Shear correction factors and an energy-consistent beam theory (Q1303125)

By matching exact shear stress resultants and shear strain energy with those of the equivalent shear deformation theory, the authors give a derivation of new shear correction factors for a beam. Additionally, they derive exact warping functions from available elasticity solutions. The physical meaning of the shear correction factor is shown to be the ratio of geometric average to energy average of the transverse shear strain in the cross-section of the beam. Examples are given for beams with circular and rectangular cross-sections.