A 4 by 8 wood beam (E = 2,000 ksi, finished dimensions = 3.5 in. by 7.25 in.) is reinforced by two steel 0.25-in.-thick side plates (E = 30,000 ksi) as shown.
The allowable stress in the wood is 1,200 psi and the allowable stress in the steel is 24,000 psi.
The composite cross section is to be used as a simply supported beam spanning 12 feet.
Determine the maximum uniformly distributed load w that can be carried by the beam without exceeding the allowable stresses in either the wood or the steel.