Solid Mechanics I

Shear and bending

Stresses in Beams

Dr. Melvyn Alvarez Vera

4 Shear Stresses in Beams Beer, F. P. (2012). Mechanics of materials (6th ed.). McGraw-Hill.

Beams are classified according to the way they are supported, as shown in Fig. 4.2.
The distance L is called the span. Note that the reactions at the supports of the beams
in Fig. 4.2 a, b, and c involve a total of only three unknowns and can be determined
by the methods of statics. Such beams are said to be statically determinate.

(a) Simply supported beam (b) Overhanging beam (c) Cantilever beam

The reactions at the supports of the beams in Fig. 4.2 d, e, and f involve more than
three unknowns and cannot be determined by the methods of statics alone. The
properties of the beams with regard to their resistance to deformations must be
taken into consideration. Such beams are said to be statically indeterminate.

(d) Continuous beam (e) Beam fixed at one end and ( f ) Fixed beam
simply supported at the other end
Fig. 4.2 Common beam support configurations..
2
4 Shear Stresses in Beams Beer, F. P. (2012). Mechanics of materials (6th ed.). McGraw-Hill.

When a beam is subjected to transverse loads, the internal forces in any section of
the beam consist of a shear force V and a bending couple M. For example, a simply
supported beam AB is carrying two concentrated loads and a uniformly distributed
load (Fig. 4.3).

(a) Transversely-loaded beam

(b) Free-body diagram to find
support reactions

(c) Free-body diagram to find

internal forces at C

3
Fig. 4.3 Analysis of a simply supported beam.
4 Shear Stresses in Beams Beer, F. P. (2012). Mechanics of materials (6th ed.). McGraw-Hill.

Since the distribution of the normal stresses in a given section depends only upon the
bending moment M and the geometry of the section, the elastic flexure formulas
derived in unit 3, are used to determine the maximum stress, as well as the stress at
any given point 𝑀𝑐
𝜎𝑚 =
𝐼

and 𝑀𝑦
𝜎𝑥 = −
𝐼
where I is the moment of inertia of the cross section with respect to a centroidal axis
perpendicular to the plane of the couple, y is the distance from the neutral surface,
and c is the maximum value of that distance.
The maximum value 𝜎𝑚 of the normal stress can be expressed in terms of the section
modulus S. 𝑀
𝜎𝑚 =
𝑆
The fact that 𝜎𝑚 is inversely proportional to S underlines the importance of selecting
beams with a large section modulus.
1 3
𝐼 12 𝑏ℎ 1
𝑆= = = bℎ2
𝑐 ℎ 6
2
4
4 DESIGN OF PRISMATIC BEAMS FOR BENDING Beer, F. P. (2012). Mechanics of materials (6th ed.). McGraw-Hill.

The design of a beam is usually controlled by the maximum absolute value |M |max
of the bending moment that occurs in the beam. The largest normal stress sm in the
beam is found at the surface of the beam in the critical section where |M |max
occurs and is obtained by substituting |M |max for |M |.

|M |𝑚𝑎𝑥 𝑐
𝜎𝑚 =
𝐼
|M |𝑚𝑎𝑥
𝜎𝑚 =
𝑆
A safe design requires that 𝜎𝑚 < 𝜎𝑎𝑙𝑙 , where 𝜎𝑎𝑙𝑙 is the allowable stress for the
material used. Substituting 𝜎𝑎𝑙𝑙 for 𝜎𝑚 and solving for S yields the minimum allowable
value of the section modulus for the beam being designed:
|M |𝑚𝑎𝑥
𝑆𝑚𝑖𝑛 =
𝜎𝑚
Section moduli of various rolled-steel shapes are given in Tables.

5
4 DESIGN OF PRISMATIC BEAMS FOR BENDING Beer, F. P. (2012). Mechanics of materials (6th ed.). McGraw-Hill.

Select a wide-flange beam to support the 15-kip load as shown in Fig. The allowable
normal stress for the steel used is 24 ksi.

𝜎𝑎𝑙𝑙 = 24 𝑘𝑠𝑖

𝑉 = 15 𝑘𝑖𝑝𝑠

The minimum allowable section modulus

𝑀
𝜎𝑚 =
𝑆
Cantilevered wide-flange beam 𝑀𝑚𝑎𝑥
with end load. 𝑆𝑚𝑖𝑛 =
𝜎𝑚

𝑀𝑚𝑎𝑥 = 15 𝑘𝑖𝑝𝑠 8 𝑓𝑡 = 120 𝑘𝑖𝑝. 𝑓𝑡 = 1440 𝑘𝑖𝑝. 𝑖𝑛

1440 𝑘𝑖𝑝. 𝑖𝑛
𝑆𝑚𝑖𝑛 = = 60 𝑖𝑛3
24 ksi

6
4 DESIGN OF PRISMATIC BEAMS FOR BENDING Beer, F. P. (2012). Mechanics of materials (6th ed.). McGraw-Hill.

Select a wide-flange beam to support the 15-kip load as shown in Fig. The allowable
normal stress for the steel used is 24 ksi.

1440 𝑘𝑖𝑝. 𝑖𝑛
𝑆𝑚𝑖𝑛 = = 60 𝑖𝑛3
24 ksi

The most economical is W16X40

F.S. W18X50

Cantilevered wide-flange beam

with end load.
Shape Area in2 S in3
W21X44 13 81.6
W18X50 14.7 88.9 sigma 16 ksi
W16X40 11.8 64.7 sigma 22 ksi
W14X43 12.6 62.6
W12X50 14.6 64.2
W10X54 15.8 60 sigma 24 ksi
7
4 DESIGN OF PRISMATIC BEAMS FOR BENDING Beer, F. P. (2012). Mechanics of materials (6th ed.). McGraw-Hill.

A 5-m-long, simply supported steel beam AD is to carry the distributed and

concentrated loads shown. Knowing that the allowable normal stress for the grade of
steel is 160 MPa, select the wide-flange shape to be used.

D=58 kN
Ax=0
Ay=A=52 kN

20x

x/2 0m < x < 3m

VAB=52-20x

MAB=52x-(20x*x/2)
MAB=52x-10x2

8
4 DESIGN OF PRISMATIC BEAMS FOR BENDING Beer, F. P. (2012). Mechanics of materials (6th ed.). McGraw-Hill.

A 5-m-long, simply supported steel beam AD is to carry the distributed and

concentrated loads shown. Knowing that the allowable normal stress for the grade of
steel is 160 MPa, select the wide-flange shape to be used.

D=58 kN
Ax=0
Ay=A=52 kN

20(3)=60
1.5 X-1.5 3m < x < 4m

VBC=52-60=-8 kN

MBC=52x-(60*(x-1.5))
MBC=-8x+90 kN.m

9 x
4 DESIGN OF PRISMATIC BEAMS FOR BENDING Beer, F. P. (2012). Mechanics of materials (6th ed.). McGraw-Hill.

A 5-m-long, simply supported steel beam AD is to carry the distributed and

concentrated loads shown. Knowing that the allowable normal stress for the grade of
steel is 160 MPa, select the wide-flange shape to be used.

D=58 kN
Ax=0
Ay=A=52 kN

20(3)=60
1.5 X-1.5 4m < x < 5m

X-4 VCD=-58 kN
4m
MCD=-58x+290 kN.m

10 x
4 DESIGN OF PRISMATIC BEAMS FOR BENDING Beer, F. P. (2012). Mechanics of materials (6th ed.). McGraw-Hill.

A 5-m-long, simply supported steel beam AD is to carry the distributed and

concentrated loads shown. Knowing that the allowable normal stress for the grade of
steel is 160 MPa, select the wide-flange shape to be used.
4 DESIGN OF PRISMATIC BEAMS FOR BENDING Beer, F. P. (2012). Mechanics of materials (6th ed.). McGraw-Hill.

A 5-m-long, simply supported steel beam AD is to carry the distributed and

concentrated loads shown. Knowing that the allowable normal stress for the grade of
steel is 160 MPa, select the wide-flange shape to be used.
Minimum allowable section modulus
𝑀𝑚𝑎𝑥 67.7 𝑘𝑁. 𝑚
𝑆𝑚𝑖𝑛 = = = 422.5𝑥10−6 𝑚3
𝜎𝑎𝑙𝑙 160 MPa

𝑆𝑚𝑖𝑛 = 422.5𝑥103 𝑚𝑚3

The most economical is W360X32.9
F.S. W410X38.8
Shape Area mm2 S mm3
W410X38.8 4950 629
W360X32.9 4019 475
W310X38.7 4940 547
W250X44.8 5700 531
W200X46.1 5880 451