Question: Two steel bars A and B support a load P, as shown. Bar A has an area of 580 mm2 and bar B has an area of 700 mm2. The yield stress is 275 MPa. Both bars elongate equally at point O. Neglect the slope of the bars
a. Assume an allowable stress of 185 MPa and determine the allowable load using an elastic design approach.
b. Assume a factor of safety of 1.80 and determine the allowable load using an ultimate strength design approach.