2.

5 SHEAR FLOW IN BUILT–UP MEMBERS

Many times, elements are constructed by adding together several simpler elements with the
objective of producing a more resistant structural element. These built up members are made
of pieces nailed, bolted, or glued together. Therefore, the connectors must be able to carry the
shear along the beam’s length. To design these fasteners or determine their spacing it is
necessary to know the shear force that they need to support.

This loading, when measured as force per unit length is called: shear flow (q).
Thus by defining the shear flow (q) as the force per unit length:
𝑉𝑉𝑉𝑉
𝑞𝑞 =
𝐼𝐼

Then, when analysing a built up member, that is a beam that is made of pieces nailed, bolted
or glued together, the connectors must be able to carry the shear along the beams length.

In the case of a glued joint, it is possible to calculate the stress in the glue using:

𝑉𝑉𝑉𝑉
𝜏𝜏 =
𝐼𝐼𝐼𝐼
2.5.1. Fastener Spacing.

In the case of a nail or bolt, the connectors must be spaced along the length of the beam
appropriately to carry the shear flow.
Consider two pieces nailed together with nails spaced s apart.

Each nail must carry the shear flow (q) over the length of beam which extends half way to the
nail on either side. Therefore, the nail must carry the shear flow over the length s.
The net force, q s, must be less than the net force Fn the nail can carry. Since there could be
multiple nails side by side attaching two pieces, a factor n for the number of connectors
is included. Thus, 𝑛𝑛𝑛𝑛 = 𝑞𝑞𝑞𝑞

When finding Q, the cut must be through the cross section at the place where the connectors
hold the pieces together.
Thus, when determining q = VQ/I, the parameters I and Q need to be calculated with respect
to the neutral axis of the beam.
To apply properly this equation is very important to identify Q correctly when calculating the
shear flow (q) at a particular location.
Consider the beam shown, the flange (darker segment) is connected to the web by a nail at a
plane identified by a black line.
q is calculated using Q determined from A’ and ӯ’.
In this example, q will be resisted by a single nail (n = 1). In this second case, the area A’ is
held by two nails, therefore (n = 2) and q is calculated using Q determined from A’ and ӯ’. A
third case shows the A’ held by 3 nails, where the shear flow (n = 3) is once again determined
using Q determined from A’ and ӯ’.
Consider the juncture where the segment is connected to the flange of the beam. As shown
through the differential element, three forces act over this segment. F and F + dF are due to the
normal stresses produced by M and M + dM, respectively. The third force which is required to
satisfy the equilibrium of the system is equal to dF.

𝑀𝑀𝑀𝑀
Since 𝜎𝜎 = then, 𝑑𝑑𝑑𝑑 = ∫ 𝑦𝑦 𝑑𝑑𝑑𝑑′
𝐼𝐼

As defined previously, the integral represents Q. Now, since the length of the segment is dx,
the shear flow (force per unit length) along the beam is q = dF/dx. Therefore, since V = dM/dx:

𝑉𝑉𝑉𝑉
𝑞𝑞 =
𝐼𝐼

In summary, Shear flow (q) is a measure of the force per unit length along the axis of a beam.
This value is calculated from the shear formula and is used to determine the shear force
developed in fasteners and glue that holds various segments of a composite beam together.

Example 1

A beam of T cross section is formed by nailing together two boards having the dimensions
shown in the figure.
If the total shear force acting on the cross section is 1500 N and each nail may carry 760 N in
shear, what is the maximum allowable nail spacing s?
Solution
Given V = 1500 N and Fallow=760 N
Geometric properties:
Ybar =170.909, Ixx = 154.94 x 106 mm4
Shear flow =
𝑉𝑉𝑉𝑉 𝑛𝑛𝑛𝑛
𝑞𝑞 = =
𝐼𝐼 𝑠𝑠

𝐹𝐹𝐹𝐹 760 × 154.94 × 106

𝑠𝑠 = = = 92.3 𝑚𝑚𝑚𝑚
𝑉𝑉𝑉𝑉 1500 × 8.509 × 105

Example 2
A wood box beam is constructed of two boards, each 40 × 180 mm in cross section, that serve
as flanges and two plywood webs, each 15 mm thick. The total height of the beam is 280 mm.
The plywood is fastened to the flanges by wood screws having an allowable load in shear of F
= 800 N each.
If the shear force V acting on the cross section is 10.5 kN, determine the maximum permissible
longitudinal spacing s of the screws
Solution
The horizontal shear force transmitted between the upper flange and the two webs can be found
from the shear-flow formula q=VQ/I,
𝐴𝐴 = 40 × 180 = 7200
𝑦𝑦 = 120 𝑚𝑚𝑚𝑚
𝐼𝐼 = 264.2 × 106 𝑚𝑚𝑚𝑚4
𝑉𝑉𝑉𝑉 10500 × 7200 × 120
𝑞𝑞 = = = 34.3 𝑁𝑁/𝑚𝑚𝑚𝑚
𝐼𝐼 264.2 × 106

which is the horizontal shear force per millimetre of length that must be transmitted between
the flange and the two webs.
Spacing of screws: Since the longitudinal spacing of the screws is s, and since there are two
lines of screws (one on each side of the flange), the load capacity of the screws is 2F per
distance s along the beam. Therefore, the capacity of the screws per unit distance along the
beam is 2F/s. Equating 2F/s to the shear flow q and solving for the spacing s gives:

2𝐹𝐹 2(800)
𝑠𝑠 = = = 46.6 𝑚𝑚𝑚𝑚
𝑞𝑞 34.3

This value of s is the maximum permissible spacing of the screws based upon the allowable
load per screw. Any spacing greater than 46.6 mm would overload the screws. For convenience
in fabrication (and to be on the safe side), a spacing such as s = 45 mm should be selected.
Example 3
The beam is constructed from three boards glued together as shown below. If it is subjected to
a shear of V = 850 kN, determine the shear flow at B and B’ that must be resisted by the glue.

Solution
Section properties
Ybar= 0.1956 m
Ixx = 87.42 x 10-6 m4
The glue holds at both B and B’ holds the top board to the beam therefore
𝑄𝑄 = 𝐴𝐴𝐴𝐴 = 0.2735 × 10−3 𝑚𝑚3
Shear flow
𝑉𝑉𝑉𝑉
𝑞𝑞 = = 2.66 𝑀𝑀𝑀𝑀/𝑚𝑚
𝐼𝐼

Since two seams are used to secure the board, the glue per meter length of beam at each seam
must be strong enough to resist one-half of this shear flow. Thus,

𝑞𝑞𝐵𝐵 = 𝑞𝑞𝐵𝐵′ = 1.33 𝑀𝑀𝑀𝑀/𝑚𝑚

Example 4
The simply supported beam is built up from three boards by nailing them together as shown.
The wood has an allowable shear stress of τallow = 1.5 MPa, and an allowable bending stress
of sallow = 9 MPa. The nails are spaced at s = 75 mm, and each has a shear strength of 1.5 kN.
Determine the maximum allowable force P that can be applied to the beam.

Solution

Vmax = P/2

Ixx= 80.2083 x 10-6 m4

Q = Ay = 0.28125 x 10-3 m3
𝐹𝐹
Shear Flow: Since there is only one row of nails 𝑞𝑞 = = 20 × 103 𝑁𝑁/𝑚𝑚
𝑠𝑠

𝑃𝑃
𝑉𝑉𝑉𝑉 2 × 𝑄𝑄
𝑞𝑞𝑎𝑎𝑎𝑎𝑎𝑎 = = = 20 × 103
𝐼𝐼 𝐼𝐼
 𝑃𝑃 = 11.4 𝑘𝑘𝑘𝑘

Bending

Using

𝑀𝑀𝑀𝑀 𝑃𝑃/2 × 0.125

𝜎𝜎 = = = 9 × 106
𝐼𝐼 80.2083 × 10−6

𝑃𝑃 = 11.55 𝑘𝑘𝑘𝑘

Shear

𝑃𝑃
𝑉𝑉𝑉𝑉 2 × 𝑄𝑄
𝜏𝜏 = = = 1.5 × 106
𝐼𝐼𝐼𝐼 𝐼𝐼𝐼𝐼

𝑃𝑃 = 14.8 𝑘𝑘𝑘𝑘