For instructional purposes only • 1st Semester SY 2020-2021 1

Lesson 1.3: Shear Stress

Lesson Summary
The lesson is about shear stresses. The problem-solving centers on lap joint,
clevis, and punching plate.

Learning Outcomes
At the end of the lesson, the students will be able to:
1. Calculate stresses due to shear forces.
2. Solve problems on shear stress.

Motivation Question
How can you connect two structural members?

Discussion

Shear stress

Shearing stress is the stress generated when the force is tangent or

parallel to the plane on which it acts. Its formula is:

𝑉
τ= where: τ = shearing stress
𝐴
V = shear load
A = shear area
For illustration, consider
the two wooden plates
shown that are attached
by gluing all the contact
areas. As the force F
applies, the resisting force
is the glued portion,
parallel to the force.
Also, one plate tends to slide over the other, specifically on the glued
section. F is the shear force, while the glued portion (shaded
rectangle) is the shear area.

Note that the shear area is NOT THE ENTIRE CONTACT AREA but only
the glued portion. For instance, if only one-half of the contact area is

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 Esci132: Mechanics of Deformable Bodies/Strength of Materials

glued (shaded area) as displayed below, then such a glued area is the
only portion to resist the shearing force F.

Likewise, only a circular portion on the contact area is glued (see the
figure below). This portion is only the shear area, wherein the larger
glued area provides a stronger connection.

However, gluing two objects is not commonly practiced since, so far,

no glue can be used to withstand against huge shearing force. A
common practice is to fasten two structural members with bolts or
rivets.

Perspective

Elevation

Section a-a

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 For instructional purposes only • 1st Semester SY 2020-2021 3

Another typical structure with a shearing force is a U-shaped device to

hold a rod, known as a clevis. Each prong of the U-shaped has a hole in
which a bolt or pin is inserted to hold a rod. Likewise, the rod also has a
hole of the same size as the bolt or pin.

As shown in the rod's FBD, the

shear area consists of two bolt's
cross-sections. Therefore, the bolt
is at a state of double shear.

Another common shear area is

found in punching. As shown below,
a plate is punched with a circular
puncher. The shear force is P, while
the shear area is the shear plate's
lateral surface, just like the milled
edge of a coin.

The above shear forces are called direct shear. Another type of shear is
known as induced, such as the inclined planes of the rod:

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 Esci132: Mechanics of Deformable Bodies/Strength of Materials

As the force P is applied, the right bar will slide on the inclined plane.
The shear force for the sliding section is the tangential component of
the internal reaction (see the figures below). Hence, the inclined plane
and the tangent P are parallel, and the tangent P is an induced shear.

The illustration for direct and induced stress are the following:

Example 1.3-1. A 5-mm-thick

steel plate is punched
with a 30-mm diameter
rod. Given a punching
force of 25 kN, determine
the shearing stress.

Solution:
Step 1. Solve for the shear area, which is the lateral area of
a cylinder.

A = 2π r t
where: A = lateral area of the cylinder
r = radius of the cylinder
t = thickness or height of the cylinder
A = 2π (15 mm) (5 mm) = 150π mm2

Step 2. Compute the shearing stress.

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 For instructional purposes only • 1st Semester SY 2020-2021 5

𝑉
τ=𝐴 where:
A = 150π mm2
V = 25,000 N
25,000 𝑁
τ= = 53.05 MPa
150𝜋 𝑚𝑚2

Example 1.3-2. Two 10-mm-diameter rivets connect the lap joint,

wherein each plate is 5 mm thick and 100 mm wide. If an
axial load P of 15 kN is distributed equally among the two
rivets, determine the shear stress in each rivet.

Plan

Section a-a
Solution:
𝑉
τ = 𝐴 where:
V = 15,000 N
A = 2(Acircle) = 2(πr2) = 2π (5 mm)2 =50π mm2

15,000 𝑁
τ = 50𝜋 𝑚𝑚2 = 95.49 MPa

Aside from computing the stress, the other variables may be the
unknown, as follows:

Example 1.3-3. In the clevis

shown, determine the
smallest diameter of the
bolt if V= 25 kN. The
allowable shearing stress of
the bolt is 50 MPa.

Solution:
𝑉
τ=𝐴 where:
τ = 250 N/mm2

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 Esci132: Mechanics of Deformable Bodies/Strength of Materials

A = 2(Area of the bolts circular cross section)

A = 2πr2
V= 25,000 N

25,000 𝑁
50 N/mm2 = 2𝜋𝑟 2

r2 = 79.58 mm2
r = 8.92 mm
For the diameter:
D = 2r = 2(8.92 mm ) = 17.84 mm

Example 1.3-4. A 5-mm-thick

steel plate is punched with
a 30-mm diameter rod. If
the plate's allowable
shearing stress is 70 MPa,
can 30-kN shear force (V)
be able to punch it?

Solution:
Solve for the shearing stress.
𝑉
τ=𝐴 where:
A = 2π r t= 2π (15 mm) (5 mm)
A = 150π mm2
𝑁 𝑉
70 𝑚𝑚2 = 150𝜋 𝑚𝑚2

V = 32,986.72 N

Therefore, the 30-kN shear force is not enough to punch the plate
since it is less than 32,986.72 N.

Example 1.3-5. The two plates, 8 mm thick and 150 mm wide, are
connected by a lap joint. If an axial load of 20 kN is applied,
determine the minimum number of 6-mm-radius rivets be
used. The allowable maximum shearing stress of the rivets
is 60 MPa.

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Solution:
Let: n = the minimum number of rivets
𝑉
τ=𝐴 where:
V = 20,000 N
A = n(cross-sectional area of the rivets)
A = n(πr2) = nπ (6 mm)2 =36nπ mm2

20,000 𝑁
60 MPa =
36𝑛𝜋 𝑚𝑚2

n = 2.95; say n = 3

Therefore, three rivets are the minimum.

Problem 1.3-6. The truss shown carries two forces: a horizontal

rightward force of 50 kN and a vertical downward force of
100 kN. A pin supports the truss at A and a roller at H. If the
pin's allowable shearing stress is 250 MPa, determine the
pin's minimum diameter to carry the applied load safely.
(Hence: The pin at A is at a state of a double shear.)

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 Esci132: Mechanics of Deformable Bodies/Strength of Materials

Solution:
Step 1. Draw the FBD of the truss and determine the reaction at
A.

∑ 𝑀𝐻 = 0
0 = 50 kN (0.5 m) –100 kN (1 m) + Av (4 m)
Av = 18,750 N (tension)

∑𝐹 = 0
0 = 50 kN – AH
AH = 50,000 N

R A = √ ( 𝐴𝑣 ) 2 + ( 𝐴𝐻 ) 2
RA = √(18,750 𝑁)2 + (50,000 𝑁)2
RA = 53,400.02 N

Step 2. Solve for the required diameter.

𝑉
τ = 𝐴 where:
V = 53,400.02 N
A = 2(Acircle) = 2πr2
τ = 250 MPa

𝑁 53,400.02 𝑁
250 𝑚𝑚2 = 2𝜋𝑟 2 𝑚𝑚2

r = 5.83 mm
D = 2r = 2 (5.83 mm) = 11.66 mm

Problem 1.3-7. The figure below shows two blocks of wood that
are glued together along their joint at the angle of 30°. The
blocks are 150 mm thick and 200 mm wide. If the
compressive force P is 100 kN, solve for the shearing stress.

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 For instructional purposes only • 1st Semester SY 2020-2021 9

Solution:

Draw the FBD of a block:

Calculate the Ptangent:

P𝑡𝑎𝑛𝑔𝑒𝑛𝑡
cos 30º = 𝑃
Ptangent = cos 30º (100,000 N) = 86,602.54 N

Determine the shearing area (incline area):

A = 150 mm (H) where:

200 mm
sin 30º = 𝐻
H = 400 mm
A = 150 mm (400 mm) = 60,000 mm2

Compute the stress:

𝑉 86,602.54 N
τ=𝐴 = = 1.44 MPa
60,000 𝑚𝑚2

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