The 'maximum shear stress' in a rectangular beam cross-section is located at:
Choose the correct answer
At the extreme top and bottom fibres
At the neutral axis — parabolic distribution with τ_max = 1.5V/A for rectangular section
At quarter-depth from top
Uniformly throughout the section
Correct Answer
B. At the neutral axis — parabolic distribution with τ_max = 1.5V/A for rectangular section
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Shear stress distribution in rectangular beam: τ = VQ/(Ib) where Q = first moment of area above point = b(h/2-y)×(h/4+y/2). Parabolic distribution: zero at top and bottom fibres; MAXIMUM at neutral axis. τ_max = 3V/(2A) = 1.5 × (V/A) (average). Important: in I-beams shear concentrated in web; in rectangles, NA governs. Flange of I-beam: low shear (wide b, so τ small).
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