SHEAR AND MOMENT IN BEAMS

INTRODUCTION:
The term beam refers to a slender bar that carries transverse loading; that is,
the applied forces are perpendicular to the bar.

OVERHANGING BEAM:

A concentrated load, such as P, is an approximation of a force that acts over

a very small area. In contrast, a distributed load is applied over a finite area.
The intensity w of this loading is expressed as force per unit length (lb/ft, N/m,
In a beam, the internal force system consists of a shear force and a etc.). The load distribution may be uniform, or it may vary with distance along
bending moment acting on the cross section of the bar. In the previous the beam. The weight of the beam is an example of distributed loading, but its
chapters, axial and torsional loads often result in internal forces that are magnitude is usually small compared to the loads applied to the beam.
constant in the bar, or over portions of the bar. The study of beams, however,
is complicated by the fact that the shear force and the bending moment usually SHEAR-MOMENT EQUATIONS AND SHEAR-MOMENT DIAGRAMS
vary continuously along the length of the beam. The determination of the internal force system acting at a given section of a
beam is straightforward: We draw a free-body diagram that exposes these
This chapter is concerned only with the variation of the shear force and the forces and then compute the forces using equilibrium equations.
bending moment under various combinations of loads and types of supports.
Knowing the distribution of the shear force and the bending moment in a beam
is essential for the computation of stresses and deformations.

SUPPORTS AND LOADS

Beams are classified according to their supports.

SIMPLY SUPPORTED BEAM: CANTILEVER BEAM:

However, the goal of beam analysis is PROCEDURE FOR DETERMINING SHEAR FORCE AND BENDING
more involved—we want to determine the MOMENT DIAGRAMS
shear force V and the bending moment M The following is a general procedure for obtaining shear force and bending
at every cross section of the beam. To moment diagrams of a statically determinate beam:
accomplish this task, we must derive the 1) Compute the support reactions from the FBD of the entire beam.
expressions for V and M in terms of the 2) Divide the beam into segments so that the loading within each segment
distance x measured along the beam. is continuous. Thus, the end-points of the segments are discontinuities
By plotting these expressions to scale, we of loading, including concentrated loads and couples.
obtain the shear force and bending Perform the following steps for each segment of the beam:
moment diagrams for the beam. The 1) Introduce an imaginary cutting plane within the segment, located at a
shear force and bending moment distance x from the left end of the beam, that cuts the beam into two
diagrams are convenient visual parts.
references to the internal forces in a beam; in particular, they identify the
2) Draw a FBD for the part of the beam lying either to the left or to the right
maximum values of V and M.
of the cutting plane, whichever is more convenient. At the cut section,
SIGN CONVENTIONS
show V and M acting in their positive directions.
`For consistency, it is necessary to adopt sign conventions for applied loading,
3) Determine the expressions for V and M from the equilibrium equations
shear forces, and bending moments. We will use the conventions shown in the
obtainable from the FBD.
figure shown, which assume the following to be positive:
1) External couples that are directed clockwise. 4) Plot the expressions for V and M for the segment.
2) Shear forces that tend to rotate a beam element clockwise.
3) Bending moments that tend to bend a beam element concave upward (the
beam smiles’’).
SAMPLE PROBLEM #1 SAMPLE PROBLEM #2
Determine (a) the equations of the shear and bending-moment diagrams for Determine (a) the equations of the shear and bending-moment diagrams for
the beam and loading shown, (b) the maximum value of the bending moment the beam and loading shown, (b) the maximum value of the bending moment
in the beam. in the beam.
 SAMPLE PROBLEM #3
Construct the shear force and bending moment diagrams for the beam shown
AREA METHOD FOR DRAWING SHEAR-MOMENT DIAGRAMS by the area method. Neglect the weight of the beam.
Useful relationships between the loading, shear force, and bending moment
can be derived from the equilibrium equations. These relationships enable us
to plot the shear force diagram directly from the load diagram, and then
construct the bending moment diagram from the shear force diagram. This
technique, called the area method, allows us to draw the shear force and
bending moment diagrams without having to derive the equations for V and M.
 SAMPLE PROBLEM #5
SAMPLE PROBLEM #4 Construct the shear force and bending moment diagrams for the beam shown
Construct the shear force and by the area method. Neglect the weight of the beam.
bending moment diagrams for the
beam shown by the area method.
Neglect the weight of the beam.
SAMPLE PROBLEM #6 Sample Problem #7
Construct the shear force and Construct the shear force and
bending moment diagrams for bending moment diagrams for
the beam shown by the area the beam shown by the area
method. Neglect the weight of method. Neglect the weight of
the beam. the beam.
ASSIGNMENT:
1) Determine (a) the equations of the shear and bending-moment
diagrams for the beam and loading shown, (b) the maximum value of the
bending moment in the beam.

A)

B)

2) Construct the shear force and bending moment diagrams for the beams
shown below by the area method. Neglect the weight of the beam.

A)

B)