Shear‐Lag Analysis of T‐, I‐, and Box Beams

Based on some rational assumptions, a harmonic shear‐lag analysis using plane stress elasticity for the stresses in flanges of simple or continuous beams with I‐, T‐ and box cross sections is developed, and it is accurate and convenient enough for a wide range of problems. Since harmonic analysis is used, convergence of the solution and the peak stresses in the flanges is studied in detail. An effective technique is presented to improve the convergence. The shear‐lag effect upon the longitudinal distribution of the stress resultants of a continuous beam with wide flanges is studied, and a general procedure to account for this effect is developed. To show the accuracy and applicability of the solution, typical numerical examples are presented, and the results compared with other solutions.