ME2112 (Part 1) Chap 3 - 1 ME2112 (Part 1) Chap 3 - 2

Chapter 3 Shear Stresses in Laterally Loaded Learning Objectives:

Symmetrical Beams
In this Chapter, we dealt with calculation of shear force and bending
moment when different types of beams are subjected to various kinds of
loads. In this chapter, we will discuss shear stresses associated with the
shear force V or Fxy .
To study the distribution of the shear stresses, a comparison of the
magnitudes of the shear and bending stresses, and the design of
beams.

FxyQ
or  xy 
Ib

Railroad ties act as beams that support very large Some common formulas for stress analysis
transverse shear loadings. As a result, if they are and design of beam structures.
Shear flow in a wide-flange
made of wood, they will tend to split at their ends, beam.
where the shear loads are the largest.

ME2112 (Part 1) Chap 3 - 3 ME2112 (Part 1) Chap 3 - 4

Contents: Shear Stress in a Straight Beams

• Shear Stresses in Beams
• Shear Stress Distribution in Rectangular Transverse shear stress always has its associated longitudinal
Beams shear stress acting along longitudinal planes of the beam.
• Shear Stresses in Beams of Circular Cross
Section
• Shear Stress Distribution in Flanged Beams
• Comparison of Shear and Bending Stresses
• Design of Prismatic Beams
References:
• Ugural, A. C., Mechanics of Materials, John Wiley & Sons,
Inc, 2008.
• Hibbeler, R. C., Mechanics of Materials, 8th SI Edition,
Pearson, Prentice-Hall, 2011.
ME2112 (Part 1) Chap 3 - 5 ME2112 (Part 1) Chap 3 - 6

P
• Effects of Shear Stresses:
C
h
A L/2 L/2 B
P/2 P/2
P
C
• Warping of cross section: A
B
x
Note:
1. Warping” violates the assumptions of
P
“plane section remains plane” in M xz
flexure and torsion formulae. C
 xx Compressive stress on top
2. However, we can ignore the cross- Tensile stress on bottom
section warping due to small shear
A
stress compared with normal stress. x Fxy gives  xy
This is true for most common case of
slender beam, i.e. one that has a small
depth compared with its length. Bending moment induces normal bending stresses in the direction
of the beam axis. Shear force induces shear stresses.

ME2112 (Part 1) Chap 3 - 7 ME2112 (Part 1) Chap 3 - 8

Consider an elemental length x of a beam where the shear force

2P
is constant but there is a variation in the bending moment. e.g. a
C
simply-supported beam with a central point load. h
A a a B
2P
P P
C x
Fxy
h P
A a
y M xz
a B
Fxy M xz  M xz P x

P P x Fxy N.A. M xz M xz  M xz
M xz
Fxy
P
Compressive x x x
P x Normal stress
distribution N.A.

M xz M xz  M xz
M xz
Tensile

x x x
ME2112 (Part 1) Chap 3 - 9 ME2112 (Part 1) Chap 3 - 10

When deriving the formula for shear stress, we will consider the general case Consider the portion of the beam element above a vertical distance
of loading for beams such as following cases.
y from the centroid of the cross-section; i.e. we have made an
imaginary horizontal cut at y and chosen the upper element which
has a surface exposed by the cut. We follow the Ugural’s sign
A simply supported beam with a convention for the free-body diagram.
vertical plane of symmetry that supports
concentrated, distributed loads and b
Fxy
bending moments. x A*
 xx 2
Fxy
Fyx  xx1
M xz y y Ugural’s sign convention

N.A.
 xx 2  xx1
x
z M xz  M xz Fyx y

A cantilever beam with a vertical plane of M xz

symmetry that supports concentrated and M xz  M xz
distributed loads. Profile view

ME2112 (Part 1) Chap 3 - 11 ME2112 (Part 1) Chap 3 - 12

M xz y
b Using  xx   , we obtain
Fxy Iz
x A*  xx 2  xx1
Fxy ( M xz  M xz ) y M y
M xz  xx 2
Fyx y  A*

Iz
dA  Fyx   *  xz dA  0
A Iz
Fyx  xx1
( M xz  M xz ) y M y
y y M xz  M xz M xz  Fyx    * dA   * xz dA
Plane 2 M xz  M xz A Iz A Iz b
dA* Fxy
N.A. M xz x A*
Plane 1
x
Profile view  Fyx  
Iz  * ydA
A
 xx 2
Fxy
z M xz
Dividing by x and letting x  0 Fyx  xx1
Force acting on differential element dA equals to  xx1dA (plane 1)
* and taking the limit, we get y y M xz  M xz
Plane 2
*
dA N.A.
dFyx
Force acting on area A* is  *  xx1dA and towards right. 1 dM xz
A
dx

I z dx  * ydA
A
Plane 1
x
z
Similarly, force acting on area (pane 2) towards left side is Fyx   *  xx 2dA Q   * ydA  A* y (first moment of area about the z-axis)
A A

*
A : area of the cross-section isolated by the horizontal cut; i.e. above the
Force equilibrium in the axial direction 
A*
 xx1dA  Fyx    xx1dA  0
A* location of the shear stress being determined (i.e. above y)
y : vertical distance between the centroidal axis and the CG of isolated section A*
ME2112 (Part 1) Chap 3 - 13 ME2112 (Part 1) Chap 3 - 14

Centroid of an Area M    Fdx  (area under shear force curve)


Since M xz   Fxy dx , we differentiate with respect to x

dM xz
dx
  Fxy or 
dM xz
dx
 Fxy note :
d
dx
 F dx   F
xy xy

dFyx 1 dM xz
as
dx

I z dx A*
ydA

dFyx 1  dM xz  1 FxyQ
    A* ydA  ( Fxy ) A y 
*

dx I z  dx  Iz Iz

Note : Q   * ydA  A* y
A

dF yx This term is known as the “shear force per unit length” or shear
flow. The shear flow is useful in the study of connection in section
dx
of a built-up beams formed by joining two or more materials.

ME2112 (Part 1) Chap 3 - 15 ME2112 (Part 1) Chap 3 - 16

Shear stress Example 3.1

b
Fxy Determine the shear stress distribution in a beam of rectangular cross-
shear force x A*
 yx   xx 2 section ( b  h ) subjected to the loading shown below.
area Fxy
dFxy Fyx  xx1
 M xz y y 2P
b  dx C y
N.A.
Since  yx   xy A
h
a y a B
z x
M xz  M xz
1 dFyx dFyx1 P
  xy  as  ( Fxy ) A* y P
b dx dx Iz
Fxy
1 Fxy * P
 Ay
b Iz P x

1 Fxy * F Q
The Shear Formula  xy  A y  xy (3.1)
b Iz I zb
ME2112 (Part 1) Chap 3 - 17 ME2112 (Part 1) Chap 3 - 18

Solution. By using the shear formula, we have

Consider the cross-section at y-y.
h   1h 
P   y1 b  y1    y1 
 xy      
2 2 2
Fxy A* y
 xy   yx  1 3
bh b
I zb P
12
Fxy  P at section y - y h  1  h 
P   y1     y1 
h   2  
2 2  P
A*    y1 b 
1 3
2  12
bh
1h 
y  y1    y1  6 P  h  
2

22   3    y12 
bh  2  
1
I z  bh 3 3P 3P
12 At y1  0,  xy   max   (3.2)
2bh 2 A
A: area of cross-section

ME2112 (Part 1) Chap 3 - 19 ME2112 (Part 1) Chap 3 - 20

Limitations on the Use of Shear Formula:

y
FxyQ
 xy   ydA  yA
(compressive)
 xx (-ve) where Q  *

I zt A*
M M
x N. A.
P
• For narrow beams ( b  0.5h ), the solutions are in reasonably good.
 avg 
A
 xx (+ve) • For square beams ( b  h ), the maximum shear stress error is about 13%.
(tensile) • For beams with b  4h, the maximum shear stress error is about 100%.
 max 
3P • Clearly, shear formula developed is only applicable to narrow beams.
2A Bending stress distribution
• The shear formula is particularly useful, as beams of single or composite
narrow rectangular cross-sectional forms are often employed in practice.
Shear stress distribution

The shear stress distribution is parabolic; maximum at the centroidal

axis and zero at the top and bottom. (Contrast this with the normal
stress distribution caused by bending, where the maximum stresses
occur furthest from the centroidal axis).
 ME2112 (Part 1) Chap 3 - 21 ME2112 (Part 1) Chap 3 - 22

Solution. From equilibrium RA  3 kN, RB  11 kN

Example 3.2

A box beam is loaded as shown in the Figure. The moment of

Pt E 40 mm
inertia I about neutral axis is 10.5  106 m 4. Draw shear force and from top
bending moment diagrams and calculate fibre

(a) the shearing and bending stresses at point E,

(b) the maximum shear and bending stresses.

Fxy (kN) 7

Pt E 40 yt A C B D x
mm from
3 E
top fibre 4 The shear force and
M xz bending moment
(kNm) diagrams can be
( M xz ) E 6 6
 4.5
1.5 2 constructed as shown.
 ( M xz ) E  4.5 kNm
A E C B D x

8

ME2112 (Part 1) Chap 3 - 23 ME2112 (Part 1) Chap 3 - 24

(a) Stresses at Point E. Fxy (kN) 7

Shear stress at point E
A1 Fxy  3 kN A C B D
yt x
A* y  80  40  (56.7  20)  109 m3 3 E
4
A2 A3  117.4  106 m 3
Fxy A* y  3  103  117.4  106
A4  xy  
Ib 10.5  106  b
To determine yt A2 & A3  3  103  117.4  106 A1 20 mm
yt
A1   0.839 MPa
 60  10.5  106  ( 2  0.02)
(120  80  40  60) yt  (80  40  20)  2(20  60)   40  
A4
 2 Q: What should the value of b be? A2 A3
120  yt
 20  If aa is slightly above b  80 mm
 20  80  100   If aa is slightly below b  20  20 mm
A4
 2 
So 80 mm? or (20+20 mm)?
7200 yt  64  103  168  103  176  103 Answer: 20+20 mm

408  103 Note: Along section aa, b is taken as 40 mm (20+20 mm)

 yt   56.7 mm as this will result in a higher shear stress and is ‘safer’
7200 from a design view point.
ME2112 (Part 1) Chap 3 - 25 ME2112 (Part 1) Chap 3 - 26

M xz (b) Largest Stresses.

Bending stress at point E (kNm) Fxy (kN) 7
4.5 6
Maximum shear stress occurs at N.A.
M xz  4.5 kNm A E C B D x Fmax  7 kN, 2  x  4 (m) A C B D x
My 3 E
 xx   8
4
I
16.7
4.5  103  (56.7  40)  103 Qmax  A1* y1  2 A2* y2  80  40  (56.7  20)  2  20  16.7 
 2
10.5  106
 7.16 MPa
 (80  40  36.7  2  20  16.7  8.4)  109 m3
 123  106 m3
A1 20 mm yt  56.7 mm
yt
 xx  7.16 MPa,  xy  0.839 MPa
FmaxQmax
A2 A3
 max 
0.839 MPa 120  yt Ib
40 mm
7  103  123  106 yt
E 7.16 MPa
A4

10.5  106  (2  0.02)
 2.05 MPa

ME2112 (Part 1) Chap 3 - 27 ME2112 (Part 1) Chap 3 - 28

For maximum bending stress,

Question:
M max  8 kNm at x  4 m
Is it okay if I calculate the value of Q
using the area below the neutral axis? M max y
A1 20 mm  max  
yt I
Answer: Yes 16.7 mm
 8  103  ( 63.3)  103

A2 A3 10.5  106
43.3 mm 120  yt
Calculate the value of Q below the N.A.  48.2 MPa (compression)
A4
120  yt  120  56.7  63.3  0.0633 m M xz (kNm) 4m
Maximum y values:
6
4.5
Qmax  0.08  (0.0633)  (0.0633 / 2)  0.04  (0.0433)  (0.0433 / 2) 56.3 mm or  63.3 mm

 123  106 m3 A E C B D x
Note:  xy (max) occurs at N.A.
FmaxQmax 7  103  123  106  xx (max) occurs at bottom fibre 8
 max    2.05 MPa
Ib 10.5  106  (2  0.02) (at support B).
 ME2112 (Part 1) Chap 3 - 29 ME2112 (Part 1) Chap 3 - 30

Shear Stress Distribution in Circular Cross Section Beams Shear Stress Distribution in Hollow Circular Beams
Consider a cantilever beam of circular cross section of radius c supporting a First, we find out the centroid of a semicircle. The area shown shaded in the Figure
concentrated load P at free end. The shear force is constant Fxy   P. The shear as dA  dd . This gives
stress distribution at line ab is not parallel to y axis as shown Fig. (b) and  c  
cannot be determined by   FxyQ / I z b. However, the max. shear stresses occur A   dd  ( c 2  b2 )  (c  b)( c  b)
along N. A. and parallel to y axis.
0 b 2 2

c 4 c 2  4 c  2 c 3 First moment Qx .
Iz  , Q  A* y   
4 2  3  3  c
Qx   ydA     sin d d
F Q 4F 4F A 0 b

b  2c   max  I b  3c 2  3 A
xy xy xy
(3.3)  c
z
   2 sin  dd
0 b
y
1 
 ( c 3  b3 )  sin d
3 0

x 2 2
 ( c 3  b3 )  ( c  b)( c 2  bc  b2 )
2r 3 3

r 4 Ordinate of centroid.
Ix  I y 
4 y
Qx

 ydA  Q
A x

4 c 2  bc  b2
A  dA A 3 cb
A

ME2112 (Part 1) Chap 3 - 31 ME2112 (Part 1) Chap 3 - 32

Equation  max  4 Fxy / 3 A is applicable with rigor to circular tube as shown in

the Figure since the same assumption as in the previous derivation are valid. Example 3.3

By the following equations, Determine the principal stresses of the cantilevered I-beam at
point A, B and C respectively.
x
Ax ,
i i
y
Ay i i

A i A i

where xi , yi represent the coordinates of the centroids of the component areas A 60 kN

Ai (i  1,2,, n ), we have 300mm 10.3mm 102mm
2 3 3
Q ( c2  c1 ), b  2( c2  c1 ), A   (c22  c12 ), 80mm
3 6.6mm 80mm

Iz  ( c24  c14 )
4 C B
Hence, the maximum shear stress is given by

FxyQ 4 Fxy c22  c2c1  c12

 max   (3.4)
I zb 3A c22  c12
Hollow circular cross-section
 ME2112 (Part 1) Chap 3 - 33 ME2112 (Part 1) Chap 3 - 34

Solution. • At B
• Loads: Shear force F  60 kN  18  103  0.0697
Fxy FxyQ
I z b A*
My B  xy  ydA 
Max. bending moment at fix support of the beam B     94.5 MPa, I zb
I 13.28  106
M  60(0.3)  18 kN 0.3 m FA* y B 60  103  78.6  106 Q   * ydA  A y *
60 kN B    53.8 MPa A

Ib 13.28  106  0.0066

• The 2nd moment of area I 2
94.5  94.5 
 1,2      53.8  118.8 MPa,  24.6 MPa
2
1 2  2 
I (102  1603  95.4  139.43 )  13.28  106 mm4 Fxy FxyQ
I z b A*
 xy  ydA 
12 I zb  ( 1 ,  2 ,  3 )  (118.8,  24.6, 0) 10.3mm 102mm A
A* y B  102  10.3  74.85  78.6  103 mm3
Q   * ydA  A* y
A* yC  A* y B  6.6  69.7  34.85  94.6  103 mm3
A
B 80mm
• At C 6.6mm C 80mm
• At A 6
10.3mm 102mm FA yC 60  10  94.6  10
* 3
A
 C  0,  C    64.8 MPa
Ib 13.28  106  0.0066
My A  18  103  0.08 80mm
A     108.4 MPa,  A  0 B
 ( 1 ,  2 ,  3 )  (64.8,  64.8, 0)
I 13.28  106 6.6mm C 80mm x y   y 
2

 1, 2    x    xy2
 ( 1 ,  2 ,  3 )  (108.4, 0, 0) x y
2  2 
x  y 
2

 1, 2       xy
2

2  2 

ME2112 (Part 1) Chap 3 - 35 ME2112 (Part 1) Chap 3 - 36

Solution. The geometry properties of the section are

Example 3.4
A  c 2  (0.04) 2   16 (10-4 ) m 2 ,
An 80 mm diameter cantilever aluminum bar is loaded as shown in
d 4 
the Figure. Allowable stresses in tension and shear on a section 320 I  (0.08) 4  64 (108 ) m 4
mm from the free end are 90 MPa and 50 MPa, respectively. Let 64 64
T  0.2 R Nm and P  20R Nm . Find the largest value of the vertical J  2 I  128 (108 ) m 4
load R.
The normal stress at all points of the bar is
P 20 R 12,500 R
 x   
A 16 (10 )
4

and the torsional stress at the outer fiber of the bar is
Tc 0.2 R(0.04) 6250 R
t    
J 128 (108 ) 
The max. tensile stress occurs as point B of the section concerned. Hence,
for a  320 mm , we have
Mc 0.32 R(0.04) 20,000 R
 x   
I 64 (108 ) 
 ME2112 (Part 1) Chap 3 - 37 ME2112 (Part 1) Chap 3 - 38

Since Q  As y  (c / 2)( 4c / 3 ) and b  2c , the maximum direct shearing

2
Stress at Point B. Similarly, at Point B as shown Fig. (c), the max. principal
stress at point A (the centroid z axis of the cross-section) is Fxy FxyQ stress and max. shearing stress are found as
I z b A*
 xy  ydA 
Fxy   R I zb
F Q 4F 4R 833R 2 2
 d  xy  xy    32,500 R  32,500 R   6250 R 
Iz 
c 4
3(16  104 )  Q   * ydA  A y *
( 1 ) B       
4
I zb 3A A
2  2    
Stress at Point A. The max. principal stress and max. shearing stress at point A, 16,250 R 17,411R 33,661R
as shown in Fig. (b)   
  
2 2
12,500 R  12,500 R   6250 R 833R  17,411R x  y 
2
( 1 ) A         ( max )   max      xy2
2  2        2 
6250 R 9446 R 15,696 R
   Note that the stresses at B are more severe than those at A. Substituting
   the given data into the foregoing, we have
9446 R 33,661R
( max )  90(106 )  or R  8.4 kN
 
and
17,411R
50(106 )  or R  9 kN

The magnitude of the largest permissible load is therefore R  8.4 kN.

ME2112 (Part 1) Chap 3 - 39 ME2112 (Part 1) Chap 3 - 40

Comparison of Shear and Bending Stresses 3 Fxy 3 P / 2 3 P

Thus, max. shear force  max    (a)
2 A 2 bh 4 bh
Consider the bending of simply supported rectangular beam subjected to a central
load. The max. bending moment occurring at mid-span has a value of PL/4 and Mc ( PL / 4)( h / 2) 3 PL
and max. bending stress  max    (b)
the shear force has a constant value of P/2 between each support and load P. I bh 3 / 12 2 bh 2
 max 1  h 
The ratio  max /  max is given by    (c)
 max 2  L 
If, for instance, L  10h , the quotient is only 1/20. For a slender beam, h  L ,
the shearing stress  xy is therefor much smaller that of the bending stress  xx .
 xy  P/ 2 The applied load is primarily by the bending stress in a slender beam. We
emphasize that only in very short beams are the shear stresses likely to be
 P/ 2 x of importance in comparison with the bending stresses.
P
Mxz Mmax  PL/ 4

3P 3P
At y1  0,  xy   max  
2bh 2 A
L/2 x (Example 3.1)
 ME2112 (Part 1) Chap 3 - 41 ME2112 (Part 1) Chap 3 - 42

Example 3.5 Solution. Assume the most likely failure point is at fixed end through H.
The effect of shear in the stress distribution is neglected.
The part of hydraulic controlled loader arm is depicted in the Figure. The arm is
made of steel tubing, for which the ultimate stresses in tension and shear are The location of the critical point is at K, where the maximum moment and
 u  450 MPa, and  u  290 MPa, respectively. The dimensions of the member are the shear force are
c2  60 mm, c1  45 mm, L  2.4 mm. Find the maximum stress and factor of M   PL  10( 2.4)  24 kNm
safety.
Fxy   P  10 kN

The cross-sectional area properties are z

A   ( c22  c12 )   (602  452 )  4948  103 mm2

 
I ( c24  c14 )  (604  454 )  6.958  106 mm4
z 4 4

The maximum tensile stress due to the bending occurs at point K.

Mc2 24(103 )(0.06)

 max     207 MPa
I 6.958(106 )

ME2112 (Part 1) Chap 3 - 43 ME2112 (Part 1) Chap 3 - 44

The maximum shearing stress takes place at the neutral axis z and is parallel to Example 3.6
y axis. By Eq. (3.4), we have
As the user tighten a lug nut on a lug bolt of an all-
4 Fxy c22  c2c1  c12 4(10  103 ) 602  (60)( 45)  452
 max   terrain vehicle, a force F is applied to the wrench as
3A c2  c1
2 2
3( 4.948  103 ) 602  452 shown in the Fig. (a). The model of the wrench of
 3.98 MPa diameter d and length L is illustrated in Fig. (b). The
wrench is made of a high strength steel with yield
This is a very low stress for the specified material. The bending stress strength in tension  Y and yield strength in shear  Y .
vanishes at the neutral axis,  H  0. The factor of safety is therefore The data are as follows:

u 450 d  20 mm, L  300 mm, F  500 N

n   2.17
 max 207  Y  345 MPa,  Y  210 MPa

Find: (a) The maximum bending stress and the

z
maximum shear stress in the wrench. (b) Factor of
safety
(b)
Assumption: The load F acts perpendicular to the axis
of the wrench in the vertical (xy) plane.
ME2112 (Part 1) Chap 3 - 45 ME2112 (Part 1) Chap 3 - 46

Solution. (a) The properties of the circular cross-sectional area of the From inspection, we see that the maximum tensile stress is at a stress element A
wrench are on the top surface at left end, while the largest shear stress occurs at an element
d 20 point B at the neutral axis along longitudinal axis of the wrench as shown in the
c   10 mm  0.01 m Figure. The bending moment M at the left end and the shear force Fxy at any
2 2
Cross-section are
d 2  (20)2 M   FL  500(0.3)  150 Nm
A   314.159 mm2  314.159  106 m 2
4 4 Fxy   F  500 N
d 4  (20)4
I   7.854  103 mm4  7.854  109 m 4 Hence, the stresses at A and B are respectively:
64 64
Mc 4F
 max   ,  max  xy
I 3A

Fxy y
N
z A
Fxy y
B
z A
d  20 mm B

d  20 mm

ME2112 (Part 1) Chap 3 - 47

Upon substituting the numerical values into the preceding equations, we obtain
the maximum stresses:
Mc 150(0.01)
 max     191 MPa
I 7.854(109 )
4F 4(500)
 max  xy    2.12 MPa
3A 3(314.159  106 )

(b) The factor of safety against yielding in bending is

Y 345
n   1.81
 max 191

The maximum shear stress, -2.12 MPa, is very low compared with the shear
yield strength of the steel.