Solving for SFD and BMD of Overhanging

beam: Prob 5.5

Problem 5-5

Draw the Shear force and bending moment diagrams for the overhanging beam given in
figure 5.5(a) above. Also determine maximum bending moment and the points of contra-
flexure.

Solution:

The given beam has two supports B and F and there are overhanging portions BA and FG on
the left and right side respectively. For all the calculations we consider the origin of axes at
point A and x-axis is considered positive in the right hand direction whereas y-axis is positive
upwards.

This beam is statically determinate as there are only two vertical reactions at the supports,
one each at B and F and two equations of equilibrium (∑Fy = 0, ∑M = 0) are available to
solve for these reactions.

Now we apply the equations of equilibrium. Let the vertical reactions be VB at B and VF at F.

Algebraic sum of all the forces equal to zero; ∑Fy = 0.

VB + VF – 1 – 5×0.7 – 4 – 2 = 0;

So, VB + VF = 10.5 kN; ………Eqn 1

Algebraic sum of the moments of all the forces about B = 0; ∑M = 0 about point B. For the
moments of force we consider clockwise moments as negative and anti-clockwise moments
as positive.

1 x0.7 – 5×0.7x(0.4+0.35) – 4 x(0.4+0.7+0.4) + VF x (0.4+0.7+0.4+0.4) – 2x

(0.4+0.7+0.4+0.4+0.6)=0;

On simplification we get; VF x 1.9 = – 0.7 + 5×0.7×0.75 + 4×1.5 + 2×2.5;

1.9 VF = 12.925; ……. Eqn 2

Therefore VF = 12.925/1.9;

We get VF = 6.8 kN

Substituting the value of VF in Eqn 1 we get;

VB = 10.5 – 6.8 = 3.7 kN;

Shear Force Calculations

Sign Convention for Shear Force (SF):

• If a force is trying to lift up the left hand side of a section the SF due to that force is
taken as positive whereas a force trying to push the left hand side down is taken as
negative.
• In case a force lifts the right hand side of a section upward it will be taken as negative
and if it is pushing it down the SF will be taken as positive.

In calculating SF we will move along the beam span from left to right (starting from origin at
A)

The point A has a concentrated force of 1 kN acting downwards. In such cases we should
calculate SF before and after the point. At a section just before A the SF will be zero because
there is no force before point A. When we consider a section just after A the shear force will
be -1 kN because there is a force of 1 kN at A trying to push the left hand side of the section
downwards. We will follow the same procedure to calculate the shear force at all the main
points of the beam (A, B, C, D, E, F, G). We get the following values.

SF Just before A = 0

SF just after A = -1 kN

SF just before B = – 1 kN (Note that VB is not considered as it is acting exactly at A, not

before A.

SF just after B = -1 + VB = -1+ 3.7 = 2.7 kN (Note that VB is taken positive as it is acting
upward)
SF just before C = -1 + VB = -1+3.7 = 2.7 kN (Note that there is no additional load between
B and C hence SF at C is same as SF at B)

SF just after C = SF just before C = 2.7 kN (Note that in case of uniform load the SF will be
same just before and after the section).

SF at D = -1 + VB – 5×0.7 = -1+3.7 – 3.5 = – 0.8 kN

SF just before E = SF at D = – 0.8 kN

SF just after E = -1 + VB – 5×0.7 – 4 = – 4.8 kN

SF just before F = -1 + VB – 5×0.7 – 4 = – 4.8 kN (Note that there is no additional force

between E and F)

SF just after F = -1 + VB – 5×70 – 4 + 6.8 = 2 kN

SF just before G = SF just after F = 2 kN

SF just after G = SF just before G – 2 kN = 0 (2 kN load is acting exactly at G, therefore it

will be considered when we calculate SF at a point after G.

Shear force diagram is shown in figure 5.5(b)

Bending Moment Calculations

Sign convention for Bending Moment (BM):

• The moments which try to bend the beam in such a way that it is concave downwards
are known as sagging moments and are taken as positive.
• The moments which try to bend the beam in such a way that it is convex upwards are
known as hogging moments and are taken as negative.

As per the definition, bending moment at a section is the moment of resistance of the section.
Numerically it is equal to the algebraic sum of moment of all the forces on either side of the
section. In this example we will consider forces on the left hand side of the section and take
the moment of those forces about the section.

BM at A = 1 x 0 = 0

BM at B = – 1 kN x 0.7 m = – 0.7 kNm

BM at C = -1 x 1.1 + 3.7 x 0.4 = 0.38

BM at D = -1 x 1.8 + 3.7 x 1.1 – 5 x 0.7 x 0.35 = 1.05 kNm

BM at E = -1 x 2.2 + 3.7 x 1.5 – 5 x 0.7 x (0.35+0.4) =0.73 kNm

BM at F = -1 x 2.6 + 3.7 x 1.9 – 5 x 0.7 x (0.35+0.4+0.4) – 4 x 0.4 = -1.2 kNm

BM at G = -1 x 3.2 + 3.7 x 2.5 – 5 x 0.7 x (0.35+0.4+0.4+0.6) – 4 x 1.0 + 6.8 x 0.6 = 0

Maximum Bending Moment will occur at the point where SF is zero.

From SFD it is clear that the SF will be zero somewhere between C and D.

We can determine the point of zero SF by two ways

• Writing the equation of SF at a section between C and D;

Let the section be at a distance x from A

SFx = -1 +3.7 – 5 (x – 1.1)

For this SF at x to be zero we get;

-1 +3.7 -5 (x – 1.1) = 0;

Hence we get x = 2.7/5 +1.1 = 0.54+1.1 = 1.64

• By using the properties of similar triangles;

Let the point of zero SF be at a distance d from point D.

Now equating the ratio of the corresponding sides of the two triangles in the SFD between C
and D we get;

0.8/2.7 = d/(0.7- d);

d = 0.16 m

Hence the point of zero SF from A = 1.8 – 0.16 = 1.64 which is same as calculated in (a)
above.

Therefore Maximum Bending Moment will be equal to the value of bending moment at a
distance 1.64 m from A.

Mmax = -1×1.64 + 3.7(1.64 – 0.7) – 5(1.64 – 1.1)(1.64 – 1.1)/2 = 3.44 kNm

The Bending Moment diagram is shown in figure 5.5 (c). The bending moment diagram
under the uniform load is parabolic whereas it is straight line under other part of the beam.
Points of Contra-flexure

From the BMD we can see that there are two points at which the value of BM is zero and
have opposite nature of bending on the two sides of these points; such points are known as
points of contra-flexure.

One such point is between B and C and the other between E and F.

We can locate these points in an easy way by writing the equation of bending moment for
that part of the beam and putting that value equal to zero.

• Point of contra-flexure between B and C

Let the first point of contra-flexure be at a distance x1 from A.

Bending moment at a distance x1 from A

Mx1 = – 1 (x1) + 3.7 (x1 – 0.7)

At the point of contra-flexure BM=0;

Therefore we get;

-x1 +3.7 x1 – 2.59=0;

Which yields x1 = 2.59/2.7 =0.96 m

• Point of contra-flexure between E and F

Let the second pint of contra-flexure be at a distance x2 from G.

Bending moment at a distance x2 from G

Mx2 = – 2 (x2) + 6.8(x2 – 0.6)

At the point of contra-flexure BM=0;

Therefore we get;

-2 x2 + 6.8 x2 – 4.08 = 0

Which yields x2 = 4.08/4.8 = 0.85 m