CHAPTER-7

INTERNAL FORCES
MMET-275
Mechanics for Technologists
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CONTENT MAP: MMET-275

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CHAPTER-7: OBJECTIVES

1. To be able to use the

method of sections to
determine the internal
loadings in a member
2. To be able to plot shear
& moment diagrams
along a member’s length

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CHAPTER-7: OUTLINE

7.1 Internal Forces developed in Structural Members

7.2 Shear & Moment Equations/Diagrams
7.3 Relations b/w Distributed Load, Shear & Moment
7.4 Cables

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APPLICATIONS

Beams are structural members

designed to support loads applied
perpendicular to their axes.

Beams are often used to support

the span of bridges. They can be
thicker at the supports than at the
center of the span.

Internal forces are important in making such a design decision.

You will now learn about these forces and how to determine them.

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APPLICATIONS (CONTINUED)

A fixed column supports this

rectangular billboard.

Usually such columns are

wider/thicker at the bottom
than at the top.

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APPLICATIONS (CONTINUED)

The shop crane is used to move

heavy machine tools around the
shop.
The picture shows that an
additional frame around the joint
is added.

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VARIOUS TYPES OF BEAM LOADINGS

AND SUPPORTS

• Beams are classified according to way in which they

are supported.
• Reactions at beam supports are determinate if they
involve only three unknowns. Otherwise, they are
statically indeterminate.
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INTERNAL FORCES IN MEMBERS

• Straight two-force member AB is in

equilibrium under application of F & -F.
• Internal forces equivalent to F and -F are
required for equilibrium of free-bodies
AC and CB.

• Multiforce member ABCD is in equil-

ibrium under application of cable and
member contact forces.

• Internal forces equivalent to a force-

couple system are necessary for equil-
ibrium of free-bodies JD and ABCJ.

• An internal force-couple system is

required for equilibrium of two-force
members which are not straight.
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INTERNAL FORCES
The design of any structural member
B requires finding the forces acting within
the member to make sure the material can
resist those loads.

For example, we want to determine the

B
internal forces acting on the cross section
at B. But, first, we need to determine the
support reactions.

Then we need to cut the beam at B and

draw a FBD of one of the halves of the
beam. This FBD will include the internal
forces acting at B. Finally, we need to
solve for these unknowns using the E-of-E.
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INTERNAL FORCES

In 2D cases, typical internal loads are

normal or axial forces (N, acting
perpendicular to the section), shear
forces (V, acting along the surface), and
the bending moment (M).

The loads on the left and right sides of the section at B are equal in
magnitude but opposite in direction. This is because when the two
sides are reconnected, the net loads are zero at the section.
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STEPS FOR DETERMINING INTERNAL

FORCES
1. (If necessary), determine any support reactions or joint
forces you need by drawing a FBD of the entire
structure and solving for the unknown reactions.
2. Take an imaginary cut at the place where you need to
determine the internal forces. Then, decide which
resulting section or piece will be easier to analyze.
3. Draw a FBD of the piece of the structure you’ve
decided to analyze. Remember to show the N, V, and
M loads at the “cut” surface (follow sign convention).
4. Apply the E-of-E to the FBD (drawn in step 3) and
solve for the unknown internal loads.

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EXAMPLE

Given: The loading on the beam.

Find: The internal forces at point C.

Plan: Follow the procedure!!

Solution
1. Plan on taking the imaginary cut at C. It will be easier to work with
the right section (the cut at C to point B) since the geometry is
simpler and there are no external loads.

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SOLUTION

2. We need to determine By. Use a FBD of the entire frame and solve
the E-of-E for By.

FBD of the entire beam:

18 kip
3 ft 3 ft 9 ft
Bx

Ay By

Applying the E-of-E to this FBD, we get

 +  Fx = Bx = 0
+  MA = − By ( 9 ) + 18 ( 3 ) = 0 ; By = 6 kip

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SOLUTION

3. Now draw a FBD of the right section. Assume directions

for VC, NC and MC.
4.5 ft
NC

B
MC VC C 6 kip

4. Applying the E-of-E to this FBD, we get

 +  Fx = -NC = 0; NC = 0

 +  Fy = VC – 6 = 0; VC = 6 kip

+  MC = – 6 (4.5) – MC = 0 ; MC = – 27 kip ft
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ICE_7.1_1

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ICE_7.1_1

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ICE_7.1_1

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ICE_7.1_1

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EXAMPLE
Given: The loading on the beam.

Find: The internal forces at

point F.

Plan: Follow the procedure!!

Solution
1. Make an imaginary cut at F. Why there?
Which section will you pick to analyze via the FBD?

Why will it be easier to work with segment FB?

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EXAMPLE

2. We need to determine the cable tension, T, using a FBD and

the E-of-E for the entire frame.

T T
3m 3m
Ax 45

Ay
1800 N

+  MA = T ( 6 ) + T sin 45 ( 3 ) − 1800 (3) = 0 ;

T = 665 N

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EXAMPLE
3. A FBD of section FB is shown below.

450 665
NF 0.75 m N 0.75 m N

F B
MF VF FBD of Section FB

4. Applying the E-of-E to the FBD, we get

 +  Fx = NF = 0
 +  Fy = – 450 + 665 + VF = 0 ; VF = -215 N
+  MF = 665 (1.5) – 450 (0.75) – MF = 0 ; MF = 660 N m

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ICE_7.1_2

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ICE_7.1_2

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7.2 SHEAR FORCE & BENDING MOMENT

EQUATIONS/DIAGRAMS
• Beams – structural members designed to support
loadings perpendicular to their axes
• A simply supported beam is pinned at one end
and roller supported at the other
• A cantilevered beam is fixed at one end and free
at the other

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APPLICATIONS

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7.2 SHEAR & MOMENT

EQUATIONS/DIAGRAMS
Procedure for Analysis
Support Reactions
• Find all reactive forces and couple moments
acting on the beam
• Resolve them into components
Shear and Moment Reactions
• Specify separate coordinates x
• Section the beam perpendicular to its axis
• V obtained by summing the forces perpendicular
to the beam
• M obtained by summing moments about the
sectioned end
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7.2 SHEAR & MOMENT

EQUATIONS/DIAGRAMS
Procedure for Analysis
Shear and Moment Reactions (Continued)
• Plot (V versus x) and (M versus x)
• Convenient to plot the shear and the bending
moment diagrams below the FBD of the beam

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EXAMPLE

Draw the shear and bending moments diagrams for

the shaft. The support at A is a thrust bearing and
the support at C is a journal bearing.
Support Reactions

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SOLUTION

Shear force & Bending moment

   Fy  0;V  2.5kN
 M  0; M  2.5 xkN .m

   Fy  0; 2.5kN  5kN  V  0
V  2.5kN
 M  0; M  5kN ( x  2m)  2.5kN ( x)  0
M  (10  2.5 x)kN .m

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SOLUTION

Shear diagram
Internal shear force is always
positive within the shaft AB.

Just to the right of B, the shear

force changes sign and remains at
constant value for segment BC.

Moment diagram
Starts at zero, increases linearly to
B and therefore decreases to zero.

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ICE_7.2_1

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ICE_7.2_1

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EXAMPLE

Draw the shear and moment diagrams for the beam.

Support Reactions

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SOLUTION

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SOLUTION

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SOLUTION

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ICE_7.2_2

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ICE_7.2_2

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7.3 RELATIONS BETWEEN DISTRIBUTED

LOAD, SHEAR & MOMENT

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7.4 CABLES

• Flexible & inextensible (heavy/negligible wt.)

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(3D) INTERNAL FORCES DEVELOPED IN

STRUCTURAL MEMBERS

• Ny is the normal force, and Vx and Vz are the

shear components
• My is the torisonal or twisting moment, and Mx
and Mz are the bending moment components

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RECAP: 7.1 INTERNAL FORCES

In 2D cases, typical internal loads are

normal or axial forces (N, acting
perpendicular to the section), shear
forces (V, acting along the surface), and
the bending moment (M).

The loads on the left and right sides of the section at B are equal in
magnitude but opposite in direction. This is because when the two
sides are reconnected, the net loads are zero at the section.
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RECAP: 7.1 STEPS FOR DETERMINING

INTERNAL FORCES
1. Determine any support reactions or joint forces you
need by drawing a FBD of the entire structure and
solving for the unknown reactions.
2. Take an imaginary cut at the place where you need to
determine the internal forces. Then, decide which
resulting section or piece will be easier to analyze.
3. Draw a FBD of the piece of the structure you’ve
decided to analyze. Remember to show the N, V, and
M loads at the “cut” surface.
4. Apply the E-of-E to the FBD (drawn in step 3) and
solve for the unknown internal loads.

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RECAP: 7.2 SHEAR & MOMENT

EQUATIONS/DIAGRAMS

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