STUDY GUIDE

Module 4
Analysis of Beams

Introduction
In this module, you will study shear forces and bending moments in beams. You will learn how
these quantities are related to each other and to the loads. Determining shear forces and bending moment
in beams subjected to loads is an essential step in the design of a beam, because maximum values of these
quantities govern the design of the beam. Aside from these maximum values, the variation in shear and
bending moment along the beam should also be known. The shear and bending moment are used to find
the stresses, strains, and deflections in beams.

Lesson 1 – Shear and Moment in Beams

A beam is a long straight prismatic structural member supporting loads applied at various points
that usually span the distance between supports and is loaded primarily in a transverse direction. Such a
transverse loading causes only bending and shear in the beam. When the loads are not at a right angle to
the beam, they also produce axial forces in the beam.
Beams are generally classified according to support conditions. Classifications of beams according to
how they are supported are as follows:
1. Statically determinate beams
a) Simply supported beam b) Overhanging beam c) Cantilever beam

(a)
2. Statically indeterminate beams
a) Continuous beam b) Propped beam c) Fixed beam

(b)
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3. Compound beams

(c)
Fig. 1
Loads carried by beams

Loads acting on beams may be of several kinds, as illustrated in Fig. 2. A concentrated load is any
type of loading that can be idealized as a single force acting at a point, such as P1, P2, P3, and P4.
Distributed loads act over a considerable length of the beam, as shown in Figs. 2a and 2b. Such loads are
measured by their intensity, which is expressed in units of force per unit distance along the axis of the
beam. A uniformly distributed load or uniform load, Fig. 2a, has constant intensity per unit distance. A
varying load has an intensity that changes with distance along the axis, as in Fig. 2b. Another kind of load
is a couple, illustrated by the couple moment M1 acting on the overhanging beam of Fig. 2c.

(a) (b) (c)

Fig. 2

In this module, it is assumed that the loads on the beams act in the plane of the figure. This
assumption requires that all forces have their vectors in the plane of the figure and that all couples have
their moment vectors perpendicular to that plane. Furthermore, the beams must be symmetric about that
plane; that is, the plane of bending must be a plane of symmetry of the beam itself, which means that the
cross section of each beam must have a vertical axis of symmetry. Under these conditions, the beam will
deflect only in the plane of bending.

Shear and Moment

When a beam is loaded by forces or couples, internal stresses and strains are created. To determine
these stresses and strains, the internal forces and internal couples that act on cross sections of the beam
are first determined.
The figure below shows a simple beam that carries a concentrated load P and is held in equilibrium
by the reactions R1 and R2. The free-body diagram of the left segment in Fig. 3b shows the resisting
vertical force (shearing force), shown as Vr, and the resisting moment, Mr, that acts as shown. The net
vertical unbalance is defined as the shearing force in the beam, denoted by V, which can be determined
from the summation of the vertical components of the external loads acting on either side of the section.
V = (Fy )L = (Fy )R
Bending moment is defined as the summation of moments about the centroidal axis of any selected
section of all the loads acting either to the left or to the right side of the section.
M = (My )L = (My )R

(a) (b) (c)

Fig. 3
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Sign Conventions

Positive shear Negative shear Positive bending Negative bending

1. The shear at any given point of a beam is positive when the external forces (loads and reactions) acting
on the beam tend to move up the left portion of the beam past the right portion, or if the external forces
tend to move down the right portion past the left portion.
2. The bending moment at any given point of a beam is positive when the external forces acting on the
beam tend to bend the beam upward.

Shear and Moment Diagrams

The shear forces V and bending moments M in a beam are functions of the distance x measured
along the longitudinal axis. The shear and moment diagrams are graphical representations of these
functions that show the values of V and M at all cross sections.
The discontinuities in the shear diagram are joined by vertical lines drawn up or down to represent
abrupt changes in shear caused respectively by upward or downward concentrated loads. Discontinuities
in the moment diagram are likewise joined by straight lines to represent abrupt changes in bending
moment caused by applied couples.

SAMPLE PROBLEMS
Here are sample problems for you to study. If you have any questions with
the solution, please feel free to consult your instructor.

Write shear and moment equations for the beams in the following problems. Draw the shear and moment
diagrams, specifying values at all change of loading positions and at all points of zero shear. Neglect the
mass of the beam in each problem.
Solution:
a) Reactions:
MD = 0] 2000(9)  4800 12R1  0 ; R1 = 1900 lb
MA = 0] 4800  2000(3) 12R2  0 ; R2 = 100 lb
b) Shear equations
VAB = 1900
VBC = 1900 – 2000 = – 100
VCD = – 100
c) Moment equations
MAB = 1900x at x = 0, M=0
at x = 3 ft, M = 5700 ft-lb
MBC = 1900x – 2000 (x – 3) = 1900x – 2000x + 6000
= – 100x + 6000 at x = 3 ft, M = 5700 ft-lb
at x = 9 ft, M = 5100 ft-lb
MCD = 100(12 – x) = 1200 – 100x
at x = 9 ft, M = 300 ft-lb
at x = 12 ft, M = 0
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a) Reactions:
MC = 0] 60(18)(3)  900(8)  400(6) 12R1  0 ; R1 = 670 lb
MA = 0] 12R2  60(18)(9)  900(4)  400(18)  0 ; R2 = 1710 lb
b) Shear equations
VAB = 670 – 60x at x = 0, V = 670 lb
at x = 4 ft, V = 430 lb
VBC = 670 – 60x – 900 = – 60x – 230
at x = 4 ft, V =  470 lb
at x = 12 ft, V = – 950 lb
VCD = 400 + 60(18 – x) = 1480 – 60x
at x = 12 ft, V = 760 lb
at x = 18, V = 400 lb
c) Moment equations
MAB = 670x – 30x2 at x = 0, M = 0
at x = 4 ft, M = 2200 ft-lb
MBC = 670x – 30x2  900 (x – 4) = 30x2 – 230x + 3600
at x = 4 ft, M = 2200 ft-lb
at x = 12 ft, M = 3480
MCD =  400(18 – x) – 30(18 – x)2 = 30x2 + 1480x – 16920
at x = 12 ft, M = 3480
at x = 18 ft, M = 0
a) Reactions:
MD = 0] 30(2)(2)  6R1  0 ; R1 = 20 kN
MA = 0] 6R2  30(2)(4)  0 ; R2 = 40 kN
b) Shear equations
VAB = 20
VBC = 20 – 30 (x – 3) = – 30x + 110
at x = 3 m, V = 20 kN
at x = 5 m, V =  40 kN
VCD = – 40
c) Point of zero shear
V = – 30x + 110
0 = – 30x + 110 ; x = 3.667 m
d) Moment equations
MAB = 20x at x = 0, M = 0
at x = 3 m, M = 60 kN-m
MBC = 20x – 15 (x – 3)2 = – 15x2 + 110x – 135
at x = 3 m, M = 60 kN-m
at x = 3.667 m, M = 66.667 kN-m
at x = 5 m, M = 40 kN-m
MCD = 40(6 – x) = – 40x + 240
at x = 5 m, M = 40 kN-m
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at x = 6 m, M = 0
a) Reactions:
ME = 0] 100(6)(5) 1200  6R1  0 ; R1 = 300 lb
MB = 0] 6R2 1200 100(6)(1)  0 ; R2 = 300 lb
b) Shear equations
VAB = – 100x at x = 0, V = 0 lb
at x = 2 ft, V = 200 lb
VBC = – 100x + 300
at x = 2 ft, V = 100 lb
at x = 6 ft, V = – 300 lb
VCE = – 300
c) Point of zero shear
V = – 100x + 300 ; 0 = – 100x + 300 ; x = 3 ft
d) Moment equations
MAB = – 50x2 at x = 0, M = 0
at x = 2 ft, M = 200 ft-lb
MBC = – 50x2 + 300 (x – 2) = 50x2 + 300x – 600
at x = 2 ft, M = 200 ft-lb
at x = 3 ft, M = 150 ft-lb
at x = 6 ft, M = 600 ft-lb
MCD =  100(6)(x – 3) + 300(x – 2) = 300x + 1200
at x = 6 ft, M = 600 ft-lb
at x = 7 ft, M =  900 ft-lb
MDE = 300(8 – x) = – 300x + 2400
at x = 7 ft, M = 300 ft-lb
at x = 8 m, M = 0
a. Reactions:
MB = 0] 1 2000(9)(6)  1 (2000)(3)(2) 0; RA = 5000 lb
12R
2 2 A

1 1
MA = 0] 12R  (2000)(9)(6)  (2000(3)(10)  0 ; RB = 7000 lb
B
2 2
b. Shear equations
VAC  5000  1000 at x = 0, V = 5000 lb
x 2

9 at x = 9 ft, V =  4000 lb
VCB  1000 (12  x)2 
at x = 9 ft, V =  4000 lb
7000
3 at x = 12 ft, V = – 7000 lb
c. Point of zero shear
1000 2 ;
0  5000  x 5000(9)
9 x 2  1000 ; x = 6.708 ft

d. Moment equations
MAC = 5000x  1000 x3 at x = 0, M = 0
27
at x = 6.708 ft, M = 22360.68 ft-lb
at x = 9 ft, M = 18000 ft-lb
MCB = 7000 (12  x)  1000 (12  x)3
9
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at x = 9 ft, M = 18000 ft-lb
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at x = 12 ft, M = 0

EXERCISE 4.1
The following exercises are for you to solve and apply the concepts you have studied. If you need assistance, feel free

Write shear and moment equations for the beams in the following problems. Draw the shear and moment
diagrams, specifying values at all change of loading positions and at all points of zero shear. Neglect the
mass of the beam in each problem.

1. A 4.

2. A 5.

3. A 6.
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Lesson 2 – Relations Among Load, Shear and Moment

The relations among loads, shears, and bending moments in any beam provide a method of
constructing shear and moment diagrams without writing shear and moment equations. The relations are
not independent of the basic definitions of shear and moment; instead, they supplement them and are
used in conjunction with them.
Relation between the load and shear diagrams:
1. The slope of the shear diagram at a section equals the intensity of the load at that section
dV
 w (x) = slope of shear diagram
dx
2. The change in shearing force between two sections x1 and x2 is equal to the area in the load diagram
between these sections
V2  V1 = V = (Area)load

Relation between the load and shear digrams:

1. The slope of the moment diagram at a section equals the shear at that section
dM
 V = slope of moment diagram
dx
2. The change in bending fmoment between two sections x1 and x2 is equal to the area in the shear
diagram between these sections
M2  M1 = M = (Area)shear

The slope of the shear diagram at a point is equal to the intensity

of the distributed load where positive distributed load is upward, i.e.,.
If a concentrated force acts upward on the beam, the shear is vertical and upward by the same amount.
The change in the shear ∆V between two points is equal to the area under the distributed-loading curve between th

4. The slope of the moment diagram at a point is equal to the shear, i.e., .

The change in the moment ∆M between two points is equal to the area under the shear diagram
between the two points.
If a clockwise couple moment acts on the beam, the shear will not be affected; however, the moment diagram will b

7. Points of zero shear represent points of maximum or minimum moment since .

8. If the loading curve w = w(x) is a polynomial of degree n, V = V(x) will be a curve of degree n +1, and M = M(x) w
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EXERCISE 4.2
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FURTHER READINGS
1. Beer, Ferdinand P. E, Russel Johnston, Jr., John T. DeWolf, David F. Mazurek.
Mechanics of Materials, Fifth Edition. New York: McGraw-Hill, 2009.
2. Gere, J.M. (2013). Mechanics of Materials. Cengage Learning
3. Rajput, Er. R. K. (2018). Strength of Materials (Mechanics of Solids). New Delhi. SK
Kataria & Sons.
4. http://fast10.vsb.cz/lausova/indeterm_all.pdf
5. https://www.mathalino.com/reviewer/mechanics-and-strength-of-materials/

UNIT TASK
To solve problems involving shear and bending moment diagrams by solving Exercise 4.1-4.2
REFERENCES
Beer, Ferdinand P. E, Russel Johnston, Jr., John T. DeWolf, David F. Mazurek. Mechanics of
Materials, Fifth Edition. New York: McGraw-Hill, 2009.