Apago PDF Enhancer
420
Shearing Stresses in Beams
and Thin-Walled Members
Turning our attention to thin-walled members possessing no
plane of symmetry, we now consider the case of an angle shape
subjected to a vertical load P. If the member is oriented in such a
way that the load P is perpendicular to one of the principal centroi-
dal axes Cz of the cross section, the couple vector M representing
the bending moment in a given section will be directed along Cz
(Fig. 6.55), and the neutral axis will coincide with that axis (cf. Sec.
4.13). Equation (4.16), therefore, is applicable and can be used to
compute the normal stresses in the section. We now propose to de-
termine where the load P should be applied if Eq. (6.6) is to define
the shearing stresses in the section, i.e., if the member is to bend
without twisting.
Let us assume that the shearing stresses in the section are defined
by Eq. (6.6). As in the case of the channel member considered earlier,
the elementary shearing forces exerted on the section can be expressed
as dF 5 q ds, with q 5 VQyI, where Q represents a first moment
with respect to the neutral axis (Fig. 6.56a). We note that the resultant
of the shearing forces exerted on portion OA of the cross section is a
force F
1
directed along OA, and that the resultant of the shearing
forces exerted on portion OB is a force F
2
along OB (Fig. 6.56b). Since
both F
1
and F
2
pass through point O at the corner of the angle, it
follows that their own resultant, which is the shear V in the section,
must also pass through O (Fig. 6.56c). We conclude that the mem-
ber will not be twisted if the line of action of the load P passes
through the corner O of the section in which it is applied.
y
M
N.A.
C
A
B
Fig. 6.55 Beam without plane
of symmetry.
y
dF q ds
N.A.
C
A
B
O
(a) Shear stresses (b) Resultant forces on elements (c) Placement of V to eliminate twisting
V
A
O
B
F
1
F
2
A
O
B
Fig. 6.56
The same reasoning can be applied when the load P is perpen-
dicular to the other principal centroidal axis Cy of the angle section.
And, since any load P applied at the corner O of a cross section can
be resolved into components perpendicular to the principal axes, it
follows that the member will not be twisted if each load is applied
at the corner O of a cross section. We thus conclude that O is the
shear center of the section.
Angle shapes with one vertical and one horizontal leg are
encountered in many structures. It follows from the preceding dis-
cussion that such members will not be twisted if vertical loads are
applied along the center line of their vertical leg. We note from
Fig. 6.57 that the resultant of the elementary shearing forces exerted
on the vertical portion OA of a given section will be equal to the
bee80288_ch06_380-435.indd Page 420 10/28/10 8:03:03 PM user-f499bee80288_ch06_380-435.indd Page 420 10/28/10 8:03:03 PM user-f499 /Volumes/201/MHDQ251/bee80288_disk1of1/0073380288/bee80288_pagefiles/Volumes/201/MHDQ251/bee80288_disk1of1/0073380288/bee80288_pagefiles