Intro to Stress – Lesson 1

We know the importance of studying solid mechanics and how a stress analysis is instrumental in understanding it. All solids react to applied forces and displacements, but this does not always lead to the development of stresses. How can we identify when stress does occur?

Consider two scenarios:

• When a mobile phone falls from your hand, no stress occurs within the phone body as it drops.

• Train tracks are stationary and yet they experience stress on a hot summer afternoon.

So, clearly, motion is not a determinant in the development of stress. The key is understanding when strain occurs in the object, which results in corresponding stresses. Let's learn about stress in this lesson.

Lecture

Alternate video link.

Handout

Here are the accompanying handout slides for the lesson.