Shear Force
Shear Force
Shear Force
INTRODUCTION
A length of material support horizontally at two points in such a way that it will carry
vertical loads is called a beam. The loading perpendicular to its axis causes bending and
in most cases transverse shearing. In the simplest example the loads and supporting
reactions act in a vertical plane containing the longitudinal axis, and the beam has a
rectangular cross section.
The loads and the support reactions are the external forces acting on the beam and they
must be in equilibrium. But in order to study the strength of the beam it is necessary to
know how these external forces affect it. As the theory shows, the mathematical method
is to assume the beam is cut into two parts by a transverse section and then to examine
the equilibrium of each part. To maintain equilibrium it is evident that certain forces must
be introduced at the cut, and when the cut is not there these same forces exist internally in
the material of the beam.
In this experiment a horizontal beam has been actually cut into two part (A) and (B) by a
vertical cross section, and is then hold together with springs (or spring balance) which
must produce a system of forces equivalent to those which would normally exist
internally in the beam at that section if it had not been cut. Since the forces in part (A)
acting on part (B) must be equal and opposite to those in (B) acting on (A), it follows that
the same values will be obtained by working to the right or left of the section plane.
Given a horizontal beam with vertical loading the internal forces will be
1
In the experiment beam the second system of forces is replaced by compression at the
section plane in the beam and tension in the under slung spring.
Shear force is the algebraic sum of the loads to the right or left of the section or point.
B
RA
RB
Consider the vertical equilibrium of the part AX of the beam if it is cut by a section at X.
FX
FX
RA
B
RB
There must be a force Fx acting within the material of the beam such that
Fx = RA
and at the section the equal and opposite internal force Fx acting on the part XB is in
equilibrium with F and RB, that is
Fx = F - RB
Since
Fx - Fx = 0
RA (F RB) = 0
RA + RB = 0
Sign convention
Shear force is +ve if the left end is displaced upwards relative to the right end, likewise it
is ve if the right end is displaced upwards relative to the left end
+ve
Clockwise
-ve
Anticlockwise
-RB
Text book
The subject of shear force in beams and shear force diagrams is dealt with in the
following reference:
Structural Mechanics by Durka, Morgan & William
LIST OF PARTS
The standard set of items supplied (HST. 110) consists of:
3 - HST.905 Load hangers
2 - HST.906 Stands
1 - HTB.1
Text book
1 - 6mm
Allen key
1 - HST.9b
APPARATUS
(A)
(B)
Load
hanger
Stand
The experimental beam is in 2 parts, the smaller left hand part being (A) and the larger
right hand part being (B). At the section normal to the beam axis where they join a pair of
ball bearing rollers pinned in (B) runs on flat vertical tracks fixed in (A). To develop the
internal forces at the section an underslung tension spring and the roller bearings resist
the bending moment, while an overhung spring balance provides the vertical shearing
force. As the spring balance can resist shear only in one direction, it will be found that
there must always be a net downward load on (B). Nevertheless the design of the roller
bearing prevents the beam from sliding more than a few mm up or down at the normal
section.
Two end bearings on stands support the beam, and 3 stirrup shaped load hangers can be
threaded onto the 2 parts of the beam.
A spirit level is provided to help set up the beam. However, it is generally sufficient to
line up parts (A) and (B) by eye, and to re-align them by adjusting the screws on the
spring or spring balance each time the load is altered
OBJECTIVES
1. To observe and understand the action of a shear in a beam
2. To measure the shearing force at a normal section of a loaded beam and to check
its agreement with theory.
Procedure
Part 1
1
2
The beam supports is examined so that it has been fixed at 900 mm span and the
vertical section C is ensured is 300 mm from the left hand support of A.
The first load hanger is positioned at 100mm from A, then the second load is
positioned at the groove just to the right of the section C which is 310mm from A
and the third load is positioned 400mm from the right hand support B (400mm
from A)
The tensioning adjustment is adjusted on the under slung spring to align the beam
with the aid of a spirit level.
A 10 N weight is placed on the third hanger which is 400 mm from B and the
beam was re-aligned by adjusting the tensioning adjustment with the aid of a
spirit level.
The difference between the value with load and the no load datum value is the
shear at C due to the 10 N load
The 20 N load is removed from the third hanger and a 10 N load is placed on the
second hanger. The beam is re-aligned by the tensioning adjustment with the aid
of a spirit level and the reading of the spring balance is recorded.
10 Lastly, the 10 N load is transferred to the first hanger and the beam is re-align.
The spring balance force is recorded, which should be less than the datum value
thus showing that the shear at C is negative.
11 The result is tabulated in Table 1
Part 2
1.
2.
3.
4.
The beam is unloaded and the third hanger is moved to 300mm from B.
The beam is aligned and the new no load of the spring balance is noted.
Then a 5N load is placed on the first hanger and 12N load on the third hanger.
The balancing shears force of the realigned beam is recorded in the table
10
20
2.75
14.00
18.00
Shear force
(N)
1.00
3.00
Theoretical
(N)
4.44
8.89
0.23
0.34
10
2.75
14.00
Ratio of Experimental
Theoretical
Table 1 (b)
Shear force
(N)
1.5
Theoretical
(N)
6.56
0.23
10
2.75
3.00
Ratio of Experimental
Theoretical
Table 1 (c)
Load on 1st hanger ( N )
Spring balance force ( N )
Shear force
(N)
-0.5
Theoretical
(N)
-1.11
0.45
Ratio of Experimental
Theoretical
Part 1
900
500
310
Z
300
100
C
Z
W1
W2
W3
RA
(a) (1) W1 = 0N
W2 = 0N
W3 = 10N ( Load on 3rd hanger )
MA = 0 (Clockwise moment = Anticlockwise moment)
10(500) = RB (900)
RB = 5 N (Span B-C,-ve constant
V=0
RA + RB 10 = 0
RA + 5 10 = 0
RA = 4 N
Check:
MB = 0 (Clockwise +ve)
LHS = RA (900) 10(400)
LHS = 4 (900) 10(400)
RB
LHS = 0 L = RHS
Force (N)
2
0
0
200
400
600
-2
-4
-6
-8
Length (mm)
800
1000
(2)W1 = 0N
W2 = 0N
W3 = 20N ( Load on 3rd hanger )
MA = 0 ( Clockwise = Anticlockwise )
20(500) = RB (900)
RB = 11 N
V=0
RA + RB 20 = 0
RA + 11 20 = 0
RA = 8 N
Check:
MB = 0 (Assume +ve clockwise)
LHS = RA (900) 20(400)
=0
To the left of section X-X
Shear force, Qc = RA
=8 N
8.89 N(Span A-B, +ve constant )
Force (N)
5
0
0
100
200
300
400
500
600
-5
-10
-15
Length (mm)
b) W1 = 0 N
W2 = 10 N ( load on 2nd hanger )
W3 = 0 N
MA = 0 (Clockwise = Anticlockwise)
10(310) = RB (900)
RB = 3 N (Span B-C,-ve constant )
V=0
RA + RB 10 = 0
RA + 3 10 = 0
RA = 6 N (Span A-B , +ve constant )
Check:
MB = 0 (Assume +ve clockwise)
LHS = RA (900) 10(590)
LHS = 6 (900) 5900
LHS = 0
LHS = RHS
700
800
900
1000
Force (N)
4
2
0
0
200
400
600
-2
-4
Length (mm)
800
1000
c) W1 = 10 N
W2 = 0 N,
W3 = 0 N
MA = 0 (Clockwise = Anticlockwise)
10(100) = RB (900)
RB = 1 N
V=0
RA + RB - 10 = 0
RA + 1 10 = 0
RA = 8 N
Check!
MB = 0 (Assume +ve clockwise)
LHS = RA (900) 10(800)
LHS = 8 (900) 8000
LHS = 0
LHS = RHS
To the left of section Z-Z
Shear force, Qc = RA
=8
=8 N
8.89 N (Span A-B,+ve constant)
To the right of section Y-Y
Shear force, Qc = - RB
= - 1 N (Span B-C,-ve constant )
Force (N)
6
4
2
0
0
100
200
300
-2
400
500
600
700
800
900
1000
Length (mm)
Table 2
Load ( N ) at
positions
indicated
Balance force
(N)
Experimental
Theory
Ratio of
Experimental
/
Theoretical
Shear force
(N)
4.50
12
10.00
5.50
3.44
1.60
10
11.00
6.50
4.09
1.59
10
10
18.00
13.50
9.33
1.45
Part 2
900
600
310
W
300
100
A
X
Z
W W1
W2
RA
W3
RB
(a) W1 = 5 N
W2 = 0 N
W3 = 12 N
MA = 0 (Clockwise = Anticlockwise)
5(100) + 12(600) = RB (900)
RB = 8 N
V=0
RA + RB - 5 12 = 0
RA + 8 5 12 = 0
RA = 8 N
Check:
MB = 0 (Assume +ve clockwise)
LHS = RA (900) 5(800) 12(300)
LHS = 8 (900) 4000 3600
LHS = 0
LHS = RHS
To the left of section W-W
Shear force, Fc1 = RA
=8 N
8.44 N ( Span A-D,+ve constant )
To the left of section X-X
Shear force, Qc = RA 5
=8 5
=3 N
3.44 N ( Span D-E,+ve constant )
To the right of section Y-Y
Shear force, Fc2 = - RB
=-8 N
-8.56 N ( Span E-B,-ve constant )
2
0
-2 0
200
400
600
-4
-6
-8
-10
Length (mm)
(b) W1 = 5 N
W2 = 2 N
W3 = 10 N
MA = 0 (Clockwise = Anticlockwise)
5(500) + 2(310) + 10(600) = RB (900)
RB = 7
V=0
RA + RB 5 2 10 = 0
RA + 7
5 2 10 = 0
RA = 9
Check:
MB = 0 (Assume +ve clockwise)
LHS = RA (900) 5(800) 2(590) 10(300)
LHS = 9
LHS = 0
= RHS
800
1000
-5
52
=2
Force (N)
4
2
0
-2
100
200
300
400
500
-4
-6
-8
-10
Length (mm)
600
700
800
900
1000
(c) W1 = 5 N
W2 = 10 N
W3 = 10 N
MA = 0 (Clockwise = Anticlockwise)
5(100) + 10(310) + 10(600) = RB (900)
RB = 10 N
V=0
RA + RB 5 10 10 = 0
RA + 10 25 = 0
RA = 14 N
Check:
MB = 0 (Assume +ve clockwise)
LHS = RA (900) 5(800) 10(590) 10(300)
LHS = 14 (900) 4000 5900 3000
LHS = 0
To the left of section W-W
Shear force, Fc1 = RA
= 14
14.33 N ( Span A-D,+ve constant )
To the left of section X-X
Shear force, Qc = RA 5
= - 14 - 5
= 9 N 9.33 N ( Span D-C,+ve constant )
LHS
= RHS
Force (N)
10
5
0
0
100
200
300
400
500
-5
-10
-15
Length (mm)
600
700
800
900
1000
DISCUSSION
Percentage Difference =
x 100%
Part
Experiment
shear force (N)
Theoretical
shear force (N)
Percentage
difference (%)
1 (a)
1 (b)
1 (c)
1.00
1.50
-0.50
4.44
6.56
-1.11
-77.48
-77.13
-54.95
Part
Experiment
shear force (N)
Theoretical
shear force (N)
Percentage
difference (%)
2 (a)
2 (b)
2 (c)
1.00
1.25
3.50
3.44
4.09
9.33
-70.93
-69.44
-62.49
Average
Percentage
Difference (%)
69.85
Average
Percentage
Difference (%)
67.62
=
= 68.74 %
The overall average percentage difference for part 1 ( load 10 N on 3rd hanger, 2nd
hanger and 1st hanger ) is -77.48%, -77.13% and -54.95% accordingly while the
percentage difference for Part 2 is -70.93%, -69.44% and 62.49% respectively. Besides,
the average ratio experiment Qc / theory Qc for part 1( load 10 N on 3rd hanger, 2nd
hanger and 1st hanger ) is 0.23, 0.23 and 0.45 respectively whereas for part 2 (a, b, c) is
0.29, 0.31 and 0.38. Since the percentage difference for Part 1 and part 2 are greater than
10% and the average ratio experiment Qc / theory Qc for part 1 and part 2 is very small
or less than 0.5,thus this experiment result shows a huge difference compare to
theoretical values.It can be said that this experiment is considered failed.
The main reason that cause the experimental result totally deviated from the theoretical
value is the beam not in align and stable. The serious lacking of stability and alignment
has became the main error in this experiment.(beam keeps on drop when the experiment
is conducting ).This shows that the apparatus should be replace to a new one including
the adjustment spring which is already rusted.
Other than that, there are several minor errors such as external disturbance (wind) that
cause the hanger oscillates. This experiment should conduct in closed surrounding and
fan switch off.
Next,several readings should be taken to reduce random error,
Finally,the adjustment spring should change to a new one(high sensitivity) as it has low
sensitivity.
CONCLUSION
The action of shear in a beam is observed and the theory behind it is well understood. The
shear forced was determined and verified with the percentage error for Part 1 is -77.48 %,
-77.13% and -54.95% accordingly while the percentage difference for Part 2 is -70.93%,
-69.44% and -62.49% respectively .Hence, overall percentage different is very
high(68.74%) and the experimental Qc/Theory Qc value is very small shows that
experiment value is contradict to theoretical.