SHEAR STRESS AND STRESS FACTORS IN TRAPEZOIDAL AND ELLIPTICAL CROSS-SECTIONAL CURVED BEAMS.

The aim of this paper is to investigate shear stresses in curved beams by two methods, viz. the elementary theory and Winkler's approach. Three-dimensional shear stress equations are developed by using both the aforesaid techniques and by assuming that the centerline of the beams is circularly curved. Emphasis has been placed on the stress factors (ratios of shear stresses by elementary theory and Winkler's approach). These factors are determined and presented in a graphical manner for various radii of curvature and cross-sectional dimensions. Numerical examples have been worked out and it is shown that the straight beam theory is not an appropriate approach for analyzing shear stresses in beams having initial curvature.