Shear Stresses in Beams

CE 1812 Mechanics of Materials

March 2020
Lecture by: Mr. P.Vishnu

2 Shear Stresses in Beams

2.1 Introduction

Due to shear force at any given cross-section of a beam, there will be shear stresses set
up on the transverse section. This shear stress will vary across the section.

2.2 Principal of complementary shear stress

Consider an element in a body subjected to external loads.

Notation of shear stress

τxy :
1st suffix: plane on which shear stress is acting
(indicated by an axis perpendicular to the plane)
nd
2 suffix: direction of shear stress
2.3 Principle of complementary shear

Let’s consider the two dimensional case in x − y plane (i.e. a section on x − y plane of the
solid element) ;

Considering force equilibrium,

if τxy acts on cd, for equilibrium, τxy should act on ab as well. (similarly for τyx )

Considering unit thickness of the element,

couple set up by forces acting on sides ab and cd = τxy δx (1)

Considering moment equilibrium,
an opposite couple should be set up by shear stresses acting on ad and cb as shown in
figure. Note that this argument stands even with the presence of direct stresses on ab, bc,
cd and ad, as these would not create a resulting moment.

equating couples;

(τxy δy)δx = (τyx δx)δy

(2)
∴ τxy = τyx
This is the principle of complementary shear stress.

similarly in 3D;

τyz = τzy , τxz = τzx (3)

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2.4 Vertical shear stress distribution

Consider a δx length of the beam.

Consider a small element of area δA and width b at distance y from neutral axis.
M
longitudinal stress at section a − a ⇒ σa = y
I (4)
M
∴ longitudinal force at section a − a ⇒ δFa = yδA
I
M + δM
longitudinal stress at section b − b ⇒ σb = y
I (5)
M + δM
∴ longitudinal force at section b − b ⇒ δFb = yδA
I
Summing the forces over area A (area of section above y),

Z Z
M M
Fa = δFa =
yδA = Aȳ
I I
Z Z (6)
M + δM M + δM
Fb = δFb = yδA = Aȳ
I I
δM
∴ out of balance force = Fb − Fa = Aȳ (7)
I
This out of balance force has to be reisted by the longitudinal shear force on plane aabb.
Aȳ is the 1st moment of area of the shaded area about the neutral axis.

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If shear stress is given by τyx and assumed uniformley distributed over aabb,
δM
∴ τyx δxb = Aȳ
I (8)
δM Aȳ
τyx =
δx Ib
Ignoring the sign of shear force,
SAȳ
τyx = (9)
Ib
from the principle of complementary shear

SAȳ
τyx = τxy = (A)
Ib

This is Zhuravskii shear stress formula

2.4.1 Vertical shear stress distribution in rectangular beams

Shear stress at a distance y from neutral axis is given by,

SAȳ
τxy = (10)
Ib
where;
d  d/2 − y 
Aȳ = b −y y+
2 2 (11)
b  d2 
= − y2
2 4
and,
1 2
I= bd (12)
12
Threfore,
2
6S( d4 − y 2 )
τxy = (13)
bd3
where S is the shear force at the section.

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Note 1. Shear stress distribution is parabolic.

Note 2. At y = ±d/2, τxy = 0. i.e. shear stress at free boundary is zero.

Note 3. At y = 0, τxy has a maximum value of τmax = 3S/2bd.

Note 4. If average shear stress is defined as τavg = S/ bd ,

3
τmax = τavg (14)
2

R +d/2
Note 5. −d/2
τxy bdy = S

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2.4.2 Vertical shear stress distribution of thin I-sections

Consider an I-section of breadth b, depth d (between the centerlines of flanges) and web and
flange thickness t, where t << d, b.

Consider a point in the web.

SAȳ
τxy =
Ib
  2 
S btd t d−t 2
= + −y (15)
It 2 2 2
  2 
S d−t 2
= bd + −y
2I 2

Consider a point just inside the web at abcd level where y = (d − t)/2
Sbd
τxy |at bc in web =
2I
d
Sbt (16)
= 2
It
S(Aȳ)f lange
=
It

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Consider point just inside the lange at abcd level

S(Aȳ)f lange
τxy |at ad in flange = (17)
Ib
since b >> t

τxy |at ad in flange << τxy |at bc in web (18)

∴ Most of the shear force in an I-section is taken by the web

  2 
1 3 1 3 d
Izz = td + 2 bt + bt
12 12 2
1 1 1 3
≈ td3 + d2 bt; neglecting bt since d >> t (19)
12  2  12
td3 6b
= 1+
12 d
Thus;   2 
S d−t
τmax = bd +
2I 2
  2 
S d
≈ bd + ; since d >> t
2I 2
(20)
Sbd[1 + d/4b]
= d3 t
2 12 [1 + 6b/d]
S 6b [1 + d/4b]
=
dt d [1 + 6b/d]
For d = 3b (as typical for hot-rolled steel sections),
7S
τmax =
6 dt (21)
7
≈ τavg,web
6
∴ τmax is only 1/6th greater than the mean shearing stress over the web

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Consider section abcd in flange.

Along ab and cd, τxy = 0, since they are free edges. Hence vertical shear stress will have a
variation along flange.

τxy willl have a meaning ony if shear stress distribution across the width is uniform. This
can be expected in the narrow web, but not in the flange. Therefore, τxy in flange is marked
with a dotted line.

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2.5 Horizontal shear stress distribution in the flange

Considering small element δA,

 
M + δM M
out of balance longitudinal force = yδA − yδA
I I
(22)
δM
= yδA
I
Z
δM
∴ total out of balance longitudinal force = yδA
I
(23)
δM
= Aȳ
I
This out of balance force is resisted by shear stress τzx on plane aabb.
δM
∴ τzx tδx = (Aȳ)
I
δM Aȳ
τzx = (24)
δx It
SAȳ
τzx =
It
From the principal of complementary shear,
SAȳ
τxz = τzx =
It  
S b d
= −z t (25)
It 2 2
 
Sd b
= −z
2I 2
∴ τxz variues linearly with z.

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2.6 Shear stress distribution in a section

How the vertical and horizontal shear streesses are distributed in the I-section (i.e. the
shear flow ) can be depicted as below.

The resultant forces due to the vertical and horizontal shear stresses are as in Eq. (26) and
Eq. (27), respectively.

Z +d/2
τxy bdy = S (26)
−d/2

Z +b/2 Z +b/2  
Sd b
τxz tdz = − z tdz
0 0 2I 2
S 2
= b dt (27)
16I
b2
R=S
4d(d + 6b)

Shear streess in web at the junction of the flange to the web,

Sbd Sbd
τweb = =2× = 2 × τf lange (28)
2I 4I

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We can verify that Eq. (28) is indeed correct by considering the equilibrium of joint.

Since thickness of flange and web are equal to t, considering equilibrium of joint and resolv-
ing forces longitudinally;

τweb × t × 1 = 2[τf lange × t × 1]

(29)
∴ τweb = 2 × τf lange

Similarly, we can identify the shear flow in other typical sections. The figure below is a
qualitative representation of shear flow.

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2.7 Shear center

The position at which the resultant shear force (i.e. the resultant of the force S and couple
Rh) cuts the neutral axis is called the shear center .

Hence this is the point through which an external load must pass if twisting is not to be
induced in the section, in addition to bending and shear. Thus, in the case of a channel
section load needs to be applied outside the section to prevent twisting.

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2.7.1 Shear center of a channel section

S[ut × h/2]
τxz =
It (30)
Suh
=
2I
Z B
⇒R= τxz tdu
0
Z B
Suh
= tdu
0 2I (31)
Sht B
Z
= udu
2I 0
Sht B 2
=
2I 2
Taking moment about the centerline of the web;

Rh = Se
ShtB 2
h = Se (32)
4I
B 2 h2 t
∴e=
4I

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