1

Mechanics of Materials
Chaper4
Shear Force and Bending Moment in Beams

HENAN UNIVERSITY OF SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY

Edited by YANG MIN-xian



2
41 Concepts of planar bending and calculation sketch of the beam
42 The shearing force and bending moment of the beam
43 The shearing-force and bending-moment equations the shearing-
force and bending-moment diagrams
44 Relations among the shearing forcethe bending moment and the
density of the distributed load and their applications
45 Plot the bending-moment diagram by the theorem of
superpositiom
46 The internal-force diagrams of the planar rigid theorem frames
CHAPTER 4 Shear Force and Bending Moment in Beams
3
41 CONCEPTS OF PLANAR BENDING AND
CALCULATION SKETCH OF THE BEAM
1CONCEPTS OF BENDING
1). BENDING: The action of the external force or external the couple vector
perpendicular to the axis of the rod makes the axis of the rod change into
curve from original straight lines, this deformation is called bending.
2).BEAMThe member of
which the deformation is
mainly bending is generally
called beam.
4
3).Practical examples in engineering about bending
5
6
4).Planar bendingAfter deformation the curved axis of the
beam is still in the same plane with the external forces.
Symmetric bendingas shown in the following figure a
special example of the planar bending.
The plane of
symmetry
M
P
1

P
2

q
7
Unsymmetrical bending if a beam does not possess any plane of
symmetry, or the external forces do not act in a plane of symmetry of the
beam with symmetric planes, this kind of bending is called unsymmetrical
bending. In later chapters we will mainly discuss the bending stresses and
deformations of the beam under symmetric bending.
8
2Calculation sketch of the beam
In general supports and external forces of the beam are very complex.
We should do some necessary simplification for them for our convenient
calculation and obtain the calculation sketch.
1). Simplification of the beams
In general case we take the place of the beam by its axis.
2). Simplification of the loads
The loads (including the reaction) acting on the beam may be reduced into three
typesconcentrated forceconcentrated force couple and distributed force.
3). Simplification of the supports
9
Fixed hinged support
2 constraints1 degree of
freedom. Such as the fixed
hinged support under bridges
thrust ball bearing etc.
Movable hinged support
1 constraint2 degree of
freedom. Such as the movable
hinged support under the
bridgeball bearing etc.
10
Rigidly fixed end
3 constraints0 degree of
freedom. Such as the support of
diving board at the swimming pool
support of the lower end of a
wooden pole.
X
A

Y
A

M
A

4) Three basis types of beams
Simple beam(or simply
supported beam)
M
Concentrated
force couple
q(x)

Distributed force
Cantilever beam
A
11
Overhanging beam

Concentrated
force
P
q

Uniformly
distributed
force
5). Statically determinate and statically indeterminate beams
Statically determinate beamsReactions of the beam can be determined only
by static equilibrium equationssuch as the above three kinds of basic beams.
Statically indeterminate beams Reactions of the beam cannot be determined
or only part of reactions can be determined by static equilibrium equations.
12
Example 1 A stock tank is shown in the figure. Its length is L=5mits
inside diameter is D=1mthickness of its wall is t =10mm. Density of steel is
7.8g/cm. Density of the liquid is 1g/cm. Height of the liquid is 0.8m. Length of
overhanging end is 1m. Try to determine the calculation sketch of the stock tank.
Solution
q

Uniformly
Distributed
force
13
L
g L A g L A
L
g V
L
mg
q
2 2 1 1
+
=

=
rad 855 1 3 106
0
. . = = u
g R R g Dt
2
2 2
1
)] sin (
2
1
[ u u t t + =
g A g A
2 2 1 1
+ =
(kN/m) 9 =
9.8 1000 )] sin106.3 (1.855 0.5
2
1

0.5 [3.14 8 9 7800 01 0 1 14 3
2
2

+ = . . .
q

Uniformly
Distributed
force
14
42 THE SHEARING FORCE AND BENDING MOMENT
OF THE BEAM
1Internal force in bending
Example Knowing conditions are P
al , as shown in the figure. Determine
the internal forces on the section at the
distance x to the end A.
P
a
P
l
Y
A

X
A

R
B

A
A B
B
SolutionDetermine
external forces
l
a l P
Y Y
l
Pa
R m
X X
A B A
A
) (
, 0 , 0
0 , 0

= = = =
= =

15
A B
P
Y
A

X
A

R
B

m
m
x
Determine internal forces
method of section
x Y M m
l
a l P
Y Q Y
A C
A
= =

= = =

, 0
) (
, 0
A
Y
A

Q
M
R
B

P
M
Q
Internal forces of the
beam in bending
Shearing
force
Bending
moment
1). Bending momentM
Moment of the internal force couple with
the acting plane in the cross-section
perpendicular to the section when the beam is
bending.
C
C
16
2). Shearing forceQ
Internal force which the acting line in the cross-section parallel to the section, when the beam is
bending.
3).Sign conventions for the internal forces:
Shearing force Q: It is positive when it results in a clockwise rotation with
respect to the object under consideration, otherwise it is negative.
Bending moment MIt is positive when it tends to bend the portion concave
upwards, otherwise it is negative.
Q(+) Q()
Q()
Q(+)
M(+)
M(+)
M() M()
17
Example 2Determine the internal forces acting on sections 11 and 22
section as shown in fig.(a).
qL Q
Q qL Y
=
= + =

1
1

0
SolutionDetermine internal forces
by the method of section.
Free body diagram of the left portion of
section 11 is shown in fig.b.
Fig.a
1 1
1 1

0 ) (
qLx M
M qLx F m
i A
=
= + =

2Examples
q
qL
a b
1
1
2
2
qL
Q
1

A
M
1

Fig. b
x
1

18
L) a x q Q =
2 2
(
a x q M qLx
F m
i B
0 ) (
2
1
, 0 ) (
2
2 2 2
= +
=

Free body diagram of the left portion of

section 22 is shown in fig.b.
) a x ( q Q qL Y 0
2 2
= + =

2
2
2 2
) (
2
1
qLx a x q M =
x
y
a
q
qL
a b
1
1
2
2
qL
Q
2

B
M
2

x
2
c
19
1. Internal-force equations: Expressions that show the
internal forces as functions of the position x of the
section..
2. The shearing-force and bending-moment diagrams:
) ( x Q Q
=
Shearing force equation
) ( x M M
=
Bending moment equation
) ( x Q Q
=
Shearing-force diagram sketch of the shearing-force equation
) ( x M M
=
Bending Moment diagram
sketch of the bending-moment
equation

43 THE SHEARING-FORCE AND BENDING-MOMENT EQUATIONS
THE SHEARING-FORCE AND BENDING-MOMENT DIAGRAMS
20
Example 3 Determine the internal-force equations and plot the diagrams of the
beam shown in the following figure.
P Y ) x ( Q
O
= =
SolutionDetermine the
reactions of the supports
) L x ( P
M x Y ) x ( M
O O
=
=

Write out the internal-
force equations
PL M P Y
O O
= = ;
P
Plot the internal-
force diagrams
Q(x)
M(x)
x
x
P
PL
Y
O

L
M(x)
x
Q(x)
M
O



21
Solution Write out the
internal-force equations
Plot the internal-
force diagram
qx ) x ( Q =
2
2
1
qx ) x ( M =
L
q
M(x)
x
Q(x)
Q(x)
x
qL
2
2
qL

M(x)
x


22
) 3 (
6
2 2
0
x L
L
q
) x ( Q =
SolutionDetermine the
reactions of the supports
Write out the internal-
force equations
3
;
6
0 0
L q
R
L q
R
B A
= =
q
0

R
A

Plot the internal-
force diagrams
R
B

L
) x L (
L
x q
x M
2 2
0
6
) ( =
x
L
3
3
Q(x)
x
6
2
0
L q
3
0
L q
27
3
2
0
L q
M(x)



23
1Relations among the shearing force
the bending moment and the the
distributed load
By analysis of the equilibrium of the
infinitesimal length dxwe can get
| | 0 d d
0
= + +
=

) x ( Q ) x ( Q x ) x ( q ) x ( Q
Y
) x ( Q x ) x ( q d d =
44 RELATIONS AMANG THE SHEARING FORCE, THE BENDING MOMENT
AND THE INDENSITY OF THE DISTRIBUTED LOAD AND THEIR APPLICATIONS
dx
x
q(x)
q(x)
M(x)+d M(x)
Q(x)+d Q(x)
Q(x)
M(x)
dx
A
y
( )
( ) x q
x
x Q
=
d
d
Slope of the tangential line at a point in the
shearing-force diagram is equal to the intensity
of the distributed load at the same point.
24
q(x)
M(x)+d M(x)
Q(x)+d Q(x)
Q(x)
M(x)
dx
A
y
0 )] ( d ) ( [ ) ( ) )(d (
2
1
)d ( 0, ) (
2
= + + + =

x M x M x M x x q x x Q F m
i A
) (
d
) ( d
x Q
x
x M
=
Slope of the tangential line at a point in the bending-moment diagram is
equal to the magnitude of the shearing force at the same point.
) (
d
) ( d
2
2
x q
x
x M
=
Relation between the bending
moment and the indensity of the
distributed load
25
2Relations between the shearing forcethe bending moment and the external load
E
x
t
e
r
n
a
l

f
o
r
c
e

No external-force
segment
Uniform-load
segment
Concentrated force Concentrated couple
q=0
q>0 q<0
C
h
a
r
a
c
t
e
r
i
s
t
i
c
s

o
f

Q
-
d
i
a
g
r
a
m

C
h
a
r
a
c
t
e
r
i
s
t
i
c
s

o
f

M
-
d
i
a
g
r
a
m


C
P
C
m
Horizontal straight line
x
Q
Q>0
Q
Q<0
x
Inclined straight line
Increasing function
x
Q
x
Q
Decreasing function

x
Q
C
Q
1
Q
2

Q
1

Q
2
=P

Sudden change from
the left to right
x
Q
C
No change
Inclined straight line
x
M
Increasing function
x
M
Decreasing function
curves
x
M
Tomb-like
x
M
Basin-like
Flex from the left to
the right


Sudden change from the
left to the right
O
p
p
o
s
i
t
e

t
o
m

x
M
Flex opposite to P
M
x
M
1

M
2

m M M =
2 1
26
Simple method to plot the diagram: The method to plot the diagrams
by using the relation between the internal forces and the external forces and
values of the internal forces at some special points.
Example 4 Plot the internal force diagrams of the beams shown in the
following figures by the simple method to plot the diagram.
Solution:
Special points:
a a
qa
q
A
Plot the diagram by using the
relation between the internal forces and the
external forces and the internal force values at
some special points of the beam.
End pointpartition point the point at
which external forces changedand
stationary point etc.
27
2
2
3
0 qa M ; Q = =
0 ; = = M qa Q
2
; qa M qa Q = =
2
2
3
; 0 qa M Q = =
a a
qa
q
A
Left end
Shape of the curve is determined
according to
) (
d
) ( d
x Q
x
x M
=
) (
d
) ( d
2
2
x q
x
x M
=

( )
( )
x q
x
x Q
=
d
d

And the law of the point acted
by concentrated force.
Partition
point A
Stationary
point of M
Right end
Q
x
2
2
3
qa
qa
2


qa

x
M
28
Example 5 Plot the internal-force diagrams of the beams shown in the
following figures by the simple method to plot the diagram.
SolutionDetermine
reactions
| = + =
2
;
2
qa
R
qa
R
D A
0 ;
2
= = M
qa
Q
Left end A
2
2
1
;
2
qa M
qa
Q = =

2
2
1
;
2
qa M
qa
Q = =
Right of
point B
2
2
1
;
2
qa M
qa
Q = =
Left of
point C
Stationary
point of M
2
8
3
; 0 qa M Q = =
2
2
1
;
2
qa M
qa
Q = =
Right of
point C
0 ;
2
1
= = M qa Q
Right end D
q
qa
2

qa
R
A
R
D

Q
x
qa/2 qa/2
qa/2

+
A B
C D
qa
2
/2
x
M qa
2
/2
qa
2
/2 3qa
2
/8

+

Left of
point B

29
45 PLOT THE DIAGRAM OF BENDING MOMENT BY THE
THEOREM OF SUPERPOSITIOM
1Theorem of superposition
Internal forces in the structure due to simultaneous action of many forces are
equal to algebraic sum of the internal forces due to separate action of each force.
) ( ) ( ) ( ) (
2 2 1 1 2 1 n n n
P Q P Q P Q P P P Q + + + =
) ( ) ( ) ( ) (
2 2 1 1 2 1 n n n
P M P M P M P P P M + + + =
Applying conditionRelation between the parameters
(internal forcesstressesdisplacementsand the external
forces must be linear, that is they satisfy Hookes law.
30
2Structural members in mechanics of material is of small
deformation and linear elasticity, and must obey this principle
method of superposition
Steps
Plot respectively the diagram of the bending moment of
the beam under the separate action of each external load
Sum up the corresponding longitudinal coordinates
(Attention: do not simply piece together figures.
31
Example 6 Plot the diagram of bending moment by the principle of superposition.
(AB=2aforce P is acting at the middle point of the beam AB.
P
q
q
P =

+

A
A
A
B
B
B
x
M
2

x
M
1

x
M

2
Pa
+
+
+
2
2
qa
2 2
2
qa Pa
+
=

+

32

3Applications of symmetry and antisymmetry
For the symmetric structure under the action of symmetric loads
the diagram of its shearing stress Q is antisymmetric and the
diagram of the bending moment M is symmetric. For the symmetric
structure under the action of antisymmetric loads the diagram of its
shearing stress Q is symmetric and the diagram of the bending
moment M is antisymmetric.
33
Example 7 Plot internal-force diagrams of the beams shown in the
following figure.
P
PL
P
PL
L L
L L
L L
0.5P
0.5P
0.5P
0.5P
P
0
Q
x
Q
1

x
Q
2

x

0.5P
0.5P
0.5P

+

P
34
P
PL
P
PL
L L
L L
L L
0.5P
0.5P
0.5P
0.5P
P
0
M
x
M
1

x
M
2

x
0.5PL
PL
0.5PL

+
+
0.5PL
+
35
Example 8 Correct the mistakes in the following internal-force diagrams.
a 2a a
q
qa
2

A
B
Q
x
x
M

+
+
qa/4 qa/4
3qa/4
7qa/4
qa
2
/4
49qa
2
/32
3qa
2
/2
5qa
2
/4
4
7
;
4
qa
R
qa
R
B
A
=
=
R
A R
B
36
Example 9 Knowing Q-diagram, determine external loads and M-
diagram (Therefore no concentrated force couples acted on the
beam).
M(kN m)
Q(kN)
x
1m 1m 2m
2
3
1
5kN 1kN
q=2kN/m
+

+
x
+
1
1
1.25

37
46 THE INTERNAL-FORCE DIAGRAMS OF THE PLANAR RIGID FRAMES
1Planar rigid frame
1). Planar rigid frame Structure made from rods of different direction
that are mutually connected in rigidity at their ends in the same plane.
CharacteristicsThere are internal forces Q, M and N in each rod.
2). Conventions to plot diagram of internal forces
Bending-moment diagramPlot it at the side where fibers are
elongated and not mark the sign of positive or negative.
Shearing-force and axial-force diagramsMay be plotted at
any side of the frameIn common the diagram with positive value is plotted
outside the frame but must mark the signs of positive and negative.
38
Example 10 Try to plot the internal-force diagrams of the rigid frame
shown in the figure.
P
1

P
2

a
l

A
B
C
N-diagram
Q -diagram
+
+
P
1

M -diagram
39
1Method to determine directly the internal forces
When we determine the internal forces in an arbitrary section A, we can take
the left part of section A as our study object and use the following formulas to
calculate internal forces. where P
i
and P
j
are respectively upward and
downward external forces acted on the left part.
DIAGRAMS OF SHEARING STRESSES AND BENDING MOMENTS
EXERCISE LESSONS ABOUT INTERNAL FORCES OF BENDING
( ) ( )

+ | =
j i A
P P Q
( ) ( )

= ) ( ) (
j A i A A
P m P m M
40
) (
d
) ( d
2
2
x q
x
x M
=
Relations among the shearing forcethe bending moment and
the external load
q(x)
( )
( )
x q
x
x Q
=
d
d
) (
d
) ( d
x Q
x
x M
=
2Simple method to plot the diagram:
The method to plot the diagrams by using the relation between the internal
forces and the external forces and using values of the internal forces at some special
points.

41
3Principle of superposition
Internal forces in the structure due to simultaneous action of many forces
are equal to the algebra sum of the internal forces due to separate action of each
force.
) ( ) ( ) ( ) (
2 2 1 1 2 1 n n n
P Q P Q P Q P P P Q + + + =
) ( ) ( ) ( ) (
2 2 1 1 2 1 n n n
P M P M P M P P P M + + + =
4Applications of symmetry and antisymmetry
For the symmetric structure under the action of symmetric loads the diagram of its
shearing stress is antisymmetric and the diagram of bending moment is symmetric.
For the symmetric structure under the action of antisymmetric loads the diagram of
its shearing stress is symmetric and the diagram of bending moment is
antisymmetric
42
5Relations between the shearing force, the bending moment and the external load
E
x
t
e
r
n
a
l

f
o
r
c
e

No external-force
segment
Uniform-load
segment
Concentrated force Concentrated couple
q=0
q>0 q<0
C
h
a
r
a
c
t
e
r
i
s
t
i
c
s

o
f

Q
-
d
i
a
g
r
a
m

C
P
C
m
Horizontal straight line
x
Q
Q>0
Q
Q<0
x
Inclined straight line
Increasing function
x
Q
x
Q
Decreasing function

x
Q
C
Q
1
Q
2

Q
1

Q
2
=P

Sudden change from
the left to right
x
Q
C
No change
Inclined straight line
x
M
Increasing function
x
M
Decreasing function
curves
x
M
Tomb-like
x
M
Basin-like
Flex from the left to
the right


Sudden change from the
left to the right
O
p
p
o
s
i
t
e

t
o
m

x
M
Flex opposite to P
M
x
M
1

M
2

m M M =
2 1
43
Example 1 Plot the bending-moment diagrams of the beam shown in the
following figure.
2P
a a
P
=

2P
P
+

x
M
x
M
1

x
M
2

=

+


+
+
2Pa
2Pa
Pa
(1)
44
(2)
a
a
q
q
q
q
=

+

x
M
1

=

x M
+


+

x
M
2

3qa
2
/2
qa
2
/2
qa
2

45
(3) P
L/2 L/2
PL/2
=

+

P
x
M
2

x
M
=

+

PL/2
PL/4
PL/2
x
M
1


+

PL/2
46
(4)
50kN
2m 2m
20kNm
=

+

x
M
2

x
M
=

+

20kNm
50kNm
x
M
1

20kNm
50kN
20kNm
20kNm
+
+

20kNm
30kNm
20kNm
47
y
z
h

b
)
4
(
2
2
2
y
h
I
Q
bI
QS
z z
z
= =
-
t
Solution:1Shearing stress
on the cross section is
Example 2 The structure is shown in the figure. Try to prove(1resultant of
the shearing stresses in an arbitrary cross section is equal to the shearing force in the
same section2Resultant moment of the normal stresses in an arbitrary cross
section is equal to the bending moment in the same section3 which force can
balance the resultant of the shearing stress in the longitudinal section at middle
height balanced ?.
q
Normal stress on the cross section is
z
I
My
= o
48
} }

=
h
h
z
A
y b y
h
I
Q
A
5 . 0
5 . 0
2
2
d )
4
(
2
d t
M I
I
M
A
I
My
M
z
z
h .
h . z
z
= =
}
=

5 0
5 0
2
d
(2) Resultant shearing force in the cross section is
Q
h h
I
Qb
z
= = ] )
2
(
3
2
4
[
2
3
3
(3) Resultant force couple
49
) (
bh
qx
.
A
x Q
. = = =
'
5 1
) (
5 1
max
t t
h
qL
x qx
h
A Q
L L
AB
4
3
d ) (
2
3
d
2
0 0
= =
'
=
} }
t
z
A
W
A M
A N
2 2
1
1 max
1 max
1
= = o
1
A AB
N Q =
(4)Shearing stress in the
middle longitudinal section is
Resultant of the shearing stress in the longitudinal section is
balanced by resultant of the normal stress in the right-side section.
(5)Resultant of the shearing stress in the longitudinal section is
t
max
t'
h
qL bh
bh
qL
4
3
2
6
2 2
1
2
2
2
= =
x
L
50