Shear and Moment in

Beams

Introduction
Basic

problem
in strength of
materials is to determine the
relations between the stresses and
deformations
caused
by
loads
applied to any structure.

 In

axial or torsional loadings, we had

little trouble in applying the stress
and deformation relations because in
the majority of the cases the loading
either remains constant over the
entire structure or is distributed in
definite amounts to the component
parts.

 The

study
of
bending
loads,
however, is complicated by the fact
that the loading effects vary from
section to section of the beam.
These loading effects take the form
of a shearing force and a bending
moment, sometimes referred to as
shear and moment.

Beams are classified as:

1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.

Simply supported or freely

supported beam
Cantilever beam
Overhanging beam
Built-in-beam
Propped Beam
Restrained Beam
Continuous beam

Methods of supporting beams

Simple

beam-is supported by a
hinged reaction at one end and a
roller support at the other, but is not
otherwise restrained.

 Cantilever

beam-is supported at
one end only, with a suitable
restraint to prevent rotation of that
end.

 Overhanging

beam-is supported by a
hinge and a roller reaction, with
either or both ends extending
beyond the supports.

Statically determinate beams

Simple

beam
Cantilever beam
Overhanging beam

Statically indeterminate
beams
Propped

beam
Fixed or restrained beam
Continuous beam

 Propped

beam

 Fixed

or Restrained beam

 Continuous

Beam

Types of Loads
Concentrated

load- is one acts over so

small a distance that can be assumed to
act at a point.
Distributed load-acts over a considerable
length of the beam
Uniformly distributed- rectangular load
Uniformly varying-triangular load
Trapezoidal load- combination of uniformly

distributed and uniformly varying load

Nonuniform

Bending Moment and Shear

Force
Shear

Force- is defined as the

algebraic summation of the
unbalanced vertical force to the right
or left of the section.
Bending Moment- is defined as the
algebraic summation of the
moments of the forces, to the right
or left of the section.

Shear and Moment

Shear, V
The

resisting shear VR, setup by the

fibers in any section is always equal
but oppositely directed to the
shearing force V.
In computing V, upward acting forces
or loads are considered as positive

Bending Moment, M
Bending

moment is defined as the

summation of moments about the
centroidal axis of any selected
section of all loads acting either to
the left or to the right side of the
section.

Sign of Bending Moment

Upward

acting external forces cause

positive bending moments with
respect to any downward forces
cause negative bending moments.

Shear and Moment

Shear and Moment Diagrams

Are

merely the graphical visualization

of the shear and moment equations
plotted on V-axis and M-axis, usually
located below the loading diagram.
The discontinuities in the shear diagram
are joined by vertical lines drawn up or
down to represent the abrupt changes
in shear caused respectively by upward
or downward concentrated load.

Shear and Moment Diagram

The

shear and moment diagram can be

calculated numerically at any particular
section. To know how these values vary,
along the length of the beam, can be
shown by plotting the shear or the
moment as ordinates and the position of
cross section of the beam as the
abscissa. This is very useful, as they
give the clear picture of the distribution
of shear and moment along the beam.

Illustrative Problem
Write

shear and moment equations

for the cantilever beam carrying the
uniformly
varying
load
and
concentrated load shown. Also,
sketch the shear and moment
diagram.

Figure

Interpretation of Vertical
Shear and Bending Moment
The

resultant effect of the forces at

one side of the exploratory section
reduces to a single force and a
couple that are respectively the
vertical shear and the bending
moment at that section.

Relations among Load, Shear,

and Moment
If there is concentrated load at a
section of the beam, then the shear
suddenly changes. But the bending
moment remains unchanged.
2. If there is no load between two
points then the shear force does not
change. But bending moment
changes.
1.

3.

4.

If there is a Uniformly distributed load,

between the two points, then the shear
force changes linearly. But the bending
moment changes according to the
parabolic law.
If there is uniformly varying load
between two points, then the shear
changes according to the parabolic law.
But the bending moment changes
according to cubic law

Relations among Load, Shear,

and Moment
equation4-1
equation4-2
equation4-3
equation4-4

Relations among Load, Shear,

and Moment

Properties of Shear and

Moment
The tangent drawn at any point of
the moment diagram which makes
angle with the x axis represents the
shear at that section.
2. The area of the shear force diagram
between any two section is equal to
the deflection between the
moments between the section.
1.

The tangent drawn at any point of shear

diagram which makes angle with x axis is
equal to intensity of loading over that section.
4. The slope of moment abruptly changes at the
point of application of the concentrated load.
5. If we consider any two section of a loaded
beam then the total load getting between the
considered any two section is equal to the
difference of value of shear between the two
considered section.
3.

Sign conventions
For

vertical forces:
1. Upward = positive
2. Downward = negative
.For

moments:
1. Clockwise = negative
2. Counter clockwise = positive

Procedures for constructing

Shear and Moment Diagrams
1.
2.

Compute the reactions.

Compute the values of shear at the
change of load points, using either V
= (Fy)L or V =(area)load.

Procedures for constructing

Shear and Moment Diagrams
Sketch the shear diagram,
determining the shape from
equation 4-3; that is the intensity of
the load ordinate equals the slope
at the corresponding ordinate of the
shear diagram
4. Locate the points of zero shear
3.

Procedures for constructing

Shear and Moment Diagrams

5.

Compute values of bending moment

at the change of load points and at
points of zero shear, using either M
= (M)L =(M)R or M = (area)shear,
whichever is more convenient.

Procedures for constructing

Shear and Moment Diagrams
6.

Sketch the moment diagram through

the ordinates of the bending
moments computed in step 5. the
shape of the diagram is determined
from equation 4-4; that is, the
intensity of the shear ordinate equals
the slope at the corresponding
ordinate of the moment diagram.

Illustrative Problems
Sketch

shear and moment diagrams

for the beam shown, computing the
values at all change of loading points
and the maximum shear and
maximum moment.

Moving Loads

Moving Loads
The

The

value of left reaction is

bending moment under P2 is

then

Moving Loads
To

compute the value of x that will

give maximum M2, we set the
derivative of M2 with respect to x
equal to zero:

From

which

Moving Loads
The

bending moment under a

particular load is a maximum when
the center of the beam is midway
between that load and the resultant
of all loads then on the span.

 The

maximum shearing force occurs

at, and is equal to, the maximum
reaction. The maximum reaction is
the reaction to which the resultant
load is nearest.

Illustrative Problem
A

truck and trailer combination

having the axle loads shown, rolls
across the simple supported span of
12 m. Compute the maximum
bending moment and the maximum
shearing force.