ENG1001 Course Notes

WEEK 6. BEAMS, SHEAR

AND BENDING
MOMENTS

Revised January 2020

 ENG1001 Course Notes
Week 6: Beam, Shear and Bending Moments

Table of Contents
6.1 OUTLINE AND INTRODUCTION ......................................................................... 6-3
6.2 LOAD PATHS IN BEAMS ....................................................................................... 6-3
6.3 EXTERNAL STABILITY AND DETERMINACY ................................................. 6-4
6.4 SIGN CONVENTIONS FOR SHEAR FORCES AND BENDING MOMENTS .... 6-5
6.5 SHEAR FORCE IN A BEAM ................................................................................... 6-7
6.5.1 How To Draw Shear Force Diagrams .................................................................... 6-7
6.5.2 How To Draw Shear Force Diagrams (SFD) ......................................................... 6-8
6.6 BENDING MOMENT IN A BEAM ......................................................................... 6-8
6.6.1 Calculating The Bending Moment In A Beam ...................................................... 6-8
6.6.2 How To Draw Bending Moment Diagrams (BMD) .............................................. 6-9
6.7 EQUATIONS FOR SHEAR FORCE AND BENDING MOMENT DIAGRAMS 6-10
6.8 MORE ABOUT SHEAR AND BENDING ............................................................ 6-11
6.8.1 Two Shear Force And Bending Moment Diagrams That You Should Learn ...... 6-11
6.8.2 Plotting BMDs Using Funicular Shapes Sign ...................................................... 6-12
6.8.3 Relating Load, Shear Force And Bending Moment............................................. 6-12
6.8.4 Beam Example ..................................................................................................... 6-13
6.9 SUMMARY ............................................................................................................. 6-14

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 ENG1001 Course Notes
Week 6: Beam, Shear and Bending Moments

6.1 OUTLINE AND INTRODUCTION

Beams are probably the most common structural form. In this unit we will look at how we
calculate the internal actions in a beam, and plot a diagram of them. There are two internal
actions – shear force and (internal) bending moment.

After working through this Chapter and watching the online videos and attending the associated
workshops and practical classes you should be able to:

• describe how beams carry applied loads and moments

• describe what is meant by stable supports and determinate supports for a beam
• explain the sign convention for shear force and for bending moment
• calculate the shear force and the bending moment at any point on a beam
• explain the “sign convention” for plotting a shear force diagram, and for drawing a
bending moment diagram
• draw the shear force diagram and the bending moment diagram for a beam
• draw from memory the shear force diagrams and the bending moment diagrams for a
simply supported beam carrying
(i) a central point load
(ii) a uniformly distributed load

6.2 LOAD PATHS IN BEAMS

Beams are structures used for carrying loads across an opening.

The loads are acting transverse to the beam, and the loads are carried by distorting and curving
(bending) the beam - the internal structural actions are shear and bending moment. Both of
these actions are important, but it turns out that the distortion (shear) causes insignificant
deformations in the beam and only the curvature (bending moment) is important when
calculating the change in shape.

Beams carry loads by bending moment and shear force in the member

Bending moments and shear in a beam can be caused by an external applied moment as well
as a transverse force.

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 ENG1001 Course Notes
Week 6: Beam, Shear and Bending Moments

Note that the applied moment is about an axis perpendicular to the length of the beam, and so
it is not a torque.
M

Consider the cantilever 100 kg

beam shown. Think about
the deflected shape of the
structure. At the free end it
is straight (though not 4m
horizontal), while at the
support it has a lot of
curvature (bending). It will break near the support. The curvature varies along the length of the
beam. Since curvature is the type of deformation that corresponds to the structural action of
bending moment, we expect that the bending moment in the beam varies along the length of
the beam, and will be greatest at the support. At the free end of the beam, where the curvature
(bending) is zero, how much bending moment do you think there will be?

The (internal) bending moment in a beam is directly related to the curvature - where the
beam is highly curved the bending moment will be high and where the beam is straight
(zero curvature) the bending moment will be zero.

Activity:
Support your 300 mm plastic ruler at each end, and place a weight in the centre. Look very
closely at the shape. See that the ruler is straight at the ends - zero curvature. The greatest
curvature is in the centre. This is where the bending is greatest. The bending is zero at the
ends.

6.3 EXTERNAL STABILITY AND DETERMINACY

Just as for a truss, we can classify the support provided to a beam as follows,

Stable: Support is a set of supports that provides adequate support to prevent the entire beam
from rotating or translating

Unstable: Support is a set of supports that do not prevent rotation and/or translation of the
entire beam, so the beam will collapse

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 ENG1001 Course Notes
Week 6: Beam, Shear and Bending Moments

Determinate: Support is a set of supports that provides just enough restraint, so that we can
calculate exactly how much of the applied load is carried by each support using the equations
of equilibrium.

Indeterminate: Support is a set of supports that provides extra restraint, so that the equations
of equilibrium do not give enough information to calculate how much of the applied load is
carried by each support.

The reactions for a determinate beam can be calculated from the 3 equations of equilibrium,

F x  0,  Fy 0,  M z  0

6.4 SIGN CONVENTIONS FOR SHEAR FORCES AND

BENDING MOMENTS
To understand the sign convention used, the most important thing to remember is that shear
force and bending moment are internal actions, and must not be confused with force and
applied moment, which are external actions. To clarify this, I will first repeat the sign
convention for the external actions:

Sign Convention for Adding External Forces and Applied Moments

(External Actions):
 Forces are positive in the positive axis direction
 Applied moments are positive if they follow the right
hand screw rule (wrap your right hand around the axis
with your thumb in the positive axis direction)

Sign Conventions for Internal Actions

The sign convention for shear force (internal action)

These shear forces are positive and these are negative

v v
(+) (-)

v v

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 ENG1001 Course Notes
Week 6: Beam, Shear and Bending Moments

The sign convention for bending moments (internal action)

These bending moments are positive and these are negative

M M
(+) (-)
M M

Comments on the sign convention

Consider yourself standing on a plank.

If you cut through the plank, and think

of the external moments and forces that
would have to be applied, they would
be as shown.
m m
According to the sign conventions for external
actions, each of the forces and each of the moments
would have a different sign (which is just as well, v v
because for equilibrium they need to sum to zero).
However, as a description of the internal state of
the beam, they are both describing the same situation. To overcome this inconsistency we have
different sign conventions for the internal and the external actions.

How to remember the sign convention for the internal actions, shear and
bending moment :

A positive bending moment causes sagging curvature - like a smiling face, it is positive

+
A negative bending moment causes hogging curvature - like a frowning face it is negative

-
You must learn the terms sagging and hogging, as well as the sign convention.

A positive shear force is a set of forces that cause

anticlockwise rotation (ie the same as a positive
applied moment).

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 ENG1001 Course Notes
Week 6: Beam, Shear and Bending Moments

6.5 SHEAR FORCE IN A BEAM

6.5.1How To Draw Shear Force Diagrams

We can use the equilibrium equations and the technique of free body diagrams to plot the
variation of shear force along a beam. For the cantilever beam example,

1. First find the reactions.

Fv = 0
 R2 – 1 =0
 R2 = 1 kN R3 100 kg ~ 1kN

FH = 0 R1
 R1 = 0 A 4m
R2
Mz = 0 at A anticlockwise,
R3 –1 x 4 = 0
 R3 = +4 kNm

2. Make a cut 1 metre from the free end,

4
FV = 0 0
V=1 A 3m V
1

3. Make a cut 2 metres from the free end

4
FV = 0
V=1 0
2m V
1
4. Make a cut just before the support
4
FV = 0 0
V=1
V
1

It is clear that the shear force is constant along the length of the beam. We can plot a graph of
shear force versus position on the beam - a shear force diagram - as below.

shear force

distance

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 ENG1001 Course Notes
Week 6: Beam, Shear and Bending Moments

6.5.2How To Draw Shear Force Diagrams (SFD)

1. Do not use the + or - sign of the shear force as the basis for plotting the
diagram.
2. The SFD follows the load arrows.
3. The SFD is horizontal except where load is applied.
4. Calculate the shear force at the supports first, then work along the beam
following the load arrows.
5. Make sure that when you reach the end of the beam the shear force returns to
zero (this is a check that  F  0 ).

The Sign Convention for Plotting Shear Force Diagrams

To plot a shear force diagram, follow the load arrows - if a load or reaction points upwards,
move upwards on the shear force diagram.

Note that it is not necessary to consider + or - signs when plotting the shear force diagram. It
is far easier to just follow the load arrows. The sign convention for shear force is not used in
plotting the diagram, but it is used later in setting up mathematical equations. If you feel that
you must use the + or - sign of the shear force to plot the shear force diagram (not
recommended), then it works out that a positive shear plots above the beam.

6.6 BENDING MOMENT IN A BEAM

6.6.1Calculating The Bending Moment In A Beam
We can use the equilibrium equations and the technique of free body diagrams to plot the
variation of bending moment along a beam. For the cantilever beam example,

First find the reactions (this has been done above)

4 1 kN

2. Make a cut just near the free end 1

M = 0 at the cut, 4 M
M+4–1x4 = 0
M=0 0
4m
1
3. Make a cut 1 metre from the free end
4 M
M = 0 at the cut,
0
3m
1
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 ENG1001 Course Notes
Week 6: Beam, Shear and Bending Moments

M+4–1x3 = 0
 M = -1 kNm

4. Make a cut 2 metres from the free end

4 M
M = 0 at the cut,
M+4–1x2 = 0 0
 M = -2 kNm 2m
1
5. Make a cut just before the support
4 M
M = 0 at the cut, 0
M+4–1x0 = 0
 M = -4 kNm 1
It is clear that the bending moment increases linearly along the length of the beam (as the lever
arm from the applied load increases). We can plot a graph of bending moment versus position
on the beam - a bending moment diagram - as below.

-4

0
distance
bending moment

Note : The positive bending moment axis is drawn downwards.

6.6.2 How To Draw Bending Moment Diagrams (BMD)

1. Do not use the + or - sign of the bending moment as the basis for plotting the
diagram
2. The BMD is always plotted on the side of the beam that is in tension
3. The BMD is a straight line except where load is applied
4. Calculate the bending moment at the supports and load points first, then join up
these points
5. Remember that the bending moment is related to the curvature of the beam - high
bending moment corresponds to high curvature (bending), and conversely where
there is no curvature (bending) the bending moment is zero.

The Sign Convention for Plotting Bending Moment Diagrams

To plot a bending moment diagram, first sketch the deflected shape of the beam, and then plot
the bending moment values on the side of the beam that is in tension. Look at the curvature of
the beam - if it is sagging then the bottom of the beam is in tension, so plot the bending moment
value below the beam - if it is hogging then the top of the beam is in tension, so plot the bending

© Monash University 2020 6-9

 ENG1001 Course Notes
Week 6: Beam, Shear and Bending Moments

moment value above the beam.

Note that it is not necessary to consider + or - signs when plotting the bending moment diagram.
It is far easier to just plot the value on the tension side of the beam. The sign convention for
bending moment is not used in plotting the diagram, but it is used later in setting up
mathematical equations. If you feel that you must use the + or - sign of the bending moment to
plot the bending moment diagram (not recommended), then it works out that a positive bending
moment plots below the beam.

6.7 EQUATIONS FOR SHEAR FORCE AND BENDING

MOMENT DIAGRAMS
We can plot the shear force and bending moment diagram for a beam by taking cuts at a large
number of specific points along the beam, obtaining many values for the shear force and
bending moment, and plotting the diagram. This is slow and tiresome. If we take a cut at a
general position denoted by x, we can obtain a general equation for the shear force and bending
moment. Consider examples for different types of loading:

 A point load
 A uniformly distributed load
 A linearly varying distributed load
 An applied moment

These examples will be considered in the lecture.

From these examples we can draw the following important conclusions,

Type of load Shape of SFD Shape of BMD

No load on this section Horizontal Straight line

Point load Step Kink

UDL Straight line Parabola

Linearly varying Parabola Cubic

distributed load

Applied moment Horizontal Step

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 ENG1001 Course Notes
Week 6: Beam, Shear and Bending Moments

Video link: Calculating Shear and moment at a cut:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HzDacklKnNc
Note this video link draws the BMD with the positive axis shown up, not down as we do.

6.8 MORE ABOUT SHEAR AND BENDING

6.8.1Two Shear Force And Bending Moment Diagrams That

You Should Learn

1. A point load at the centre of a 2. A UDL on a simply supported

simply supported beam: beam:

P kN
w kN/m

L L

P wL
2 SFD (kN) 2
P wL
2 2

BMD (kN)
PL
4 wL2
8

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 ENG1001 Course Notes
Week 6: Beam, Shear and Bending Moments

6.8.2Plotting BMDs Using Funicular Shapes Sign

A cable, rope or chain is a funicular structure - it carries its load by tension and the structure
changes shape according to the load.

A beam is a stiff structure - it cannot adapt its shape like a cable can, and this results in bending
moments occurring in the beam. The amount of bending moment depends on how far away the
shape of the beam is from the shape that it wants to adopt - from the funicular shape. For simple
beams, we can use this fact to plot the shape of the bending moment diagram.

Activity:
 Hold a piece of string between your two hands. Hang a weight at the centre.
Compare this with the bending that occurred in the ruler in the earlier Activity.
What can you observe about the shape of the string and the amount of bending in
the ruler?
 Repeat the process with the weight in other positions, and with multiple weights.

Suggested Reading:
Hibbeler, R.C., Statics and mechanics of Materials, Sections 7.1, 7.2 & 16.4 .

6.8.3Relating Load, Shear Force And Bending Moment

Consider a short section of beam with a uniformly distributed load. On each side of the free
body diagram there are moments and shear forces acting as shown,

w (per unit length)

M v + dv
v M + dM

dx A

dV
w
For vertical force equilibrium, V  w  dx   V  dV   0 , so
dx
 M  dM   0 , so
dx
For moment equilibrium about point A,  M  V  dx  ( w  dx ) 
2
ignoring the term in dx2

dM
V
dx

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 ENG1001 Course Notes
Week 6: Beam, Shear and Bending Moments

So the relationship is,

differentiate differentiate
load shear force bending moment
integrate integrate

The loading diagram is therefore the slope of the shear force diagram, and the shear force
diagram is the slope of the bending moment diagram. This is a useful check on your
diagrams once they are drawn.

Suggested Reading:
Hibbeler, R.C., Statics and mechanics of Materials, Section 7.3.

6.8.4 Beam Example

Consider the beam shown, load is acting y w (kN/m)

downwards and hence is negative
dV x
  w is negative L
dx
 slope of shear force diagram = -w V w=
dV
dx
For x < L/2 SFD > 0  bending moment has a x
positive slope (i.e. dM/dx > 0)

at x = L/2 , SFD = 0  bending moment is a

x
maximum or a minimum M slope
slope negative
For x > L/2 SFD < 0  bending moment has a positive slope = 0
at max. or min.
negative slope (i.e. dM/dx < 0)

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 ENG1001 Course Notes
Week 6: Beam, Shear and Bending Moments

Video link: Graphical Method https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iFsTVuzntas

Note this video link draws the BMD with the positive axis shown up, not down as we do.

6.9 SUMMARY
This unit has introduced a lot of new and important work.

1. Beams carry load by bending and shear force in the member. The (internal) bending moment
in a beam is directly related to the curvature - where the beam is highly curved the bending
moment will be high and where the beam is straight (zero curvature) the bending moment
will be zero.

2. Depending upon the type of support provided, beams can be either

 stable or unstable
 determinate or indeterminate

3. These shear forces are positive:

M M
4. These bending moments are positive (sagging):

5. The value of the shear force or bending moment at a point in a beam is found by taking a
cut through the beam at that point, and applying the equilibrium equations to the free body
diagram that results.

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 ENG1001 Course Notes
Week 6: Beam, Shear and Bending Moments

6. Shear force diagrams are plotted by following the load arrows which conform to the axis
directions shown.
V

7. Bending moment diagrams are plotted on the side of the beam that
x
is in tension which conforms to the axis directions shown.

8. The shape of shear force and bending moment diagrams depends upon the type of load
on the beam:

Type of load Shape of SFD Shape of BMD

No load on this section Horizontal Straight line

Point load Step Kink

UDL Straight line Parabola

Linearly varying Parabola Cubic

distributed load

Applied moment Horizontal Step

9. Bending moment diagrams for simply supported beams have the same shape as a cable
carrying the same load.
dV
Load, shear force and bending moment are related by distributed load w  , and
dx
dM
V . The loading diagram is the slope of the shear force diagram, and the shear force
dx
diagram is the slope of the bending moment diagram.

© Monash University 2020 6-15