PROBLEM 6.

Three boards are nailed together to form a beam shown, which is

subjected to a vertical shear. Knowing that the spacing between the
nails is s = 75 mm and that the allowable shearing force in each nail is
400 N, determine the allowable shear when w = 120 mm.

SOLUTION

Part A (mm 2 ) d (mm) Ad 2 (106 mm 4 ) I (106 mm 4 )

Top Plank 7200 60 25.92 2.16
Middle Plank 12,000 0 0 3.60
Bottom Plank 7200 60 25.92 2.16
Σ 51.84 7.92

=I ∑ Ad 2 + =
∑I 59.76 × 106 mm
= 4
59.76 × 10−6 m 4
432 × 103 mm3 =
(7200)(60) =
Q= 432 × 10−6 m3
VQ
=q = Fnail qs
I
Fnail Iq IFnail
q
= V= =
s Q Qs

(59.76 × 10−6 )(400)

V= V = 738 N 
(432 × 10−6 )(75 × 10−3 )

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 PROBLEM 6.5

The rolled-steel beam shown has been reinforced by attaching to it two 12 ×

175-mm plates, using 18-mm-diameter bolts spaced longitudinally every
125 mm. Knowing that the average allowable shearing stress in the bolts is
85 MPa, determine the largest permissible vertical shearing force.

SOLUTION

Calculate moment of inertia:

Part A (mm 2 ) d (mm) Ad 2 (106 mm 4 ) I (106 mm 4 )

Top plate 2100 * 40.867 0.0252
139.5
W250 × 44.8 5700 0 0 70.8
*
Bot. plate 2100 139.5 40.867 0.0252
Σ 81.734 70.850

*d 267 12
= + = 139.5 mm
2 2
=I ΣAd 2=
+ ΣI 152.584 × 106=
mm 4 152.584 × 10−6 m 4
Q =Aplated plate =(2100)(139.5) =292.95 × 103 mm3 =292.95 × 10−6 m3
2π π
Abolt = d bolt = (18 × 10−3 )2 =254.47 × 10−6 m 2
4 4
Fbolt =τ all Abolt =(85 × 106 )(254.47 × 10−6 ) =21.630 × 103 N
2Fbolt (2)(21.630 × 103 )
=qs 2Fbolt =q = = 346.08 × 103 N/m
−3
s 125 × 10
VQ Iq (152.584 × 10−6 )(346.08 × 103 )
q
= V
= = = 180.257 × 103 N
I Q 292.95 × 10−6
V = 180.3 kN 

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 PROBLEM 6.9

For the beam and loading shown, consider

section n-n and determine (a) the largest shearing
stress in that section, (b) the shearing stress at
point a.

SOLUTION

ΣM B = 0: −2.3 A + (1.5)(72) = 0
=A 46.957 kN ↑
At section n-n, V= A= 46.957 kN
Calculate moment of inertia:
1  1  1
I = 2  (15)(40)3  + 2  (15)(80)3  + (30)(1203 )
12  12  12
5.76 × 106 mm 4 =
= 5.76 × 10−6 m 4
At a, =ta 30
= mm 0.030 m
30 × 103 mm3
(30 × 20)(50) =
Qa =
= 30 × 10−6 m3
VQa (46.957 × 103 )(30 × 10−6 )
τa
= =
Ita (5.76 × 10−6 )(0.030)
= 8.15 × 106 Pa = 8.15 MPa
At b, =tb 60
= mm 0.060 m
Qb = Qa + (60 × 20)(30) = 30 × 103 + 36 × 103 = 66 × 103 mm3 = 66 × 10−6 m 4
VQb (46.957 × 103 )(66 × 10−6 )
τb = = =8.97 × 106 Pa =8.97 MPa
Itb (5.76 × 10−6 )(0.060)

At NA, t NA 90
= = mm 0.090 m
QNA = Qb + (90 × 20)(10) = 66 × 103 + 18 × 103 = 84 × 103 mm3 = 84 × 10−6 m3
VQNA (46.957 × 103 )(84 × 10−6 )
τ NA = = −6
=7.61 × 106 Pa =7.61 MPa
It NA (5.76 × 10 )(0.090)

(a) τ max occurs at b. τ max = 8.97 MPa 

(b) τ a = 8.15 MPa 

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 PROBLEM 6.13

Two steel plates of 12 × 200-mm rectangular cross section are welded

to the W310 × 52 beam as shown. Determine the largest allowable
vertical shear if the shearing stress in the beam is not to exceed 90
MPa.

SOLUTION
Calculate moment of inertia:

Part A (mm 2 ) d (mm) Ad 2 (106 mm 4 ) I (106 mm 4 )

Top plate 2400 * 65.34 0.0288
165
W310 × 52 6650 0 0 119
*
Bot. plate 2400 165 65.34 0.0288
Σ 130.68 119.058

318 12
*d =
+ = 165 mm
2 2
=I ΣAd 2 =
+ ΣI 249.74 × 106 =
mm 4 249.74 × 10−6 m 4

Web dimensions 7.62 mm × 145.8 mm

Part A (mm 2 ) y (mm) Ay (103 mm3 )

Plate 2400 165 396
Flange 2204.4 152.4 335.95
Half web 1111.0 72.9 80.992
Σ 812.94

= 812.94 × 103 mm=

Q ΣAy
= 3
812.94 × 10−6 m3

= = 7.62 × 10−3 m
t 7.62 mm

VQ Itτ (249.74 × 10−6 )(7.62 × 10−3 )(90 × 106 )

τ
= : =
V = = 211 × 103 N
It Q 812.94 × 10−6
V = 211 kN 

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 PROBLEM 6.19

A timber beam AB of length L and rectangular cross section carries a

single concentrated load P at its midpoint C. (a) Show that the ratio
τ m /σ m of the maximum values of the shearing and normal stresses in
the beam is equal to 2h/L, where h and L are, respectively, the depth and
the length of the beam. (b) Determine the depth h and the width b of the
beam, knowing that L = 2 m, P = 40 kN, τ m = 960 kPa, and
σ m = 12 MPa.

SOLUTION

Reactions: R=
A R=
B P/2 ↑

P
(1) Vmax
= R=
A
2
(2) A = bh for rectangular section.
3 Vmax 3P
τm
(3) = = for rectangular section.
2 A 4bh
PL
(4) M max =
4
1 2
(5) S = bh for rectangular section.
6
M max 3PL
σm
(6) = =
S 2bh 2
τm h
(a) = 
σ m 2L

2Lτ m (2)(2)(960 × 103 )

(b) Solving for h, h
= = 6
= 320 × 10−3 m h = 320 mm 
σm 12 × 10

Solving Eq. (3) for b,

3P (3)(40 × 103 )
=b = = 97.7 × 10−3 m b = 97.7 mm 
4hτ m (4)(320 × 10−3 )(960 × 103 )

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 PROBLEM 6.29

The built-up timber beam shown is subjected to a vertical shear of

1200 lb. Knowing that the allowable shearing force in the nails is 75 lb,
determine the largest permissible spacing s of the nails.

SOLUTION
1
=I1 b1h13 + A1d12
12
1
= (2)(2)3 + (2)(2)(4) 2 = 65.333 in 4
12
1 1
=I2 = b2h23 (2)(10)
= 3
166.67 in 4
12 12
I = 4I1 + I 2 = 428 in 4
Q Q
= =1 A1= = 16 in 3
y1 (2)(2)(4)
VQ (1200)(16)
q
= = = 44.86 lb/in.
I 428
Fnail = qs
Fnail 75
=s = = 1.672 in. 
q 44.86

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 PROBLEM 6.31

The built-up beam shown is made by gluing together five wooden planks.
Knowing that the allowable average shearing stress in the glued joints is
60 psi, determine the largest permissible vertical shear in the beam.

SOLUTION

 1  1
I= 4  (5)(2)3 + (5)(2)(3) 2  + (2)(8)3= 458.66 in 4
 12  12
For each glued joint; t = 2 in.

Q Ay
= = ( 5)( 2 )(=
3) 30 in 3

VQ Itτ (458.66)(2)(60)
τ
= ; =
V =
It Q 30

V = 1835 lb 

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 PROBLEM 6.44

A beam consists of three planks connected as shown by steel bolts with a

longitudinal spacing of 225 mm. Knowing that the shear in the beam is
vertical and equal to 6 kN and that the allowable average shearing stress in
each bolt is 60 MPa, determine the smallest permissible bolt diameter that
can be used.

SOLUTION

Part A(mm 2 ) y (mm) Ay 2 (106 mm 4 ) I (106 mm 4 )

 7500 50 18.75 14.06
 7500 50 18.75 14.06
 15,000 −50 37.50 28.12
Σ 75.00 56.24

=I ∑ Ay 2 +=
∑ I 131.25 × 106 mm
= 4
131.25 × 10−6 m 4
Q
= A1= = 375 × 103 mm3
y1 (7500)(50)
= 375 × 10−6 m3
VQs
= τ bolt Abolt
Fbolt = qs=
I
VQs (6 × 103 )(375 × 10−6 )(0.225)
Abolt
= = = 64.286 × 10−6 m 2
τ bolt I (6 × 106 )(131.25 × 106 )
= 64.286 mm 2

4 Abolt (4)(64.286)
d bolt
= = d bolt = 9.05 mm 
π π

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McGraw-Hill Education.