What is Shear force: Definition and 104 Discussions

In solid mechanics, shearing forces are unaligned forces pushing one part of a body in one specific direction, and another part of the body in the opposite direction. When the forces are colinear (aligned into each other), they are called compression forces. An example is a deck of cards being pushed one way on the top, and the other at the bottom, causing the cards to slide. Another example is when wind blows at the side of a peaked roof of a house - the side walls experience a force at their top pushing in the direction of the wind, and their bottom in the opposite direction, from the ground or foundation. William A. Nash defines shear force in terms of planes: "If a plane is passed through a body, a force acting along this plane is called a shear force or shearing force."

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  1. sHatDowN

    Engineering Distance is a problem -- find shear force and bending moment diagram

    This is our sample problem find shear force and bending moment diagram after calculations supports reactions and drawing shear force diagram we have a problem ..... Distance between F to O
  2. A

    Loader Boom maximum bending moment

    TL;DR Summary: Finding maximum bending moment on a boom I am trying to solve the problem stated in the picture below. The answers are given. I've manage to find the Normal and Shear Forces but I'm stuck at the bending moment. According to my analysis the maximum bending moment is +7208,1...
  3. Svelte1

    How is the slope of the shear force equal to the negative of the load?

    At any point between A and C the point load is negative (downwards), in the shear force diagram: positive is upwards, so this slope is negative. The equation says the slope should be positive. Is this something to do with shear force sign convention?
  4. A

    I Water has no shear force but it can be sheared?

    Is it true that water has no shearing force but it can be sheared? If so, would the sides of a glass holding water shear the water?
  5. L

    Engineering Cantilever and encastré beams: bending moment and shear force

    I have to discuss the Bending moment and shear forces in cantilever and encastré beams. Does anybody know of good websites showing that is simple to understand showing. All i can find is how to calculate and bending moments and shear force digrams which don't really understand. Can...
  6. L

    Engineering Bending motion and shear force

    A cantilever beam 2 meter in length, 5KN act at point (A) of the beam. There is point x it looks like half way along the beam. how do i workout the distance of point X so work out the magnidues of Ra and Rb so i can go onto working out bending motion and shear force?ruff idea i had 1) Ra x 2...
  7. B

    Engineering Calculate shear force and bending moments with a UDL and a point load

    Hello, I am looking for some help. I have completed the question below. I will show my answers. My answer: I believe this to be correct. If it is not would appreciate someone letting me know so i can correct. Now i am attempting this question: Could anyone help, or point me in the...
  8. A

    Shear Force on Bolts mounting gearbox to engine

    Hello, I have designed a gearbox that bolts on to a fixed engine and fixed pump. It is completely supported by them. The total mass of the gearbox and the components attaching it to the engine and pump is 7.7kg. Its centre of mass is 0.167m along the x-axis and 0.09m along the z-axis from the...
  9. Carbretta

    Engineering Calculating Shear and Tensile force in a rivet at an angle

    Hi all! I have used this forum a few times and it has been very helpful, however now I am stuck. I have completed the question above however I have conflicting information regarding the Tensile and Shear force being applied to the rivet. I use the following calculation for this: Shear Force...
  10. T

    Understanding Shear Force: How to Calculate and Interpret Shear Force Diagrams

    Hello all I was hoping some could shed some light on the idea of shear force on members. I have the following simply supported beam:- Considering only the left of the beam to just to the right of F1; my gut instinct would be to say that the shear force or failure is greatest at the...
  11. A

    Shear Stress Distribution Along a Beam

    I know that shear stress in horizontal beams has a parabolic distribution, so that the max shear stress occurs at the neutral axis. I also understand that for a beam subject to a distributed load with supports at its ends, the magnitude of the shear force is highest at the left and right ends of...
  12. Alfreds9

    Saw characteristics influencing efficiency in sawing steel?

    Hello, I am having a headache to try understand a possibly simple real-world problem: efficiency (as in number of strokes/cumulative length needed) to saw steel, assuming a constant sawing length per stroke and a known steel sectional area. I began to think about the few assumptions I assume...
  13. M

    Calculating Shear Force between a Moving Film and a Cylinder

    If I have a catheter covered in a thin sheathe (think a cylinder, covered by a thin plastic film), how should I go about calculating the shear force it takes to unsheathe the catheter from the sheath (no torque here, just the catheter moving in and out)? I've thought about strain gauges (but...
  14. P

    Estimating the damage to a material based on force or kinetic energy

    I'm programming a game in which I'd like to simulate the real world physics of an attack using primarily medieval style weapons. Think dwarf fortress, but rather than assigning damage numbers we're calculating force or kinetic energy. Getting that much is easy enough since I can find the mass of...
  15. Rahulx084

    Shear stress direction and the velocity gradient

    1)In a flowing fluid in laminar fashion we know that it flows in planes which slides over each other, Let's take a fluid element (cylindrical) in a pipe(Radius=R) the resistive force is (stress)(cross section area of cylinder with radius 'r') acting in backward direction, now if I take Flow...
  16. R

    Find normal force, shear force, bending moment

    Hello. This is a basic statics/mechanics of materials problem. Here's an image of my work. I've taken a course in statics before, and this is supposed to be review, but I can't seem to get the correct answers which are V_c = 75 lb, M_c = 1125 lb*ft. I've chosen the right side, and it seems as...
  17. D

    Shear force and bending moment

    Homework Statement I was asked to find the shear force diagram and bending moment diagram for this load combination...But , i have problem of getting the BMD now . i am not sure which part is wrong , can anyone point out ? Homework EquationsThe Attempt at a Solution MA = 5(2)(1/2)(2/3 x 2) +...
  18. physea

    I Shear force and bending moments graph

    Hello I am a bit confused how to calculate the shear force and bending moment graph for a beam under point loads, distributed loads and bending moments. Is the discontinuous functions the best method to solve such problems? Can anyone outline an approach? I don't understand for example how...
  19. R

    Shear Force in an I-beam question

    Homework Statement [/B] problem - https://imgur.com/34yTyCAHomework Equations I = d . b^3 / 12 tmax = (F / I . b) . (A1 . y1) + (A2 . y2)The Attempt at a Solution It is asking for the maximum shear FORCE in the beam. Do I take the maximum value from the shear force diagram as shown in my...
  20. F

    I Problem understanding the shear force integral.

    The problem is to determine the shearforce Q on the hut near the ground. This is not a homework or anything like that, I'm just studying for an exam and this problem is in the book "Engineering Mechanics, Statics" By Meriam Kraige. On another forum, I found this: I understand the part in...
  21. T

    Shear force for minimum links is greater than the maximum sh

    Homework Statement I was asked to design a beam from the beginning to detailing . I encountered that the shear force for minimum links is greater than the maximum shear force , is it possible ? Homework EquationsThe Attempt at a Solution I have checked thru the working , it seems that...
  22. H

    How do you find a curve pipe bending moment and shear force?

    1. Homework Statement I have problem solving the bending moment and shear force of a conduit with a curve end. The conduit is lifted in the mid-air with 2 slings and assume it is in equillibrum. I have attach a drawing for reference. Homework Equations What i know, there is a UDL somewhere...
  23. G

    Mechanics of Materials -- inclined ladder

    Homework Statement [/B] The inclined ladder AB supports a house painter (85 kg) at C and the self weight (q = 40 N/m) of the ladder itself. Each ladder rail (tr = 4 mm) is supported by a shoe (ts = 5 mm) which is attached to the ladder rail by a bolt of diameter dp =8 mm. 1) Find support...
  24. mkematt96

    Dynamic Shear Force on a Brake Pad

    I'm looking for a way to calculate the shear force applied to a brake pad from stopping ( a small engine brake pad stopping a fly wheel). I know shear stress is shear stress/ area , would this apply for a dynamic application as well? Would I need to calculate the force to stop the flywheel at a...
  25. DevonZA

    Draw the shear force and bending moment diagrams for beams

    Homework Statement Homework Equations [/B] Shear force is calculated at each point on the beam. Downward forces are negative, upward forces are positive. Moments about points are calculated as force multiplied by perpendicular distance. Clockwise moments are negative. Anti clockwise...
  26. F

    Shear force in influence line of beam

    Homework Statement why at C . the shear force V change from -0.5 to 0.5 ? We wantg to determine the shear force at different location , and a unit force is applied at arbitary location ( measured from A) ... Homework EquationsThe Attempt at a Solution IMO , there's no upwards force of 1...
  27. F

    Shear force at different parts of beam

    Homework Statement i know this question can't be done(since the location of point where the tau 1 and tau2 are measured are unknown) , but i want just want to check whether my concept is correct or not . we know that the shear stress has formula of $$\tau = VQ / It$$ , the question want the...
  28. C

    Shear Force Diagram: 45N at 0.6m from B vs. 0.5m from D - Homework Question

    Homework Statement In this question , the 45N is acting at 0.6m from B ... why the author put the 45N forces at D in the shear force diagram ? Is it wrong ? Homework EquationsThe Attempt at a Solution IMO , the 45N should be put at 0.5m from D . Correct me if i am wrong
  29. C

    Shear force diagram and bending moment diagram

    Homework Statement theoretically, bending moment should ends at bending moment = 0 , am i right ? Homework EquationsThe Attempt at a Solution Here's my sketch of SFD and BMD ,my bending moment doesn't return to 0 , which part of my working is wrong ... to find bending moment (M) , i get M...
  30. C

    Calculating Shear Force: Understanding Two Forces Acting in Opposite Directions

    Homework Statement in this diagram , we could see two forces acted to left , one force acted to right , total of two forces acting to left = force acting to right . Homework EquationsThe Attempt at a Solution i'm wondering if the total of two forces on the left are not the same with the...
  31. B

    Shear force in a frame due to torsion?

    The orange thing is a gear being turned by a motor, which is intended to move the frame the shaft is fixed to. I realize the applied torque is going to create support reactions, but I can't quite figure out how to calculate the needed material strength so that the frame won't shear. All helps...
  32. C

    Correct Shear Force and Bending Moment Diagrams for Beam Analysis

    Homework Statement There are 2 graphs in the notes , the first represent the shear force diagram , while the secon d one represent the bending moment diagram... In the notes , we can see that the gradient of the force per meter to the right of B is decreasing ... Homework EquationsThe Attempt...
  33. C

    Sign convention of shear force and moment on beam

    Homework Statement I don't understand why the sign of moment of beam at left (clockwise) and moment at the right of beam (anticlockwise) are considered as positive... Why we can't assume the clockwise moment as positive and anticlockwise moment as negative? Homework EquationsThe Attempt at a...
  34. C

    Sign convention of shear force and bending moment

    Homework Statement http://nptel.ac.in/courses/112107146/22[/B] in the notes, the author define upward shear force as positive (LHS) , he take downward shear force as positive as positive (RHS)? Homework EquationsThe Attempt at a Solution why the author didnt fix downward shear force as...
  35. C

    Is Shear Force Always Maximum When Moment is Zero?

    Homework Statement in the book , i was told that when the shear force is 0 , moment is maximum . However , in this question , i found that when the shear foce is 0 , the moment is also 0 . I'm wondering is the ststemnet true ? Homework EquationsThe Attempt at a Solution
  36. H

    Moments and shear force diagram

    Hi Can someone please help me with this problem: A beam is 16m long and rests on two supports, 10m part. the right support is 4m from the right-hand end. The beam carries a uniformly distributed load of 408 kg/m between the two supports and concentrated loads of 2kN at the left end, 0,153 tons...
  37. L

    Pivot Failure on Rotary Actuator

    I have simplified the problem down to something like a physics textbook question, although this is a practical problem where the pivot on my rotary actuator has been damaged by a faulty driver which caused the armature to ram into the endstop. Obviously this needs better protection. My problem...
  38. R

    Why does shear force direction change in the middle of a beam?

    I don't get this shear force distribution stuff. In my drawing A is sort of a free body diagram. Load W is dead center of a beam, and of course this force is supported at either end by two reaction forces.with a value of W/2. B is a shear force diagram. For points < L/2, shear force is...
  39. zaakir

    Calculating Shear Force and Bending Moment

    hi all Basically I need to find the shear force and bending moment of a beam using octave. The length of the beam as well as forces and their distances are given. However the SF and BM must be calculated at every o.ooo5m. The forces can be Point Loads or Uniform Distributed Loads and there can...
  40. D

    Shear force and bending moment diagrams question

    Homework Statement In the image uploaded below, a boxed shaped object is shown. It is floating in water so the forces that act on it are buoyancy and gravity. The first and the last compartments are filled with evenly distributed weight. The middle 2 compartments are empty. Specifics are...
  41. shott92

    Bending force or shear force what's the difference?

    Hi today I was watching a demonstration of using explosives in demolition and emergency rescue and they did one where they wrapped explosive cord around a steel I beam and cut it in half then said this was a shearing force which sounded right to me but then they took a concrete post similar...
  42. gacb17424

    Find reactions at supports and bending/shear/axial diagrams

    Homework Statement Force by uniform loading = 20(5) = 100kN Vertical component of the uniform loading = 20(5)(3/5) = 60kN Horizontal component of the loading = 20(5)(4/5) = 80kN vertical reaction at roller support = Vr vertical reaction at pin support = Vp Homework Equations Fx=0, Fy=0...
  43. E

    Shear Forces on Dams: Struggling Amateur Needs Help

    Im struggeling with understanding this task. Yeah I'm an amateur.. My English is not that good as well. My main problem is understanding where the share forces act on this dam, if its through the centre of pressure, or if its at the bottom of the dam. Now I have calculated the share forces...
  44. P

    Bending moment and Shear Force

    Do bending moment and shear forces are dependable on a beam's cross sectional area?
  45. IamDev

    Help with torque calculation of underwater rotating disk?

    Hello Guys, I have a disk of diameter of 150mm and thickness of 10mm which is rotating at the constant speed of 100rpm. The disk is inside water which is approximately 4-5 cm below the surface. Disk is horizontal (parallel to the water surface). Disk is attached with the shaft of the motor. At...
  46. hdp12

    Internal Force Diagram for Rigid Body and Distributed Load

    I'm working on a homework problem for Statics and I'm stuck. Could someone please help?Problem: Draw the internal force (N,V,M) diagrams and include all significant figures Here is all of my work: Resulting F from W1: W(x) = W1 ∴ F2=∫02b W1dx eq (1) ⇒ F2 = W1⋅2b x1 = (F1)-1 ∫02b W1dx =...
  47. N

    Bending moment and shear force for screw

    Can someone help me with determining the free body force diagram, and hopefully I can go on from there. Homework Equations M = F.dI found T = 500N The answers are shear force = -62.5N , Moment = 64.4 Nm , Tension = 500N
  48. throneoo

    Laminar Flow : shear force on walls

    Homework Statement a viscous fluid with viscosity η flows through a circular vessel of length L and radius R under a pressure difference of P. Assuming the flow is laminar, calculate: a)the force on the walls of the vessel. b)the net force on the vessel. Homework Equations Hagen-Poiseuille...
  49. S

    Shear Force: Help with Question 2(b) - Mentor Note

    < Mentor Note -- thread moved to HH from the technical engineering forums, so no HH Template is shown > Hi, I'm having problems with the shear force question attached. I've attached the solution as well. I'm looking at 2. (b), I have the 0 > x > 3 bit, but I'm struggling with the 3 > x > 4...
  50. M

    Shear Force and Bending Moment

    Hi everyone here is the question I'm having trouble with. included is my attempt and the question. 1. The Reactions at A (Assuming the boom weight is negligible) 2. The shear force and bending moment along the boom length and indicate the point of maximum bending moment. 3. The maimum bending...
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