ME 222 Mechanics of Deformable Solids

Lecture 23

Transverse Shear Stress in Beams

Department of Mechanical Engineering - A. Loos

ME 222 Mechanics of Deformable Solids

Introduction
Transverse loading applied to a beam results in normal and shearing stresses
in any given transverse section of the beam:
- Normal stress created by the bending couple M
- Shearing stresses created by shear V
Internal normal and shearing forces exerted on a given transverse section of
a prismatic beam with a vertical plane of symmetry are equivalent to the
bending couple M and the shear force V.

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ME 222 Mechanics of Deformable Solids

Introduction
Distribution of normal and shearing stresses satisfies the six
equilibrium equations:
Fx x dA 0
Fy xy dA V
Fz xz dA 0

M x y xz z xy dA 0
M y z x dA 0
M z y x M

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ME 222 Mechanics of Deformable Solids

Introduction
Consider a small cubic element located in
the vertical plane of symmetry of the beam
(xz =0).
Examine the stresses on the faces of the
cube
On each of the two faces perpendicular to
the x axis
Normal stress x
Shearing stress xy

When shearing stresses, xy are exerted on

the vertical faces of an element, equal
stresses yx must be exerted on the
horizontal faces
Longitudinal shearing stresses must exist
in any member subjected to transverse
loading.
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ME 222 Mechanics of Deformable Solids

Shear on the Horizontal Face of a Beam Element
Consider prismatic beam AB
with a vertical plane of
symmetry that supports
various concentrated and
distributed loads.
At a distance x from end A,
detach an element CDDC
of length x extending
across the width of the beam
from the upper surface of the
beam to a horizontal plane
located at a distance y1 from
the neutral axis.
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ME 222 Mechanics of Deformable Solids

Shear on the Horizontal Face of a Beam Element
For equilibrium of beam element
Fx 0 : H C D dA 0
a

where the integral extends over

the shaded area a of the section
located above the line y y1.
My
I
M MC
H D
I

The forces exerted on the element:

Vertical shearing forces, VC and VD
Horizontal shearing force H exerted
on the lower face of element
Horizontal normal forces CdA and
DdA
Possible load wx

Note,
Q ydA

ydA
a

M D MC

dM
x Vx
dx

Substituting,
VQ
H
x
I
Department of Mechanical Engineering - A. Loos

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ME 222 Mechanics of Deformable Solids

Shear on the Horizontal Face of a Beam Element

Shear flow (horizontal shear per unit

length),
H VQ
q

shear flow
x
I
where
Q ydA
a

the first moment with respect to

the neutral axis of the portion of the
cross section located either above or
below the point at which q is being
computed
I

2
y
dA

a a

second moment of the full cross section

(centroidal moment of inertia of the
entire cross - sectional area)

Department of Mechanical Engineering - A. Loos

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ME 222 Mechanics of Deformable Solids

Shear on the Horizontal Face of a Beam Element
Same result found for lower area
CDDC

H VQ

q
x
I
Q Q 0
first moment with respect
to neutral axis
H H
q

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ME 222 Mechanics of Deformable Solids

Example 6.01
SOLUTION:
Determine the horizontal force per
unit length or shear flow q on the
lower surface of the upper plank.
Calculate the corresponding shear
force in each nail.

A beam is made of three planks,

nailed together. Knowing that the
spacing between nails is 25 mm and
that the vertical shear in the beam is
V = 500 N, determine the shear force
in each nail.

Department of Mechanical Engineering - A. Loos

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ME 222 Mechanics of Deformable Solids

Example 6.01
SOLUTION:
Determine the horizontal force per
unit length or shear flow q on the
lower surface of the upper plank.

Q Ay
0.020 m 0.100 m 0.060 m
120 106 m3
I

1 0.020 m 0.100 m 3
12
1 0.100 m 0.020 m 3
2[12

0.020 m 0.100 m 0.060 m 2 ]

16.20 106 m 4

VQ (500 N)(120 106 m3 )

q

I
16.20 10-6 m 4
3704 N
m

Calculate the corresponding shear

force in each nail for a nail spacing of
25 mm.
F (0.025 m)q (0.025 m)(3704 N m
F 92.6 N

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ME 222 Mechanics of Deformable Solids

Determination of the Shearing Stress in a Beam
The average shearing stress on the horizontal
face of the element is obtained by dividing the
shearing force on the element by the area of
the face.

yx ave ave HA qAx VQI txx

ave
y
z

VQ
It

If the width of the beam is comparable or

large relative to its depth, the shearing stresses
at D1 and D2 are significantly higher than at
D.
Shear stress distribution along D1D2
xy exerted on the transverse plane
yx exerted on the horizontal plane

xy = yx
ave < (xy)max or (yx)max

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ME 222 Mechanics of Deformable Solids

Determination of the Shearing Stress in a Beam
On the upper and lower surfaces of the beam, yx= 0. It
follows that xy= 0 on the upper and lower edges of the
transverse sections.

y
z

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ME 222 Mechanics of Deformable Solids

Shearing Stresses xy in Common Types of Beams
For a narrow rectangular beam,
VQ 3 V
xy

Ib 2 A

max

y 2
c 2

3V
2A

For American Standard (S-beam)

and wide-flange (W-beam) beams
VQ
It
V
max
Aweb

ave

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ME 222 Mechanics of Deformable Solids

Sample Problem 6.2
SOLUTION:
Develop shear and bending moment
diagrams. Identify the maximums.
Determine the beam depth based on
allowable normal stress.
A timber beam is to support the three
concentrated loads shown. Knowing
that for the grade of timber used,
all 1800 psi

all 120 psi

Determine the beam depth based on

allowable shear stress.
Required beam depth is equal to the
larger of the two depths found.

determine the minimum required depth

d of the beam.

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ME 222 Mechanics of Deformable Solids

Sample Problem 6.2
SOLUTION:
Develop shear and bending moment
diagrams. Identify the maximums.
Vmax 3 kips
M max 7.5 kip ft 90 kip in

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ME 222 Mechanics of Deformable Solids

Sample Problem 6.2

Determine the beam depth based on allowable

normal stress.
all

M max
S

1800 psi

90 103 lb in.

0.5833 in. d 2

d 9.26 in.
1 bd3
I 12
I
S 16 b d 2
c

16 3.5 in. d 2
0.5833 in. d 2

Determine the beam depth based on allowable

shear stress.
3 Vmax
2 A
3 3000 lb
120 psi
2 3.5 in. d
d 10.71in.

all

Required beam depth is equal to the larger of the two.

d 10.71in.

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ME 222 Mechanics of Deformable Solids

Department of Mechanical Engineering - A. Loos

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ME 222 Mechanics of Deformable Solids

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ME 222 Mechanics of Deformable Solids

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ME 222 Mechanics of Deformable Solids

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