# Redistributing Shear Stresses from Null Elements

## Technical Article on the Topic Structural Analysis Using Dlubal Software

### Technical Article

SHAPE-THIN allows you to calculate section properties and stresses of any cross‑sections. If a flange or a web is weakened by bolt holes, you can consider this by using null elements. The stresses are subsequently recalculated with the reduced cross‑section values. In this case, it is necessary to pay special attention to shear stresses. By default, these are set to zero in the area of the null elements. When recalculating shear stresses with the reduced cross‑section values and without further adaptation, it turns out that the integral of the shear stresses is no longer equal to the applied shear force. The following example shows in detail how to calculate the shear stress.

#### Example Calculation

An element has the length l of 200 mm and the thickness t of 8 mm. The shear force is set to 120 kN. This results in the following distributions of the static moment, shear force, and shear stress. The resulting second moment of area is Iy = 533 cm4.

In this case, the shear force is the shear stress multiplied by the length and the thickness of the respective element. The integral is calculated as follows:

Formula 1

$$V = t · ∫Q · t · z · l2 - z2Iy · t dz$$

where z is the value of the z-coordinate.

By adding three forces resulting from the division of the elements, you obtain the shear force of 120 kN.

In the next step, the middle element with the length of 20 mm is converted into a null element. This corresponds to the hole mentioned above. The resulting second moment of area results in Iy = 469 cm4. The shear stresses of the null element are now to be distributed to the other elements. For this, a correction factor k is determined, which describes the ratio of the shear force to the effective shear force components.

Formula 2

$$k = shear forcesum of still effective shear force components on gross cross-section = 120101.1 7.3 = 1.11$$

Then, the shear force is multiplied by this factor:
Q = 120 ∙ 1.11 = 133.2 kN

Using this modified shear force, the shear stresses on the weakened cross-section are now calculated. The following diagrams result for the first moment of area, the shear force, and the shear stress.

By adding the shear forces, the effective shear force of 120 kN is obtained again. The null element components were completely redistributed.

#### Dipl.-Ing. (FH) Lukas Sühnel

Product Engineering & Customer Support

Mr. Sühnel is responsible for the quality assurance of RSTAB, he also participates in product development and provides technical support for our customers.

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• Updated 19 April 2021

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