GEG 103: ENGINEERING APPLIED

MATHEMATICS I

MODULE 12:
FORCES IN BEAMS

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 Introduction
• The current chapter is concerned with determining the
internal forces (i.e., tension/compression, shear, and
bending) which hold together the various parts of a
given member.
• Focus is on two important types of engineering
structures:
a) Beams - usually long, straight, prismatic members
designed to support loads applied at various
points along the member.
b) Cables - flexible members capable of withstanding
only tension, designed to support concentrated or
distributed loads.
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 Internal Forces in Members
• Straight two-force member AB is in
equilibrium under application of F and
-F.

• Internal forces equivalent to F and -F are

required for equilibrium of free-bodies AC and
CB.

• Multiforce member ABCD is in equil-ibrium

under application of cable and member
contact forces.

• Internal forces equivalent to a force-couple

system are necessary for equil-ibrium of free-
bodies JD and ABCJ.

• An internal force-couple system is required for

equilibrium of two-force members which are
not straight.
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 Sample Problem 1
SOLUTION:
• Compute reactions and forces at
connections for each member.

• Cut member ACF at J. The internal forces at J

are represented by equivalent force-couple
system which is determined by considering
equilibrium of either part.

• Cut member BCD at K. Determine force-

couple system equivalent to internal forces
Determine the internal forces (a) in at K by applying equilibrium conditions to
member ACF at point J and (b) in either part.
member BCD at K.

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 Sample Problem 1
SOLUTION:
• Compute reactions and connection forces.

Consider entire frame as a free-body:

ME  0:
 2400 N 3.6 m   F 4.8 m   0 F  1800 N
 Fy  0 :
 2400 N  1800 N  E y  0 E y  600 N

 Fx  0 : Ex  0

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 Sample Problem 1
Consider member BCD as free-body:

MB  0:
 2400 N 3.6 m  C y 2.4 m  0 C y  3600 N
 MC  0 :
 2400 N 1.2 m  B y 2.4 m  0 B y  1200 N
 Fx  0 :  Bx  C x  0

Consider member ABE as free-body:

MA  0: Bx 2.4 m  0 Bx  0
 Fx  0 : Bx  Ax  0 Ax  0
 Fy  0 :  Ay  B y  600 N  0 Ay  1800 N

From member BCD,

 Fx  0 :  Bx  C x  0 Cx  0
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 Sample Problem 1
• Cut member ACF at J. The internal forces at J are
represented by equivalent force-couple system.

Consider free-body AJ:

MJ  0:
 1800 N 1.2 m   M  0 M  2160 N  m
 Fx  0 :
F  1800 N  cos 41.7  0 F  1344 N
 Fy  0 :
V  1800 N  sin 41.7  0 V  1197 N

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 Sample Problem 1
• Cut member BCD at K. Determine a force-couple
system equivalent to internal forces at K .

Consider free-body BK:

MK  0:
1200 N 1.5 m   M  0 M  1800 N  m

 Fx  0 : F 0
 Fy  0 :
 1200 N  V  0 V  1200 N

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 Various Types of Beam Loading and
Support
• Beam - structural member designed to support loads
applied at various points along its length.

• Beam can be subjected to concentrated loads or

distributed loads or combination of both.

• Beam design is two-step process:

1) determine shearing forces and bending moments
produced by applied loads
2) select cross-section best suited to resist shearing
forces and bending moments

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 Various Types of Beam Loading and
Support

• Beams are classified according to way in which they are

supported.
• Reactions at beam supports are determinate if they involve
only three unknowns. Otherwise, they are statically
indeterminate.
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 Shear and Bending Moment in a Beam
• Wish to determine bending moment and
shearing force at any point in a beam
subjected to concentrated and distributed
loads.

• Determine reactions at supports by

treating whole beam as free-body.

• Cut beam at C and draw free-body

diagrams for AC and CB. By definition,
positive sense for internal force-couple
systems are as shown.

• From equilibrium considerations,

determine M and V or M’ and V’.

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 Shear and Bending Moment Diagrams
• Variation of shear and bending
moment along beam may be
plotted.

• Determine reactions at supports.

• Cut beam at C and consider

member AC,
V   P 2 M   Px 2
• Cut beam at E and consider
member EB,
V   P 2 M   P L  x  2

• For a beam subjected to

concentrated loads, shear is
constant between loading points
and moment varies linearly.

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 Sample Problem 2
SOLUTION:
• Taking entire beam as a free-body,
calculate reactions at B and D.

• Find equivalent internal force-couple

Draw the shear and bending moment
diagrams for the beam and loading
shown.
systems for free-bodies formed by cutting
beam on either side of load application
points.
• Plot results.

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 Sample Problem 2
SOLUTION:
• Taking entire beam as a free-body, calculate reactions at
B and D.

• Find equivalent internal force-couple systems at sections

on either side of load application points.
 Fy  0 :  20 kN  V1  0 V1  20 kN

 M 2  0 : 20 kN 0 m   M 1  0 M1  0

Similarly,

V3  26 kN M 3  50 kN  m
V4  26 kN M 4  50 kN  m
V5  26 kN M 5  50 kN  m
V6  26 kN M 6  50 kN  m

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 Sample Problem 2
• Plot results.
Note that shear is of constant value
between concentrated loads and
bending moment varies linearly.

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 Sample Problem 3
SOLUTION:
• Taking entire beam as free-body, calculate
reactions at A and B.

• Determine equivalent internal force-couple

systems at sections cut within segments AC,
CD, and DB.

Draw the shear and bending moment

• Plot results.
diagrams for the beam AB. The distributed
load of 40 lb/in. extends over 12 in. of the
beam, from A to C, and the 400 lb load is
applied at E.

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 Sample Problem 3
SOLUTION:
• Taking entire beam as a free-body, calculate reactions
at A and B.

MA  0:
B y 32 in.  480 lb6 in.  400 lb22 in.  0
B y  365lb

MB  0:
480 lb 26 in.   400 lb 10 in.   A32 in.   0
A  515 lb

 Fx  0 : Bx  0

• Note: The 400 lb load at E may be replaced by a 400

lb force and 1600 lb-in. couple at D.
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 Sample Problem 3
• Evaluate equivalent internal force-couple systems at
sections cut within segments AC, CD, and DB.

From A to C:
 Fy  0 : 515  40 x  V  0
V  515  40 x

 M1  0 :  
 515 x  40 x 12 x  M  0
M  515x  20x 2
From C to D:

 Fy  0 : 515  480  V  0
V  35 lb

 M 2  0 :  515 x  480 x  6  M  0
M  2880  35 x  lb  in.
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 Sample Problem 3
• Evaluate equivalent internal force-couple systems at
sections cut within segments AC, CD, and DB.

From D to B:

 Fy  0 : 515  480  400  V  0

V  365 lb

M2  0:
 515 x  480 x  6  1600  400 x  18  M  0
M  11,680  365 x  lb  in.

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 Sample Problem 3
• Plot results.
From A to C:
V  515  40 x
M  515x  20x 2
From C to D:
V  35 lb
M  2880  35 x  lb  in.

From D to B:
V  365 lb
M  11,680  365 x  lb  in.

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 Relations Among Load, Shear, and
Bending Moment
• Relations between load and shear:
V  V  V   wx  0
dV V
 lim  w
dx x 0 x
xD
VD  VC    w dx  area under load curve
xC

• Relations between shear and bending moment:

M  M   M  Vx  wx x  0
2
dM
 lim
M

 lim V  12 wx  V
dx x0 x x0

xD
M D  M C   V dx  area under shear curve
xC
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 Relations Among Load, Shear, and
Bending Moment
wL
• Reactions at supports, R A  RB 
2
• Shear curve,
x
V  V A    w dx   wx
0
wL L 
V  V A  wx   wx  w  x 
2 2 
• Moment curve,
x
M  M A   Vdx
0

 
x
L  w
M   w  x dx  L x  x 2
0 2  2
wL2  dM 
M max   M at  V  0
8  dx 
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 Sample Problem 4
Draw the shear and bending-
moment diagrams for the beam
and loading shown.
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SOLUTION:
• Taking entire beam as a free-body, determine
reactions at supports.
• Between concentrated load application points,
and shear dx   w  0
dVis constant.
• With uniform loading between D and E, the
shear variation is linear.
• Between concentrated load application points,
The change
dM indx  V  constant
moment between .load application
points is equal to area under shear curve
between points.
• With a linear shear variation between D and E,
the bending moment diagram is a parabola.
 Sample Problem 4
SOLUTION:
• Taking entire beam as a free-body, determine
reactions at supports.

MA  0:
D24 ft   20 kips 6 ft   12 kips 14 ft 
 12 kips 28 ft   0
D  26 kips
 F y 0 :
Ay  20 kips  12 kips  26 kips  12 kips  0
Ay  18 kips

• Between concentrated load application points,

dV dx   w  0 and shear is constant.
• With uniform loading between D and E, the shear
variation is linear.
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 Sample Problem 4
• Between concentrated load application points,
The change
dM indx  V  constant
moment between .load application
points is equal to area under the shear curve
between points.

M B  M A  108 M B  108 kip  ft

M C  M B  16 M C  92 kip  ft
M D  M C  140 M D  48 kip  ft
M E  M D  48 ME  0

• With a linear shear variation between D and E,

the bending moment diagram is a parabola.

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 Sample Problem 5
SOLUTION:
• The change in shear between A and B is equal to
the negative of area under load curve between
points. The linear load curve results in a parabolic
shear curve.

• With zero load, change in shear between B and C

is zero.

• The change in moment between A and B is equal

Sketch the shear and bending- to area under shear curve between points. The
moment diagrams for the cantilever parabolic shear curve results in a cubic moment
beam and loading shown. curve.

• The change in moment between B and C is equal

to area under shear curve between points. The
constant shear curve results in a linear moment
curve.

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 Sample Problem 5
SOLUTION:
• The change in shear between A and B is equal to
negative of area under load curve between points. The
linear load curve results in a parabolic shear curve.

dV
at A, V A  0,   w   w0
dx
VB  V A   12 w0 a VB   12 w0 a

dV
at B,  w  0
dx
• With zero load, change in shear between B and C is zero.

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 Sample Problem 5
• The change in moment between A and B is equal to
area under shear curve between the points. The
parabolic shear curve results in a cubic moment
curve.

dM
at A, M A  0, V  0
dx
M B  M A   13 w0 a 2 M B   13 w0 a 2
M C  M B   12 w0 a L  a  M C   16 w0 a3L  a 

• The change in moment between B and C is equal to

area under shear curve between points. The constant
shear curve results in a linear moment curve.

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