8.

3 Shear and Bending-Moment Diagrams Constructed by Areas

8.3 Shear and Bending-Moment Diagrams Constructed by Areas Procedures and Strategies, page 1 of 3
Procedures and Strategies for Solving Problems Involving Area of rectangle = 2 kN/m 3 m = 6 kN
Constructing Shear and Bending-Moment Diagrams by Areas
4 kN 2 kN/m
1. You can construct the shear diagram by using the following
rules:
3m 3m
a) A downward concentrated load P causes a downward jump
of magnitude P in the shear diagram.

b) The change in shear between two "shear critical points" V(kN)

(points at which a concentrated load acts or a distributed
load begins or ends) equals the negative of the area under the
distributed load curve, V = w dx. x(m)

c) The slope of the shear curve equals the negative of the 4 4

distributed load, dV/dx = w. Thus if w = constant, the
shear curve is a straight line; if w is linear, the shear curve is
parabolic; and if no distributed load is present (w = 0), the
shear curve is a horizontal line. 10

Application of the rules to construct a shear diagram: Draw a Change in shear

free-body diagram of the beam, and solve for the reactions. = negative of area
Then starting from the left end of the beam, proceed from = 6 kN
critical point to critical point, and apply rules a) and b) to
determine the values of the shear at the critical points. Apply
rule c) to determine the type of curve that connects the shear
values at the critical points on the shear diagram.
8.3 Shear and Bending-Moment Diagrams Constructed by Areas Procedures and Strategies, page 2 of 3
2. You can construct the moment diagram by using
the following rules: 7 kN
10 kN m
a) a clockwise couple moment M causes an
upward jump in the moment diagram.
3m 3m
b) The change in moment between two "moment
critical points" (shear critical points plus points
at which a couple moment acts) equals the area
under the shear curve, M = V dx. V(kN)

c) The slope of the moment curve equals the

shear, dM/dx = V. Thus if V is linear, M is x(m)
parabolic; if V is constant, M is linear.
7 7
Application of the rules to construct a moment Area = 7 kN 3 m
diagram: Starting from the left end of the beam, = 21 kN m
proceed from critical point to critical point, and 10 10 = change in M
apply rules a) and b) to determine the values of M(kN m)
the moment at the critical points. Apply rule c) to
determine the type of curve that connects the
moment values at the critical points. x(m)

11
8.3 Shear and Bending-Moment Diagrams Constructed by Areas Procedures and Strategies, page 3 of 3
Notes:

1) A point on the shear diagram at which V = 0

4m 4m
requires special consideration because dM/dx =
V = 0 implies that the moment M is a local 2 kN/m
maximum or minimum there. First determine
perhaps by using similar triangles the
precise location where V = 0 on the shear
diagram. Then treat this point as an additional
critical point on the moment diagram and
calculate the moment there by applying rule b). Similar triangles:
s (4 s)
2) Both diagrams must close. If either diagram V(kN) = 6
2
does not close, check for a mistake in either
your calculation of the reactions or in your 2 2
calculation of V and M at successive critical (4 s)
points. s x(m)

6
9
M (kN m) 8

x (m)
8.3 Shear and Bending-Moment Diagrams Constructed by Areas Problem Statement for Example 1
1. Draw the shear and moment diagrams for the beam.

6 kN
2m 4m
C
A B
8.3 Shear and Bending-Moment Diagrams Constructed by Areas Problem Statement for Example 2
2. Draw the shear and moment diagrams for the beam.

2 kN 3 kN 4 kN 3 kN 2 kN
2m 2m 2m 2m 2m 2m
A B
8.3 Shear and Bending-Moment Diagrams Constructed by Areas Problem Statement for Example 3
3. Draw the shear and moment diagrams for the beam.

30 lb/ft

A B

24 ft
8.3 Shear and Bending-Moment Diagrams Constructed by Areas Problem Statement for Example 4
4. Draw the shear and bending moment diagrams for the beam.

2 kip/ft

A B
C

8 ft 8 ft
8.3 Shear and Bending-Moment Diagrams Constructed by Areas Problem Statement for Example 5
5. Draw the shear and moment diagrams for the beam.

2 kN/m

A C
B

2m 4m
8.3 Shear and Bending-Moment Diagrams Constructed by Areas Problem Statement for Example 6
6. Draw the shear and moment diagrams for the beam.

60 kN m
A B
C
10 m 20 m
8.3 Shear and Bending-Moment Diagrams Constructed by Areas Problem Statement for Example 7
7. Draw the shear and moment diagrams for the beam.

20 kip ft 8 kip ft 12 kip ft

A B C D E

4 ft 4 ft 4 ft 4 ft
8.3 Shear and Bending-Moment Diagrams Constructed by Areas Problem Statement for Example 8
8. Draw the shear and moment diagrams for the beam.

4 kN
2 kN/m Hinge

B
A 8 kN m C D E

3m 3m 3m 3m
8.3 Shear and Bending-Moment Diagrams Constructed by Areas Problem Statement for Example 9
9. Draw the shear and moment diagrams for the beam.

21 kN
Hinge
C 15 kN m
A B
D
4 kN/m
3m 3m 6m