Shear and Moment in

Beams
semiGraphical Method
Follow-up Exercise
by: Sr Magi
Analyze the beam shown using semiGraphical Method
P = 5 kN
w1 = 2kN/m
w2 = 4kN/m
s=1m

Step 1: Solve for the reactions

 P = 5 kN
w1 = 2kN/m
w2 = 4kN/m
s=1m

Solving for the reactions:

ΣMA = 4kN/m ⸱ ⸱ 2 1 + 5kN ⸱ 3 + 2kN/m ⸱ 1 ⸱ 4.5 = 4RB
RB = 8.0 kN
ΣFV = 4kN/m ⸱ 2 + 5kN + 2kN/m ⸱ 1 = RA + RB
RA = 7.0 kN
 Drawing the V-diagram (of forces):
Start with 0-ordinate at A
the 1st force 7kN upward
7kN
so the next ordinate is

7 the 2nd force is4kN/m

downward covering 2m
so the next ordinate is
7kN – 2m 4kN/m = -1kN
⸱
-1 and because w2 is 0-
degree curve, the shear
will be 1st degree curve
 Drawing the V-diagram (of forces):
next, there’s no force
from D to E
so the ordinate will
D E remain as -1kN
7 the 3 force is 5kN
rd

downward
so the next ordinate is
-1
-1kN – 5kN = -6kN
-1
-6
 Drawing the V-diagram (of forces):
next, there’s no force
from E to B
so the ordinate will
D E remain as -6kN
7 the 4 force is 8kN
th

upward
2 so the next ordinate is
-1 -6kN + 8kN = 2kN
-1
-6 -6
 Drawing the V-diagram (of forces):
the next force is2kN/m
downward covering 1m
D E so the next ordinate is
2kN – 1m ⸱ 2kN/m = 0 kN
and because w1 is 0-
7 degree curve, the shear
will be 1st degree curve
2

-1 -1 Equilibrium requires that

the last ordinate must be the
-6 -6 same as the starting ordinate
 Drawing the M-diagram (based from V-diagram):
7 Find 1st the point of zero-
shear at x distance from
D E 2 7/x = 1/(2-x) x = 1.75m
A ⸫
A
-1 -1 B C
Start with 0-ordinate at A
x -6
-6
-6 -6 the 1 shear area is 0.5
st ⸱
6.125 7kN 1.75m = 6.125 kN-m
⸱
and because the shear is
1st degree curve, the
moment will be 2nd degree
the next ordinate
for the shape of M-dia:
@larger V-ordinate » M-plot is almost vertical; curve
@ smaller V-ordinate » M-plot is almost horizontal
use these initial M-plots as tangents for M-diagram
is 6.125 kN-m
 Drawing the M-diagram (based from V-diagram):
7 the 2nd shear area is
2 0.5 ⸱ -1kN ⸱ 0.25m = 0.125
D E
A -1 B C and because the shear is
-1 1st degree curve, the
x -6 -6
-6 -6 moment will be 2nd degree
6.125 6
the next ordinate
curve
is 6.125 – 0.125 = 6kN-m
for the shape of M-dia:
@larger V-ordinate » M-plot is almost vertical;
@ smaller V-ordinate » M-plot is almost horizontal
use these initial M-plots as tangents for M-diagram
 Drawing the M-diagram (based from V-diagram):
7 the 3rd shear area is
2 -1kN ⸱ 1m = -1 kN-m
D E
A -1 B C and because the shear is 0-
-1 degree curve, the moment
x -6 -6
-6 -6 will be 1st degree curve
6.125 6
5 the next ordinate
is 6kN-m – 1 = 5kN-m
 Drawing the M-diagram (based from V-diagram):
7 the 4th shear area is
2 -6kN ⸱ 1m = -6 kN-m
D E
A -1 B C and because the shear is 0-
-1 degree curve, the moment
x -6 -6
-6 -6 will be 1st degree curve
6.125 6
5 the next ordinate
is 5kN-m – 6 = -1kN-m
-1
 Drawing the M-diagram (based from V-diagram):
7 the 5th shear area is
2 2kN ⸱ 1m ⸱ 0.5 = 1kN-m
D E
and because the shear is
A
-1 -1 B C 1st degree curve, the
x -6 -6 moment will be 2nd degree
-6 -6
the next ordinate
6.125 6 curve
5
is -1kN-m + 1 = 0 kN-m
note that negative shear
for the shape of M-dia: -1 area doesn’t necessarily
@larger V-ordinate » M-plot is almost vertical; result to negative moment
@ smaller V-ordinate » M-plot is almost horizontal
use these initial M-plots as tangents for M-diagram
maxV
= 7.0 kN
V-dia
(kN)
maxM
= 6.125 kN-m
M-dia
(kN-m)