A straight strut of circular cross - section and of length has pinned ends with compressive load P applied at the ends. It is loaded at the centre with a load W acling at right angles to its axis a) Derive a formulars for the central deflection and hence show that the maximum bending moment is given by
max = W/2uarr (/2)
where = √P/ I
and is the nexural stiffiness of the strut