LESSON #4

Beam Analysis

BEAM ANALYSIS AND CABLES

BEAM
horizontal or inclined structural member spanning a distance between one or more supports that
functions to carry or resist vertical loads across its longitudinal axis

BEAM vs. GIRDER

All girders are beams, but not all beams are girders.

A Joists
B Beam
C Girders

BEAM ANALYSIS AND CABLES

Roof Beam Types Rafters
Purlins sloped structural members that
a horizontal beam along the extend from the ridge or hip to
length of a roof, resting on a the wall plate, downslope
main rafter, directly connected perimeter or eave, and that are
to the roofing materials designed to support the roof
deck (usually the top of a truss)

Beam Types by SUPPORT

Cantilever Simply Supported Overhang

Continuous Fixed Ended Propped

BEAM ANALYSIS AND CABLES

Support Types and Reactions

BEAM ANALYSIS AND CABLES

Beam Loading Types

Uniformly Varying
Equation
Point/Concentrated (Triangular)

Uniformly Distributed Moment/Couple Trapezoidal

BEAM ANALYSIS AND CABLES

DISTRIBUTED LOADS
acts over a considerable length or over a determined or specified length measured as force per unit
length (i.e. kN/m, lb/ft)
Uniformly Distributed Non-Uniformly Distributed

EQUIVALENT CONCENTRATED LOADS (ECLs)

the resultant of any distributed load with consideration of the application of the centroid of an area

CENTROID OF AN AREA
the point of concentration of a given body of mass or an area

BEAM ANALYSIS AND CABLES

LOCATION OF Equivalent Concentrated Loads
The centroid of an area is being applied in the location of the resultant of distributed loads or ECLs

L/2 L/2

CENTROIDS OF AN AREA (considering degree of slope)

𝟏
AREA : 𝒃𝒉
𝒏+𝟏

𝟏
CENTROID : 𝒃, from higher h
𝒏+𝟐

BEAM ANALYSIS AND CABLES

PROCEDURE FOR ANALYSIS OF BEAMS (Computation of Support Reactions)
STEP 1: Draw the FBD of the beam with assumed support reaction direction.
STEP 2: Resolve inclined loads into components.
STEP 3: Convert all the distributed loads into their Equivalent Concentrated Load (ECL) or the
resultant of the load with corresponding point of applications.
STEP 4: Apply equilibrium conditions to solve for the unknowns.
1 𝑘𝑁
( )(2 )(3𝑚)= 3 kN
2 𝑚

𝑘𝑁
(2
𝑚
)(6𝑚)= 12 kN ෍ 4
(10 𝑘𝑁)( )= 8 kN
5

10 kN
4
3 3
RAX (10 𝑘𝑁)( )= 6 kN
5
15 kN-m

RAY
RB

BEAM ANALYSIS AND CABLES

Sample Problem 4.1
Solve for the reactions at the support of the given beam and loadings.

BEAM ANALYSIS AND CABLES

Sample Problem 4.2
Solve for the reactions at the support of the given beam and loadings.

BEAM ANALYSIS AND CABLES

Sample Problem 4.3
Solve for the reactions at the support of the given beam and loadings.

BEAM ANALYSIS AND CABLES

Sample Problem 4.4
Solve for the reactions at the support of the given beam and loadings.

BEAM ANALYSIS AND CABLES

Sample Problem 4.5
Solve for the reactions at the support of the given beam and loadings.

BEAM ANALYSIS AND CABLES

Sample Problem 4.6
Solve for the reactions at the support of the given beam and loadings.

BEAM ANALYSIS AND CABLES

Sample Problem 4.7
Solve for the reactions at the support of the given beam and loadings.

BEAM ANALYSIS AND CABLES