-section area (m²)
Shear Stress (τ)
τ = V / A
V = Shear Force, A = Area parallel to force
Normal Strain (ε)
ε = δL / L
δL = change in length, L = original length. Dimensionless.
Shear Strain (γ)
γ = τ / G
G = Modulus of Rigidity. Angle of distortion (radians).
Thermal Stress
σ = E·α·ΔT
α = coefficient of thermal expansion, ΔT = temp change. Only when expansion is restricted.
Factor of Safety
FOS = σ_yield / σ_working
Always > 1. Static loading: 2–4. Dynamic: 6–12.
💡 IIT Tip: Thermal stress ka formula galat likhna common mistake hai — ΔT ke saath E aur α dono multiply hote hain. Units: σ in Pa (N/m²) ya MPa (N/mm²). 1 MPa = 1 N/mm².
🧠 Memory Trick: "PAL" — P over A gives Length stress. σ = P/A, ε = δL/L. Dono mein numerator "change" hai, denominator "original" hai.
02

Elastic Constants

⚙️ E, G, K, μ — Relationships HIGH PRIORITY

Yeh 4 elastic constants ek material ki stiffness aur deformation behavior define karte hain. GATE mein relationship formulas directly pooche jaate hain — har ek yaad hona chahiye.

Young's Modulus (E)
E = σ / ε
Tensile stress ÷ Tensile strain. Steel ≈ 200 GPa, Al ≈ 70 GPa.
Poisson's Ratio (μ or ν)
μ = −ε_lateral / ε_axial
Range: 0 to 0.5. Steel ≈ 0.3, Rubber ≈ 0.5, Cork ≈ 0.
Modulus of Rigidity (G)
G = E / [2(1+μ)]
Shear modulus. Steel ≈ 80 GPa.
Bulk Modulus (K)
K = E / [3(1−2μ)]
Volumetric stress ÷ Volumetric strain. When μ = 0.5, K = ∞ (incompressible).
E, G, K Relation
E = 9KG / (3K+G)
Master formula — connects all 3 moduli.
Lateral Strain
ε_lat = −μ · σ/E
Negative sign — lateral contraction when axially stretched.
⚠️ Common Mistake: Bulk modulus formula mein (1−2μ) hai, Modulus of Rigidity mein (1+μ) hai. Dono yaad karo, confuse mat ho.
💡 GATE Fact: μ kabhi 0 se kam ya 0.5 se zyada nahi ho sakta real materials ke liye. Agar problem mein μ = 0.5 diya hai, toh K → ∞ (incompressible material).
03

SFD & BMD

📊 Shear Force & Bending Moment Diagrams HIGH PRIORITY

Beam analysis ka foundation. SFD aur BMD se pata chalta hai beam ke kis hisse pe maximum stress hai. GATE mein 2-3 questions har saal aate hain — sirf cases yaad karo.

Relationship — Key Rule
dV/dx = −w(x)
w = distributed load (N/m). SFD slope = −UDL intensity.
BM-SF Relationship
dM/dx = V
BMD slope = Shear Force value at that point.
Simply Supported + Central Load
M_max = WL/4
At centre. V = ±W/2 throughout.
Simply Supported + UDL
M_max = wL²/8
At centre. Parabolic BMD. V_max = wL/2 at supports.
Cantilever + Point Load (tip)
M_max = WL
At fixed end. V = W throughout length.
Cantilever + UDL
M_max = wL²/2
At fixed end. Parabolic BMD.
💡 Golden Rule: Jahan V = 0, wahan M = maximum. Yeh ek line GATE ke 90% SFD-BMD problems solve kar deti hai.
🧠 Pattern: Point load → SFD mein jump, BMD mein kink (triangle shape). UDL → SFD linear slope, BMD parabolic. Concentrated moment → BMD mein jump.
04

Bending Stress

🏗️ Flexure Formula & Section Modulus HIGH PRIORITY

Beam bending ke waqt neutral axis ke upar compression, neeche tension hota hai (ya ulta). Yeh distribution linear hoti hai — neutral axis pe zero, extreme fibres pe maximum. Yahi Flexure Formula keh ta hai.

Bending Equation (Flexure Formula)
M/I = σ/y = E/R
M = BM, I = MI, y = dist from NA, R = radius of curvature.
Bending Stress
σ = M·y / I
Maximum at extreme fibre where y = y_max.
Section Modulus (Z)
Z = I / y_max
σ_max = M/Z. Higher Z = stronger section for same M.
Rectangular Section — I
I = bd³/12
b = width, d = depth. Z = bd²/6.
Circular Section — I
I = πd⁴/64
Z = πd³/32. Hollow: I = π(D⁴−d⁴)/64.
Radius of Curvature
R = EI / M
Larger EI = stiffer beam = larger R = less curvature.
💡 Vaibhav's Tip: I-section zyada efficient kyun hai? Kyunki zyada material extreme fibre ke paas (high y) rakhta hai — maximum Z milta hai same weight mein. Yahi real beams mein I-section use hone ki wajah hai.
05

Shear Stress in Beams

✂️ Shear Stress Distribution MEDIUM PRIORITY

Bending stress linear hoti hai, but shear stress parabolic hoti hai. Neutral axis pe shear stress maximum hota hai (bending stress = 0 wahan), extreme fibres pe zero. Yeh concept confuse karta hai beginners ko.

General Shear Stress Formula
τ = VQ / Ib
V = SF, Q = first moment of area above the point, b = width at that level.
Rectangular Section — τ_max
τ_max = 1.5 × V/A
At neutral axis. 1.5 times average shear stress.
Circular Section — τ_max
τ_max = 4V / 3A
= 4/3 × average shear stress. At neutral axis.
τ_max / τ_avg Ratios
Rect: 1.5 | Circ: 1.33
Diamond: 1.5 at NA (same as rect, but at 45° orientation check separately).
🧠 Yaad karo: "1.5 for Rectangle, 4/3 for Circle." GATE mein directly puchha jaata hai — "rectangular section mein max shear stress avg ka kitna guna?"
06

Torsion

🌀 Torsion of Circular Shafts HIGH PRIORITY

Shaft pe twisting moment (torque) lagane se shear stress develop hoti hai. Yeh Flexure formula ki tarah hi hai — bas M ki jagah T, I ki jagah J, aur σ ki jagah τ. Yeh analogy yaad raho, sab easy ho jaata hai.

Torsion Equation
T/J = τ/r = Gθ/L
T = Torque, J = Polar MI, r = radius, θ = angle of twist.
Shear Stress due to Torsion
τ_max = T·R / J
R = outer radius. Max at surface, zero at centre.
Polar MI — Solid Shaft
J = πd⁴ / 32
Note: J = 2I (for circular section). J = πR⁴/2.
Polar MI — Hollow Shaft
J = π(D⁴−d⁴) / 32
D = outer dia, d = inner dia.
Angle of Twist
θ = TL / GJ
θ in radians. GJ = torsional rigidity.
Power Transmitted
P = 2πNT / 60
P in Watts, N in RPM, T in N·m.
💡 Hollow vs Solid Shaft: Same weight mein hollow shaft zyada torque carry kar sakta hai. Why? Kyunki material outer radius ke paas hota hai jahan τ max hoti hai. Real shafts (drive shafts, axles) hollow kyun hote hain — yahi reason hai.
⚠️ Common Mistake: J = πd⁴/32 (polar), I = πd⁴/64 (planar). Dono mein difference sirf 32 vs 64 hai. Torsion mein J use karo, Bending mein I. J = 2I for circular section.
07

Beam Deflection

📉 Deflection Formulas — Standard Cases HIGH PRIORITY

GATE mein deflection formulas directly diye jaate hain ya directly pooche jaate hain. Yeh standard cases ratta maaro — derivation nahi chahiye, values yaad karo.

Beam Type Load Max Deflection (δ) Location
Cantilever Point load W at tip WL³ / 3EI At free end
Cantilever UDL w over full length wL⁴ / 8EI At free end
Simply Supported Central point load W WL³ / 48EI At centre
Simply Supported UDL w over full length 5wL⁴ / 384EI At centre
Fixed Both Ends Central point load W WL³ / 192EI At centre
🧠 Shortcut: Cantilever point load = WL³/3EI. Simply supported central = WL³/48EI. Ratio = 48/3 = 16. Simply supported is 16 times stiffer than cantilever. Interview mein poochha jaata hai yeh!
δ → m or mm E → N/m² or MPa I → m⁴ or mm⁴ W → N L → m or mm
08

Columns & Buckling

🏛️ Euler's Buckling — End Conditions MEDIUM PRIORITY

Lambi aur patli column pe compressive load lagate hain toh woh suddenly side mein mur jaati hai — yahi buckling hai. Euler ka formula critical load deta hai. End conditions se effective length badalta hai — yeh GATE ka favourite topic hai.

Euler's Critical Load
P_cr = π²EI / L_e²
L_e = effective length. Buckling tab hoga jab P ≥ P_cr.
Both Ends Pinned
L_e = L
Standard case. P_cr = π²EI/L².
Both Ends Fixed
L_e = L/2
Strongest case. P_cr = 4π²EI/L² (4× pinned-pinned).
One Fixed, One Free
L_e = 2L
Weakest case. P_cr = π²EI/4L² (1/4× pinned-pinned).
One Fixed, One Pinned
L_e = 0.7L
P_cr = 2π²EI/L² (approx 2× pinned-pinned).
Slenderness Ratio
λ = L_e / k
k = √(I/A) = radius of gyration. Long column: λ > 120.
💡 GATE Pattern: "Column A ka critical load kya hai agar end conditions change ho?" — Directly effective length formula se karo. Both fixed = 4× stronger. One fixed free = 4× weaker. Yeh ratio yaad karo.
09

Strain Energy

Resilience, Toughness & Energy Methods MEDIUM PRIORITY

Jab material deform hota hai, energy store hoti hai usmein — yahi strain energy hai. Ye concept springs, impact loading, aur Castigliano's theorem mein use hoti hai.

Strain Energy (Axial)
U = σ²V / 2E
= P²L / 2AE. V = volume, A = area, L = length.
Modulus of Resilience
u_r = σ_y² / 2E
Energy per unit volume upto elastic limit. Springs chahiye? High resilience material lao.
Strain Energy in Bending
U = ∫M²dx / 2EI
Integrate over full beam length.
Strain Energy in Torsion
U = T²L / 2GJ
Compare with axial: P²L/2AE. Same structure!
Castigliano's Theorem
δ = ∂U / ∂P
Deflection = partial derivative of strain energy w.r.t. that load.
Modulus of Toughness
u_t = area under σ-ε curve
Total energy per unit volume upto fracture. Toughness ≠ Hardness.
🧠 Resilience vs Toughness: Resilience = energy stored elastically (springs need this). Toughness = total energy before fracture (impact tools need this). High hardness ≠ High toughness — yeh GATE mein puchha jaata hai.

GATE Quick Reference Sheet

SOM — ONE PAGE REVISION
// Print karo, wall pe lagao, exam se 1 din pehle dekho
Normal Stress
σ = P/A
Normal Strain
ε = δL/L
Young's Modulus
E = σ/ε
Shear Modulus
G = E/2(1+μ)
Bulk Modulus
K = E/3(1-2μ)
E, G, K Link
E = 9KG/(3K+G)
Thermal Stress
σ = EαΔT
Flexure Formula
M/I = σ/y = E/R
Section Modulus
Z = I/y_max
Rect MI (bending)
I = bd³/12
Circ MI (bending)
I = πd⁴/64
Polar MI (torsion)
J = πd⁴/32
Torsion Equation
T/J = τ/r = Gθ/L
Angle of Twist
θ = TL/GJ
Power & Torque
P = 2πNT/60
τ_max (Rectangle)
τ = 1.5 × V/A
τ_max (Circle)
τ = 4V/3A
SS + Central Load
δ = WL³/48EI
Cantilever + Load
δ = WL³/3EI
SS + UDL
δ = 5wL⁴/384EI
Euler Critical Load
P_cr = π²EI/Le²
Slenderness Ratio
λ = Le/k
Strain Energy
U = σ²V/2E
Resilience
u_r = σ_y²/2E
STANDARD VALUES — YAAD KARO
// GATE mein directly diye nahi jaate, yaad hone chahiye
MaterialE (GPa)G (GPa)μα (×10⁻⁶/°C)
Mild Steel200–210800.28–0.3012
Aluminium70260.3323
Copper120450.3417
Cast Iron100–17040–700.2610–12
Rubber~0.001–0.01~0.5