Strength of Material (CENG 2101)

Chapter 5
Shear Stress in beams

Instructor:
Sophonyas Asrat ([Link].)

AAiT, Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering

1
 Outline

• Introduction

• Shear Stress Formula

• Shear flow

• Shear stress distribution of rectangular section

• Shear Center

2
 Introduction
In a beam section there are three internal forces i.e., axial force,
shear force and bending moment. When a beam is in pure
bending the only stresses that occur are normal stress due to
bending moment. However, most beams are subjected to
loading that produce both bending moment and shearing force.

Mostly, the loads applied to a beam are perpendicular to the axis

of the beam and will only cause shear force and bending
moment, but when the loads are not perpendicular to the beam
axis they will produce axial force in the beam.
3
 Introduction (Cont . . . )
The existence of shear stresses in a beam can be demonstrated
by a simple experiment. Place two identical rectangular beams
on simple and load by a force P.

If we assume the friction between them to be very small, the

beams will bend independently. And each beam will be under
tension and compression, below and above its own neutral axis,
respectively.
4
 Introduction (Cont . . . )
Now suppose that the two beams are glued along the contact
surface, so that they become a single solid beam. When this
beam is loaded, horizontal shear stresses must develop along
the glued surface in order to prevent the sliding.

Because of the presence of these shear stresses, the single solid

beam is much stiffer and stronger than the two separate beams.
5
 Question 1
A 250 mm long segment of beam having the T - Cross section as
shown in the figure below, is subjected to a moment of +8.0kNm
at the left and a constant shear force of +4.0kN. Determine the
average shear stress on a horizontal plane 120mm above the
bottom of the beam. (Assume: elastic action)

6
Question 1 (Cont . . . )

7
 Shear Stress Formula
The derivation of Shear stress formula involves the elastic flexure
formula; therefore, it is limited to elastic action and is subjected to
the same basic assumptions and limitations for pure bending.

In the derivation of shear stress formula, it is easier to evaluate the

horizontal shear stresses between layers of the beam than
evaluating the vertical shearing stresses acting on a cross-section.

As discussed in Chapter 2, shearing stresses on mutually

perpendicular planes of an infinitesimal element are numerically
equal.
8
Shear Stress Formula (Cont . . . )

9
 Shear Stress Formula (Cont . . . )
Let us consider a beam in non-uniform bending. We take
adjacent sections ba & cd at a distance dz apart.

10
Shear Stress Formula (Cont . . . )
𝑉𝐻 = 𝐹2 − 𝐹1

𝐹1 = 𝜎1 𝑑𝐴 𝑎𝑛𝑑 𝐹2 = 𝜎2 𝑑𝐴
𝐴 𝐴

𝑀∗𝑦 (𝑀 + 𝑑𝑀) ∗ 𝑦
𝜎1 = 𝑎𝑛𝑑 𝜎2 =
𝐼 𝐼

(𝑀 + 𝑑𝑀) ∗ 𝑦 𝑀∗𝑦
𝑉𝐻 = − 𝑑𝐴
𝐴 𝐼 𝐴 𝐼

𝑑𝑀
𝑉𝐻 = 𝑦 𝑑𝐴
𝐼 𝐴
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 Shear Stress Formula (Cont . . . )
If the shear stresses  are uniformly distributed across the width
b of the beam, the force VH is also equal to the following:
𝑉𝐻 = 𝜏 ∗ 𝑡 ∗ 𝑑𝑧
𝑑𝑀
Therefore, 𝑉𝐻 = 𝐴
𝑦 𝑑𝐴 = 𝜏 ∗ 𝑡 ∗ 𝑑𝑧
𝐼

𝑑𝑀 1
𝜏= 𝑦 𝑑𝐴
𝑑𝑍 𝐼𝑡 𝐴

𝑑𝑀 𝑉∗𝑄
𝑉= 𝑎𝑛𝑑 𝑄 = 𝑦 𝑑𝐴 , ⇒ 𝜏=
𝑑𝑍 𝐴 𝐼∗𝑡

12
 Shear Stress Formula (Cont . . . )
This equation is called shear formula. Note that for a specific
rectangular cross section, the shear force V, moment of inertia I,
and width b are constants. However, the first moment Q (and
hence the shear stress ) varies with the distance y1from the
neutral axis.

The integral ydA for determining Q is bounded by the cross-

sectional area in which the normal stresses on the cross-section
to be resisted by the surface by shearing effect.

13
 Question 2
Solve Question no 1 using Shear Stress Formula.

14
 Question 3
A rectangular beam 100mm wide and 250mm deep is subjected to
a loading as shown below:
Determine the following at point C:
a) The average shear stress
b) The maximum shear stress
c) The shear stress at a distance of 25 mm above the neutral axis.
d) Draw the shear stress distribution over the depth of the section.

15
Question 3

16
 Shear flow
Let us now define a new quantity called the shear flow (q).
Shear flow is the horizontal shear force per unit distance along
the longitudinal axis of the beam. As discussed in the previous
section the shear force 𝑉𝐻 acts along the distance dz, from this
the shear force per unit distance dz is equal to 𝑉𝐻 divided by dz;
thus,

𝑉𝐻
𝑞=
𝑑𝑍

17
 Shear flow (Cont . . . )
If the shear stresses on plane pq are uniformly distributed, the
shear flow (q) will be equal to the product of the shear stress
and the thickness (t).

𝑉𝑄
𝑞 =𝜏∗𝑡 =
𝐼

If a beam is made of two or more pieces of materials, we call it

built-up beam.
In the design of built up beams we have two phases.

18
 Shear flow (Cont . . . )
In the first phase, the beam is designed as though it is made of
one piece, taking into account both bending and shear stress.

In the second phase, to ensure that the beam acts

monolithically, the connections between the parts (such as nails,
bolts, welds, and glue) are designed.

Therefore, the connections must be strong enough to transmit

the horizontal shear forces acting between the parts of the
beam.
To obtain this force we make use of the concept shear flow.
19
 Question 4
A Wooden box beam shown below is constructed of two boards,
each 40mm X 180mm in cross-section, that serve as flanges and
two plywood webs, each 15mm thick. The total height of the beam
is 280mm. The plywood is fastened to the flanges by wood screws
having an allowable load in shear of F = 800kN, each.
If the shear force V acting on the cross-section is 10.5kN,
determined the maximum permissible longitudinal spacing S of the
screw, as shown below.

21
Question 4

22
 Shear stress distribution
The shear stress distribution on a beam cross-section varies
along a line perpendicular to the neutral axis.
In the figure shown below a rectangular section of beam of
width b and depth d. Let V is the shear force acting at the
section. Consider a level EF at a distance y from the neutral axis.
The shear stress at this level is given by:

𝑉∗𝑄
𝜏=
𝐼∗𝑏
𝑑
2
Where 𝑄 = 𝐴𝑦 = 𝑦
𝑦𝑑𝐴
23
 Shear stress distribution (Cont . . . )
The first moment of area the shaded area about the neutral axis
is calculated as follows:

𝑄 = 𝐴𝑦
A = is the area of the section above y i. e. , shaded area ABFE
d
= −y xb
2
𝑦 = 𝑖𝑠 𝑡ℎ𝑒 𝑑𝑖𝑠𝑡𝑎𝑛𝑐𝑒 𝑜𝑓 𝑡ℎ𝑒 𝐶. 𝐺 𝑜𝑓 𝑡ℎ𝑒 𝑎𝑟𝑒𝑎 𝐴 𝑓𝑟𝑜𝑚 𝑡ℎ𝑒 𝑛𝑒𝑢𝑡𝑟𝑎𝑙 𝑎𝑥𝑖𝑠:
1 𝑑 1 𝑑
=> 𝑦 = 𝑦 + −𝑦 = +𝑦
2 2 2 2
2
d 1 𝑑 b d
=> 𝑄 = −y ∗ b ∗ +𝑦 = ∗ − y2
2 2 2 2 2
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 Shear stress distribution (Cont . . . )
OR
𝑑
2
𝑄= 𝑦
𝑦𝑑𝐴
𝑑 𝑑 𝑑 𝑑
2 2 2 𝑦2
𝑄= 𝑦𝑑𝐴 = 𝑦 ∗ 𝑏 ∗ 𝑑𝑦 = 𝑏 ∗ 𝑦 ∗ 𝑑𝑦 = 𝑏 ∗ 2
𝑦 𝑦 𝑦 2
𝑦
𝑏 𝑑2
= ∗ − 𝑦2
2 4

Therefore,
2
b d
𝑉∗ ∗ − y2
2 2 𝑉 d2
𝜏= = ∗ − y2
𝐼∗𝑏 2𝐼 4

25
 Shear stress distribution (Cont . . . )

𝑉 2 𝑑
𝜏 𝑎𝑡 𝑦 = 0 = 𝜏𝑚𝑎𝑥 = 𝑑 𝜏 𝑎𝑡 𝑦 = = 𝜏𝑚𝑖𝑛 = 0
8𝐼 2

26
 Shear stress distribution (Cont . . . )
In I-section, there is both horizontal and vertical shear stress.
• the vertical shear stress in the flanges is very small, and
• the horizontal shear force is zero in the web, like in the case of
rectangular section.

Vertical shear stress distribution

27
Shear stress distribution (Cont . . . )

28
 Shear stress distribution (Cont . . . )
The vertical shear stress in the flange:
It is determined using the equation of a
rectangular section.

𝑽 𝑫𝟐
𝝉= ∗ − 𝒚𝟐
𝟐𝑰 𝟒

This implies the shear stress

In the upper edge, where y = D/2, 
= 0
In the lower end of the flange:
𝑽
𝝉= ∗ 𝑫𝟐 − 𝒅𝟐
𝟖𝑰
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 Shear stress distribution (Cont . . . )
The vertical shear stress in the web:
Here the first moment of area (Q.) is
made up of two parts i.e., moment of
the flange area about the neutral axis
plus moment of the shaded area of the
web about the neutral axis.
Moment of the flange about the neutral axis:
𝐷 𝑑 1 𝐷 𝑑
= 𝐵∗ − ∗ ∗ +
2 2 2 2 2
𝐵
= ∗ (𝐷2 − 𝑑2 )
8
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 Shear stress distribution (Cont . . . )

Moment of the shaded area of the web about the neutral

𝑑 1 𝑑 𝑏 𝑑2
= 𝑏∗ −𝑦 ∗ ∗ + 𝑦 = ∗ ( − 𝑦2)
2 2 2 2 4

2
𝐵 𝑏 𝑑
𝑄 = 𝐴𝑦 = ∗ 𝐷2 − 𝑑2 + ∗ ( − 𝑦 2 )
8 2 4
Therefore,
2
𝑉∗𝑄 𝑉 𝐵 𝑏 𝑑
𝜏= = ∗ 𝐷2 − 𝑑2 + ∗ ( − 𝑦 2 )
𝐼∗𝑏 𝐼∗𝑏 8 2 4

31
 Shear stress distribution (Cont . . . )
At the neutral axis, y = 0 and hence the shear stress is maximum
𝑉 𝐵 𝑏𝑑 2
𝜏𝑚𝑎𝑥 = ∗ 𝐷2 − 𝑑2 +
𝐼∗𝑏 8 8
At the junction of the web and the bottom flange, y = d/2
2 2
𝑉 𝐵 𝑏 𝑑 𝑑
𝜏= ∗ 𝐷2 − 𝑑2 + ∗ ( − )
𝐼∗𝑏 8 2 4 4
𝑉 ∗ 𝐵 ∗ 𝐷2 − 𝑑2 𝑉 𝐵
= = ∗ ∗ D2 − d2
8𝐼 ∗ 𝑏 8𝐼 𝑏
Therefore, the shear stress at the junction of the flange and the
web changes abruptly from:
𝑉 𝑉 𝐵
∗ D2 − d2 to ∗ ∗ D2 − d2
8𝐼 8𝐼 𝑏
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 Shear stress distribution (Cont . . . )

The horizontal shear stress

distribution in the flanges of the
I-section can be obtained from:

𝑉∗𝑄
𝜏=
𝐼∗𝑡

33
 Question 5
The shear force acting on a section of a beam is 50kN. The section
of a beam is of T-shaped of dimension 100 mm X 100 mm X 20 mm
as shown in the figure below.
Calculate the shear stress at the specific points and show the shear
stress distribution
i) Vertical shear stress at
a) the junction of the web and flange.
b) the neutral axis.
ii) The horizontal shear stress at the mid-point of the flange.

34
Question 5 (Cont . . .)

35
 Shear Center
Bending axis is the longitudinal axis through which transverse
loads causing bending should pass, such that there is only
bending and no twisting.

The point of intersection of the bending axis with the transverse

cross-section of the beam is known as Shear Center.

Section composed of thin parts, e.g. I-section, channel section,

etc. are quite strong in bending but weak in torsion.

36
 Shear Center (Cont . . . )
Shear center and the centroid lies on the axis of symmetry, if it exists.

On a doubly symmetric cross-section the shear center S and the

centroid C coincide. And a load passing through the centroid produces
bending about x and y axes without torsion.

On a singly symmetric cross-section both the centroid and the shear

center do not coincide but lie on the axis of symmetry. And a load
passing through the centroid will produce torsion about the shear
center in addition to the bending.

37
 Question 6
Find the shear center of the thin walled section

38
 Question 6 (Cont . . .)
To counter act the couple caused by the force (H) in the flange, the
load , P must act at a distance e from the center of the web such
that Pe = Hh
The resultant force H are equal to the average flange shear stress
times the flange area.

1
𝐻 = ∗ 𝑚𝑎𝑥 ∗ 𝑏 ∗ 𝑡𝑓
2

39
 Question 6 (Cont . . .)
𝑉 ∗ 𝑄
=
𝐼 ∗ 𝑏
1
𝑄𝑚𝑎𝑥 = 𝐴 ∗ 𝑦 = 𝑏 ∗ 𝑡𝑓 ∗ ∗ℎ
2

𝑉 ∗ 𝑄 𝑉 1 𝑉∗𝑏∗ℎ
𝑚𝑎𝑥 = = ∗ ∗ 𝑏 ∗ 𝑡𝑓 ∗ ℎ =
𝐼 ∗ 𝑏 𝐼 ∗ 𝑡𝑓 2 2∗𝐼

1 𝑉∗𝑏∗ℎ
𝑎𝑣 = 𝑚𝑎𝑥 =
2 4∗𝐼

1 𝑉∗𝑏∗ℎ
𝐻 = ∗ 𝑚𝑎𝑥 ∗ 𝑏 ∗ 𝑡𝑓 = 𝑎𝑣 ∗ 𝑏 ∗ 𝑡𝑓 = ∗ 𝑏 ∗ 𝑡𝑓
2 4∗𝐼
40
 Question 6 (Cont . . .)
𝑉
𝐻 = ∗ 𝑏 2 ∗ ℎ ∗ 𝑡𝑓
4∗𝐼
P*e = H*h

𝑉 2∗ℎ∗𝑡 ∗ℎ
𝐻∗ℎ 𝐻∗ℎ ∗ 𝑏 𝑓
=> 𝑒 = = = 4 ∗ 𝐼
𝑃 𝑉 𝑉
Therefore,
𝑏 2 ∗ ℎ2 ∗ 𝑡𝑓
𝑒=
4∗𝐼

41