CHAPTER 7

SHEAR STRESS IN BEAMS

INSPIRING CREATIVE AND INNOVATIVE MINDS

Objectives:
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

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 Due to the complementary property of shear,
associated longitudinal shear stress will also act
along longitudinal planes of the beam

The shear V is the result of a

transverse shear-stress distribution
that acts over the beams cross
section.

INSPIRING CREATIVE AND INNOVATIVE MINDS

 Transverse loading applied to a beam results in
normal and shearing stresses in transverse
sections.
Distribution of normal and shearing
stresses satisfies

Fx x dA 0
M x y xz z xy dA 0
Fy xy dA V M y z x dA 0
Fz xz dA 0 M z y x 0

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.

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 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.

INSPIRING CREATIVE AND INNOVATIVE MINDS

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)

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 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.

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Consider the shaded top segment

INSPIRING CREATIVE AND INNOVATIVE MINDS

 VQ

It
= 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

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 Shear Stress in Beams

Typical shear failure

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 Max. Shear Stress (Rectangular Cross Section)

Qshaded area A' y ' b c y

1
2

c y b c 2 y 2
2

V
b 2
c y2
3 c y
2 2
VQ 2
pq V
It bh 3 4 bc 3
b
12

If the cross sectional area is A = b(2c),

3 c2 y2 3V y2
pq V 1 2
2 2bc c 2 2A c

3V c2
For layers, y = c: rs 1 2 0
2A c

3V 0 3V
For layer at neutral axis, y = 0: NA max 1 2
2A c 2A
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 Max. Shear Stress (Circular Cross Section)

Q A' y '
r 2 4r

2 3
2r 3

r 3
VQ
4r max
3 It
NA 2r 3
max V
3

r 4
2r
4
4V

3r 2
d 4 r 4
I
4V
64 4 3A
 Max. Shear Stress (Hollow Circular Cross Section)

Q A' y '
ro 2 4ro ri 2 4ri

3 2

3
2
ro
2 3
ro ri3
ri 3

NA VQ
max
max max It
2 3
V
ro ri3

3
4
4 o
r r 4

i 2 ro ri
4
I ro ri 4

4 4V ro2 ro ri ri 2

3A ro ri
2 2

 Example 1

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 2

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

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
 Example 4

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 5

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 INA = 4.8646 x 10-6 m4.
 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.
INSPIRING CREATIVE AND INNOVATIVE MINDS