NOTCHING ON BEAMS

beam span beam span

L/3 L/3 L/3

middle thirds
 Horizontal Shear in Notched Beams
d'
d 1. Notching at points of support on the tension side.
Horizontal shear stress shall not exceed the value
notch
calculated by the following equation:
thickness, t 3V  d  where
fv   
2bd '  d '  d = total depth of the beam
Limitations on Notching d’ = actual depth of beam at notch

1. Notching is allowed such that 𝑛𝑜𝑡𝑐ℎ ≤ 2. Notching at points of support on the tension side for
circular cross sections. Horizontal shear stress shall not
2. No notching in the middle third of the span. exceed the value calculated by the following equation:
3. At ends, 𝑛𝑜𝑡𝑐ℎ ≤
3V  d 
4. For 100 mm or greater nominal thickness, fv   
no notching at tension side except at the 2 An  d n 
ends.
where
5. Cantilevered portions of beams less than
An = cross-sectional area of notched member
100 mm in normal thickness shall not be
d = total depth of beam
notched.
dn = actual depth of beam at notch
3. Notching at points of support on the compression side. The
shear shall not exceed the value calculated by:
2   d  d'  
V Fvb d   e 
3   d '  
where
e = distance notch extends inside the inner
edge of support
Note: The shear for the notch on the compression side
shall be further limited to the value determined for a
beam of depth d’ if e exceeds d’
Example No. 1 10.5 kN/m
V
A timber beam carries a total uniform load of
10.5 kN/m all throughout its 4.5 m simple span. A V  10.5(1.5)  23.63  0
The wooden beam is 150 mm x 250 mm. If V  7.875kN
notching is allowed, what is the allowed (a) 1.5 m
depth of notch at face of third points at
compression side if the allowable shear stress of
the wood is 0.85 MPa?
23.63kN
Solution: Using the equation for shear stress, determine
10.5 kN/m the needed depth to resist shear.

3V
fv 
A 2bd
B
4.5 m 3(7.875 x1000)
0.85 
2(150)d
Ay By
Determine support reactions and cut sections to d  92.647mm
determine the internal shear at third points. The depth of notch is
wL notch  250  92.647
Ay  B y  Ay  B y  23.63kN
2 notch  157.353mm
Check notching limitations based on code:
Thus, the depth of notch is
• Notching is allowed such that 𝑛𝑜𝑡𝑐ℎ ≤
notch  41.67mm
d
notch   41.67mm
6
NOT OK!

• No notching in the middle third of the span.

OK!

• At ends, 𝑛𝑜𝑡𝑐ℎ ≤

OK!
• For 100 mm or greater nominal thickness,
no notching at tension side except at the
ends.

OK!