Russell C.

Hibbeler

Chapter 7: Transverse Shear
Shear Stress In Beams
Objectives:
To develop a method for finding the shear stress in a
beam.
having a prismatic cross section
made from homogeneous material
behaves in a elastic manner
The shear V is the result of a
transverse shear-stress distribution
that acts over the beams cross
section.
Due to the complementary property
of shear, associated longitudinal
shear stress will also act along
longitudinal planes of the beam
( )
( ) 0 0
0
0 0
=
}
= =
}
=
=
}
= =
}
=
=
}
= =
}
=
x z xz z
x y xy y
xy xz x x x
y M dA F
dA z M V dA F
dA z y M dA F
o t
o t
t t o
Distribution of normal and shearing
stresses satisfies
Transverse loading applied to a beam
results in normal and shearing stresses in
transverse sections.
When shearing stresses are exerted on the
vertical faces of an element, equal stresses
must be exerted on the horizontal faces
Longitudinal shearing stresses must exist
in any member subjected to transverse
loading.
Physically illustrate why shear stress develops on the longitudinal planes
If the top and bottom surfaces of each
board are smooth, then the application
of the load P will cause the boards to
slide relative to one another. The beam
will deflect as shown.
The longitudinal shear stresses
between the boards will prevent the
relative sliding of the boards and
consequently the beam will act as a
single unit.
As a result of the shear stress, shear strain will be
developed and these will tend to distort the cross section!!!
When a shear V is applied, it tends to
deform the lines into the pattern
shown. This non-uniform shear-strain
distributed over the cross section will
cause the cross section to warp (not
to remain plane)
Shear Formula
The shear formula was derive by considering horizontal force equilibrium of the
longitudinal shear stress and bending stress distributions acting on a portion of a
differential segment of the beam.
Consider the shaded top segment
It
VQ
= t
= the shear stress in the member at the point located a distance y
from the NA. This stress assume to be constant .
V = the internal resultant shear force.
I = the moment of inertia of the entire cross-sectional area (about the
NA)
t = the width of the members cross-sectional area, measures at the
point where is to be determined
Q = yA, where A is the top (or bottom) portion of the members cross-
sectional area, define from the section where t is measured, and y is
the distance to the centroid of A, measured from the NA
Shear Stress in Beams
Typical shear failure
Maximum Shear Stress For A Beam With Rectangular Cross Section
( ) ( ) ( )
( )
( )
V
bc
y c
b
bh
y c
b
V
It
VQ
y c
b
y c y c b y A Q
pq
area shaded
|
|
.
|

\
|
=
|
|
.
|

\
|
(

= =
= + = =
3
2 2
3
2 2
2 2
4
3
12
2
2 2
1
' '
t
If the cross sectional area is A = b(2c),
( )
|
|
.
|

\
|
=
|
|
.
|

\
|
=
2
2
2
2 2
1
2
3
2 2
3
c
y
A
V
V
c bc
y c
pq
t
For layers, y = c:
0 1
2
3
2
2
=
|
|
.
|

\
|
=
c
c
A
V
rs
t
For layer at neutral axis, y = 0:
A
V
c A
V
NA
2
3 0
1
2
3
2
max
=
|
.
|

\
|
= = t t
A
V
2
3
max
= t
Maximum Shear Stress For A Beam With Circular Cross Section
r
t 3
4r
max
t
NA
4 64
4 4
r d
I
t t
= =
3
2
3
4
2
' '
3
2
r
r r
y A Q
=
|
.
|

\
|
|
|
.
|

\
|
=
=
t
t
( )
A
V
r
V
r
r
r
V
It
VQ
3
4
3
4
2
4
3
2
2
4
3
max
=
=
|
|
.
|

\
|
|
|
.
|

\
|
=
=
t
t
t
A
V
3
4
max
= t
Maximum Shear Stress For A Beam With Hollow Circular Cross Section
( )
4 4
4
i o
r r I =
t
( )
3 3
2
2
3
2
3
4
2 3
4
2
' '
i o
i i o o
r r
r r r r
y A Q
=
|
.
|

\
|
|
|
.
|

\
|
|
.
|

\
|
|
|
.
|

\
|
=
=
t
t
t
t
( )
( ) ( ) | |
|
|
.
|

\
|
+
+ +
=

=
=
2 2
2 2
4 4
3 3
max
3
4
2
4
3
2
i o
i i o o
i o i o
i o
r r
r r r r
A
V
r r r r
r r V
It
VQ
t
t
max
t
NA
r
r
o
i
max
t
|
|
.
|

\
|
+
+ +
=
2 2
2 2
max
3
4
i o
i i o o
r r
r r r r
A
V
t
The beam shown below is made of wood and is subjected to a resultant
internal vertical shear force of V = 3 kN. (a) Determine the shear stress in
the beam at point P, and (b) compute the maximum shear stress in the
beam.
Example 1
( ) ( )( )
3
mm . . '
4
10 75 18 100 50 50
2
1
5 12 A y Q =
(

+ = =
( )( )
4 6
3
3
mm 10 28 . 16 125 100
12
1
12
1
= = = bh I
(a) The moment of inertia of the cross sectional area
computed about the neutral axis is
Applying the shear formula, we have
( )( )
( )( )
(Ans) MPa 346 . 0
100 10 28 . 16
10 75 . 18 3
6
4
=

= =
It
VQ
p
t
(b) Maximum shear stress occurs at the neutral axis
( )( )
( )( )
(Ans) MPa 360 . 0
100 10 28 . 16
10 53 . 19 3
6
4
max
=

= =
It
VQ
t
( )( )
3 4
mm 10 53 . 19 5 . 62 100
2
2 . 65
' ' =
|
.
|

\
|
= = A y Q
Applying the shear formula yields
Example 2
The beam is fabricated from three steel plates, and it is subjected to a
shear force of V = 150 kN. Determine the shear stress at point A and C
where the plates are joined. Show y = 0.080196 m from the bottom and I
NA

= 4.8646 x 10
-6
m
4
.
y
C
= 32.3 mm

A
NA
C
B
y
B
= 42.696 mm

100 mm
10 mm
15 mm
10 mm
100 mm
10 mm
65 mm
y =80.196 mm
75 mm
The beam shown below is made from two boards. Determine the
maximum shear stress in the glue necessary to hold the boards together
along the seam where they are joined. The supports at B and C exert only
vertical reactions on the beam.
Example 3
( ) ( )
( ) ( )
m 12 . 0
15 . 0 03 . 0 0.03 0.15
075 . 0 15 . 0 03 . 0 0.165 0.03 0.15
y
=
+
+
=
( )( )
( )( )( )
( )( )
( )( )( )
4 6
2
3
2
3
10 27
12 . 0 075 . 0 15 . 0 03 . 0
12
15 . 0 03 . 0
12 . 0 165 . 0 03 . 0 15 . 0
12
03 . 0 15 . 0
m
I
NA

=
(

+ +
(

+ =
kN 5 . 19
max
= V
( )( )( )
3 3
10 2025 . 0
015 . 0 12 . 0 18 . 0 03 . 0 15 . 0
' '
m
y A Q
D

=
=
=
( )( )
( )( )
MPa 88 . 4
03 . 0 10 27
10 2025 . 0 10 5 . 19
6
3 3
=

= =

It
VQ
t
Example 4
Determine:
a. The shear stress at point B on the web of the cantilevered strut at
section a a.
b. The maximum shear stress acting at section a - a
2 kN 4 kN
Example 5
Determine the largest end forces P that the member can support if the
allowable stress is
allow
= 100 MPa. The support at A and B only exert
vertical reactions on the beam.
Example 6
The T-beam is subjected to the loading shown. Determine the maximum
shear stress in the beam at the critical section.
2008 Pearson Education South Asia Pte Ltd
Chapter 7: Transverse Shear
Mechanics of Material 7
th
Edition
Shear Flow in Built-Up Members
For fasteners it is necessary to know the shear force by the fastener
along the members length.
This loading is referred as the shear flow q, measured as a force
per unit length.
I
VQ
q =
q = shear flow
V = internal resultant shear
I = moment of inertia of the entire cross-sectional area
SHEAR FLOW IN BUILT-UP MEMBERS
Shear flow : Is a measure of the force per unit
length along a longitudinal axis of beam.
Found from shear formula and is used to
determine the shear force developed in fasteners
(nails, bolts) and glue that holds the various
segments of the beam.
The magnitude of shear flow can be obtained
using development similar to that finding the shear
stress in the beam.
In practice, members are
built from several composite
parts in order to achieve a
greater resistance to loads.
Fasteners may be
needed to keep the
component parts from
sliding relative to one
another. In order to
know the shear force
that must be resisted
by the fastener along
the members length
Three horizontal forces act on this part.
1. Two forces, F and F +dF, are developed
by normal stress caused by the moments
M and M +dM, respectively
2. For equilibrium, dF acts at the juncture and
is to be supported by the fastener.

I
dM
dF =
ydA
A
q = dF/dx and V = dM/dx
I
VQ
q
=
Shear Flow
q = the shear flow, measured as force per unit length along the beam.
V = the internal resultant shear force.
I = the moment of inertia of the entire cross-sectional area (about the NA)
Q = ydA = yA, where A is the cross-sectional area of the segment that
is connected to the beam at the juncture where the shear flow is to be
calculated, and y is the distance from the NA to the centroid of A.
I
VQ
q
=
Value of q
Single Fastener,
Fig. (a) and (b)
Two Fasteners,
Fig. (c).
Each fastener
supports q/2
Three Fasteners,
Fig. (d).
Each fastener
supports q/3
Example 7
A box is to be constructed from
four boards together as shown. If
each nail can support a shear
force of 30 N, determine the
maximum spacing S of the nails at
B and at C that the beam will
support the vertical force of 80 N.
Example 8
The beam is constructed from three
boards. Determine the maximum
shear V that it can sustain if the
allowable shear stress for the wood is

allow
= 4 MPa. What is the required
spacing S of the nails if each can
resist a shear force of 800 N.
Example 9
The strut is constructed from three
pieces of plastic that are glued
together as shown. If the allowable
shear stress for the plastic is
allow

= 8 MPa and each glue joint can
withstand 250 N/cm, determine
the largest allowable distributed
loading w that can be applied to
the strut.

If the distributed load w = 2000
N/m, determine the shear stress
that must be resisted by each glue
joint.
2008 Pearson Education South Asia Pte Ltd
Chapter 7: Transverse Shear
Mechanics of Material 7
th
Edition
Example 10
The beam is constructed from four boards glued together. If it is subjected
to a shear of V = 850 kN, determine the shear flow at B and C that must
be resisted by the glue.
( )
4 6
m 10 52 . 87

= I
m 1968 . 0
~
= =

A
A y
y
The neutral axis (centroid) will be located from the bottom of the beam,
The moment of inertia computed about the
neutral axis is thus
| |( )( ) ( )
3 3
m 10 271 . 0 01 . 0 250 . 0 1968 . 0 305 . 0 ' '

= = =
B B B
A y Q
Since the glue at B and holds the top board to the beam
2008 Pearson Education South Asia Pte Ltd
Chapter 7: Transverse Shear
Mechanics of Material 7
th
Edition
( )( )
( )( )
MN/m 0996 . 0
10 52 . 87
10 01026 . 0 850
'
MN/m 63 . 2
10 52 . 87
10 271 . 0 850
'
6
3
6
3
=

= =
=

= =

I
VQ
q
I
VQ
q
C
C
B
B
(Ans) MN/m 0498 . 0 and MN/m 31 . 1 = =
C B
q q
Likewise, the glue at C and C holds the inner board to the beam
Therefore the shear flow for BB and CC,
| |( )( ) ( )
3 3
m 10 01026 . 0 01 . 0 125 . 0 1968 . 0 205 . 0 ' '

= = =
C C C
A y Q
Since two seams are used to secure each board, the glue per meter length of
beam at each seam must be strong enough to resist one-half of each calculated
value of q.