Beams -Horizontal Shear Stress

In addition to the bending (axial) stress which develops in a loaded

beam, there is also a shear stress which develops, including both a
Vertical Shear Stress, and a Horizontal (longitudinal) Shear
Stress. It can be shown that at any given point in the beam, the
values of vertical shear stress and the horizontal shear stress must
be equal, at that point, for static equilibrium. As a result it is usual
to discuss and calculate the horizontal shear stress in a beam (and
simply remember that the vertical shearing stress is equal in value
to the horizontal shear stress at any given point).e will ta!e a
moment to derive the formula for the "orizontal #hear #tress. In
$iagram %, we have shown a simply supported loaded beam.

In $iagram &a, we have cut a section dx long out of the left end of
the beam, and have shown the internal horizontal forces acting on
the section.
In $iagram &b, we have shown a side view of section dx. 'otice
that the bending moment is larger on the right hand face of the
section by an amount d(. ()his is clear if we ma!e the bending
moment diagram for the beam, in which we see the bending
moment increases from a value of zero at the left end to a
maximum at the center of the beam.)
In $iagram &c, we have shown a top slice of section dx. #ince the
forces are different between the top of the section and the bottom
of the section (less at the bottom) there is a differential (shearing)
force which tries to shear the section, shown in $iagram &c,
horizontally. )his means there is a shear stress on the section, and
in terms of the shear stress, the differential shearing force, *, can
be written as * + times the longitudinal area of the section (b
dx). A second way of expressing the shear force is by expressing
the forces in terms of the bending stress, that is *
%
+ ((y,I) dA,
and *& + ((-d()y,I dA, then the differential force is (d(
y,I)dA. If we now combine the two * + expressions, we have.
* + / b dx + (d( y,I)dA, and then rewriting to solve for the
shear stress.
+ 0(d(,dx),Ib1 y dA, however d(,dx is equal to the shear
force 2 (as discussed in the previous topic), and y dA is the first
moment of the area of the section, and may be written as A y3,
where A is the area of the section and y3 is the distance from the
centroid of the area A to the neutral axis of the beam cross section.
4ewriting in a final form we have.
Horizontal Shear Stress: V!y"#$b% &here
V Shear 'orce at location along the beam &here &e &ish to
'ind 'rom the horizontal shear stress
! cross sectional area% 'rom point &here &e &ish to 'ind
the shear stress at% to an outer edge o' the beam cross
section (top or bottom)
y" distance 'rom neutral axis to the centroid o' the area !.
$ moment o' inertia 'or the beam cross section.
b &idth o' the beam at the point &e &ish to determine the
shear stress.
(In some texts, the product Ay3 is given the symbol 5 and used in
the shear stress equation)
If we consider our shear relationship a little, we observe that the
Horizontal Shear Stress is zero at the outer edge o' the beam
6 since the area A is zero there. (he Horizontal Shear Stress is
(normally) a maximum at the neutral axis o' the beam. )his is
the opposite of the behavior of the 7ending #tress which is
maximum at the other edge of the beam, and zero at the neutral
axis.
)o help clarify the "orizontal #hear #tress equation we will now loo!
at at several example of calculating the "orizontal #hear #tress.
)xample *
In $iagram %, we have shown a simply supported &8 ft. beam with
a load of %8,888 lb. acting downward at the center of the beam. )he
beam used is a rectangular &9 by :9 steel beam. e would li!e to
determine the maximum "orizontal #hear #tress which develops in
the beam due to the loading. e will also determine the "orizontal
#hear #tress ; inches above the bottom of the beam at the position
in the beam where the shear force is a maximum.
Step *: <ut first step in solving this problem is to apply static
equilibrium conditions to determine the external support reactions.
In this particular example, because of the symmetry of the problem,
we will not go through the statics in detail, but point out that the
two support forces will support the load at the center equally with
forces of =888 lb. each as shown in $iagram &.
Step +. )he second step is to draw the shear force and bending
moment diagrams for the beam.
Step ,. e will now apply the Horizontal Shear Stress 'ormula.
Shear Stress Vay"#$b
e wish to find the maximum shear stress, which occurs at the
neutral axis o' the beam:
V maximum shear 'orce -%... 't-lb. ('rom the shear
'orce diagram)
$ moment o' inertia o' cross section/ 'or rectangle
$ (*#*+) bd
,
*#*+ (+0 1 20
,
) *..34 in
2
.
b &idth o' beam section &here &e &ish to 'ind shear
stress at/ b + in.
a area 'rom point &e &ish to 'ind shear stress at (neutral
axis) to an outer edge o' beam
a (+0 x +0) 2 in
+
.
y" distance 'rom neutral axis to the centroid o' the area 0a0
&hich &e used/ y" * in.
(See 5iagram 2)
>lacing the values into the equation, we find.
6aximum Horizontal Shear Stress Vay"#$b (-... lb)1(2
in
+
)1(* in)# (*..34 in
2
)(+ in) 7,4 lb#in
+

8art $$ e now would also li!e to determine the "orizontal #hear
#tress ; inches above the bottom of the beam at the position in the
beam where the shear force is a maximum (which is actually
through out the beam, since the value of shear force is either
-=888 lb., or 6 =888 lb. through out the beam.)
e again apply the "orizontal #hear #tress formula. Horizontal
Shear Stress Vay"#$b
e wish to find the shear stress ; inches above the bottom of the
beam cross section. (#ee $iagram =)
V shear 'orce -%... 't-lb. (from the shear force diagram)
$ moment o' inertia o' cross section/ 'or rectangle $
(*#*+) bd
,
*#*+ (+0 1 20
,
) *..34 in
2
.
b &idth o' beam section &here &e &ish to 'ind shear
stress at/ b + in.
a area 'rom point &e &ish to 'ind shear stress at (,0 above
bottom o' the beam) to an outer edge o' beam. 9e &ill go to
the top edge o' the beam% then a (+0 x *0) + in
+
.
y" distance 'rom neutral axis to the centroid o' the area 0a0
&hich &e used/ y" *.- in. (See 5iagram -)
)hen the horizontal shear stress ; inches above the bottom of the
beam is.
Horizontal Shear Stress Vay"#$b (-... lb)1(+ in
+
)1(*.-
in)# (*..34 in
2
)(+ in) 4., lb#in
+
'otice, as we expect, the horizontal shear stress value becomes
smaller as we move toward the outer edge of the beam cross
section.
Horizontal Shear Stress - )xample +
A loaded, simply supported beam is shown in $iagram %. *or two
different beam cross sections (a ) ? x &= )6beam, and a %8 x
:= beam) we will determine the maximum "orizontal #hear #tress
which would develop in the beam due to the loading. e will also
determine the "orizontal #hear #tress ; inches above the bottom of
the beam at the position in the beam where the shear force is a
maximum.
S()8 *. Apply #tatic @quilibrium >rinciples and determine the
external support reactions.
%.) *7$ of structure (#ee $iagram &)
&.) 4esolve all forces into x,y components
;.) Apply equilibrium conditions.
Sum :
x
. none
Sum :
y
B
y
; <
y
- *%... lbs#'t (2 't) - *%-.. lbs#'t (2 ft) + 8
Sum (
B
*%... lbs#'t (2 't) (+ 't) - *%-.. lbs#'t (2 't) (= 't)
; <
y
(3 't) .
Solving: B
y
,%,,. lb./ <
y
3%34. lb.
Step +. )he second step is to draw the shear force and bending
moment diagrams for the beam



Beam (able 'or 9( = x +-
5esignation !rea o' ( 9idth thic> thic> -
x-x
axis
x-x
axis
x-x
axis
x-x
axis
- ! d b' t' t& d#t& $ S r y
- in
+
in in in in - in
2
in
,
in in
9( =x+- 4.,3 =.*, 4..4, ..3+= ..,=. +*.2. 2+.+. 3.44. +.2.. *.=7.
Step ,. *or the 9( = x +- (-beam (table above) we will now
apply the "orizontal #hear #tress formula.

Shear Stress Vay"#$b, to find the maximum shear stress,
which occurs at the neutral axis o' the beam:
V maximum shear 'orce 3%... lb. ('rom the shear 'orce
diagram)
$ moment o' inertia o' cross section% 'rom beam table/ $
2+.+. in
2
.
b &idth o' beam &here &e &ish to 'ind shear stress
(neutral axis 'or maximum) 'rom table/ b .,= in.
a area 'rom point &e &ish to 'ind shear stress at (neutral
axis) to an outer edge o' beam. $n this case &e &ill go to
bottom o' beam. (hen a (.,=0 1 3.+20 ) +.,4 in
+
.
y" distance 'rom neutral axis to the centroid o' the area 0a0
/ y" ,.*+ in. (See 5iagram -) )hen placing values into our
expression we find.
6aximum Horizontal Shear Stress Vay"#$b (3...
lb)1(+.,4 in
+
)1(,.*+ in)# (2+.+. in
2
)(.,= in) +44. lb#in
+
e now would also li!e to determine the "orizontal #hear #tress ;
inches above the bottom of the beam at the position in the beam
where the shear force is a maximum
e again apply the "orizontal #hear #tress formula. Shear Stress
Vay"#$b
e wish to find the shear stress ; inches above the bottom of the
beam cross section, where the shear force is a maximum. (#ee
$iagram A)B
V maximum shear 'orce 3%... lb. ('rom the shear 'orce
diagram)
$ moment o' inertia o' cross section% 'rom beam table/ $
2+.+. in
2
.
b &idth o' beam &here &e &ish to 'ind shear stress (,0
above bottom o' beam) 'rom table/ b .,= in.
a area 'rom point &e &ish to 'ind shear stress at (neutral
axis) to an outer edge o' beam. $n this case &e &ill go to
bottom o' beam. (hen a (.,=0 1 ,0 ) *.*2 in
+
. (See
5iagram 3)
y" distance 'rom neutral axis to the centroid o' the area 0a0
/ y" 2.42 in. (See 5iagram 3)
)hen the horizontal shear stress ; inches above the bottom of the
beam is.
Horizontal Shear Stress Vay"#$b (3... lb)1(*.*2
in
+
)1(2.42 in)# (2+.+ in
2
)(.,= in) +.+. lb#in
+
'otice, as we expect, the horizontal shear stress value becomes
smaller as we move toward an outer edge of the beam cross
section.
8art +: 9 *. x 2- beam. e would li!e to again determine the
maximum horizontal shear stress, and the shear stress ; inches
above the bottom of the beam (at the point where the shear force is
a maximum), but now find these values for a 9 *. x 2- $-beam.
Beam (able 'or 9 *. x 2- $-Beam
- - - :lange :lange 9eb <ross Section $n'o. <ross Section $n'o.
5esignation !rea 5epth 9idth thic> thic>
x-x
axis
x-x axis
x-x
axis
y-y
axis
y-y axis
y-y
axis
- ! d b' t' t& $ S r $ S r
- in
+
in in in in in
2
in
,
in in
2
in
,
in
9 *. x 2- *,.+. *..*+ =..++ ..3*= ..,-. +27.. 27.* 2.,, -,.+. *,.,. +...
e have already done the statics, and the shear force and bending
moment diagrams are shown in the first part of this example above,
so we continue at the point where we apply the horizontal shear
stress formula to find the values we desire.
*or the 9( = x +- (-beam we apply the "orizontal #hear #tress
formula. Shear Stress Vay"#$b, however since we are loo!ing
for the maximum shear stress in the I67eam, we can use the
approximate formula for I6beam, 6aximum Horizontal Shear
Stress V
max
#!
&eb
. )his says the approximate maximum shear
stress in an I 6 7eam is equal to the maximum shear force divided
by the area of the web of the I67eam. Applying this we have.
V
max
+ maximum shear force + 3%... lb. (from the shear force
diagram)
!
max
+ area of web. ! (.,-0 1 =.==0 ) ,.** in
+
. (#ee $iagram
C)
)hen 6aximum Horizontal Shear Stress (3... lb)#(,.**
in
+
) *7,. lb#in
+
As long as this approximate value is reasonably below the allowable
shear stress for the beam material there is no need to use the exact
formula for the maximum shear stress. >lease remember, however,
the approximate formula is only for the maximum horizontal shear
stress (which occurs are the neutral axis) in an I67eam. If we need
to !now the shear stress at any other location, we must use the
standard formula D as we will do in the next part.
e now wish to find the shear stress ; inches above the bottom of
the beam cross section, where the shear force is a maximum. (#ee
$iagram ?). )o do so, we apply the standard horizontal shear stress
formula. Shear Stress Vay"#$b
V + maximum shear force + 3%... lb. (from the shear force
diagram)
$ + moment of inertia of cross section, from beam tableE $ +27..
in
2
.
b + width of beam where we wish to find shear stress (;9 above
bottom of beam) from tableE b .,- in.
a + area from point we wish to find shear stress at (;9 from the
bottom) to an outer edge of beam. In this case we will go to bottom
of beam. 'otice that the area is composed of the area of the flange
(A%) and part of the area of the web (A&). (#ee $iagrams ? and F.)
)hen a (!* ; !+) (.3*=0 x =..++0) ; (+.,=, in
+
x .,-in
+
)
2.73 in
+
; .=,2 in
+
-.472 in
+
(#ee $iagram F)
y" + distance from neutral axis to the centroid of the area 9a9
'otice that in this case, for an I67eam, this is not a entirely simple
matter. )he area we wish to find the centroid of is not a simple
rectangle, but rather two rectangles. )o find the centroid of this
compound area we use. y" (!* y* ; !+ y+)#(!* ;!+)E where
A% and A& are the two areas, and y% and y& are the distances from
the neutral axis of the beam to the centroid of each of the
respective areas. (hich is simply the distance from the neutral axis
to the center of each of the respective areas, since for a rectangle
the centroid is at the center.) Gsing the values shown in $iagram F,
we have.
y' = (A1 y1 + A2 y2)/(A1 +A2) = (4.96 in
2
x 4.75 in + .834 in
2
x 2.94
in)/(4.96 in
2
+ .834 in
2
) = 4.49 in.
Then the horizontal hear tre 3 in!he a"o#e the "otto$ o% the
"ea$ i&
'orizontal (hear (tre = )ay'/*" = (6+++ l"),(5.794 in
2
),(4.49 in)/
(249.+ in
4
)(.35 in)= 179+ l"/in
2
-oti!e. a /e ex0e!t. the horizontal hear tre #al1e "e!o$e
$aller a /e $o#e to/ar2 an o1ter e23e o% the "ea$ !ro
e!tion.