The transverse load P will produce a shear force V in the positive y direction on a mathematical cut through the beam at point “a”. This shear force is directly responsible for the shear stress τ on ...

This article was published in Scientific American’s former blog network and reflects the views of the author, not necessarily those of Scientific American Beams made of sawn diatom shells and poked ...

Say we consider a beam made up of thin layers (laminae) aligned with the longitudinal axis of the beam, and for which the laminae can slide with respect to each other along the longitudinal axis as ...