Neutral Axis and Neutral Plane:

We have seen in the previous section that almost all fibres have changed their lengths, due to bending of the beam. Some layers have elongated and some layers have compressed. In between the top and bottom layers of the beam, there is a layer of fibres which are neither elongated nor compressed. In this layer Fibres are not stressed at all. This layer is called the neutral layer or neutral plane. The line of intersection of neutral plane on the cross-section is said the neutral axis.