How to Find the Shear & Tension in C-Channels

Measure the C-Channel

• 1

  Label one side of the channel as ̶0;A,̶1; the other side of the channel as ̶0;C̶1; and the bottom as ̶0;B.̶1;

• 2

  Measure the inside width of the C-channel with the tape measure. Make a note of this width and label it as ̶0;2a.̶1;

• 3

  Measure the height of the C-channel and label this as ̶0;a.̶1; Measure the thickness of the metal and label it as ̶0;t.̶1;

Calculate Shear Stress

• 4

  Make column headings for ̶0;Area,̶1; ̶0;z̶1; and ̶0;Az̶1; on a piece of paper. Make rows along the left for ̶0;A,̶1; ̶0;B̶1; and ̶0;C.̶1;

• 5

  Note ̶0;at,̶1; ̶0;a/2̶1; and a(squared)t/2 for row ̶0;A.̶1; Note ̶0;at,̶1; ̶0;A/t̶1; and ̶0;a(squared)t/2̶1; for row ̶0;B.̶1; Note ̶0;2at,̶1; ̶0;t/2̶1; and ̶0;at(squared)̶1; for row ̶0;C.̶1;

• 6

  Write out the equation used for calculating the shear stress of the C-channel. This equation is expressed as ̶0;t = FA(y)/Iz(b).̶1; Write out the equation for calculating ̶0;Iz̶1; in the equation. This is expressed as ̶0;Iz = 8/3(a)squared(t).̶1; The final equation for the shear stress is ̶0;3FAy/8a(cubed)tb.̶1;

Calculate the Shear Stress Distribution

• 7

  Make column headings for ̶0;Area,̶1; ̶0;y̶1; and ̶0;Ay̶1; on a piece of paper. Make two rows along the left that are labeled ̶0;A̶1; and ̶0;B.̶1;

• 8

  Write out the equation used to calculate the total area. This is expressed as ̶0;at + (a-y) = T(2a-y).̶1;

• 9

  Write out the equation used to calculate the shear stress distribution. This equation is expressed as ̶0;t = FA(y)y/Iz(t).̶1; Write out the equation for calculating ̶0;Iz.̶1; This is expressed as ̶0;Iz = 8/3(a)squared(t).̶1;

• 10

  Write out the final equation used to find the shear stress distribution. This equation is expressed as ̶0;3Ft(2a-y)(3a(squared)) - y(squared)/8a(cubed)t(squared) 2(2a - y).̶1;