Shear formula for beams of variable cross section

may be derived for beams of variable cross section. The assumptions and limitation in Eq. (1) are the same as those for constant cross sections and the quantities M, Q, I, and b have the same definition as those in Ref. 1. Equation (1) is valid for beams of variable height and variable thickness (such as tapered I beams), and reduces to the Zuravski formula for constant cross section since then Q and / are constant. Solutions using Eq. (1) will now be compared to those exact solutions obtained by theory of elasticity.