Shear Stresses in Beams

Shearing stress distribution in typical cross-sections:
Let us consider few examples to determine the sheer stress distribution in a given X- sections
Rectangular x-section:
Consider a rectangular x-section of dimension b and d
A is the area of the x-section cut off by a line parallel to the neutral axis.
centroid of A from the neutral axis
This shows that there is a parabolic distribution of shear stress with y.

The maximum value of shear stress would obviously beat the location y = 0.
is the distance of the
Therefore the shear stress distribution is shown as below.
It may be noted that the shear stress is distributed parabolically over a rectangular cross-section, it is
maximum at y = 0 and is zero at the extreme ends.
I - section :
Consider an I - section of the dimension shown below.
The shear stress distribution for any arbitrary shape is given as
Let us evaluate the quantity

area and web area
Flange area
Web Area
, the
quantity for this case comprise the contribution due to flange
To get the maximum and minimum values of substitute in the above relation.
y = 0 at N. A. And y = d/2 at the tip.
The maximum shear stress is at the neutral axis. i.e. for the condition y = 0 at N. A.
Hence,
..........(2)
The minimum stress occur at the top of the web, the term bd 2 goes off and shear stress is given by
the following expression
............(3)
The distribution of shear stress may be drawn as below, which clearly indicates a parabolic
distribution
Note: from the above distribution we can see that the shear stress at the flanges is not zero, but it has
some value, this can be analyzed from equation (1). At the flange tip or flange or web interface y =
d/2.Obviously than this will have some constant value and than onwards this will have parabolic
distribution.
In practice it is usually found that most of shearing stress usually about 95% is carried by the web,
and hence the shear stress in the flange is neglible however if we have the concrete analysis i.e. if we
analyze the shearing stress in the flange i.e. writing down the expression for shear stress for flange
and web separately, we will have this type of variation.
This distribution is known as the top hat distribution. Clearly the web bears the most of the shear
stress and bending theory we can say that the flange will bear most of the bending stress.
Shear stress distribution in beams of circular cross-section:
Let us find the shear stress distribution in beams of circular cross-section. In a beam of circular crosssection, the value of Z width depends on y.
Using the expression for the determination of shear stresses for any arbitrary shape or a arbitrary
section.
Where y dA is the area moment of the shaded portion or the first moment of area.
Here in this case dA' is to be found out using the Pythagoras theorem
The distribution of shear stresses is shown below, which indicates a parabolic distribution
Principal Stresses in Beams

It becomes clear that the bending stress in beam x is not a principal stress, since at any distance y
from the neutral axis; there is a shear stress( or xy we are assuming a plane stress situation)
In general the state of stress at a distance y from the neutral axis will be as follows.
At some point P' in the beam, the value of bending stresses is given as
After substituting the appropriate values in the above expression we may get the inclination of the
principal planes.
Illustrative examples: Let us study some illustrative examples, pertaining to determination of
principal stresses in a beam
1. Find the principal stress at a point A in a uniform rectangular beam 200 mm deep and 100 mm
wide, simply supported at each end over a span of 3 m and carrying a uniformly distributed load of
15,000 N/m.
Solution: The reaction can be determined by symmetry
R1 = R2 = 22,500 N
consider any cross-section X-X located at a distance x from the left end.
Hence,
S. F at XX =22,500 15,000 x
B.M at XX = 22,500 x 15,000 x (x/2) = 22,500 x 15,000 . x2 / 2
Therefore,
S. F at X = 1 m = 7,500 N
B. M at X = 1 m = 15,000 N
Now substituting these values in the principal stress equation,

We get 1 = 11.27 MN/m2
2 = - 0.025 MN/m2
Bending Of Composite or Flitched Beams
A composite beam is defined as the one which is constructed from a combination of materials. If such
a beam is formed by rigidly bolting together two timber joists and a reinforcing steel plate, then it is
termed as a flitched beam.
The bending theory is valid when a constant value of Young's modulus applies across a section it
cannot be used directly to solve the composite-beam problems where two different materials, and
therefore different values of E, exists. The method of solution in such a case is to replace one of the
materials by an equivalent section of the other.
Consider, a beam as shown in figure in which a steel plate is held centrally in an appropriate
recess/pocket between two blocks of wood .Here it is convenient to replace the steel by an equivalent
area of wood, retaining the same bending strength. i.e. the moment at any section must be the same
in the equivalent section as in the original section so that the force at any given dy in the equivalent
beam must be equal to that at the strip it replaces.
Hence to replace a steel strip by an equivalent wooden strip the thickness must be multiplied by the
modular ratio E/E'.
The equivalent section is then one of the same materials throughout and the simple bending theory
applies. The stress in the wooden part of the original beam is found directly and that in the steel found
from the value at the same point in the equivalent material as follows by utilizing the given relations.
Stress in steel = modular ratio x stress in equivalent wood

The above procedure of course is not limited to the two materials treated above but applies well for
any material combination. The wood and steel fletched beam was nearly chosen as a just for the sake
of convenience.
Assumption
In order to analyze the behavior of composite beams, we first make the assumption that the materials
are bonded rigidly together so that there can be no relative axial movement between them. This
means that all the assumptions, which were valid for homogenous beams are valid except the one
assumption that is no longer valid is that the Young's Modulus is the same throughout the beam.
The composite beams need not be made up of horizontal layers of materials as in the earlier example.
For instance, a beam might have stiffening plates as shown in the figure below.
Again, the equivalent beam of the main beam material can be formed by scaling the breadth of the
plate material in proportion to modular ratio. Bearing in mind that the strain at any level is same in
both materials, the bending stresses in them are in proportion to the Young's modulus.

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Shearing stress distribution in typical cross-sections:

This shows that there is a parabolic distribution of shear stress with y.

is the distance of the

Therefore the shear stress distribution is shown as below.

The shear stress distribution for any arbitrary shape is given as

Let us evaluate the quantity

quantity for this case comprise the contribution due to flange

Principal Stresses in Beams

Solution: The reaction can be determined by symmetry

Now substituting these values in the principal stress equation,

Stress in steel = modular ratio x stress in equivalent wood

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