Chapter 7

Transverse Shear
Shear in Straight Members
Shear in Straight Members
• In general, a beam will
support both shear and
moment.
• The shear V is the result of a
transverse shear-stress
distribution that acts over
the beam’s cross section.
• Due to the complementary
property of shear, this stress
will create corresponding
longitudinal shear stresses
which will act along
longitudinal planes of the
beam as shown in the figure.
Shear in Straight Members
• As a result of the shear
stress, shear strains will be
developed and these will
tend to distort the cross
section in a rather complex
manner.
• When a shear V is applied to
the bar, it tends to deform
into the pattern shown in
the figure.
• This non-uniform shear-
strain distribution will cause
the cross section to warp.
Shear in Straight Members
• As a result, when a beam is subjected to both
bending and shear, the cross section will not remain
plane as assumed in the development of the flexure
formula.
• Although this is the case, it can be generally assumed
that the cross-sectional warping due to shear is small
enough so that it can be neglected.
• This assumption is particularly true for the most
common case of a slender beam; that is, one that
has a small depth compared with its length.
The Shear Formula
The Shear Formula
• Consider the horizontal force
equilibrium of a portion of the
element taken from the beam.
• This distribution is caused by the
bending moments M and M + dM.
The Shear Formula
• Consider the shaded top portion of the element that has been
sectioned at y’ from the neutral axis.
• This segment has a width t at the section, and the two cross-
sectional sides each have an area A’.
• Because the resultant moments on each side of the element
differ by dM, it can be seen that 𝛴Fx = 0 will not be satisfied
unless a longitudinal shear stress acts over the bottom face of
the segment.
• We will assume this shear stress is constant across the width t
of the bottom face and acts on the area t dx.
The Shear Formula
• Applying the equation of horizontal force
equilibrium, and using the flexure formula, we have
The Shear Formula
• Solving for 𝜏 we get

• This equation can be simplified by noting that V =

dM / dx.
• Also, the integral represents the moment of the area
A’ about the neutral axis and denoted by Q.
The Shear Formula
• Thus,

• And the final result is therefore,

The Shear Formula
The Shear Formula
• The equation is referred to as the shear formula.
• Although in the derivation we considered only the shear
stresses acting on the beam’s longitudinal plane, the
formula applies as well for finding the transverse shear
stress on the beam’s cross-section.
• Recall that these stresses are complementary and
numerically equal.
• Also, because the flexure formula was used in the
derivation, it is necessary that the material behave in a
linear elastic manner and have a modulus of elasticity
that is the same in tension as it is in compression.
Example 7.1
• The solid shaft and tube are subjected to the shear
force of 4 kN. Determine the shear stress acting over
the diameter of each cross section.
Example 7.1
• Using the table on the inside front cover, the
moment of inertia of each section is,
Example 7.1
Example 7.1
• Applying the shear
formula where t = 0.1 m
for the solid section,
and t = 0.03(2) = 0.06 m
for the tube, we have,
Example 7.2
• Determine the distribution of the shear stress over
the cross section of the beam.
Example 7.2
• The distribution can be
determined by finding the
shear stress at an arbitrary
height y from the neutral
axis, and then plotting this
function.
• Here, the dark coloured
area will be used for Q.
• Hence,
Example 7.2
• Applying the shear formula, we have
Example 7.2
• This result indicates that the
shear-stress distribution over
the cross section is parabolic.
• As shown in the figure, the
intensity varies from zero at
the top and bottom, y = ± h / 2,
to a maximum value at the
neutral axis, y = 0.
• Specifically, since the area of
the cross section is A = bh, then
at y = 0 we have
Example 7.2
Example 7.3
• A steel wide-flange
beam has the
dimensions shown. If
it is subjected to a
shear of V = 80 kN,
plot the shear-stress
distribution acting
over the beam’s
cross-sectional area.
Example 7.3
• Since the flange and web are rectangular elements,
then like the previous example, the shear-stress
distribution will be parabolic and in this case it will
vary in the manner shown in the figure.
• Due to symmetry, only the shear stresses at points
B’, B and C have to be determined.
• To show how these values are obtained, we must
first determine the moment of inertia of the cross-
sectional area about the neutral axis.
Example 7.3
Example 7.3

• For point B’, tB’ = 0.3 m, and A’ is the dark shaded

area shown in the figure. Thus,
Example 7.3

• For point B, tB = 0.015 m and QB = QB’. Hence

Example 7.3
• For point C, tC = 0.015 m and A’ is
the dark shaded area shown in the
figure. Considering this area to be
composed of two rectangles, we
have
Example 7.3
Example 7.3
• Note that most of the shear stress occurs in the web
and is almost uniform throughout its depth, varying
from 22.6 MPa to 25.2 MPa.
• It is for this reason that for design, some design
codes permit the use of calculating the average
shear stress on the cross section of the web rather
than using the shear formula.
Example 7.4
• The beam is made from two boards. Determine the
maximum shear stress in the glue necessary to hold
the boards together along the seam where they are
joined.
Example 7.4
• The support reactions and the shear diagram for the
beam are shown in the figure. It is seen that the
maximum shear in the beam is 19.5 kN.
Example 7.4
• The centroid and therefore the neutral axis will be
determined from the reference axis placed at the bottom of
the cross-sectional area.
Example 7.4

• The moment of inertia, about the neutral axis is

therefore,
Example 7.4

• The top board (flange) is being held onto the

bottom board (web) by the glue, which is applied
over the thickness t = 0.03 m.
• Consequently A’ is defined as the area of the top
board. We have,
Example 7.4
• Applying the shear formula yields
Example 7.4
Exercises
Exercise 1
• If the beam is subjected to a shear force of V = 100 kN,
determine the shear stress developed at point A.
Represent the state of stress at A on a volume element.
Exercise 2
• Determine the absolute maximum shear stress
developed in the beam.
Exercise 3
• If the beam is subjected to a shear force of V = 20 kN,
determine the maximum shear stress developed in
the beam.
Exercise 4
• If the wide-flange beam is
subjected to a shear of V = 20 kN,
(a) Determine the shear stress on
the web at A. Indicate the
shear-stress components on a
volume element located at this
point.
(b) Determine the maximum shear
stress in the beam.
(c) Determine the shear force
resisted by the web of the
beam.
Exercise 5
• If the beam is subjected to a
shear of V = 15 kN, determine
the web’s shear stress at A
and B. Indicate the shear-
stress components on a
volume element located at
these points. Show that the
neutral axis is located at y =
0.1747 m from the bottom and
INA = 0.2182 x 10-3 m4.
Exercise 6
• Determine the largest
shear force V that the
member can sustain if
the allowable shear
stress is 𝜏allow = 8 ksi.
• If the applied shear force
V = 18 kip, determine the
maximum shear stress in
the member.
Exercise 7
• The wood beam has an
allowable shear stress of
𝜏allow = 7 MPa. Determine
the maximum shear
force V that can be
applied to the cross
section.
Exercise 8
• Determine the maximum
shear stress in the strut if it is
subjected to a shear force of
V = 600 kN.
• Determine the maximum
shear force V that the strut
can support if the allowable
shear stress for the material
is 𝜏allow = 45 MPa.
• Plot the intensity of the shear
stress distributed over the
cross section of the strut if it
is subjected to a shear force
of V = 600 kN.
Exercise 9
• Determine the
shear stress at
point B on the web
of the cantilevered
strut at section a–a.
• Determine the
maximum shear
stress acting at
section a–a of the
cantilevered strut.
Exercise 10
• Determine the maximum shear stress in the T-beam at
point C. Show the result on a volume element at this point.