Western Philippines University

College of Engineering and Technology

Civil Engineering Department

STRUCTURAL STEEL DESIGN

By Dr. Cesario A. Bacosa , Jr.
( Geotechnical and Structural Engineer)
6.1

Module 12. Shear Center

The shear center is defined as the point in the cross section of a beam through which the plane of the
transverse bending loads must pass so that the beam will bend without twisting. For a beam with two axes of
symmetry the shear center is at the intersection of the two axes, thus coinciding with the centroid of the section. For a
beam with one axis of symmetry the shear center will fall somewhere on that axis but not necessarily at the centroid
of the section. The location of shear centers for several open sections are shown below.

Problem 607. Locate the shear center for the channel section shown if it is subjected to an external shear of 120 KN.
75 mm
A

qB = 0.349 kN/mm

H =12.56 kN

8 mm

V =120 kN
NA

qC = 0.569 kN/mm

250 mm

6 mm

e
D

H =12.56 kN

Solution.
1) Properties of section
I x 121 (75)(250)3 121 (69)(234)3 23.982 x106 mm4

QAB 72(8)(121) 69696 mm3

QBC 6(121)(60.5) 43923 mm3

2) Compute the shear flow along the centerline ABCDE of the section
V
q Q : qA qE 0
I

120
(69696) 0.349 kN/mm
23.982 x106
120
qC 0.349
(43923) 0.569 kN/mm
23.982 x106
3) Shear forces in each part
H 12 (0.349)(72) 12.56 kN
qB qD

VBD 0.349 23 (0.569 0.349) 242 119.95 kN

4) Location of shear center: Taking moments about the centerline BD
Ve Hh
120e 12.56(242)
e 25.3 mm

Problem 608. Locate the shear center for the unequal flange section shown.
x2

x1
V

b2

V2

V1

b1

t3
Vr
t2

t1

Solution:
Neglecting the bending resistance of the web, the external shear V is resisted by the internal shears V1 and
V2 acting along the flanges. To prevent twisting, the resultant Vr of the flange shears must be equal, opposite, and
collinear with the external shear. Taking moments about the shear center C, we have
V2 x1

or
(6.5a)
V1x1 V2 x2
V1 x2
The two flanges will bend so that they have identical radius of curvature, thus
M1
M2

1 2 :
E1I1 E2 I 2
Considering E1 = E2, the above equation will reduce to
M1 M 2

I1
I2

(6.5b)

(6.5c)

But the bending moments M1 and M2 at any section along the beam are equal, respectively, to the product of the
vertical shears V1 and V2 in the flanges and the distance to the section. Hence equation (c) becomes
V1 V2
V2 I 2

or
(6.5d)
I1 I 2
V1 I1
Combining equations (a) and (d) yields
x1 I 2

x2 I 1

(6.5e)

where
I1 and I2 = moment of inertia of the wider and narrower flange, respectively.
Also
t1 t2

2 2
Combining equations (6.5e) and (6.5f) gives the location of the shear center.
x1 x2 d

(6.5f)