AerE 321L

Flight Structures Lab Homework: Shear Center Calculation

Fall 2012

This is an individual assignment, due November 16 to your lab TA. (If you feel that completing this by November 16 is an undue hardship you may turn in by November 28 instead.)

s V

y 35 35 t d z x

1. Find a formula for the shear center oset d (in terms of r). The shear center oset is dened such that the applied shear V does not cause any twist of the cross section, i.e. the shear ows integrate to the single force resultant V . (a) Recall the shear ow q at some position is q = VIQ . The shear ow q points along the cross section in the direction of the shear. V represents the magnitude of the shear; Q is the rst moment (relative to the neutral axis) of the area beyond theta, i.e.

Q=
0

r sin rtd .
y dA

Evaluate this integral to determine Q as a function of (and r and t). (b) I is the second moment of the area of the entire cross section, i.e.
f

I=
0

r2 sin2 rtd
y2 dA

Evaluate this integral to determine I (not a function of theta, but dependent on r and t). (Hint: Should be roughly 3r3 t) (c) Combine Q and I with a suitable direction vector to get a formula for the vector shear ow q . (d) The integral of the shear ow along the entire cross section should be V , i.e. V = q ds = 0 i+V j.

Evaluate V from this integral and make sure it matches. Hint 1: Be sure to use radians when integrating angles Hint 2: The integral of an odd function over symmetric (or eectively symmetric) limits is zero

AerE 321L

Flight Structures Lab Homework: Shear Center Calculation

Fall 2012

(e) We nd the position of the shear center by rst determining the resultant shear and moment at a convenient point (here, the center of the circle), and then replacing the resultant shear and moment with a single-force resultant applied at another location (the shear center). The net moment of the shear center about the center of the circle is M= direction). r q ds (should be in the k

Evaluate this integral to determine M . (f) Determine how far V needs to be shifted to the left of the circle center so that V is a single-force resultant. This will be the location of the shear center (your answer will be in terms of r). How do you know to shift it to the left instead of to the right?