Structural Lab

Steel Beam Shear Stress

Here we will examine the strain gage rosette data from the steel
beam test.

Beam Test V and M Diagrams

Here are the internal

force diagrams
P
P
a

P
2

0
Pa
2

P
2

M
These moment diagrams assume that there is zero moment at each
end of the beam. In another part of this experiment we examine this
assumption and we find that this is not exactly true, but the shear diagram
does not change much if there are end moments unless the symmetry
assumption is not correct.

Strain Gage Rosettes

The beam has two
45 strain
gage rosettes
P
P
a
2
2

From each rosette, we can

determine the complete state
of stress at these two locations
on the beam

Recall that we require thr ee strain measurements to describe the

complete strain state at a point. In this experiment we have two strain gage
rosettes applied to the backside of the web of the beam. Therefore, we will
have two data points where the experimental state of strain, and therefore
stress, will be determined. Here we show two 45 degree rosettes oriented
with the center gage along the beam axis. Gages with other orientations may
be used.

Theoretical Shear Flow

In Mechanics we learned that the theoretical
shear flow (lbs/in) in a beam is given by:
VQ
f theor =
I

What is shear flow?

Q is the moment of the area on one side of the

point on the section where the stress is being
calculated
The shear flow represents the force over a unit length of the beam
that would be required to hold the beam together. If the beam started out
as two pieces separated along a horizontal line, and the two pieces were
welded together, the strength of the weld would have to be at least equal to
the shear flow. It would represent the required strength of a unit length of
the weld. It can also be used to determine how many nails are required to
hold together two pieces of a fabricated wooden beam.
The quantity Q is determined from statics.

Theoretical Shear Flow -Qweb

Q is the moment of the area on one side of the
point where the stress is being calculated
y
h
h/2

tw
*
*

bf

y tf
2

tf

f theor =

VQ
I

For a point
in the web:

y tf
h tf h

2

Q w = t f b f + y t f t w y +
2
2 2 2

Here we are examining a point in the web on the section below the
mid-height of the beam cross-section. The mid-height point is the centroid
of the area of the cross-section, and therefore the neutral axis of the
beam.
We take a section through the point we are looking at, identified by a
distance of y measured from the centroid, and examine either the area
above the point or the area below the point, it doesnt matter which area.
We then find the moment of this area, indicated by the variable Q, and we
find it to be a parabola as shown. On the right is a plot of the resulting
function f, the shear flow.

Theoretical Shear Flow -Qflange

flange
Q is the moment of the area on one side of the
point where the stress is being calculated
y
h

h/2

bf

f theor =

VQ
I

+y
h
2

Q f = y b f
2
2

For a point in
the flange:

Here we do the same thing for a point located in the flange of the
bean cross-section. Once again the quantity Q turns out to be a parabola,
but a different one. The complete function for f is shown on the right. Note
that it is parabolic, has zero value at the top and bottom, and is maximum at
the center, at the neutral axis. Note that f is described by 2 parabolic
functions, one in the web and another in the flanges.

Theoretical Shear Stress

In Mechanics we learned that the theoretical
shear stress (lbs/in2) in a beam is given by:
theor =

VQ
Ib

b is the thickness where the stress occurs:

b=tw in the web
b=bf in the flange
The shear stress is obtained by taking the shear flow and dividing it
by the thickness of the section at all points. Again, it is varies parabolically,
but now there is a noticeable corner at the junction of the web and the
flange. This occurs because the thickness changes from tw in the web to bf
in the flange. Since bf is much larger than tw, the shear stresses in the
flange are much smaller than they are in the flange.
This leads to the obvious result that the web supports most of the
shear, with not much in the flanges. Basically, the shear stresses in the
flanges are quite small and are frequently assumed to be negligibly small.
The web supports the shear. What do the flanges support? The bending,
since that is where the bending stresses are large.

Theoretical Shear Stress Distribution

Here is a larger plot of the shear stress through
the depth of the beam
y
h
h/2

tw
*
*

y tf
2

tf

theor =

VQ
Ib

bf
Q is the same parabolic set of functions as
before.
We see that the shear stresses are maximum at the neutral axis, are
zero at the top and bottom of the beam, and that they vary parabolically
through the depth.

Experimental Shear Stress

Since we have two strain gage rosettes, we
will have two data points

We take the three strains at each rosette and

use the strain transformation equations (or the
rosette spreadsheet) to find the normal strains
and the shear strains in the horizontal (x)
and vertical directions (y)
Then we use the 2-D Hookes Law to find the
stresses in these same x and y directions
The horizontal shear stress at each rosette
should compare with our calculated theor
From the strain gage rosette data we calculate the horizontal
(longitudinal) shear stress in the beam at the location of each rosette. We
must use the strain transformation equations and the 2-D Hookes Law.
These stresses should agree with the theoretical shear stress at the
location of each rosette.

Theoretical vs. Experimental Shear Stress

We take this shear stress in the x direction and
plot it on our graph of theor
y
h
h/2

tw
*
*

y tf
2

tf

theor =

x
x

VQ
Ib

bf
These points are plotted on the graph shown
How close are they to theor?
Since we only had 2 rosettes, we have only 2 data points. Here they
are plotted on the graph of the theoretical shear stress. What could explain
the differences between the theoretical values and the experimental data
points?