Final answer:
False. Eccentrically loaded members experience non-uniform and asymmetric stress distributions, with tensile stress on one side and compressive stress on the other due to bending.
Step-by-step explanation:
The stress distribution in eccentrically loaded members is not uniform or symmetric. In these members, the load does not pass through the centroid of the cross-section, creating a moment and causing bending. This bending produces tensile stress on one side of the member and compressive stress on the other, as exemplified by a sagging shelf loaded with heavy books. Consequently, the stress distribution across the cross-section of an eccentrically loaded member varies, with the maximum stress occurring at the extreme fibers farthest from the neutral axis where bending occurs. In contrast, when a member is loaded centrally, or concentrically, the stress distribution tends to be more uniform, assuming the cross-sectional geometry is also uniform.
When an object is subjected to a bending moment, like in eccentric loading, the stress on the object is not distributed evenly. In the upper section of the object, there is tensile stress (stretching), while in the lower section, there is compressive stress (compressing). This creates an uneven and asymmetric stress distribution.