Web Shear Strength of Flexural Members

The shear strength of webs of flexural members is given in the AISC LRFD Specification (AISC 1993) in three separate places: Chapter F, Beams and Other Flexural Members; Appendix F; and Appendix G, Plate Girders. Chapter F covers only unstiffened webs with no tension-field action, Appendix F covers both stiffened and unstiffened webs with no tension-field action, and Appendix G covers stiffened and unstiffened webs, with or without tension-field action. A total of nine equations are given for Vn the nominal shear strength. It will be shown here that with a slight modification of the variable Cv (the ratio of critical web shear buckling stress to shear yield stress), these nine equations can be reduced to two equations that cover all conditions—stiffened or unstiffened webs, tension field or no tension field.