I beams as shear webs
OK, so I did a little more reading. The assumption of my previous post was a beam in pure bending. For a distributed load like an airplane wing, the principle load directions have to consider the beam section properties and can be resolved using Mohr's circle.
I did learn that earning a living in the real world makes you stupid over time. I knew this stuff inside and out when I was in school. Not any more.