HORIZONTAL SHEAR STRESS IN BEAM

Let us consider a differential length dx of the beam shown

In this section,fv will be used for shearing stress instead of the standard
symbol .

For the upper shaded portion of the beam, the forces acting are the total normal forces FR
and FL due to the bending stresses to the left and to the right of the beam. These forces
will be resisted by the shearing force fvb dx acting at the boundary surface between the
shaded and the unshaded portions.

For equilibrium of the upper shaded portion

Where

But
where represents the shear at the section in , and
represents the first moment of an area of the shaded section about N.A. in mm3 which we
will denote as , then

()

PROBLEM 1
A timber beam 80 mm wide by 160 mm high is subjected to a vertical shear V = 40 kN.
Determine the shearing stress developed at layers 20 mm apart from the top to bottom of
the section.

Solution 1

Layer 1 (20 mm from top and bottom layers)

answer

Layer 2 (40 mm from top and bottom layers)

answer

Layer 3 (60 from top and bottom layers)

answer

Layer 4 (The Neutral Axis, NA)

answer

Checking:
For rectangular section
(ok!)

PROBLEM 2
The T section shown in Fig. P-572 is the cross-section of a beam formed by joining two
rectangular pieces of wood together. The beam is subjected to a maximum shearing force
of 60 kN. Show that the NA is 34 mm from the top and the INA = 10.57 106 mm4. Using
these values, determine the shearing stress (a) at the neutral axis and (b) at the junction
between the two pieces of wood.

Solution 2

(ok!)

By transfer formula for moment of inertia

Thus,

(ok!)

(a) At the Neutral Axis

answer

(b) At the junction between the two pieces of wood

Flange:

answer

Web:

answer

PROBLEM 3
Determine the maximum and minimum shearing stress in the web of the wide flange
section in Fig. P-575 if V = 100 kN. Also, compute the percentage of vertical shear
carried only by the web of the beam.

Solution 3

Where

Maximum horizontal shear stress occurs at the neutral axis

answer

Minimum horizontal shear stress in the web occurs at

the junction of flange and web

answer

The horizontal shearing stresses vary parabolically from the top to the bottom of the web.
Recall that the average height of parabolic segment is 2/3 of its altitude measured from its
base. Thus,

Shear force carried by web alone

Force = Stress Area

Percentage of shear force carried by web alone

answer

PROBLEM 4
Rework problem 3 assuming that the web is 200 mm instead of 160 mm.

Solution 4

Where

At the neutral axis

answer

At the junction of flange and web

Average shear stress

Shear force carried by web alone

Force = Stress Area

Percentage of shear force carried by web alone

answer

PROBLEM 5

SOLUTION 5

PROBLEM 6

SOLUTION 6

PROBLEM 7

SOLUTION 7

PROBLEM 8

SOLUTION 8