Where is the maximum stress likely to occur in a cantilevered beam?

In a cantilevered beam subjected to a load, the distribution of stress is influenced by the way the beam is supported and the points where loads are applied. The maximum stress is typically found at the fixed end of the beam.

When a load is applied to the free end of a cantilevered beam, it causes bending. At the support (the fixed end), the bending moment is highest, which results in the maximum tensile stress on one side and compressive stress on the opposite side. In the case of a cantilevered beam, the top side experiences compression, while the bottom side experiences tension.

At the fixed support (x = 0), the maximum tensile stress occurs at the bottom of the cantilever. This is where the material is most likely to yield under load if it exceeds the material’s yield strength. As you move away from the support towards the free end (x = l), the bending moment decreases, leading to lower stresses throughout the beam.

Therefore, the correct answer reflects that the maximum tensile stress indeed occurs at the bottom of the cantilevered beam at the fixed end, where the overall bending moment reaches its peak intensity.