HES5320 (Solid Mechanics)

Topic 1 (Supplementary Note)

1/5 SUTS (HES5320 Sem 2 2014)

 Importance of Shear Force and
Bending Moment Diagrams

Beam bending from transverse loads leads to the

development of shear forces (SF) and bending moments
(BM).
Shear force and bending moment diagrams help us to
visualize the variation of these two effects along the
length of the beam. This then makes it easy to locate the
point that experiences maximum deflection or the section
under maximum shear stress.

2/5 SUTS (HES5320 Sem 2 2014)

 Steps to create SF and BM diagrams
 Determine the reactions at the support(s) of the beam by applying the
equilibrium equations to the entire beam
 Determine the internal forces and bending moment at the appropriate
locations of the beam
 Use the force and moment equations as a guide to draw the diagrams
The above steps will be demonstrated with the example
below.
Example 1.4: Draw the SF and BM diagram for the beam
loaded as shown below.
5000N
5000 N/m

B D
A C

3/5 1m 4m 2m
SUTS (HES5320 Sem 2 2014)
 Solution of Example 1.4
Determination of reactions Determination of internal forces
5000N and bending moment.
5000 N/m Note that there are three sections
in this beam: AB, BC and CD. We
B D have to determine the SF and BM
A C
for each of these sections.
1m 4m 2m Shear Force
Consider a section in the range (0 < 𝑥 < 1):
𝑄 = 𝑅𝐴 = 2000𝑁

� 𝐹𝑦 = 0: Consider a section in the range(1 < 𝑥 < 5):

−𝑅𝐴 + 5000 + 𝑄 = 0
5000 − 𝑅𝐴 + 5000(2) − 𝑅𝐶 = 0
−2000 + 5000 + 𝑄 = 0
𝑅𝐴 + 𝑅𝐶 = 15000
Q = −3000𝑁
� 𝑀𝐴 = 0:

5000(1) − 5𝑅𝐶 + 5000(2) × 6 = 0

Consider a section in the range (5 < 𝑥 < 7):
65000 −𝑅𝐴 + 5000 − 𝑅𝐶 + 5000(𝑥 − 5) + 𝑄 = 0
𝑅𝑐 = = 13𝑘𝑘, 𝑅𝐴 = 2kN −2000 + 5000 − 13000 + 5000 𝑥 − 5
5
+𝑄 =0
4/5 Q = 35000 − 5000x
SUTS (HES5320 Sem 2 2014)
 Solution of Example 1.4 Continues
Bending Moment
Consider a section in the range (0 < 𝑥 < 1):

10000N
−𝑅𝐴 𝑥 + 𝑀 = 0
𝑀 = 𝑅𝐴 𝑥 = 2000𝑥

2000N

-3000N
Consider a section in the range (1 < 𝑥 < 5):
−𝑅𝐴 (𝑥) + 5000(𝑥 − 1) + 𝑀 = 0
−2000𝑥 + 5000𝑥 − 5000 + 𝑀 = 0
M = −3000𝑥 + 5000
Shear Force Diagram
Consider a section in the range (5 < 𝑥 < 7):
−𝑅𝐴 (𝑥) + 5000(𝑥 − 1) − 𝑅𝐶 (𝑥 − 5) + 5000(𝑥 2000 Nm
− 5) × 0.5(𝑥 − 5) + 𝑀 = 0
−2000𝑥 + 5000𝑥 − 5000 − 13000𝑥 + 65000
+ 2500(𝑥 − 5)2 +𝑀 = 0
M = 10000𝑥 − 60000 − 2500(𝑥 − 5)2
After expansion we have
𝑴 = −122500+35000x−2500 x2 5/3
-10000 Nm
Bending Moment Diagram

5/5 SUTS (HES5320 Sem 2 2014)