SHEAR FORCE AND BENDING MOMENT

SHEAR FORCE: This is the algebraic sum of the lateral components of the forces acting on
either side of the section. It acts in the plane of the section, causing sliding of one section over
the other. It is usually denoted as 𝑽 and its unit is in Newton (𝑵) Kilo-Newton(𝑲𝑵).
BENDING MOMENT: This is the algebraic sum of the moments about a section of all the
forces acting on either side of the section. It tends to bend a body about an axis lying with the
plane of the section. It is usually denoted as 𝑴 and it unit is in Kilo-Newton metre (𝑲𝑵𝒎).
LOADING: There are three (3) types of loadings on beam sections. They are:

 Concentrated or Point load: A concentrated load on a beam is one which can be

regarded as acting wholly at one point of the beam.

 Uniformly distributed load: This is the load that is acting on a beam in such a way
that each unit length is loaded to the same extent.

 Uniformly varying load: This is the load that is acting on a beam in such a manner
that it varies uniformly on each unit length.

 Combined loading: This is the type of loading on a beam which comprises of more
than one type of loading.
SHEAR FORCE AND BENDING MOMENT DIAGRAMS
These are figures that show graphically the variations of bending moment and shearing force
along the length of a beam.

RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN SHEAR FORCE (𝑽), BENDING

MOMENT (𝑴) AND INTENSITY OF LOADING (𝑾)

Figure 1.0

Consider the beam AB in Figure (1.0), carrying a uniformly distributed of 𝒘 𝑘𝑁/𝑚. By

symmetry, each reaction takes half of the total load. The bending moment at any point 𝑪,
distance 𝒙 from 𝑨, is given by
𝑤𝐿 𝑥
𝑀= 𝑥 − (𝑤𝑥)
2 2
1 1
𝑀 = 𝑤𝐿𝑥 − 𝑤𝑥 2
2 2
Differentiating,
𝑑𝑀 1
= 𝑤𝐿 − 𝑤𝑥
𝑑𝑥 2
But,
1
Shear force at 𝑪 = 𝑤𝐿 − 𝑤𝑥 = 𝑉
2
 𝑑𝑀
∴ =𝑉
𝑑𝑥
1
Recall, 𝑉 = 𝑤𝐿 − 𝑤𝑥
2

Differentiating,
𝑑𝑉
= −𝑤
𝑑𝑥
In summary:
𝒅𝑴
 The maximum or minimum Bending Moment occurs where =𝟎
𝒅𝒙
𝑑𝑀
But =𝑉
𝑑𝑥
Thus where Shear Force is zero (𝑽 = 𝟎), Bending Moment is maximum or minimum.
𝒅𝑴
 The slope of the Bending Moment diagram = 𝒅𝒙 = 𝑽
Thus where 𝑽 = 𝟎 the slope of the Bending Moment diagram is zero and the Bending
Moment is therefore constant.
 The slope of the shear diagram at a given point equals the load at that point.
 Also, since 𝑽 represents the slope of the Bending Moment diagram, it follows that
where the Shear Force is positive the slope of the Bending Moment diagram is positive,
and where the Shear Force is negative the slope of the Bending Moment diagram is also
negative.
 The area of the S.F. diagram between any two points, from basic calculus, is ∫ 𝑽𝒅𝒙.
𝒅𝑴
But, = 𝑽 or 𝑴 = ∫ 𝑽𝒅𝒙
𝒅𝒙
That is, the change in Bending Moment between any two points is the area of the Shear
Force diagram between these points.

NOTE:
Point of Maximum Moment: This is the point of maximum or minimum bending moment on
a beam corresponds to a point of zero shear on that beam.

Point of Contraflexure or Inflexion: A point of contraflexure or inflexion (𝑿 − 𝑿) as shown

in Figure (1.1) is a point where the curvature of the beam changes sign. It occurs at the point,
or points, on the beam where the bending moment is zero.

Figure 1.1 Point of contrafexure.

SIGN CONVENTIONS FOR BENDING MOMENTS AND SHEARING FORCES
The bending moments on the elemental length of a beam tend to make the beam concave on its
upper surface and convex on its lower surface; such bending moments are sometimes called
sagging bending moments. The shearing forces on the elemental length tend to rotate the
element in a clockwise sense. Therefore

i. Downward vertical loads are positive.

ii. Sagging bending moments are positive.
iii. Clockwise shearing forces are positive.

Figure 1.2 Positive values of 𝒘, 𝑭 and 𝑴 (i) downward vertical loading,

(ii) clockwise shearing forces, (iii) sagging bending-moment

Examples:
Draw the shear force and bending moment diagrams for the following beams:
1.

Solution:
2.

Solution:
3.

Solution: