At the end of this section you should be able to:

1. Identify assumptions, conditions and limitations to using equations for bending stress

2. Calculate normal bending stress in a beam at an arbitrary point

3. Find maximum bending stress (tensile and compressive) across span and height of beam

Normal Bending Stress explains how to compute normal stress in beams caused by bending moments, and when the classic flexure equation can be used. You will identify the key assumptions and limitations behind bending stress formulas, calculate bending stress at any point on a beam cross section (including the sign and the tension or compression side), and determine the maximum tensile and compressive bending stresses by scanning both the span location and the cross section height. The practice also includes design style checks such as finding the maximum allowable bending moment before yielding, with Mathematica code provided to support solving and verification.