Calculating Stress/Deflection in Cantilever Beam

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Discussion Overview

The discussion revolves around calculating stress and deflection in a cantilever beam subjected to a uniform shear stress on its upper surface. Participants explore the theoretical and practical aspects of the problem, including the effects of shear and bending moments, and the implications of beam cross-section on calculations.

Discussion Character

  • Technical explanation
  • Conceptual clarification
  • Debate/contested
  • Mathematical reasoning

Main Points Raised

  • One participant suggests using the formula EI \frac{d^{3} \nu}{dx^{3}} = V for calculating deflection, assuming a constant cross-section.
  • Another participant questions the equivalence of vertical shear (V) and the applied horizontal shear stress (T), indicating a potential misunderstanding.
  • A participant emphasizes that the cross-section affects the moment of inertia (I) but proposes to keep it as a variable to simplify calculations.
  • It is noted that the shear stress induces tensile stress, with maximum tensile stress occurring at the fixed end and only shear at the free end, leading to an unbalanced condition that induces bending moments.
  • One participant suggests simplifying calculations by treating the applied uniform force as acting at its center.
  • A detailed explanation is provided regarding the components of deflection, including contributions from horizontal shear, bending moment, and torsional moment, with a focus on the significance of bending moment in real-world applications.
  • Participants discuss the various stresses generated, including direct shear, torsional shearing, and those from bending moments, with the highest stresses occurring at the fixed end of the beam.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants express differing views on the relationship between shear stress and bending moments, as well as the treatment of the beam's cross-section in calculations. The discussion remains unresolved regarding the best approach to calculate stress and deflection under the given conditions.

Contextual Notes

There are limitations regarding assumptions about the beam's material properties and the uniformity of the applied shear stress. The dependence on the cross-section's moment of inertia and the potential neglect of certain deflection components are also noted.

dilberg
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A cantilever beam is loaded by a uniform shear stress T on its upper surface. How to calculate the stress and deflections at the end of the beam?
 
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You can use EI \frac{d^{3} \nu}{dx^{3}} = V as long as the cross section of the beam is constant. Where \nu is the deflection.
 
In this formula V is the vertical shear on a cross section. Applied shear (T) is horizontal on the upper surface. Why should they be equal?
 
Hello, it depends on the cross section of your beam. Could you tell us which profile you are using? is it a composite beam?
 
Rectangular cross-section. The crossection will only affect I, in the formula. We can just keep it as I, so we don't have to worry about the cross-section.
 
The shear stress would induce a tensile stress in the beam with maximum tensile stress at the fixed end and only shear at the free end. Since the shear load is only on the upper surface, it is unbalanced, so it would induce a bending moment in the beam.
 
you can take a uniform force.. find the center of it. and just put in the Fr for it.. and that makes calculations simple.
 
To make sure I understand what you have; a constant rectangular cross section with a uniform horizontal force applied only along the top surface of the section and perpendiular to the longitudinal axis of the beam, and the beam has one end fixed and one end free.

Your deflection can be broken into components of that induced by horizontal shear, bending moment and torsional moment. The shear and bending moment would give translational displacements and the torsional moment generates rotational displacement about the long. axis of the beam. Usually, the bending moment will give the significant deflection of a real world beam and the shear and torsional deflection are often minimal in comparison and sometimes ignored. But you certainly cannot ignore the stresses which they produce.

The stresses will be from the direct shear, torsional shearing, and tension and compression from the bending moment. Your highest stresses will be at the fixed end.
 

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