Strength of Materials Prof. M. S.

Sivakumar

Shear Stresses in Beams

Shear force is related to change in bending moment between adjacent sections.

dM
=v
dx

As shown in figure, consider a cut-out section from a beam.

At section 1 {Area PADS}

−M1 y −M1 M1Q

F1 = ∫ I
dA =
I ∫ y dA = I
A1 A1

where y is the distance of any fiber from the neutral axis.

M2Q
Q= ∫ y.dA - First moment of area about the neutral axis F2 =
I
A1

if M 2 = M1 + dM and F2 = F1 + dF

dM
then dF = Q
I

dF dM Q
Force per unit length, =
dx dx I

This force per unit length is termed as the shear flow, q

dM
Substituting for = V;
dx

Indian Institute of Technology Madras

Strength of Materials Prof. M. S. Sivakumar

VQ
q=
I

Here I is the moment of Inertia of the entire cross-sectional area around the neutral axis.

Shear Stress Formula for Beams

The shear stress formula is obtained by modifying the shear flow formula.

dF dM Q
=
dx dx I

Shear Stress,

1 dF
τ=
t dx
VQ
= (Refer figure)
It
q
=
t

Indian Institute of Technology Madras