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SEGI UNIVERSITY KOTA DAMANSARA

B.ENG (HONS) CIVIL ENGINEERING

STRUCTURAL ANALYSIS – ECS 3213

SHEAR CENTRE

Name Student ID

Biplab kashyapi Sukd1601456

Date of Experiment : 13th October 2017

Submission of Report : 26th October 2017
Submitted To : Mr. Ir Pan
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TABLE OF CONTENTS
ABSTRACT 3

OBJECTIVE 3

APPARATUS 3

INTRODUCTION AND THEORY 4

PROCEDURE 5

RESULTS & CALCULATIONS 6

DISCUSSION 10

CONCLUSION 10

REFERENCE 11

APPENDIX 11
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ABSTRACT:

This report presents the details of an experimental study on the shear centre of a channel. “C”
channels are commonly used as flexural members in buildings, to support the weight of the roof
or as wall cladding framing and it is important to understand how it behaves under its certain
position of loading.

OBJECTIVE:

The objective of this experiment is to calculate shear Centre in different section and compare those
value with the theoretical value which can be found by calculating from the data we found from
the lab.

APPARATUS:

1. Thin bar.
2. 2 Dial gauge.
3. Set of weights.
4. Measuring ruler.
5. Vanier caliper.
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INTRODUCTION AND
THEORY:

The shear Centre is the point where a force

can be applied to cause the section to bend without any twisting or torsion. Thus on symmetrical
sections the shear Centre is usually located on the Centre of twist of that section, which coincides
with the centroid of the beam as the shear Centre can be found at the intersection of the X and Y
axis of symmetry.

Figure 1 – Shear Centre

However, when it comes to unsymmetrical section (i.e. equal angle, unequal angle, or channel
section), the position of shear Centre would not coincide with the centroid of the section as a set
of forces must be in equilibrium with the applied vertical force so that it will not be twisted.
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When a force is applied at any point on a section that are symmetrical in only one axis, bending
of the section will occur and eventually leads to torsion. The shear flow distribution in the
flanges and web produces resultant forces in each member. Thus, a resultant moment will be
obtained when moments are summed about a point. This resultant moment is known as a torque
or couple which causes the twisting of the member.

To avoid twisting of the member, the load applied needs to be located in certain point with
eccentricity, e from the centroid of the section. Otherwise in a simpler form of explanation, shear
Centre is defined as the point on the beam section where load is applied and no twisting is
produced

In order to determine the position of shear Centre, formulas can be derived from the shear flow
theory. Thus formulas for section C-Channel section, Unsymmetrical I-Section and Extended C-
Channel section are derived for the ease of calculation. The derivation can be referred to
Appendix A, Appendix B and Appendix C respectively. The derived formulas are as shown:

PROCEDURE:

1. The length, height and thickness of the thin bar were measured and recorded.

2. The two dial gauge plungers were set to the machined surfaces and attached plate when no load
are on the thin bar the dial gauge reading was then recorded.

3 .The thin bar was positioned initially at the outer-most notch from the web and was then loaded
with 20 N weight.
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4. Then the left- hand (LH) and right – hand (RH) dial gauge reading (resultant deflection) were
recorded.

5. The load was removed from the first hanger and moved to the second hole and the resultant
deflection was recorded.
6. Step 3 was repeated until all the holes were loaded and the results were recorded. The values
are tabulated under the results section the graph of deflection against distance of the loading was
plotted.

RESULTS & CALCULATIONS:

EXPERIMENTAL VALUES
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M1 M2
LOAD HOLES DEFLECTION DEFLECTION
INITIAL FINAL INITIAL FINAL

20 H1 82.5 67 15.5 45.5 55 -10.5

20 H2 79 68.5 10.5 48 53.5 -5.5

20 H3 78 70 8 48 52 -4

20 H4 77.5 72 5.5 48 51 -3

20 H5 77.5 74 3.5 48 49.5 -1.5

20 H6 77.5 76 1.5 48 49 -1

20 H7 78 78.5 0.5 48 48 0

20 H8 78 80 -2 48 47 1

20 H9 78 82.5 -4.5 48 45 3

20 H10 78 85 -7 48 43.5 5.5

20 H11 78 87 -9 47.5 43 4.5

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Relationship b/w Deflection and no of holes

20

15
deflection 10^-2mm 10

0
2 4 6 8 10 12 14 16 18 20 22
-5

-10

-15
No of holes

LS DEFLECTION RS DEFLECTION

From the graph we can see our Experimental value is 14mm.

THERETICAL VALUE:

Height of the beam, h=98.34 mm

Width of beam, b=50.43 mm

Thickness of the thin bar, t=1.55mm

Ff d
𝑒=
V
Therefore Ff is resultant force on flange

V=P

P is resultant force on Web

e is location of Shear Centre ( depend on cross section)

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Calculating I value about X-X axis:

𝑡ℎ3 𝑡ℎ3 ℎ 2
𝐼= +2∗( + bt ( ) )
12 12 2

𝑡ℎ3 𝑏𝑡ℎ2
𝐼= +
12 2

𝑡ℎ2 ℎ
𝐼= ( + b)
2 6

Calculating Q Value (Q is calculated from where shear start flowing)

ℎ
𝑄= ( xt)
2

𝑉 ℎ𝑥𝑡
𝑞= ( )
I 2
𝑏
𝐹𝑓 = ∫ 𝑞 𝑑𝑥
0

𝑉 𝑏 ℎ𝑥𝑡
𝐹𝑓 = ∫ ( ) 𝑑𝑥
I 0 2

𝑉 ℎ𝑡𝑥 2 𝑏
𝐹𝑓 = ( )
I 4 0

𝑉 ℎ𝑡𝑏 2
𝐹𝑓 = ( )
I 4
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Taking moment about e

𝑉 ℎ𝑡𝑏 2
𝑉𝑒 = ( )∗h
I 4

ℎ2 𝑡𝑏 2
𝑒=( )
4

ℎ2 𝑡𝑏 2
( 4 )
𝑒=
I

ℎ2 𝑡𝑏 2
( 4 )
𝑒= 2
𝑡ℎ ℎ
2 ( 6 + b)

𝑏2
𝑒=
ℎ
2 ( 6 + b)

50.432
𝑒= 98.34 = 19.03 𝑚𝑚 (Theoretical Value)
2( +50.43)
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Percentage error = Theoretical – Exp x 100

Theoretical
19.03−14
= ∗ 100
19.03

Percentage Error = 26.43%

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DISCUSSION:

If we want to prevent twisting of any beam cross section the load must be applied through the
shear Centre .We used same load 20N by applying on 11 hole different distance from Centre
location .if the distance is far from the Centre location than the twisting and deflection
probability is more. While the twisting is decrease as we are going closer to Centre of location.
From the experiment, we noticed that the deflection is zero at the hole no 7 which mean that the
Centre of location is at the hole no 7.

According to our experimental result the shear Centre location value was 14mm while the
theoretical value was 19.03 mm which is not very closed to each other and the Error percentage
was 26.43 %.

By plotting graph we could find our experimental value, while we used integration method to get
our theoretical value.

We can summarized our errors cases in human being errors , Gauge dial was sensitive where it
was moving for any single motion by loads.

CONCLUSION:

In conclusion, twisting or torsion of the section will not occur if the force applied is located at
the shear Centre. Shear Centre can be determined by using the shear Centre formula or through
plotting a graph of deflection against load position using the experimental data obtained from the
experiment. Furthermore, the percentage error obtained for C-Channel section is 26.43 %,

Shear Centre is depend upon cross section, different shape has different equation like
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𝑏2
𝑒=
ℎ
2 ( 6 + b)

Equation for C Shape e

1
𝑒= 𝑉
√2

Equation for angle shape

REFERENCE:
R. C. Hibbeler. Mechanics of Materials. 2008. 8th Ed. SI Units. Singapore. Pearson Prentice Hall

Manual of the Mechanics of Materials Laboratory (CEMB121)

http://www.troutcreektruss.com/Products/Engineered-Roof-Trusses.php

http://www.academia.edu/17421200/SM_Lab_Report_1_Senior

https://www.scribd.com/doc/64631872/Ae-331-Laboratory-Report-4

APPENDIX: