ABSTRACT
Shearing stresses due to bending occur in a structure when the bending moment changes. For example, if the bending moment changes along the length of a beam, then this will result in shearing forces occurring, as described in Chapter 3. Thus, if the structure is subjected to a lateral shearing force, shearing stresses will occur as a result of this, and structural failure may occur, due to large shearing stresses. Moreover, in the case of beams with thin-walled cross-sections, such as channel and angle bars, the shearing stresses due to bending can cause the beam to twist, because the applied load of the laterally loaded beam is not placed through the structure’s shear centre, as described in Section 16.4. If the lateral load is not applied through the beam’s shear centre, then shearing stresses due to torsion can occur, in addition to shearing stresses due to bending - where the former can be very large.
