Shear Stresses in Beams

Intended Learning Outcomes

• Understand shear stress in a beam
• Derive formula for horizontal shear stress in a beam
• Discuss shear flow in a beam
• Derive a relation between horizontal and vertical shear stresses in a
beam
• Application of shear stress to rectangular section as well circular
section of a beam.
• Discuss the assumptions and limitations of the shear stress formula

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Pure Bending

Pure Bending: Prismatic members

subjected to equal and opposite couples
acting in the same longitudinal plane.
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 Pure Bending
• As another example of pure bending, consider a simple beam AB
loaded by two couples M1 having the same magnitude but acting in
opposite directions. These loads produce a constant bending
moment M = M1 throughout the length of the beam, as shown by
the bending moment diagram in part (b) of the figure. Note that the
shear force V is zero at all cross sections of the beam.

Figure. Simple beam in pure bending (M = M1)

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 Pure bending and non-uniform bending
The symmetrically loaded simple beam of Figure (a) is an example of a
beam that is partly in pure bending and partly in non-uniform bending, as
seen from the shear-force and bending-moment diagrams (Figures b and c).
The central region of the beam is in pure bending because the shear force is
zero and the bending moment is constant. The parts of the beam near the
ends are in non-uniform bending because shear forces are present and the
bending moments vary.

FIG. 5-4 Simple beam with central region in pure bending and end regions in
non-uniform bending 1-5
 Principle of Superposition
• The normal stress due to pure bending may be combined with the
shear stress due to shear loading to find the complete state of stress.

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SHEAR ON THE HORIZONTAL FACE OF A BEAM ELEMENT

Example – when
boards are not glued
together, shear stress
is not developed at
surfaces due to
slippage.

Example – when
boards glued
together, shear stress
is developed at
surfaces which
prevents slippage.
SHEAR ON THE HORIZONTAL FACE OF A BEAM ELEMENT

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Figure 5.21
SHEAR ON THE HORIZONTAL FACE OF A BEAM ELEMENT

Figure 5.22 1-9

SHEAR ON THE HORIZONTAL FACE OF A BEAM ELEMENT

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SHEAR ON THE HORIZONTAL FACE OF A BEAM ELEMENT

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SHEAR ON THE HORIZONTAL FACE OF A BEAM ELEMENT

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SHEAR ON THE HORIZONTAL FACE OF A BEAM ELEMENT

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SHEAR ON THE HORIZONTAL FACE OF A BEAM ELEMENT

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SHEAR ON THE HORIZONTAL FACE OF A BEAM ELEMENT

Figure 5.23 1 - 15
SHEAR ON THE HORIZONTAL FACE OF A BEAM ELEMENT

Figure 5.24 1 - 16
SHEAR ON THE HORIZONTAL FACE OF A BEAM ELEMENT

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SHEAR ON THE HORIZONTAL FACE OF A BEAM ELEMENT

Figure 5.25 1 - 18
SHEAR ON THE HORIZONTAL FACE OF A BEAM ELEMENT

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SHEAR ON THE HORIZONTAL FACE OF A BEAM ELEMENT
SHEAR STRESSES IN BEAMS OF CIRCULAR CROSS SECTION

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SHEAR ON THE HORIZONTAL FACE OF A BEAM ELEMENT
SHEAR STRESSES IN BEAMS OF CIRCULAR CROSS SECTION

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SHEAR ON THE HORIZONTAL FACE OF A BEAM ELEMENT
Assumptions and limitations
The shear stress formula is valid only for beams of linearly elastic materials
with small deflections.
A common error is to apply the shear formula to cross sectional shapes for
which it is not applicable. For instance, it is not applicable to sections of
triangular or semicircular shape. To avoid misusing the formula, we must
keep in mind the following assumptions that underlie the derivation:
1. The edges of the cross section must be parallel to the y axis (so that the
shear stresses act parallel to the y axis).
2. The shear stresses must be uniform across the width of the cross
section. These assumptions are fulfilled only in certain cases, such as
those discussed in this and the next two sections.
Finally, the shear formula applies only to prismatic beams. If a beam is
nonprismatic (for instance, if the beam is tapered), the shear stresses are
quite different from those predicted by the formulas given here.

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SHEAR ON THE HORIZONTAL FACE OF A BEAM ELEMENT
Assumptions and limitations
In the case of rectangular beams, the accuracy of the shear formula
depends upon the height-to-width ratio of the cross section. The formula
may be considered as exact for very narrow beams (height h much larger
than the width b). However, it becomes less accurate as b increases relative
to h. For instance, when the beam is square (b = h), the true maximum
shear stress is about 13% larger than the value given by Eq. (5-40).

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 THANKS
Questions (if any)

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