Step 1: Understanding the Strength of a Beam
The strength of a beam in bending is often characterized by the bending stress, which is calculated as:
\[
\sigma = \frac{M}{S}
\]
where \( M \) is the bending moment and \( S \) is the section modulus. The section modulus is a property of the beam's cross-sectional shape that determines the beam's resistance to bending.
Step 2: Flexural Strength Consideration
The strength of a beam under bending is influenced by how well the material resists bending stress. The section modulus \( S \) plays a critical role in this, as a larger section modulus allows the beam to resist greater moments before failing.
Step 3: Conclusion
The strongest beam is thus one that has the maximum section modulus, as this allows it to resist higher bending moments without failure.