Module 4: SHEAR AND MOMENT IN BEAMS

Beams are structural members that support loadings which are applied perpendicular to their longitudinal
axis. Beams are considered among the most important of all structural elements. They are used to support the
floor of a building, the deck of a bridge, or the wing of an aircraft. Also, the axle of an automobile, the boom of a
crane, even many of the bones of the body act as beams.

They classified as to how they are supported.

a. Simply supported beam – pinned at one end and roller at the other end
b. Cantilevered beam – fixed at one end and free at the other end
c. Overhanging beam – has one or both of its ends freely extended over the support.

SHEAR AND MOMENT:

(Internal forces within the beam)

Consider the simple beam shown of length L that carries a uniform load of ω throughout its length, is held
in equilibrium by reactions at A and B. Assume that the beam is cut at point C of distance x from the left support
and the portion of the beam to the right of C be removed. The portion removed must then be replaced by a
vertical shearing force V together with a couple M, to hold the left portion of the bar in equilibrium under the
action of the force RA and ωx.

The shear at a section is equal to the summation of all the upward forces minus the downward forces to
the left of the section, or it is equal to the summation of all downward forces minus the upward forces on the
right of the section.

𝑉𝐶 = 𝑅𝐴 − 𝜔𝑥
𝜔𝐿
𝑉𝐶 = − 𝜔𝑥
2
The moment at a section is equal to the summation of all clockwise moments minus the counterclockwise
moments of all forces to the left of the section about the section, or it is equal to the summation of all
counterclockwise moments minus the clockwise moments of all forces to the right of the section about the
section.
𝑥
𝑀𝐶 = 𝑅𝐴 (𝑥) − 𝜔𝑥
2
𝜔𝐿𝑥 𝑤𝑥 2
𝑀𝐶 = −
2 2
𝜔𝑥
𝑀𝐶 = (𝐿 − 𝑥)
2

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Module 4: SHEAR AND MOMENT IN BEAMS

Sign Convention

Shear at a section is said to be positive if, by imagining, the beam to be cut into two parts at the section, the left
segment tends to slide upward relative to the right segment.

Bending moment at a section is positive if the beam bends with the concave side on the top.

Problems:

1. Determine the magnitude and sign of the shear and bending moment in the beam as shown whose
distance from A is a.) 1.5m, b.) 6m and c.) 5 m. Check the results by using the left and right sides of the
section as free bodies.

8 kN
30 kN 20 kN

1.2m 1m 2m 1.5m 6m 1.5m

5 kN/m

2. Determine the magnitude and sign of the shear and bending moment in the beam as shown at a section
4m to the right of A.

30 kN/m

10 kN/m

10 m

3. Determine the magnitude and sign of the shear and bending moment midway between the supports.

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Module 4: SHEAR AND MOMENT IN BEAMS

SHEAR AND BENDING MOMENT DIAGRAMS:

Shear and bending moment diagrams are the graphs showing the variations along the length of the beam
in the value of the shear and bending moment due to a fixed loading condition.

The shear and bending moment diagrams can be plotted from the shear and bending moment equations.

If the beam is subjected to concentrated loads only, the shear curves are horizontal and straight while the
bending moment curves are sloping linear, if the beam is subjected to both concentrated and uniformly
distributed loads, the shear curves are sloping linear and the bending moment curves are parabolic, while if the
beam is subjected to both concentrated and varying loads, the shear curves are parabolic and the bending
moment curves are cubic.

PROPERTIES OF SHEAR AND MOMENT DIAGRAMS:

1. The area of the shear diagram to the left or to the right of the section is equal to the moment at that section.
2. The slope of the moment diagram at a given point is the shear at that point.
3. The slope of the shear diagram at a given point is equal to the load at that point.
4. The maximum moment occurs at the point of zero shears. This is in reference to property 2, that when the
shear (also the slope of the moment diagram) is zero, the tangent drawn to the moment diagram is
horizontal.
5. When the shear diagram is increasing, the moment diagram is concave upward.
6. When the shear diagram is decreasing, the moment diagram is concave downward.

PROBLEMS:

Write the shear and moment equations for the beams loaded as shown and sketch the shear and moment
diagrams.

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Module 4: SHEAR AND MOMENT IN BEAMS

Without writing the shear and moment equations, draw the shear and moment diagrams for the beams shown.

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