Analysis and Design

of Beams for Bending

Lecture 15
Engineering Mechanics - ME102
Sunil Kumar Singh & Rishi Raj

Courtesy: TMH
Application
Forces that are internal to the structural members – beams – are
the subject of this chapter

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Introduction
• We will focus on beams:
Beams - usually long, straight, prismatic members designed
to support loads applied at various points along the member.

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Introduction
• Objective - Analysis and design of beams

• Beams - structural members supporting loads at

various points along the member

• Transverse loadings of beams are classified as

concentrated loads or distributed loads

• Applied loads result in internal forces consisting

of a shear force (from the shear stress
distribution) and a bending couple (from the
normal stress distribution)

• Normal stress is often the critical design criteria

My Mc M
x = − m = =
I I S
Requires determination of the location and
magnitude of largest bending moment

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Introduction
Classification of Beam Supports

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Various Types of Beam Loading and
Support
• Beam - structural member designed to support
loads applied at various points along its length.

• Beam can be subjected to concentrated loads or

distributed loads or combination of both.

• Beam design is a two-step process:

1) determine shearing forces and bending
moments produced by applied loads
2) select cross-section best suited to resist
shearing forces and bending moments

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Shear and Bending Moment in a
Beam
• Wish to determine bending moment
and shearing force at any point (for
example, point C) in a beam subjected
to concentrated and distributed loads.
• Determine reactions at supports by
treating whole beam as free-body.

• Cut beam at C and draw free-body

diagrams for AC and CB. By
definition, positive sense for internal
force-couple systems are as shown
for each beam section.
• From equilibrium considerations,
determine M and V or M’ and V’.

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Shear and Bending Moment
Diagrams
• Variation of shear and bending
moment along beam may be
plotted.
• Determine reactions at
supports.
• Cut beam at C and consider
member AC,
V = + P 2 M = + Px 2
• Cut beam at E and consider
member EB,
V = − P 2 M = + P(L − x ) 2

• For a beam subjected to

concentrated loads, shear is
constant between loading points
and moment varies linearly.

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Sample Problem 5.1

For the timber beam and loading

shown, draw the shear and bend-
moment diagrams and determine the
maximum normal stress due to
bending.

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Sample Problem 5.1
SOLUTION:
• Treating the entire beam as a rigid body, determine
the reaction forces
from  Fy = 0 =  M B : RB = 40 kN RD = 14 kN

• Section the beam and apply equilibrium analyses

on resulting free-bodies
 Fy = 0 − 20 kN − V1 = 0 V1 = −20 kN
 M1 = 0 (20 kN )(0 m ) + M1 = 0 M1 = 0

 Fy = 0 − 20 kN − V2 = 0 V2 = −20 kN
 M2 = 0 (20 kN )(2.5 m ) + M 2 = 0 M 2 = −50 kN  m

V3 = +26 kN M 3 = −50 kN  m
V4 = +26 kN M 4 = +28 kN  m
V5 = −14 kN M 5 = +28 kN  m
V6 = −14 kN M 6 = 0

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Sample Problem 5.1
• Identify the maximum shear and bending-
moment from plots of their distributions.
Vm = 26 kN M m = M B = 50 kN  m

• Apply the elastic flexure formulas to

determine the corresponding
maximum normal stress.
S = 16 b h 2 = 16 (0.080 m )(0.250 m )2

= 833.33 10− 6 m3

MB 50 103 N  m
m = =
S 833.33 10− 6 m3

 m = 60.0 106 Pa

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Sample Problem 5.5

Draw the shear and bending

moment diagrams for the beam and
loading shown.

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Sample Problem 5.5
SOLUTION:
• Taking the entire beam as a free body,
determine the reactions at C.
 Fy = 0 = − 12 w0 a + RC RC = 12 w0 a
 a  a
 M C = 0 = 12 w0 a L −  + M C M C = − 12 w0 a L − 
 3  3
Results from integration of the load and shear
distributions should be equivalent.
• Apply the relationship between shear and load
to develop the shear diagram.
a
a
 x   x 2 
VB − V A = −  w0 1 −  dx = −  w0  x − 
 2a 
0  a   0
VB = − 12 w0 a = − ( area under load curve)

- No change in shear between B and C.

- Compatible with free body analysis
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Sample Problem 5.5
• Apply the relationship between bending moment
and shear to develop the bending moment
diagram.
a
a  x 2    x 2 x3 
 
M B − M A =  − w0  x −  dx = − w0  − 
  2a    2 6a 
0     0
M B = − 13 w0 a 2

( )
L
M B − M C =  − 12 w0a dx = − 12 w0a(L − a )
a
a w0  a
M C = − 16 w0 a(3L − a ) = L− 
2  3

Results at C are compatible with free-body

analysis

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Relations Among Load, Shear, and
Bending Moment
• Relationship between load and shear:
 Fy = 0 : V − (V + V ) − w x = 0
V = − w x
dV
= −w
dx
xD
VD − VC = −  w dx
xC

• Relationship between shear and bending

moment:
 M C = 0 : (M + M ) − M − V x + wx x = 0
2
M = V x − 12 w (x ) 2

dM
=V
dx
xD

M D − MC =  V dx
xC

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Problem
Knowing that P = Q = 480 N, determine (a) the distance a for
which the absolute value of the bending moment in the beam is
as small as possible, (b) the corresponding maximum normal
stress due to bending.

Hint: Draw the bending-moment diagram and equate the absolute values of the largest
positive and negative bending moments obtained
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Problem
Assuming that the reaction of the ground is uniformly
distributed, draw the shear and bending-moment diagrams for
the beam AB and determine the maximum absolute value (a) of
the shear, (b) of the bending moment.

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