A simple beam of span length 3.2 m carries a uniform load of intensity 48 kN/m. The cross section of the beam is a hollow box with wood flanges and steel side plates, as shown in the figure. The wood flanges are 75 mm by 100 mm in cross section, and the steel plates are 300 mm deep.
What is the required thickness t of the steel plates if the allowable stresses are 120 MPa for the steel and 6.5 MPa for the wood? (Assume that the moduli of elasticity for the steel and wood are 210 GPa and 10 GPa, respectively, and disregard the weight of the beam.)
