Beam shear is an internal stress caused by parallel forces on a beam, which can result in bending or cracking. Horizontal and vertical stresses affect beams differently, and failure occurs when stresses exceed the beam’s strength. Retrofitting can prevent failure, and calculations to determine shear were developed by Euler, but originated with Galileo.
Beam shear is the internal stress of a beam caused by shear forces applied to that beam. Shear forces, or shear stresses, are caused by forces applied parallel to a material, potentially causing that material to deform. Beam shear can be caused by horizontal or vertical stresses, as well as bending. Each type of stress affects a beam differently.
In horizontal shear, forces can cause a beam to slide from side to side. If the beam is fixed, preventing any movement, the internal shear stress will then try to find ways to accommodate the movement, which can sometimes result in the beam bending or cracking along the internal horizontal layers. If the beam has unattached plies, which allow for a slight amount of movement, it is less likely to crack or bend.
In vertical beam shear, forces are applied to the parallel surfaces of the beam. These forces may include parallel sides or the top and bottom ends of the beam. If one of the surfaces experiences greater stress than another, the material will bend or twist. This action causes a weakening of the overall structure.
Beam shear failure occurs when the stresses applied to the beam are greater than the strength of that beam. Failures often cause the structure surrounding the beam to collapse or break, as is often seen in earthquake damage. The most common type of bankruptcy, however, is flexing. This occurs when the top surface of a beam is compressed, while the bottom surface expands and cracks along the vertical axes. This results in a sagging or deflection of the spoke.
In many cases, to avoid structural failure, a building or structure will be retrofitted. Retrofitting involves creating a secondary framework that serves to support the initial structure, relieving the load-bearing forces on that initial structure. Most often, this takes the form of external reinforcement.
To determine shear, a small cross section of the beam must be examined and a series of mathematical calculations based on measurements and observations of that cross section must be performed. The calculations used today are attributed to Leonard Euler, an 18th-century mathematician. The true origins of beam cutting studies, however, can be traced to the work of 16th-century scientist Galileo Galilei.
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