Shear Force and Bending Moment Diagrams

Dr Jonathan Leaver

Structural Joints

Source: Wei Loo

Structural Joints (cont.)

Source: Wei Loo

Determining Reactions on a Beam

An object that is not accelerating (e.g. stationary or moving at constant

velocity) must have zero net force acting on it. e.g. Fx = 0, Fx = 0, Fx = 0

If an object is not rotating it must have zero net moment acting on it.
Consider the following beam:
Loads (downwards) are forces imposed on the beam
Reactions (upwards) result from the imposed loads.

Determining Reactions on a Beam (cont.)

To determine the reactions. Follow these steps:
1. Draw free body diagram (i.e. replace supports with forces
and moments as applicable)
2. Replace any UDLs with a single force acting at the
midpoint of the UDL.
3. Find the right hand reaction by taking moments about the
point of action of the left hand reaction.
4. Find the left hand reaction by adding all the forces
together for the x and y directions and putting these equal
to zero.

Example 1

Find the reactions.

Calculate reactions
Sum moment about A:

6kN*3m + 10kN*5m RD*10m = 0

therefore RD = 6.8 kN

Sum forces:

RA 6kN -10kN +6.8 = 0

therefore RD = 9.2 kN

Example 2

1) Determine reactions
MA = 0 (Clockwise +ve)
2kN*1m - RB*3m + (2kN/m*1m)*2.5m + 4kN*2m = 0
RB = 5kN
F = 0 gives
RA 2kN + 5kN 4kN 2kN/m*1m = 0
RA = 3 kN

Examples
(a) (a)

(b)

(c)

Find the reactions.

Solutions
Reactions:
(a) (a)

(b)

2.857 kN (left support),

7.143 kN . No moments.

50 kN (left support),
150 kN. No moments.

150 kN, -410 kN-m

(c)

Example
45o

RA

RB

Find the reactions RA and RB.

RAX = 4.24 kN, RAY = -0.621 kN, RB = 7.86 kN

Solution

Source: Wei Loo

Example
Find the reactions and moment at A.

3 kN/m

4 kN-m

1.5 m

2m

1m

Solution
1) Draw free body diagram
RAY
MA

3 kN/m

RAx

1.5 m

2m

2) MA = 0
MA +3 kN/m*2m*(1.5+1) 4 kN-m = 0

4 kN-m

1m

Notice how the distance of the 4 kN-m moment from A does not enter the equation. Hence the influence
of the moment is independent of location.

MA = - 11 kN-m

3) FAY = 0
RAY 3kN/m*2m = 0
RAY = 6 kN
4) FAx = 0
RAX = 0

Problem
Calculate the reactions at the supports.
For equilibrium:
Sum of forces in x and y directions = 0
sum of moments =0

Answers:
RA = 75 kN
RB= 60 kN

DE4101 Students can ignore slides past this point.

ENGG5038 students should study all slides.

Finding Reactions Shear and Bending Moments

1. Draw Free Body Diagram

Draw free body diagrams (i.e. replace supports with forces and moments as
applicable)

2. Find Reactions

Take moments about one of the supports to determine one reaction.

Sum forces in x and y directions to determine the other reaction.

Draw deflected shape

+ve+veshear
shear

3. Find Shear Forces

Determine SFs by taking cuts just before and just after each applied load and
reaction.

Draw the SF diagram remembering +ve shear convention (see diagram).

Finding Reactions Shear and Bending Moments

1. Find Bending Moments
a) Theoretical method

Determine BMs by taking cuts at each applied load. In civil engineering a

positive BM is usually drawn on the tension side of the beam. (As long as you
get the shape of the BM correct no marks will be deducted for drawing on the
compression side of the beam as mechanical engineers use this method)

b) Simplified method

BM is the area under the shear force diagram. (SF is the gradient of the BM
diagram.)

a. SF = 0 when the BM is a maximum or minimum.

b. BM=0 at points of contraflexure.

Bending Shear and Deflection

1) Determine shear forces
(assume SF at cut is +ve upwards)
From A
Cut just left of B: SFB- +4.4 = -4.4kN
Cut just right of B: SFB+ +4.4kN 12kN = +7.6 kN
Cut just right of C: SFc + 4.4kN 12kN +17kN = -9.4kN
Cut just right of D: SFc + 4.4kN 12kN +17kN -8kN = -1.4kN
Cut just right of E: SFc + 4.4kN 12kN +17kN -8kN 12 kN= +10.6kN
2) Determine moments
(assume moment at cut is +ve clockwise)
From Left:
Cut at B: MB + 4.4kN*2 = 0

MB = -8.8kN-m

Cut at C: Mc + 4.4kN*5m - 12kN*3m = 0

Mc = +14 kN-m

Cut at D: MD + 4.4kN*8m - 12kN*6m +17 kN*3m = 0MD= -14.2kN-m

Cut at E: ME + 4.4kN*9.5m - 12kN*7.5m +17 kN*4.5m -8kN*1.5m = 0
ME = -16.3kN-m
At F: MF = 0

Bending Shear and Deflection

(Simplified Method)
1) Determine shear forces
(assume SF at cut is +ve upwards)
From A
Cut just left of B: SFB- +4.4 = -4.4kN
Cut just right of B: SFB+ +4.4kN 12kN = +7.6 kN
Cut just right of C: SFc + 4.4kN 12kN +17kN = -9.4kN
Cut just right of D: SFc + 4.4kN 12kN +17kN -8kN = -1.4kN
Cut just right of E: SFc + 4.4kN 12kN +17kN -8kN 12 kN= +10.6kN
2) Determine moments
Moments are the area under the SF diagram.
From Left:
At B: MB = -4.4kN*2 = 0

MB = -8.8kN-m

At C: Mc = -8.8 kN-m + 3m * 7.6 kN

Mc =+14 kN-m

At D: MD = 14 kN-m + 3m * (-9.4) kN =

MD = -14.2kN-m

At E: ME = -14.2 kN-m + 1.5m*(-1.4) kN

ME = -16.3kN-m

At F: MF = 0

Common Results of Beam Analysis

Note: W(N) = w(N/m)*L(m) in right side figure

Ref: Steel Designers Manual CSRDC 1972

Exercises

Exercises

Exercises

Exercises

Solution

Source: Wei Loo

Example
Calculate reactions
Sum moment about A:

6kN*3m + 10kN*5m RD*10m = 0

therefore RD = 6.8 kN

Sum forces:

RA 6kN -10kN +6.8 = 0

therefore RD = 9.2 kN

Point
A+
B+
C+

SF (Sum forces to
the left) kN
= 9.2
= 9.2-6
= 3.2
= 9.2-6 -10
= -6.8

BM (Sum BM to left)
kN-m
=0
= 9.2*3
= 27.6
=9.2*5-6*2
= 34

Exercises
i.

Draw the deflected shape.

ii.

Find reactions. Take

moments at one support
and then sum forces to find
other reaction.

iii.

Find BMs. Take cuts at bend

and where a force acts.
Draw the BM on the
compression side of the
beam.

iv.

Find SFs. Take cuts from an

end and remember +ve
shear rule. The shear force
is the slope of the BM
diagram
Source: Wei Loo

Solution

Source: Wei Loo

Solving for Shear Forces

H

D
C

Find SF
Start from an end say C:
Take a cut at D: SFD 5 = 0; SFD = 5kN. Either +5kN or 5kN is acceptable.

The shear force at D from D-C becomes an axial force in member DE . Hence
there is no shear force in DE but the axial force is 5kN. You do not need to
show the axial force.

Solving for Shear Forces

Take a cut just above A: SFA- 5kN = 0

SFA- = 5kN

5 kN

E
2m
A

SFA

Take a cut just to the right of A:

Summing all the forces in the vertical direction on the structure to the left
SFA+ + 4.375 = 0 SFA+ = -4.375kN

Solving for Shear Forces

Solving for Bending Moments

Source: Wei Loo

Solving for Bending Moments

Note: The BM here is drawn on the tension side of the beam. Drawing on the compression side means that the
shear force represents the slope of the BM with the correct sign. (Either method is correct)

Source: Wei Loo

Exercises
(i) Draw the deflected shape.
(ii) Find the reactions
(iii) Draw SF and BM diagrams
E

Solution: Deflected shape

-3.203,-0.01,0

2m

1m
-3.203,-2.579,0

0,0,0
x

3m

0,0,0

Solution
1) Determine reactions
MA = 0 (Clockwise +ve)
2kN*1m - RB*3m + (2kN/m*1m)*2.5m + 4kN*2m = 0
RB = 5kN
F = 0 gives
RA 2kN + 5kN 4kN 2kN/m*1m = 0
RA = 3 kN
2) Determine moments
From Left:
Cut at C: Mc + 3kN*1m = 0 Mc = -3 kN-m
Cut at B: MB + 3kN*3 2kN*2m = 0 MB = -5kN-m
At D since the distance to forces is the same as for B then MD = MB = -5kN-m
At E: ME = 0
3) Determine shear forces
From A
Cut just left of C: SF = 3kN
Cut just right of C: SF = 3kN 2kN = 1 kN
Cut just left of B: SF = same as above = 1kN
From E
Cut just right of E: SF = - 1kN
Cut just left of D: SF = -4kN
Just right of E SF = - 4 kN,
At D SF = 4 + (2 kN/m*1m) = - 6 kN
SF in D-B = 0 (but the axial force = 6 kN)

Solution

-3.203,-0.01,0

2m

1m
-3.203,-2.579,0

0,0,0
x

3m

0,0,0

Exercises
Find the shear force
and bending moment
diagrams.
Calculate
the
magnitude of the SF
and BM at point K.

Source: Materials and Structures: Whitlow 1991

Solutions

Source: Materials and Structures: Whitlow 1991