Course Number: CE 211

Course Title: Mechanics of Solids I

Lecture: 05
Determination of Shear Center
(For Fall 2019 Semester only)

Prepared by
Sabuj Chowdhury
Assistant Professor
Department of Civil Engineering
Ahsanullah University of Science and Technology
2
21 Shear Center
 The point where a shear force can act without producing any twist in the section.
 In general not the centroid, but a point through which a force transverse to the
axis of a beam section can act and not cause any twisting of the beam section.
 On symmetrical sections (both axis), shear center is the center of gravity of that
section.
 In unsymmetrical sections, if the external applied forces act through the centroid
of the section, then in addition to bending, twisting is also produced. To avoid
twisting, and cause only bending, it is necessary for the forces to act through the
particular point, which may not coincide with the centroid. The position of this
point is a function only of the geometry of the beam section. It is termed as shear
center.
 The shear center is always located on the axis of symmetry; therefore, if a
member has two axes of symmetry, the shear center will be the intersection of the
two axes.

Sabuj Chowdhury, Assistant Professor, Department of CE, AUST

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21 Physical Example

Bending + Torsion Bending + Torsion Pure Bending

Effect Effect Effect

Sabuj Chowdhury, Assistant Professor, Department of CE, AUST

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21 Problem 01
Show that for standard channel section of uniform thickness (t), flange width (b) and web depth (h), the
shear center can be expressed as
𝑏
𝑒=
2 + ℎ/3𝑏
Solution 01:
2 σ 𝑀𝐺 = 0 (↻ → +) σ 𝑀𝐺 = 0 (↺ → +)
𝑡ℎ3 ℎ 𝑡ℎ3 𝑏𝑡ℎ2
𝐼= + 2 𝑏𝑡 × = + ⇒ 𝐹1 × ℎ − 𝑉 × 𝑒 = 0 ⇒ −𝐹1 × ℎ + 𝑉 × 𝑒 = 0
12 2 12 2
⇒ 𝑉 × 𝑒 = 𝐹1 × ℎ ⇒ 𝑉 × 𝑒 = 𝐹1 × ℎ
ℎ 𝑥𝑡ℎ
𝑄 = 𝑥𝑡 × = (0 ≤ 𝑥 ≤ 𝑏) 𝐹1 ℎ 𝐹1 ℎ
2 2 ∴𝑒= ∴𝑒=
𝑉 𝑉
𝑥𝑡ℎ G
𝑉𝑄 𝑉×
𝑞= = 3 2 = 𝑉 × 6𝑥
𝐼 𝑡ℎ 𝑏𝑡ℎ2 ℎ2 + 6𝑏ℎ 𝑭𝟑 = 𝑭 𝟏
+
12 2
𝑽 t
𝑏 𝑏
𝑉 × 6𝑥 6𝑉 𝑏2 3𝑉𝑏 2
𝐹1 = න 𝑞𝑑𝑥 = න 2
ℎ + 6𝑏ℎ
𝑑𝑥 = 2
ℎ + 6𝑏ℎ
×
2
= 2
ℎ + 6𝑏ℎ
h 𝑭𝟐
0 0

3𝑉𝑏 2 3𝑏 2
𝐹1 ℎ ℎ2 + 6𝑏ℎ × ℎ 3𝑏 2
𝑏 x
𝑒= = = = 3𝑏 = 𝑭𝟏
𝑉 𝑉 ℎ + 6𝑏 ℎ + 6𝑏 2 + ℎ/3𝑏
3𝑏 e b
Sabuj Chowdhury, Assistant Professor, Department of CE, AUST
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21 Problem 02
Find the approximate location of shear center for a beam with the cross section of the channel
shown in Fig. 02.

2 mm

200 mm

100 mm

Fig. 02

Sabuj Chowdhury, Assistant Professor, Department of CE, AUST

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21 Solution 02
2 × 2003
𝐼= + 2 × 100 × 2 × 1002 = 5.33 × 106 𝑚𝑚4
12
𝑄 = 2𝑥 × 100 = 200𝑥 (0 ≤ 𝑥 ≤ 100)
𝑉𝑄 𝑉 × 200𝑥
𝑞= = 6
= 3.75 × 10−5 × 𝑉𝑥
𝐼 5.33 × 10
100 100
−5 −5
1002
𝐹1 = න 𝑞𝑑𝑥 = න 3.75 × 10 × 𝑉𝑥 𝑑𝑥 = 3.75 × 10 ×𝑉× = 0.1875 𝑉
0 0 2

Now,
σ 𝑀𝐺 = 0 (↻ → +) G
⇒ 𝐹1 × ℎ − 𝑉 × 𝑒 = 0 𝑭𝟑 = 𝑭𝟏
⇒ 𝑉 × 𝑒 = 𝐹1 × ℎ 𝑽 2 mm
𝐹1 ℎ 0.1875 𝑉 × 200
∴𝑒= = = 37.5 𝑚𝑚 200 mm
𝑭𝟐
𝑉 𝑉

Check: x
𝑭𝟏
𝑏 100
𝑒= = = 37.5 𝑚𝑚
2 + ℎ/3𝑏 2 + 200 e 100 mm
3 × 100

Sabuj Chowdhury, Assistant Professor, Department of CE, AUST

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21 Problem 03
Find the approximate location of shear center for a beam with the cross section of the channel
shown in Fig. 03.

10 mm

110 mm

115 mm

Fig. 03

Sabuj Chowdhury, Assistant Professor, Department of CE, AUST

8
21 Solution 03
10 × 1103
𝐼= + 2 × 115 × 10 × 552 = 8.07 × 106 𝑚𝑚4
12
𝑄 = 10𝑥 × 55 = 550𝑥 (0 ≤ 𝑥 ≤ 115)
𝑉𝑄 𝑉 × 550𝑥
𝑞= = 6
= 6.82 × 10−5 × 𝑉𝑥
𝐼 8.07 × 10
115 115
−5 −5
1152
𝐹1 = න 𝑞𝑑𝑥 = න 6.82 × 10 × 𝑉𝑥 𝑑𝑥 = 6.82 × 10 ×𝑉× = 0.45 𝑉
0 0 2

Now,
σ 𝑀𝐺 = 0 (↻ → +) G
⇒ 𝐹1 × ℎ − 𝑉 × 𝑒 = 0 𝑭𝟑 = 𝑭𝟏
⇒ 𝑉 × 𝑒 = 𝐹1 × ℎ 𝑽 10 mm
𝐹1 ℎ 0.45 𝑉 × 110
∴𝑒= = = 49. 59 𝑚𝑚 110 mm
𝑉 𝑉 𝑭𝟐

Check: x
𝑭𝟏
𝑏 115
𝑒= = = 49.59 𝑚𝑚
2 + ℎ/3𝑏 2 + 110 e 115 mm
3 × 115

Sabuj Chowdhury, Assistant Professor, Department of CE, AUST

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21 Problem 04
Determine the location of the shear center O of a thin walled beam of uniform thickness (t)
having the cross-section shown in Fig. 04.

a b

O
h
e

Fig. 04

Sabuj Chowdhury, Assistant Professor, Department of CE, AUST

10
21 Solution 04
2
𝑡 × ℎ3 ℎ a b
𝐼= +2× 𝑎+𝑏 𝑡×
12 2
G
ℎ 𝑥𝑡ℎ 𝑭𝟓 = 𝑭𝟐 𝑭𝟒 = 𝑭𝟏
𝑄1 = 𝑥𝑡 × = (0 ≤ 𝑥 ≤ 𝑏)
2 2
ℎ 𝑦𝑡ℎ V
𝑄2 = 𝑦𝑡 × = (0 ≤ 𝑦 ≤ 𝑎)
2 2 h
O 𝑭𝟑
𝑥𝑡ℎ
𝑉𝑄1 𝑉× 𝑉×𝑥 e
𝑞1 = = 2 =
𝐼 2 ℎ2
𝑡 × ℎ3 ℎ + 𝑎+𝑏 ×h
+2× 𝑎+𝑏 𝑡× 6
12 2
𝑦𝑡ℎ 𝑭𝟐 𝑭𝟏
𝑉𝑄2 𝑉× 𝑉×𝑦
𝑞2 = = 2 =
𝐼 3 2 ℎ2
𝑡×ℎ ℎ + 𝑎+𝑏 ×h y x
+2× 𝑎+𝑏 𝑡× 6
12 2
𝑏 𝑏
𝑉×𝑥 𝑏2 𝑉 𝑉𝑏2
𝐹1 = න 𝑞1 𝑑𝑥 = න 2 𝑑𝑥 = 2 × = 2
0 0 ℎ + 𝑎+𝑏 ×h ℎ
+ 𝑎+𝑏 ×h
2 ℎ
+2 𝑎+𝑏 ×h
6 6 3
𝑎 𝑎
𝑉×𝑦 𝑎2 𝑉 𝑉𝑎2
𝐹2 = න 𝑞2 𝑑𝑦 = න 2 𝑑𝑦 = 2 × = 2
0 0 ℎ ℎ 2 ℎ
+ 𝑎+𝑏 ×h + 𝑎+𝑏 ×h +2 𝑎+𝑏 ×h
6 6 3

Sabuj Chowdhury, Assistant Professor, Department of CE, AUST

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21 Solution 04
a b
Now, G
σ 𝑀𝐺 = 0 (↻ → +) 𝑭𝟓 = 𝑭𝟐 𝑭𝟒 = 𝑭𝟏

V
⇒ 𝐹1 × ℎ − 𝐹2 × ℎ − 𝑉 × 𝑒 = 0
O 𝑭𝟑 h
𝑉𝑏 2 𝑉𝑎2
⇒𝑉×𝑒 = ×ℎ− ×ℎ e
ℎ2 ℎ2
+2 𝑎+𝑏 ×h +2 𝑎+𝑏 ×h
3 3
𝑭𝟐 𝑭𝟏
𝑏2 𝑎2
⇒𝑒= −
ℎ ℎ
+2 𝑎+𝑏 +2 𝑎+𝑏 y x
3 3
𝑏 2 − 𝑎2
⇒𝑒=
ℎ
+2 𝑎+𝑏
3
3 𝑏 2 − 𝑎2
∴𝑒=
ℎ+6 𝑎+𝑏

Sabuj Chowdhury, Assistant Professor, Department of CE, AUST

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21 Problem 05
Determine the location of the shear center for the beam having the cross-sectional dimensions
shown in Fig. 05. All members are to be considered thin-walled and calculations should be
based on the centerline dimensions.

6 mm 20 mm

O
50 mm
e

2 mm

Fig. 05

Sabuj Chowdhury, Assistant Professor, Department of CE, AUST

13
21 Solution 05
2 × 503
𝐼= + 2 × 26 × 2 × 252 = 85.83 × 103 𝑚𝑚4 6 mm 20 mm
12
𝑄1 = 2𝑥 × 25 = 50𝑥 (0 ≤ 𝑥 ≤ 20) G
𝑄2 = 2𝑦 × 25 = 50𝑦 (0 ≤ 𝑦 ≤ 6) 𝑭𝟓 = 𝑭𝟐 𝑭𝟒 = 𝑭𝟏
𝑉𝑄1 𝑉 × 50𝑥
𝑞1 = = 3
= 5.83 × 10−4 𝑉𝑥 V
𝐼 85.83 × 10
𝑉𝑄2 𝑉 × 50𝑦 O 𝑭𝟑 50 mm
𝑞2 = = 3
= 5.83 × 10−4 𝑉𝑦
𝐼 85.83 × 10 e
20 20
𝐹1 = න 𝑞1 𝑑𝑥 = න 5.83 × 10−4 𝑉𝑥 𝑑𝑥 = 0.1166 𝑉 2 mm
0 0
6 6
𝑭𝟐 𝑭𝟏
𝐹2 = න 𝑞2 𝑑𝑦 = න 5.83 × 10−4 𝑉𝑦 𝑑𝑦 = 0.0105 𝑉
0 0
y x
σ 𝑀𝐺 = 0 (↻ → +)
⇒ 𝐹1 × ℎ − 𝐹2 × ℎ − 𝑉 × 𝑒 = 0
⇒ 𝑉 × 𝑒 = 𝐹1 × ℎ − 𝐹2 × ℎ Check:
⇒ 𝑉 × 𝑒 = 0.1166 𝑉 × 50 − 0.0105 𝑉 × 50 3 𝑏 2 − 𝑎2 3 202 − 62
𝑒= = = 5.301 𝑚𝑚
⇒ 𝑒 = 0.1166 × 50 − 0.0105 × 50 ℎ+6 𝑎+𝑏 50 + 6 26
∴ 𝒆 = 𝟓. 𝟑𝟎𝟓 𝒎𝒎

Sabuj Chowdhury, Assistant Professor, Department of CE, AUST

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21 Problem 06
Determine the location of the shear center for the beam having the cross-sectional dimensions
shown in Fig. 06. All members are to be considered thin-walled and calculations should be based on
the centerline dimensions.
40 mm

10 mm

O
80 mm
e

2 mm

2 mm
10 mm
Fig. 06

Sabuj Chowdhury, Assistant Professor, Department of CE, AUST

15
21 Solution 06
2 × 1003 40 mm
𝐼= + 2 × 40 × 2 × 502 + 40 × 2 × 402 = 822.67 × 103 𝑚𝑚4
12
G
𝑄1 = 2𝑥 × 50 = 100𝑥 (0 ≤ 𝑥 ≤ 40) 𝑭𝟓 = 𝑭𝟏 10 mm
𝑄2 = 2𝑦 × 40 = 80𝑦 (0 ≤ 𝑦 ≤ 40)
𝑉𝑄1 𝑉 × 100𝑥
𝑞1 = = = 1.216 × 10−4 𝑉𝑥 V 𝑭𝟒 = 𝑭𝟐
𝐼 822.67 × 103
𝑉𝑄2 𝑉 × 80𝑦
𝑞2 = = 3
= 9.724 × 10−5 𝑉𝑦
𝐼 822.67 × 10
40 40
O 𝑭𝟑 80 mm
𝐹1 = න 𝑞1 𝑑𝑥 = න 1.216 × 10−4 𝑉𝑥 𝑑𝑥 = 0.0973 𝑉
0 0 e
40 40
𝐹2 = න 𝑞2 𝑑𝑦 = න 9.724 × 10−5 𝑉𝑦 𝑑𝑦 = 0. 0778 𝑉 2 mm
0 0
y
𝑭𝟐
σ 𝑀𝐺 = 0 (↻ → +)
⇒ 𝐹1 × 100 + 𝐹2 × 90 − 𝐹2 × 10 − 𝑉 × 𝑒 = 0 2 mm
𝑭𝟏 10 mm
⇒ 𝑉 × 𝑒 = 𝐹1 × 100 + 𝐹2 × 90 − 𝐹2 × 10
⇒ 𝑉 × 𝑒 = 0.0973 𝑉 × 100 + 0. 0778 𝑉 × 80 x
⇒ 𝑒 = 0.0973 × 100 + 0.0778 × 80
∴ 𝒆 = 𝟏𝟓. 𝟗𝟓𝟒 𝒎𝒎

Sabuj Chowdhury, Assistant Professor, Department of CE, AUST

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21 Problem 07
Determine the location of the shear center w.r.t. the center of the web for the beam having the cross-
sectional dimensions shown in Fig. 07. All members are to be considered thin-walled and
calculations should be based on the centerline dimensions.
25 mm 50 mm

25 mm

25 mm

25 mm

25 mm 2.5 mm 2.5 mm

Fig. 07

Sabuj Chowdhury, Assistant Professor, Department of CE, AUST

17
21 Solution 07
2.5 × 1003
𝐼= + 2 × 25 × 2.5 × 502 + 50 × 2.5 × 252 = 877.08 × 103 𝑚𝑚4
12
𝑄1 = 2.5𝑥 × 50 = 125𝑥 (0 ≤ 𝑥 ≤ 25) 25 mm 50 mm
𝑄2 = 2.5𝑦 × 25 = 62.5𝑦 (0 ≤ 𝑦 ≤ 50) G
𝑉𝑄1 𝑉 × 125𝑥 𝑭 𝟓 = 𝑭𝟏
𝑞1 = = 3
= 1.4252 × 10−4 𝑉𝑥 25 mm
𝐼 877.08 × 10
𝑭𝟒 = 𝑭𝟐
𝑉𝑄2 𝑉 × 62.5𝑦
𝑞2 = = 3
= 7.1259 × 10−5 𝑉𝑦
𝐼 877.08 × 10
V
25 25 25 mm
𝐹1 = න 𝑞1 𝑑𝑥 = න 1.4252 × 10−4 𝑉𝑥 𝑑𝑥 = 0.04454 𝑉 𝑭𝟑
0 0
e
50 50 25 mm y
𝐹2 = න 𝑞2 𝑑𝑦 = න 7.1259 × 10−5 𝑉𝑦 𝑑𝑦 = 0. 08907 𝑉 𝑭𝟐
0 0

σ 𝑀𝐺 = 0 (↻ → +)
25 mm 2.5 mm 2.5 mm
⇒ 𝑉 × 𝑒 − 𝐹1 × 100 + 𝐹2 × 75 − 𝐹2 × 25 = 0
⇒ 𝑉 × 𝑒 = 𝐹1 × 100 − 𝐹2 × 50
x 𝑭𝟏
⇒ 𝑉 × 𝑒 = 0.04454 𝑉 × 100 − 0. 08907 𝑉 × 50
⇒ 𝑒 = 0.04454 × 100 − 0.08907 × 50
∴ 𝒆 = 𝟎. 𝟎𝟎𝟎𝟓 𝒎𝒎 ≈ 𝟎 𝒎𝒎

Sabuj Chowdhury, Assistant Professor, Department of CE, AUST

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21 Problem 08
Determine the location of the shear center w.r.t. the center of the web for the beam having the cross-
sectional dimensions shown in Fig. 08. All members are to be considered thin-walled and
calculations should be based on the centerline dimensions.
50 mm 50 mm

25 mm

25 mm

25 mm

25 mm 2.5 mm 2.5 mm

Fig. 08

Sabuj Chowdhury, Assistant Professor, Department of CE, AUST

19
21 Solution 08
2.5 × 1003
𝐼= + 2 × 50 × 2.5 × 502 + 50 × 2.5 × 252 = 989.583 × 103 𝑚𝑚4
12
𝑄1 = 2.5𝑥 × 50 = 125𝑥 (0 ≤ 𝑥 ≤ 50) 50 mm 50 mm
𝑄2 = 2.5𝑦 × 25 = 62.5𝑦 (0 ≤ 𝑦 ≤ 50) G
𝑉𝑄1 𝑉 × 125𝑥 𝑭𝟓 = 𝑭𝟏
𝑞1 = = 3
= 1.263 × 10−4 𝑉𝑥
𝐼 989.583 × 10 25 mm
𝑉𝑄2 𝑉 × 62.5𝑦 𝑭𝟒 = 𝑭𝟐
𝑞2 = = 3
= 6.316 × 10−5 𝑉𝑦
𝐼 989.583 × 10
50 50 V
𝐹1 = න 𝑞1 𝑑𝑥 = න 1.263 × 10−4 𝑉𝑥 𝑑𝑥 = 0.158 𝑉 25 mm
0 0
50 50
𝑭𝟑
𝐹2 = න 𝑞2 𝑑𝑦 = න 6.316 × 10−5 𝑉𝑦 𝑑𝑦 = 0. 079 𝑉 e
0 0 25 mm y
𝑭𝟐
σ 𝑀𝐺 = 0 (↻ → +)
⇒ 𝑉 × 𝑒 − 𝐹1 × 100 + 𝐹2 × 75 − 𝐹2 × 25 = 0
25 mm 2.5 mm 2.5 mm
⇒ 𝑉 × 𝑒 = 𝐹1 × 100 − 𝐹2 × 50
⇒ 𝑉 × 𝑒 = 0.158 𝑉 × 100 − 0. 079 𝑉 × 50
⇒ 𝑒 = 0.158 × 100 − 0.079 × 50 𝑭𝟏
x
∴ 𝒆 = 𝟏𝟏. 𝟖𝟓 𝒎𝒎

Sabuj Chowdhury, Assistant Professor, Department of CE, AUST

 20
21 Solution 08 (Action Shear Flow)
2.5 × 1003
𝐼= + 2 × 50 × 2.5 × 502 + 50 × 2.5 × 252 = 989.583 × 103 𝑚𝑚4
12
𝑄1 = 2.5𝑥 × 50 = 125𝑥 (0 ≤ 𝑥 ≤ 50) 50 mm 50 mm
𝑄2 = 2.5𝑦 × 25 = 62.5𝑦 (0 ≤ 𝑦 ≤ 50)
𝑉𝑄1 𝑉 × 125𝑥 𝑭𝟏
𝑞1 = = 3
= 1.263 × 10−4 𝑉𝑥 x
𝐼 989.583 × 10 25 mm
𝑉𝑄2 𝑉 × 62.5𝑦 𝑭𝟐
𝑞2 = = 3
= 6.316 × 10−5 𝑉𝑦
𝐼 989.583 × 10
50 50 V y
𝐹1 = න 𝑞1 𝑑𝑥 = න 1.263 × 10−4 𝑉𝑥 𝑑𝑥 = 0.158 𝑉 25 mm
0 0
50 50
𝑭𝟑
𝐹2 = න 𝑞2 𝑑𝑦 = න 6.316 × 10−5 𝑉𝑦 𝑑𝑦 = 0. 079 𝑉 e
0 0 25 mm
𝑭𝟒 = 𝑭𝟐
σ 𝑀𝐺, 𝐴𝑐𝑡𝑖𝑜𝑛 (↻ → +) = 𝑉 × 𝑒
σ 𝑀𝐺, 𝐴𝑐𝑡𝑖𝑜𝑛 ↻ → + = 𝐹1 × 100 − 𝐹2 × 75 + 𝐹2 × 25
= 𝐹1 × 100 − 𝐹2 × 50 25 mm 2.5 mm 2.5 mm
𝑉 × 𝑒 = 𝐹1 × 100 − 𝐹2 × 50
⇒ 𝑉 × 𝑒 = 0.158 𝑉 × 100 − 0. 079 𝑉 × 50 G
⇒ 𝑒 = 0.158 × 100 − 0.079 × 50 𝑭𝟓 = 𝑭𝟏
∴ 𝒆 = 𝟏𝟏. 𝟖𝟓 𝒎𝒎

Sabuj Chowdhury, Assistant Professor, Department of CE, AUST

 21
21 References
1. Engineering Mechanics of Solids by Egor P. Popov, 2nd Edition, Published by Pearson

Sabuj Chowdhury, Assistant Professor, Department of CE, AUST