17.2:
Shearing Stress
A structure when subjected to transverse forces develops internal forces in the sectional plane between the points where the forces are applied.
The magnitude of these resultant forces is defined as the shear and the stress developed is called shearing stress.
Consider two plates connected by a bolt. When tension forces are applied to the plates, stresses will develop in the section of the bolt corresponding to the plane between the horizontal surfaces of the plates.
The stresses result in a single shear, equal to the applied tension forces. Shearing stress is not uniformly distributed and varies from zero at the surface of the member to a maximum value exceeding the average value.
The average shearing stress is computed by dividing the shear by the area of the cross-section.
When splice plates are used to connect two plates, shear occurs in each of the two planes of the bolt, which is referred to as double shear. The average shearing stress in each plane is determined by dividing the applied force by twice the cross-sectional area.
17.2:
Shearing Stress
Shearing stress, denoted by the Greek letter tau (τ), is stress caused by forces acting transversely on an object. These forces create internal ones within the entity in the plane where the external forces are applied. The resultant of these internal forces is the shear in the section.
The average shearing stress can be calculated by dividing the shear by the area of the cross-section.
However, this is an average value as the distribution of shearing stress across a section varies. It can range from zero at the surface to a maximum far exceeding the average.
Elements like bolts, pins, and rivets, often used to connect machine components or structural members, frequently experience shearing stresses. For instance, tension forces exerted on two plates connected by a bolt may lead to shearing stresses in the bolt's section lying between the plates' surfaces, resulting in shear equal to the tension force.
In complex scenarios, such as splice plates connecting other plates, shear occurs in two planes of each bolt, known as double shear. The average shearing stress in each plane is determined by dividing the applied force by twice the area.
