# Section modulus: Definition, Formula, Types, Units [with Pdf]

Contents

## What is section modulus?

Section modulus is the property of the cross-section that is used while the design of beams.

The section modulus is classified into two types:-

1] Elastic section modulus:- The elastic section modulus is applicable up to the yield point of material.

It is used in most engineering applications.

2] Plastic section modulus:- The plastic section modulus is generally used for material in which plastic behavior is observed.

Let’s know about each of them in detail.

## Elastic section modulus:

Elastic section modulus is the ratio of moment of inertia about a neutral axis(I_{N.A.}) and the maximum distance between the neutral axis and outermost fiber of beam (Y_{max}).

Elastic section modulus equation:-

The formula of elastic section modulus is given by,

S = \frac{I_{N.A.}}{Y_{max}}

Where,
I = Moment of inertia (m^{4})
Y = Distance between neutral axes and outermost fiber (m)

Steps to calculate elastic section modulus:-

• Step 1:- Find location of centroid of given cross section.
• Step 2:- Find moment of inertia about neutral axis (I_{NA})
• Step 3:- Find Y_{max} from neutral axis.
• Step 4:- Find elastic section modulus using the formula provided above.

Elastic section modulus of different sections:-

1] Elastic section modulus of circle:-

The moment of inertia about Neutral axes for a circular section is,

I_{N.A.}=\frac{\pi D^{4}}{64}

The Y_{max} is given by,

Y_{max}=\frac{D}{2}

The elastic section modulus for circular section is,

S = \frac{I_{NA}}{Y_{max}}=\frac{\frac{\pi.D^{4}}{64}}{\frac{D}{2}}=\frac{\pi.D^{3}}{32}

S_{\text{Circle}} =\frac{\pi.D^{3}}{32}

2] Elastic section modulus of rectangular section:-

The moment of inertia about N.A. is given by,

I_{NA} =\frac{bd^{3}}{12}

The Y_{max} is given by,

Y_{max} =\frac{d}{2}

The elasic section modulus for rectangular section is given by,

S = \frac{I_{NA}}{Y_{max}}=\frac{\frac{bd^{3} }{12}}{\frac{d}{2}}=\frac{bd^{2}}{6}

S = \frac{bd^{2}}{6}

3] Elastic section modulus of hollow rectangle:-

The Moment of inertia about a neutral axis is given by,

I_{NA} =\frac{BD^{3}}{12}-\frac{bd^{3}}{12}

The Y_{max} is given by,

Y_{max} =\frac{D}{2}

The elastic section modulus for hollow rectangle is given by,

S = \frac{I_{NA}}{Y_{max}}=\frac{\frac{BD^{3} }{12}-\frac{bd^{3} }{12}}{\frac{D}{2}}

S =\frac{BD^{2}}{6}-\frac{bd^{3}}{6D}

S_{\text{Hollow rectangle}} = \frac{BD^{2}}{6}-\frac{bd^{3}}{6D}

4] Elastic section modulus of square tube:-

The moment of inertia about the neutral axis is given by,

I_{N.A.}=\frac{a^{4}}{12}-\frac{(a-2t)^{4}}{12}

Y_{max} is given by,

Y_{max} = \frac{a}{2}

Now the section modulus for square tube is given by,

S =\frac{I_{N.A.}}{Y_{max}}=\frac{\frac{a^{4}}{12}-\frac{(a-2t)^4}{12}}{\frac{a}{2}}

S_{\text{Square tube}} = \frac{a^{3}}{6}-\frac{(a-2t)^{4}}{6a}

## Plastic section modulus:

The plastic section modulus is necessary to calculate plastic moment capacity of the section.

The plastic section modulus is the addition of moment of area of area under compression about PNA (plastic neutral axis) and the moment of area of area under tensile stress.

Plastic section modulus equation:

For the above cross-section, the plastic section modulus is given by,

Z_{P}=\sum A_{C}Y_{C}+\sum A_{T}Y_{T}

Where,
A_{C} = Area of cross-section under compression.
A_{T} = Area of cross-section under tension.
Y_{C} = Distance from PNA to CG of the areas under compression.
Y_{T} = Distance from PND to CG of areas under tension.

Steps to calculate plastic section modulus:

Step 1] Locate the plastic neutral axis.

At the neutral axis, the Area under compression is equal to the area under tension.

A_{C} = A_{T}

By using this relation, we can find the position of the plastic neutral axis.

Step 2] Find the summation of the product of area of section undergoing compression and the distance of its CG from PNA that is \sum A_{C}Y_{C}.

Step 3] Find the summation of the product of the area of cross-section undergoing tension and distance between CG of that area from PNA that is \sum A_{T}Y_{T}.

Step 4] Find the plastic section modulus using the formula.

Plastic section modulus of different sections:

1] Plastic section modulus of circle:-

For circular section, the plastic neutral axis passes through the center of circle that divides A_{C} and A_{T}.

The areas are given by,

A_{C}=A_{T}=\frac{\pi d^{2}}{8}

and Y_{C}=Y_{t}=\frac{2d}{3\pi }

\sum A_{C}Y_{C}=\frac{\pi d^{2}}{8}\times (\frac{2d}{3\pi })=\frac{d^{3}}{12}

\sum A_{T}Y_{T}=\frac{\pi d^{2}}{8}\times (\frac{2d}{3\pi })=\frac{d^{3}}{12}

The plastic section modulus for a circular section is given by,

Z_{p} = \sum A_{C}Y_{C} + \sum A_{T}Y_{T}

Z_{p} = \frac{d^{3}}{12} + \frac{d^{3}}{12}

Z_{p} = \frac{d^{3}}{6}

2] Plastic section modulus of rectangle:-

For the rectangular section, the plastic neutral axis passes through the center of height of cross-section.

Therefore,

A_{c} = \frac{bd}{2}

A_{T} = \frac{bd}{2}

and Y_{c} = Y_{t} = \frac{d}{4}

Now \sum A_{C}Y_{C} = \frac{bd}{2} \times \frac{d}{4} = \frac{bd^{2}}{8}

and \sum A_{T}Y_{T} = \frac{bd}{2} \times \frac{d}{4} = \frac{bd^{2}}{8}

The plastic section modulus for the rectangular section is given by,

Z_{P} = \sum A_{C}Y_{C}+\sum A_{T}Y_{T}

Z_{P} = \frac{bd^{2}}{8}+\frac{bd^{2}}{8}

Z_{P} = \frac{bd^{2}}{4}

## Section modulus units

The unit for section modulus is the same for the plastic section modulus and for elastic section modulus.

The unit of section modulus is given by,

Z_{e} = \frac{I}{Y_{max}} = \frac{m^{4}}{m} = m^{3}

In the SI system, the unit of section modulus is . In the FPS system, the unit of section modulus is ft³.