Mechanics of Materials - Fall 2023

Assignment #5
Subject: Pure Shear Loading

1. Determine the shear stress at points B and C

on the web of the beam located at section a-a.
Determine the maximum shear stress acting at
section a-a in the beam.

2. A rectangular box beam has the relative

dimensions shown in the figure. If the beam is
to be subjected to a transverse shear force V,
what is the ratio ( ) ⁄( ) for the beam
in orientations (a) and (b)? In each case,
indicate where occurs.

3. A box beam is constructed of four 2 × 6

planks that are nailed together in the
configuration shown in the figure. The beam
supports three equal loads P=320 lb equally
spaced on a total span of L = 16 ft, as shown in
the figure. Consider the end conditions at A and
E to be “pinned.” (a) Determine the maximum
horizontal shear stress in the beam. (b) If the
nails used to assemble the beam have an
allowable shear-force capacity of =
480 , what is the maximum allowable
spacing of the nails in each segment of the
beam, that is, ∆ ,∆ and so on?
4. A tubular beam with circular cross section
has an outer diameter = 12.5 !". and wall
thickness t = 0.45 in., as indicated in the figure.
If the beam is subjected to a vertical shear force
V = 15 kips at this section, what is the %&
maximum shear stress on the cross section?

5. A pipe-beam has a very thin longitudinal slit

along one side that makes it an open, thin-wall
beam. The thickness t is much less than the
mean radius r. (a) Determine an expression for
the shear flow #($). (b) Determine the location
of the shear center, S, by determining its
eccentricity, e, from the center of the circular
cross section.

Good Luck.
A.R. Kaffash