MECHANICS OF SOLIDS - BEAMS

TUTORIAL 2
SHEAR FORCE AND BENDING MOMENTS IN BEAMS
This tutorial covers elements of the following syllabi.
o Essential pre-requisite knowledge for Edexcel HNC Mechanical
Principles UNIT 21722P outcome 2.
o Parts of the Engineering Council exam subject D209 Mechanics of Solids.
o Parts of the Engineering Council exam subject C105 Mechanical and
Structural engineering.
You should judge your progress by completing the self assessment exercises.
These may be sent for marking or you may request copies of the solutions at a
cost (see home page).
On completion of this tutorial you should be able to do the following.
Define a beam.
Recognise different types of beams.
Define and calculate SHEAR FORCE in a beam.
Draw SHEAR FORCE Diagrams.
Define and calculate BENDING MOMENT in a beam.
Draw BENDING MOMENT DIAGRAMS.
Determine where the maximum bending moment occurs in a beam.
It is assumed that students doing this tutorial already understand the basic
principles of moments, shear force and how to calculate the reaction forces for
simply supported beams. This information is contained in the preliminary level
tutorials.

D.J.DUNN

1.

REVISION AND INTRODUCTION TO TYPES OF BEAMS AND LOADS

A beam is a structure, which is loaded transversely (sideways). The loads may be point loads or
uniformly distributed loads (udl).

Figure 1
The beam may be simply supported or built in.

Figure 2
Transverse loading causes bending and bending is a very severe form of stressing a structure. The bent
beam goes into tension (stretched) on one side and compression on the other.

Figure 3
The complete formula that relates bending stress to the various properties of the beam is

M E
= =
I
y R

This is derived in tutorial 1 on beams.

POINT LOADS
A point load is shown as a single arrow and acts at a point.
UNIFORM LOADS
Uniform loads are shown as a series of arrows and has a value of w N/m. For any given length
x metres, the total load is wx Newton and this is assumed to act at the centre of that length.

Figure 4

D.J.DUNN

2.

SHEAR FORCE

2.1

SHEAR

The forces on a beam produce shearing at all sections along the length. The sign convention for shear
force in beams is as shown. The best way is to remember this is that up on the left is positive.

Figure 5
Consider the shear force in a section x metres from the end as shown.

Figure 6
Only consider the forces to the left of the section.
DEFINITION The shear force is the sum of all the force acting to the left of the section.
Since the beam is in equilibrium, it must also be the sum of all the forces acting to the right
If the beam is cut at this section as shown, a force F must be placed on the end to replace the shear
force that was exerted by the material when joined. List all the forces to the left. Remember up is plus.
o
o

There is a reaction force Ra up.

There is a uniform load over the length x metres and this is equivalent to a downwards load of
wx Newton.
There is a point load F1 acting down.

o
o
The total load to the left is F = Ra wx F1

If the result for F is positive (up) then it produces positive shear.

2.2

SHEAR FORCE DIAGRAMS

A shear force diagram is simply a graph of shear force plotted against x. This is best demonstrated
with several worked examples.

D.J.DUNN

WORKED EXAMPLE No.1

A cantilever carries point loads as shown. Draw the shear force diagram.

Figure 7
SOLUTION
Because there are only point loads, we only need to calculate the shear force at the loads and at
the wall as the shear force is constant n between the loads.
At the left end the shear force suddenly changes from 0 to -500 N
This remains constant up to x = 1 m and the shear force suddenly changes to 1500 N. This is then
constant all the way to the wall and it is obvious that the wall must exert an upwards reaction
force of 1500 N to balance all the loads on the beam. The diagram looks like this.

Figure 8

In the case of uniformly distributed loads, the shear force increases proportional to length. If the u.d.l.
is w N/m then the shear force increases by w Newton for every metre length.

D.J.DUNN

WORKED EXAMPLE No.2

A simple cantilever beam is loaded as shown in the diagram. Draw the shear force diagram.

Figure No.9
For any value of x the total downwards load will be wx Newton.
SOLUTION
The shear force x metres from the left end is wx = 50 x
x=0
F= 50 x 0 = 0
x=1
F= 50 x 1 = 50 down so -50 N
x=2
F= 50 x 2 = 100 down so -100 N
x=3
F =50 x 3 = 150 down so -150 N
x=4
F = 50 x 4 = 200 down so -200 N
x=5
F= 50 x 5 = 250 down so -250 N

Figure No.10

D.J.DUNN

WORKED EXAMPLE No.3

Draw the shear force diagram for the cantilever beam shown.

Figure 11
SOLUTION
Sum the forces to the left of each point.1 metre intervals is enough to pot a graph.
At x = 0 the shear force goes down 200 N
At x = 1 the totals force to the left is 200 down and 40 x 1 = 40 N down giving a total of -240 N
Completing the calculations gives the table of results.
X
0
1
2
3
SF
-200
-240
-280
-320
The diagrams are like this

Figure 12

D.J.DUNN

4
-360

5
-400

SELF ASSESSMENT EXERCISE No.1

Draw the shear force diagram for the cases below and determine the greatest shear force..

(Answer -300 N)
Figure 13

(Answer -540 N)
Figure 14

D.J.DUNN

WORKED EXAMPLE No.4

Draw the shear force diagram for the simply supported beam shown.

Figure 15
SOLUTION
It is necessary to first calculate the beam reactions.
Total downwards load due the u.d.l.= w x length = (50 x 5) = 250 N This will act at the middle
2.5 from the end.
Total load down = 250 + 100 = 350 N.
Balance moments about left end.
(R2)(5) (50)(5)(5/2) (100)(1) = 0
R2= 145 N

R1= 350 145 = 205 N

Now calculate the shear force at 1 m intervals.

At x = 0, the shear force suddenly changes from zero to 205 N up F = 205 N
At x = 1, F = 205 wx = 205 50 x 1 = 155 N
At this point the shear force suddenly changes as the 100 N acts down so there is a sudden change
from 155 to 55 N.
At x = 2, F = 205 100 wx = 105 50 x 2 = 105 100 = 5 N
At x = 3, F = 205 100 wx = 105 50 x 3 = 105 150 = -45 N
At x = 4, F = 205 100 wx = 105 50 x 4 = 105 200 = -95 N
At x = 5, F = 205 100 wx = 105 50 x 5 = 105 250 = -145 N
At the left end, the reaction force is 145 N up to balance the shear force of 1455 N down. The
diagram looks like this.

Figure 16

D.J.DUNN

SELF ASSESSMENT EXERCISE No.2

1.

A beam is loaded as shown below. Calculate the reactions and draw the shear force diagram.
(Answers 310 N and 210 N)

Figure 17
2.

A beam is loaded as shown below. Calculate the reactions and draw the shear force diagram.
(Answers 600 N and 600 N)

Figure 18

D.J.DUNN

3.
3.1

BENDING MOMENTS FOR POINT LOADED BEAMS

DEFINITION

The bending moment acting at a point on a beam is the resultant turning moment due to all the forces
acting to one side of the point.
Normally we draw the beam horizontally with the usual conventions of up being positive (y) and left
to right being positive (x). On figure 19, the point considered is x metres from the left end. It is usual
to only consider the forces to the left of the point. If the forces act up then they will produce a
clockwise turning moment and bend the beam up on the left. This is called SAGGING and the bending
moment is positive. If the force on the left is down, the moment produced about the point is anticlockwise and the beam is bent down. This is called HOGGING and the bending moment is negative.

Figure 19
The reason for using the names sagging and hogging is that you might decide to consider the forces to
the right of the point instead of the left. The numerical value of the bending moment will be the same
but in this case the anti-clockwise moment produces sagging and the clockwise moment produces
hogging. In any analysis, you must decide if the moment is sagging or hogging.
Bending stress is covered in tutorial 1. A sagging moment produces tensile stress on the bottom
and compressive stress on the top. A hogging moment produces tension on the top compression
on the bottom.
Consider the simply supported beam in figure 20. If the beam was cut as shown, in order to keep the
left section in place, not only would a vertical force have to be applied (the shear force) to stop it
moving up, but an anti-clockwise moment M would have to be applied to stop it rotating. This moment
must have been previously exerted by the material and accounts for the bending stress in the material.

Figure 20
For equilibrium the total moment must be zero at the point considered (and for any other point on the
beam). Only consider forces to the left of the point.

D.J.DUNN

10

List all the turning moments due to the forces to the left of the point.
The reaction Ra produces a moment of Ra x and this is sagging so the bending moment at the section is
plus.
o
o

The force F1 produces a moment of F1 (x-A) and this is hogging so it is minus.

Sum the moments and we get M = Ra x - F1 (x-A)

We would get the same result if we summed the moments due to all the forces on the right. It is worth
noting that the bending moment must be zero at a free end. In the case discussed, the bending moment
diagram is like this.
3.2 BENDING MOMENT DIAGRAM
A Bending Moment diagram is simply a graph of bending moment plotted vertically against distance x
from the left end. It involves working out the bending moment at strategic points along the beam. This
is best demonstrated with a series of worked examples.

WORKED EXAMPLE No.5- CANTILEVERS

Find the bending moment at x = 2.5 m and x = 3 m.

Figure 21
SOLUTION
x = 2.5 m Note that the 300 N force is not to the left so it is not included.
Force
50 N
100 N

Distance from x-x

Moment
2.5
-50 x 2.5 = -125 Nm
2.5 1.5 = 1 m
-100 x 1 = - 100 Nm
Total Moment = - 225 Nm

x =3 m
Force
50 N
100 N
300 N

Distance from x-x

Moment
3
-50 x 3 = -150 Nm
3 1.5 = 1.5 m
-100 x 1.5 = - 150 Nm
3 2.5 = 0.5 m
-300 x 0.5 = - 150 Nm
Total Moment = - 450 Nm

Note that the maximum always occurs at the wall for a simple cantilever.

D.J.DUNN

11

WORKED EXAMPLE No.6 - CANTILEVER

Construct the bending moment diagram for the beam shown in figure 22.

Figure 22
SOLUTION
For any given point x metres from the left end there is only a uniformly distributed load to
consider. The u.d.l. is usually given the symbol w N/m. The total load for a length x metres long
is hence wx. This force is assumed to act at the middle of the length at x/2 from the end and it
produces hogging so it is negative. The Bending moment is hence
M = -(wx)(x/2) = -wx2/2
In this case w = 50 N/m so the bending moment may be represented by the equation is
-50x2/2

M =

M = -50x2/2
Since there are no other loads, the bending moment diagram is simply a graph of this equation. It
is sensible to draw up a neat table of results.
x (m)
M (Nm)

0
0

1
-25

2
-100

3
-225

The bending moment diagram is then like this

Figure 23

D.J.DUNN

12

4
-400

WORKED EXAMPLE No.7 - CANTILEVER

The diagram shows a cantilever with both a uniform and point load. Find the bending moment
when x = 3.

Figure 24
x=3m
The bending moment due to the point load only.
M = -200 x 3 = -600 Nm
The bending moment due to the uniform load only.
M = -wx2/2 = -40 x 32/2 = -180 N m
Total bending Moment M = -600 180 = -780 Nm

WORKED EXAMPLE No.8

Draw the bending moment diagram for the beam shown in figure 24 by calculating the bending
moment at other points.
SOLUTION
We should get enough points to plot if we work out the bending moment at 1 metre intervals from
the left end. Use the same method to calculate the bending moment as shown in worked example
No.7 and we get the following results.
x
M

0
0

1
-220

2
-480

3
-780

4
-1120

The graph is like this

Figure No.25

D.J.DUNN

13

5
-1500

SELF ASSESSMENT EXERCISE No.3

Draw the bending moment diagram for the cases below and determine the greatest bending
moment.

(Answer 800 Nm hogging)

Figure 26

(Answer 2220 Nm hogging)

Figure 27

D.J.DUNN

14

WORKED EXAMPLE No.9 SIMPLY SUPPORTED BEAM

Consider an example with a point load and a uniform load.

Figure 28
SOLUTION
First it is necessary to calculate the reactions R1 and R2.
Total downwards load = (50)(5) + 100 = 350 N.
Moments about left end.

(R2)(5) = (50)(5)(5/2) + (100)(1)

R2 = 145 N

R1= 350 - 145 = 205 N

Let's now work out the bending moments at key positions for the same example.
x=0
x= 0.5
x=1
x=2
x=3
x=4
x=5

M =0
M =(205)(0.5) - (50)(0.5)2/2 =
M =(205)(1) - (50)(1)2/2 =
M =(205)(2) - (50)(2)2/2 - (100)(1) =
M =(205)(3) - (50)(3)2/2 - (100)(2) =
M =(205)(4) - (50)(4)2/2 - (100)(3) =
M =(205)(5) - (50)(5)2/2 - (100)(4) =

96.25 Nm
180 Nm
210 Nm
190 Nm
120 Nm
0 Nm

Note that the bending moments at the free ends of a simply supported beam must be zero since
there are no loads to the one side of that point. If the last figure had not come out to zero, then the
calculations would have to be checked thoroughly. In this example the bending moment is always
positive since the beam sags along its entire length. The graph is like this.

Figure 29
Note that the maximum bending moment occurs at about x= 2 m. To determine this precisely
would require more points to be plotted or the use of max and min theory in conjunction with the
equation. This is not expected of you but later on we will see how this precise point may be
located from the shear force diagrams.

D.J.DUNN

15

Beam problems usually involve finding the stress due to the bending moment. Bending stress is
covered in tutorial 1.The next problem brings in the stress equation.

WORKED EXAMPLE No.10

A simply supported beam is loaded as shown in the diagram. The beam has a rectangular section
50 mm wide and 100 mm deep. Determine the maximum bending stress on it.

Figure 30
SOLUTION
First we must find the maximum bending moment by drawing a bending moment diagram.
MOMENTS ABOUT LEFT END. (R2)(4) = (500)(3) + (100)(4)2/2 = 575N
VERTICAL BALANCE

R1+R2= 500 + (100)(4) = 900

R1= 900 - 575 = 325 N
Next evaluate the bending moments at 1 m intervals.
x (m)
0
1
2
3
3.5
4
M (Nm)
0
275
450
525
275
0
The bending moment diagram is like this

Figure 31
The maximum bending moment is 525 Nm at 3 m from the left end.
The bending stress is given by the formula = My/I
The beam dimensions are B = 50 mm
D = 100 mm Remember to work in metres.
Calculate the second moment of area
I = BD3/12 = 4.167 x 10-6 m4
The maximum value of y is the distance from the middle to the top y = D/2 = 0.05 m
= My/I = 525 x 0.05/4.167 x 10-6
= 6.3 x106 Pa
= 6.3 MPa

D.J.DUNN

16

SELF ASSESSMENT EXERCISE No.4

1.

A beam is loaded as shown below. Calculate the reactions and draw the Bending Moment
diagram. Determine the maximum bending moment. (Answers 310 N. 210 N and 275 Mm)

Figure 32
2.

A beam is loaded as shown below. Calculate the reactions and draw the bending moment
diagram. Determine the greatest ending moment. (Answers 600 N, 600 N and 1188 Nm)

Figure 33

D.J.DUNN

17

3.4

DETERMINING THE POSITION OF GREATEST BENDING MOMENT.

It can be shown that where ever the shear force changes from positive to negative, the bending
moment is a maximum and where it changes from negative to positive the bending moment is a
minimum. This means that anywhere on the SF diagram where the value goes through zero, the
bending moment reaches a peak. This is illustrated by combining worked example 3 and worked
example 9 which contains the solutions for the same beam. The combined diagrams should be drawn
as shown. Note that the maximum bending moment occurs just over 2 metres from the end at the point
where the SF diagram passes through zero.

Figure 34
On more complex beams, the SF diagram might pass through the zero value at several points resulting
in several maximum and/or minimum points on the BM diagram. The bending moment that produces
maximum stress could be the greatest positive value or the greatest negative value

D.J.DUNN

18

WORKED EXAMPLE No.11

A simply supported beam is loaded as shown in the diagram. Draw the bending moment diagram.

Figure No.35
SOLUTION
First we must find the reactions. The u.d.l. only covers the centre portion. The total load due to
the u.d.l. is 600 x 2 =1200 N and this acts at the centre. We may now take moments. For a
change, let's take moments about R2
(R1)(2) + (400)(1) = (1200)(1) + (500)(3)

R1 =1150 N

VERTICAL BALANCE R1 + R2= 500 +1200 + 400 = 2100 N

R2 = 2100 -1150 = 950N

x=0
x =1
x =2
x =3
x =4

F= goes from 0 to - 500 instantly.

F = changes from -500 to (-500 + 1150) = +650
F = 650 - 600 = +50
F = 50 - 600 = -550 then changes to -550 + 950 = +400
F = changes from 400 to 0 instantly.

Drawing the shear force diagram shows that it passes through zero at x = 1 m and x = 3 m. Both
these points will give a maximum or minimum value of the bending moment. If we only want
these values there is no need to draw the bending moment diagram but the whole thing is shown
here for interest.
BENDING MOMENTS. Remember that we only calculate moments of the forces to the left of
the point considered and x is measured from the extreme left end.
x=0
M=0
x=1
M = -(500)(1) = -500 Nm
x=1.5
M = -(500)(1.5) + (1150)(1) - (600)(0.5)2/2 = -250 Nm
x=2
M = -(500)(2) + (1150)(1) - (600)(1)2/2 = -150 Nm
x=2.5
M= -(500)(2.5) + (1150)(1.5) - (600)(1.5)2/2 = -200 Nm
x=3
M= -(500)(3) + (1150)(2) - (600)(2)2/2 = -400 Nm
x=4
M= -(500)(4) + (1150)(3) - (600)(2)(2) +(950)(1) = 0
Note that in the last calculation, the u.d.l. did not go up to the point x = 4 and that the moment due
to it is the total force (600N/m)(2m) times the distance to the middle (2m).

D.J.DUNN

19

The complete diagram reveals that the bending moment is always negative (hogging) so tensile
stress would occur on the top layer of the beam. This stress will be a maximum at x = 1 when the
bending moment has a value of -500 Nm. The minus sin has no bearing on the stress value and
serves to tell us that it is a hogging moment.

Figure 36
The greatest negative bending moment is -500 Nm at 1 m from the left end. Note that the sign has
no significance when it comes to working out bending stresses other than to indicate that it is
hogging and will be tensile on the top layer and compressive on the bottom layer.

D.J.DUNN

20

SELF ASSESSMENT EXERCISE No.5

Draw the SF diagram for the beams below. Determine the greatest bending moment and the
position at which it occurs.
1.

Figure 37
2.

Figure 38

D.J.DUNN

21

SELF ASSESSMENT EXERCISE No.6

1.

A beam is loaded as shown below. The beam has a second moment of area about its centroid of 5
x 10-6 m4 and the distance to the edge from the centroid is 50 mm. Draw the bending moment
diagram and determine
i) The maximum bending moment. (Answer 275 Nm)
ii) The maximum bending stress. (Answer 2.75 MPa)

Figure 39
2.

A beam is loaded as shown below. The beam has a second moment of area about its centroid of
12 x 10-6 m4 and the distance to the edge from the centroid is 70 mm. Draw the bending moment
diagram and determine
i) The maximum bending moment. (1187.5 Nm)
ii) The maximum bending stress. (6.927 MPa)

Figure 40
3.

A light alloy tube of 10 cm outer diameter and 7.5 cm inner diameter rests horizontally on simple
supports 4 m apart. A concentrated load of 500 N is applied to the tube midway between the
supports.
Sketch diagrams of shear force and bending moments due to the applied load.
Determine the maximum bending moment and the corresponding maximum stress.
(Answers 500 Nm and 7.45 MPa)

D.J.DUNN

22

4.

Part of a test rig consists of a 15 m long elastic beam which is simply supported at one end and
rests on a frictionless roller located 5 m from the other end, as shown in fig. 41. The beam has a
uniformly distributed load of 150 N/m due to its own weight and is subjected to concentrated
loads of 1000 N and 400 N as shown.

(i) Calculate the reactions. (Answers 962.5 N and 2687.5 N)

(ii) Sketch the shear force and bending moment diagrams and determine the magnitude and location
of the maximum values of the shear force and bending moment.
(Answers SF 1537.5 N 10 m from left end, BM 2 937.5 Nm 5 m from left end).
(ii) Determine the maximum bending stress in the beam if the section is that shown in fig.41 and with
bending about the neutral axis x-x. (Answer 55.13 MPa)

Figure 41
5.

A horizontal beam 4.2 m long, resting on two simple supports 3.0 m apart, carries a uniformly
distributed load of 25 kN/m between the supports with concentrated loads of 15 kN and 20 kN at
the ends, as shown in fig. 42.
Assuming the weight of the beam is negligible determine the reactions R1 and R2 at the supports.
(Answers 51.5 kN and 58.5 N)
Sketch diagrams of shear force and bending moments and indicate the point of maximum bending
moment.
State the greatest bending moment and shear force. (Answers -38.5 kN and 18 kNm)
The beam has a uniform rectangular cross-section, the depth being equal to 1.5 times the width.
Determine the size of the section required to limit the maximum bending stress to 375 MN/m2.
(Answers 50 mm wide and 75.6 mm deep)

Figure 42

D.J.DUNN

23