What is the neutral axis for a rectangular beam with depth 'b'?

[Iclaudius]

Hello friends,

a question about the engineers bending equation,

M/I = E/R = (sigma)/y

so take for example a beam with a rectangular cross section with depth 'b'.
Will y then equal b/2 ? As y is measured from the neutral axis?

Thank you in advance for your time,
Claudius

 

[Mech_Engineer]

Yes, for a rectangular cross-section the neutral axis is centered in the beam. For non-symmetric cross sections such as a T-beam, it will be located at an area-weighted average of the cross-section.