CHAPTER MECHANICS OF

4 MATERIALS
Shear Stresses
Due To
Transverse
Loadings
MECHANICS OF MATERIALS
4.1 Introduction
• Transverse loading applied to a beam
results in normal and shearing stresses in
transverse sections.

• Distribution of normal and shearing

stresses satisfies
Fx =   x dA = 0 ( )
M x =  y  xz − z  xy dA = 0
Fy =   xy dA = −V M y =  z  x dA = 0
Fz =  xz dA = 0 M z =  (− y  x ) = 0

• When shearing stresses are exerted on the

vertical faces of an element, equal stresses
must be exerted on the horizontal faces

• Longitudinal shearing stresses must exist

in any member subjected to transverse
loading.
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MECHANICS OF MATERIALS
4.1 Introduction
• The shearing force Q in the section s-s = P

• The average shear stresses av = Q/A

• Average shear stresses are commonly
found in elements, which have relatively
small cross-sectional area such as bolt,
pins, and rivets.
Q=F
av = Q/A
Q = F/2
Example 4.1:
av = Q/A
D=1.5 cm, F=4t

Ar=p(1.52)/4 = 1.77cm2
av = Q/A=(F/2)/A
av = (4/2)/1.77 = 1.13 t/cm2
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MECHANICS OF MATERIALS
4.1 Introduction
• The shear stresses at the top and bottom surfaces of
the beam equal zero.
• Due to the effect of shear strain, a section that was
plane will no longer be plane but would deform.
• The effect of shear stresses on the distribution of
the normal stresses is, in most cases, insignificant.

• In addition to the shear stresses produced in the

sections normal to the beam center line, there is
longitudinal shear stresses in any member
subjected to transverse loading.

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MECHANICS OF MATERIALS
4.1 Introduction
Vertical force produce vertical shear stress v
vertical faces
For equilibrium, 2 equal and opposite horizontal
forces must act on the horizontal faces of element,
which produce horizontal shear stresses h
Taking ΣMo, Then

(v dx dy) dz = (h dx dz) dy

Thus

v = h
Conjugate (complementary) stress:
shear stresses in vertical planes are always
accompanied by shear stresses in horizontal planes.

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MECHANICS OF MATERIALS
4.2 Shear Stresses with Respect to Centroidal
Principal Axes
M1 = MX and M2 = MX + dMX

and

and

hence,

Similarly, the shear stresses due to shearing force QX is given by

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MECHANICS OF MATERIALS
4.3 Shear Stress xy in Common Types of Beams Section
• Rectangular Section:

 max = 1.5 * av

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MECHANICS OF MATERIALS
4.3 Shear Stress xy in Common Types of Beams Section
• Circular Section:

 max = 1.333 * av

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MECHANICS OF MATERIALS
4.3 Shear Stress xy in Common Types of Beams Section
• I-beam Section:

Section a-a

Section b-b

and

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MECHANICS OF MATERIALS
4.3 Shear Stress xy in Common Types of Beams Section
• I-beam Section:
Law of Conjugate Shear:
For the equilibrium, the shear
stress on the vertical face is equal
to the horizontal shear stresses
produced in the plane of section.

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MECHANICS OF MATERIALS
Example 4.02
Find the distribution of shear stresses in this section
due to shearing force Qy=10 t.
• Properties of area:

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MECHANICS OF MATERIALS
Example 4.03
Find the distribution of shear stresses in this section
due to shearing force Qy=8 t.

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MECHANICS OF MATERIALS
4.4 Shear Stress with Respect to Centroidal but not
Principal Axes
Where My=0

where

and

where and

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MECHANICS OF MATERIALS
Example 4.04
Find the distribution of y due to shearing force Qy=500 kg.

hence

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MECHANICS OF MATERIALS
4.5. Shearing Stresses in Thin-Walled Members
• The variation of shear flow (q is the
resultant shear force per unit length)
across the section depends only on the
variation of the first moment (S).
VS
q =t =
I

• For a box beam, q grows smoothly from

zero at A to a maximum at C and C’ and
then decreases back to zero at E.

• The sense of q in the horizontal portions

of the section may be deduced from the
sense in the vertical portions or the
sense of the shear V.

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MECHANICS OF MATERIALS
Shearing Stresses in Thin-Walled Members

• For a wide-flange beam, the shear flow

increases symmetrically from zero at A
and A’, reaches a maximum at C and the
decreases to zero at E and E’.

• The continuity of the variation in q and

the merging of q from section branches
suggests an analogy to fluid flow.

So how do you use this?

It's used in two very common ways.
1) Used to determine shearing load for individual
connectors along a shear plane.
2) Used to determine average shear values in thin-walled
members.

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MECHANICS OF MATERIALS
Shearing Stresses in Thin-Walled Members
Shear flow for other shapes:
• The variation of shear flow across the section
depends only on the variation of the first moment.
• For a box beam, q grows smoothly from zero at
one extreme, building up to a max, and decreasing
back down to zero.
• The sense of q in the horizontal portions of the
section may be deduced from the sense in the
vertical portions or the sense of the shear V.
• Bodies with an axis of symmetry parallel to the
direction of shearing force, V, require the shear
flow goes to zero as axis of symmetry is
approached.
• If the shear flow hits a junction, the flow into the q qA3
A1
node must equal the flow out of the node at the
qA2
junction.
q A1 = q A 2 + q A3

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MECHANICS OF MATERIALS
Sample Problem 4.05
For the beam and loading shown, determine:(a) the location and magnitude of the maximum
transverse shear force 'Vmax',
(b) the shear flow 'q' distribution due to 'Vmax',
(c) the 'x' coordinate of the shear center measured from the centroid,
(d) the maximum shear stress and its location on the cross section.

(a) The resulting shear diagram shown below indicates

that the maximum shear force is Vmax = 55.8 kN and
it occurs along portion CD.

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MECHANICS OF MATERIALS
Sample Problem 4.05
For the beam and loading shown, determine: (b) the shear flow 'q' distribution due to 'Vmax',
(b) To obtain the shear flow: first draw the picture of the cross section.
Since the moment of inertia about the horizontal centroidal axis
(perpendicular to the direction of V) is already given, we can go
directly to the moment of area (S*) calculation. Begin at the free end of
the top right flange where we know the shear flow is zero, and
consider a portion of length s as shown in the figure below.

Write the equation for the shear flow in terms of the moment of area of the portion of length s.

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MECHANICS OF MATERIALS
Sample Problem 4.05
Due to symmetry about the vertical centroidal axis, the shear flow
in the top left flange will be the same as the flow in the top right
(same magnitude, opposite direction).

Using the fluid flow analogy the flow coming into the web-flange
junction from flanges must leave the junction through the web.
To determine the shear flow variation along the web, isolate a section of
length w along the web as shown.

The shear force in the web is found by

calculating the area under the q
diagram.

This gives a value of 54.626 kN which

represents approximately 98% of the
total shear force which is 55.8 kN.

The rest of it (2%) will be carried by the

top and bottom flanges.

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MECHANICS OF MATERIALS
Sample Problem 4.05
Draw the distribution of shear stresses and sketch the shear flow
in the shown section due to a shearing force QY=10 t. The wall
thickness is 3 mm.

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MECHANICS OF MATERIALS
Sample Problem 4.05
Draw the distribution of shear stresses and sketch the shear flow
in the shown section due to a shearing force QY=10 t. The wall
thickness is 3 mm.

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MECHANICS OF MATERIALS
Sample Problem 4.06
Draw the distribution of shear stresses and sketch the shear flow in the
thin-walled angle shape of uniform thickness t due to the loading shown
in the figure.

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MECHANICS OF MATERIALS
Sample Problem 4.06

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MECHANICS OF MATERIALS
Shear Center

• Shear center is defined as the point on the beam section

where load is applied, and no twisting is produced.
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MECHANICS OF MATERIALS
Shear Center

• Beam loaded in a vertical plane

of symmetry deforms in the
symmetry plane without
twisting.
My VS
x = −  ave =
I It

• Beam without a vertical plane

of symmetry bends and twists
under loading.
My VS
x = −  ave 
I It

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MECHANICS OF MATERIALS
Shear Center
MECHANICS OF MATERIALS
Shear Center
MECHANICS OF MATERIALS
Shear Center
MECHANICS OF MATERIALS
Shear Center
MECHANICS OF MATERIALS
Shear Center
• If the shear load is applied such that the beam
does not twist, then the shear stress distribution
satisfies
D B E
VS
 ave = V =  q ds F =  q ds = −  q ds = − F 
It B A D

• F and F’ indicate a couple Fh and the need for

the application of a torque as well as the shear
load.
F h = Ve

• When the force V is applied at a distance e to the

left of the web centerline, the member bends in a
V vertical plane without twisting.

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MECHANICS OF MATERIALS
Shear Center (Example)
Determine the location for the shear center of the channel
section with b = 4 in., h = 6 in., and t = 0.15 in.
Fh
e=
V
• Where:
b b
VS Vb h
F =  q ds =  ds =  st ds
0 0 I I 0 2
Vthb2
=
4I

1 3 1 3 h 
2
I = I web + 2 I flange = th + 2  bt + bt   
12 12  2  
1 th 2 (6b + h )
 12

• Combining,
b 4 in.
e= = e = 1.6 in .
h 6 in.
2+ 2+
3b 3(4 in.)
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MECHANICS OF MATERIALS
Shear Center (Example)
Determine the shear stress distribution for
V = 2.5 kips.
q VS
= =
t It
• Shearing stresses in the flanges,
VS V h Vh
= = (st ) = s
It It 2 2I
Vhb 6Vb
B = 1 2 =
2(12 th )(6b + h ) th(6b + h )
6(2.5 kips)(4 in )
= = 2.22 ksi
(0.15 in )(6 in )(6  4 in + 6 in )
• Shearing stress in the web,
VS V ( 18 ht )(4b + h ) 3V (4b + h )
 max = = 1 2 =
It 12 th (6b + h )t 2th(6b + h )
3(2.5 kips)(4  4 in + 6 in )
= = 3.06 ksi
2(0.15 in )(6 in )(6  6 in + 6 in )

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MECHANICS OF MATERIALS
Example 4.07
10
Draw the distribution of shear flow and hence find the location
of shear center for thin-walled section of uniform thickness t =
1 cm shown in the figure, shear force = 1 t.

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MECHANICS OF MATERIALS
Example 4.07
10
Draw the distribution of shear stresses and hence find the
location of shear center for thin-walled section of uniform
thickness t = 1 cm shown in the figure, shear force = 1 t.

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MECHANICS OF MATERIALS
Example 4.08
Determine the max. pitch of rivets if the rivets 13 mm diam. and
the allowable stresses are av= 1.12 t/cm2, Fb= 2.8 t/cm2

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MECHANICS OF MATERIALS
Example 4.08
Determine the max. pitch of rivets if the rivets 13 mm diam. and the
allowable stresses are av= 1.12 t/cm2, Fb= 2.8 t/cm2

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