Shear Force and Bending Moment Diagrams

BEAMS

Various types of Statically Determinate Beams and Statically Indeterminate Beams are shown
below.

L L1 L2
(a)Simply Supported beam (d)Continuous beam

L L
(e)Beam fixed at one end and
(b)Overhanging beam
simply supported at the other
end.

L L
(c)Cantilever beam (f)Fixed beam
Statically Determinate Beams Statically Indeterminate Beams

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 Shear Force and Bending Moment Diagrams

SHEAR AND BENDING MOMENT IN A BEAM

The loading on a beam may either be concentrated or distributed.

The shear V and the bending moment M

at a given point of a beam are said to be M V’
positive when the internal forces and
couples acting on each portion of the V
beam are directed as shown in Fig.(a) M’
(a) Internal forces at section (positive shear and positive bending moment)
This convention may be more easily
C
remembered if we note that:

1. The shear at C is positive when the

EXTERNAL forces (loads and
reactions) acting on a beam tend to (b) Effect of external forces(positive shear)
shear off the beam at C as indicated
in Fig. (b).

(c) Effect of external forces (+ve bending moment)

2. The bending moment at C is positive
when the EXTERNAL forces acting on the beam tend to bend the beam at C as indicated
in Fig. (c).

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 Shear Force and Bending Moment Diagrams

SHEAR AND BENDING MOMENT DIAGRAMS

We may easily record the values of shear and bending moment by plotting their values
against the distance x measured from one end of the beam. The graphs obtained in this way
are called respectively, the SHEAR DIAGRAM and the BENDING-MOMENT
DIAGRAM.

RELATIONS BETWEEN LOAD SHEAR AND BENDING MOMENT

Consider section CC’ of beam shown. Beam under loading of w per unit length.

(i) Relations between Load and Shear

Distributed Load = W N/m
From diagram –
A
ΣFy = 0 B
C C’ D
∴V – (V+∆V) - W∆x = 0 x ∆x
∆V = -W∆x ∆x
W∆
∆x/2
W N/m
Dividing both members of the equation
by ∆x and then letting ∆x approach
zero, we obtain

dV/dx = -W
M ∆M
M+∆
Integrating above Eqn. between points C and D, V C C’
∆V
V+∆
we obtain ∆x

xD
VD - VC = − Wdx
xC
∫

i.e. VD – VC = - Area under load curve between C and D

NB. Should only be applied between successive concentrated loads.

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 Shear Force and Bending Moment Diagrams

Relations between Shear and Bending Moment

From previous diagram take moments about C’.

ΣMC’ = 0

(M+∆Μ) – M - V∆x + W∆x.[ ∆x/2 ]= 0

∴∆Μ = V∆x – ½ W(∆x)2

Dividing both members of the equation by ∆x and then letting ∆x approach zero, we obtain

dM/dx = V

Integrating between points C and D we obtain

xD
MD - M C =
x
∫
C
Vdx

i.e. MD – MC = Area under shear curve between C and D

NB. Should not be applied if couple exists between C and D.

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 Shear Force and Bending Moment Diagrams

PROBLEM & SOLUTION

Draw a shear force and Bending moment diagram for the beam & loading shown.

Obtain reactions and by taking

20kN 40kN moments.
B i.e. RB = 46kN RD = 14kN
A D
20kN C Determine internal forces by
40kN
summing the forces vertically.
∑Fy = 0; V1+20 = 0 ∴V1 = -20kN
A C M1 is found in a similar
14kN
46kN manner by summing moments on
the same section.
∑M1 = 0; M1+(20 X 0)=0
1 2 3 4 5 6
20kN ∴M1 = -20kNm

M1 Repeating the above for

V1 section 2 we obtain.
∑Fy = 0; V2+20 = 0 ∴V2 = -20kN
20kN ∑M2 = 0; M2+(20X2.5)=0
M2 ∴M2 = -50kNm
V2
The shear and bending
20kN moment at sections 3, 4, 5 and 6 can
M3 be found in the same manner.
46kN V3
V3 = +26kN M3 = -50kNm
V4 = +26kN M4 = +28kNm
20kN V5 = -14kN M5 = +28kNm
M4 V6= -14kN M6 = 0kNm
46kN V4
20kN 40kN
M5
46kN V5
20kN 40kN (NB We may also achieve the same
results by considering “right hand”
M6 sections).
46kN V6

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 Shear Force and Bending Moment Diagrams

Solution continued

The above values for shear and

20kN 40kN bending moment may be plotted as
B
shown left.
A D
20kN C
40kN
A C
46kN 14kN

1 2 3 4 5 6

V +26

-20 -14

+28
M
0

-50

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 Shear Force and Bending Moment Diagrams

SAMPLE PROBLEM

Draw the shear and bending moment diagrams for the beam and loading shown.

SOLUTION

Obtain reactions RA and RC by taking moments.

20kN/m

A C
B
20kN/m

A C
80kN 40kN
V 80kN
a
160 D B C
A x x
-40 -120
40kN
6m

M 160 kNm
120 kNm

A
x

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 Shear Force and Bending Moment Diagrams

SHEAR DIAGRAM

Shear just to the right of A is VA = 80kN.

We know that VB – VA = - area under load curve between same two points.

∴VB – VA = - (20kN/m)(6m) = - 20kN

∴VB = - 120 + 80 = - 40kN

The slope dV/dx = - W being constant between A and B, the shear diagram between
these two points is represented by a straight line.
Between B and C the area under the load curve is zero; therefore,

VC – VB = 0

∴VC = VB = - 40kN
And the shear is constant between B and C.

BENDING MOMENT DIAGRAM

Bending moment at A and C = O ∴MA = MC = 0

To find Mmax we locate section of beam where v = o.

NB. Since triangles DAa and DBb are similar,

X/80 = (6-x)/40 ∴x = 4

Then from A to D MD – MA = 160kNm ∴MD = 160kNm

Then from D to B MB – MD = - 40kNm ∴MB = 120kNm

Then from B to C MD – MB = - 120kNm ∴MC = 0

The bending moment diagram consists of an arc of parabola followed by a segment of straight
line; the slope of the parabola at A is equal to the value of V at that point.

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