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Unit 3
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Equilibrium of Forces
CV 101/201 Basics of Civil Engineering and Mechanics
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Equilibrium:
Equilibrium is the status of the body when it is subjected to a system of forces. We know that or
a system of forces acting on a body the resultant can be determined. By Newton’s 2nd Law of
Motion the body then should move in the direction of the resultant with some acceleration. If
the resultant force is equal to zero it implies that the net effect of the system of forces is zero
this represents the state of equilibrium.
For a system of coplanar concurrent forces for the resultant to be zero, hence

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Equilibrant:
Equilibrant is a single force which when added to a system of forces brings the status of
equilibrium. Hence this force is of the same magnitude as the resultant but opposite in sense.
This is depicted in Fig

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Free Body Diagram:
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Free body diagram is nothing but a sketch which shows the various forces acting on the body.
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The forces acting on the body could be in form of weight, reactive forces contact forces etc. An
example for Free Body Diagram is shown below
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BEAMS
A beam is a structural member or element, which is in equilibrium under the action of a non-
concurrent force system. The force system is developed due to the loads or forces acting on the
beam and also due to the support reactions developed at the supports for the beam.

For the beam to be in equilibrium, the reactions developed at the supports the should be equal
and opposite to the loads.

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In a beam, one dimension (length) is considerably larger than the other two dimensions
(breath & depth). The smaller dimensions are usually neglected and as such a beam is
represented as a line for theoretical purposes or for analysis.

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Types of Supports for beams
Supports are structures which prevent the beam or the body from moving and help to maintain
equilibrium.

A beam can have different types of supports as follows. The support reactions developed at

1) Simple support:
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each support are represented as follows.

This is a support where a beam rests freely on a support. The beam is free to move only
horizontally and also can rotate about the support. In such a support one reaction, which
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is perpendicular to the plane of support, is developed.
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2) Roller support:

This is a support in which a beam rests on rollers, which are frictionless. At such a support, the
beam is free to move horizontally and as well rotate about the support. Here one reaction
which is perpendicular to the plane of rollers is developed.

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3)Hinged Support

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4) Fixed support:
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This is a support which prevents the beam from moving in any direction and also prevents
rotation of the beam. In such a support a horizontal reaction, vertical reaction and a

Fixed End Moment are developed to keep the beam in equilibrium.

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6.3 Types of beams

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Depending upon the supports over which a beam can rest (at its two ends), beams can be
classified as follows.

1) Simply supported beam.

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A beam is said to be simply supported when both ends of the beam rest on simple supports. Such
a beam can carry or resist vertical loads only.

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A B

RB
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2) Beam with one end hinged & other on rollers.

It is a beam where one end of the beam is hinged to a support and the other end rests
on a roller support. Such a beam can carry any type of loads.
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A B
RAH
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RAV RBV
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3) Hinged Beam:

It is a beam which is hinged to supports at both ends. Such a beam can carry loads is any
direction.

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RAH A B
RBH

RAV
RBV

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4) Over hanging beam :

It is a beam which projects beyond the supports. A beam can have over hanging portions on one
side or on both sides.

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B A B
A

RA RB

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RA RB

A B

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RA RB
5) Cantilever Beams:

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It is a beam, with one end fixed and other and free. Such a beam can carry loads in any
directions.
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6) Propped cantilever:
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It is a beam which has a fixed support at one end and a simple support at the other end.

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A B
RAH A B
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RAV RB

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7) Continuous beam:

It is a beam which rests over a series of supports at more than two points.

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A B C

RA
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RC
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Note:

The support reactions in case of simply supported beams, beam with one end hinged and other
on rollers, over hanging beams, and cantilever beams, can be determined by conditions of
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equilibrium only (Σ Fx = 0, ΣFy = 0, ΣM = 0). As such, such beams are known as Statically
Determinate Beams.

In beams such as Hinged Beams, Propped Cantilever and Continuous Beams the
support reactions cannot be determined using conditions of equilibrium only. They need

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additional special conditions for analysis and as such, such beams are known as Statically
Indeterminate Beams 6.4 Types of loads:

The various types of loads that can act over a beam can e listed as follows.

1) Point load or Concentrated load:

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If a load acts over a very small length of the beam, it is assumed to act at the mid point

of the loaded length and such a loading is termed as Point load or Concentrated load. 2)

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Uniformly distributed load (UDL):
A B

If a beam is loaded in such a manner that

RA RB
each unit length of the beam carries the same
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intensity of loading, then such a loading is called UDL.

A UDL cannot be considered in the same manner for applying conditions of equilibrium on the
beam. The UDL should be replaced by an equivalent point load or total load acting through the
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mid point of the loaded length.

The magnitude of the point load or total load is equal to the product of the intensity of loading
and the loaded length (distance).
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W=w . L w/ unit

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length
G

L/2 L/2
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W=w . L W=w . X
a+x/2 b+x/2
w/ unit length
x/2 w/ unit length

L/2 L/2 a X b

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L
L

3) Uniformly varying load (UVL):

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If a beam is loaded in such a manner, that the intensity of loading varies linearly or uniformly
over each unit distance of the beam, then such a load is termed as UVL.

In applying conditions of equilibrium, a given UVL should be replaced by an equivalent point

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load or total load acting through the centroid of the loading diagram (right angle triangle).
The magnitude of the equivalent point load or total load is equal to the area of the loading
diagram.
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4) External moment:

A beam can also be subjected to external moments at certain points as shown in figure. These
moments should be considered while calculating the algebraic sum of moments of forces about
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a point on the beam

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A
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RB
RA

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Note : A beam can also be subject to a load as shown in figure below.

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In such a case, the UVL can be split into a UDL with a uniform intensity of w1/unit length
another UVL with a maximum intensity of (w2-w1) /unit length.
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