Shear correction factors in Timoshenko's beam theory for arbitrary shaped cross-sections

In this paper shear correction factors for arbitrary shaped beam cross-sect ions are calculated. Based on the equations of linear elasticity and furthe r assumptions for the stress field the boundary value problem and a variati onal formulation are developed. The shear stresses are obtained from deriva tives of the warping function. The developed element formulation can easily be implemented in a standard finite element program. Continuity conditions which occur for multiple connected domains are automatically fulfilled.