Module 3

Lecture 1- 4: Shear Force and Bending Moment

Concept of Shear Force and Bending moment in beams:

When the beam is loaded in some arbitrarily manner, the internal forces and
moments are developed and the terms shear force and bending moments come into
pictures which are helpful to analyze the beams further. Let us define these terms

Fig 1
Now let us consider the beam as shown in fig 1(a) which is supporting the loads P1,
P2, P3 and is simply supported at two points creating the reactions R1 and
R2 respectively. Now let us assume that the beam is to divided into or imagined to be
cut into two portions at a section AA. Now let us assume that the resultant of loads
and reactions to the left of AA is ‘F' vertically upwards, and since the entire beam is
to remain in equilibrium, thus the resultant of forces to the right of AA must also be F,
acting downwards. This forces ‘F' is as a shear force. The shearing force at any x-
section of a beam represents the tendency for the portion of the beam to one side of
the section to slide or shear laterally relative to the other portion.
Therefore, now we are in a position to define the shear force ‘F' to as follows:
At any x-section of a beam, the shear force ‘F' is the algebraic sum of all the lateral
components of the forces acting on either side of the x-section.
Sign Convention for Shear Force:

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The usual sign conventions to be followed for the shear forces have been illustrated
in figures 2 and 3.

Fig 2: Positive Shear Force

Fig 3: Negative Shear Force

Bending Moment:

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 Fig 4
Let us again consider the beam which is simply supported at the two prints, carrying
loads P1, P2 and P3 and having the reactions R1 and R2 at the supports Fig 4. Now,
let us imagine that the beam is cut into two potions at the x-section AA. In a similar
manner, as done for the case of shear force, if we say that the resultant moment
about the section AA of all the loads and reactions to the left of the x-section at AA is
M in C.W direction, then moment of forces to the right of x-section AA must be ‘M' in
C.C.W. Then ‘M' is called as the Bending moment and is abbreviated as B.M. Now
one can define the bending moment to be simply as the algebraic sum of the
moments about an x-section of all the forces acting on either side of the section
Sign Conventions for the Bending Moment:
For the bending moment, following sign conventions may be adopted as indicated in
Fig 5 and Fig 6.

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 Fig 5: Positive Bending Moment

Fig 6: Negative Bending Moment

Some times, the terms ‘Sagging' and Hogging are generally used for the positive and
negative bending moments respectively.
Bending Moment and Shear Force Diagrams:
The diagrams which illustrate the variations in B.M and S.F values along the length
of the beam for any fixed loading conditions would be helpful to analyze the beam
further.

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Thus, a shear force diagram is a graphical plot, which depicts how the internal shear
force ‘F' varies along the length of beam. If x dentotes the length of the beam, then F
is function x i.e. F(x).
Similarly a bending moment diagram is a graphical plot which depicts how the
internal bending moment ‘M' varies along the length of the beam. Again M is a
function x i.e. M(x).
Basic Relationship Between The Rate of Loading, Shear Force and Bending
Moment:
The construction of the shear force diagram and bending moment diagrams is
greatly simplified if the relationship among load, shear force and bending moment is
established.
Let us consider a simply supported beam AB carrying a uniformly distributed load
w/length. Let us imagine to cut a short slice of length dx cut out from this loaded
beam at distance ‘x' from the origin ‘0'.

Let us detach this portion of the beam and draw its free body diagram.

The forces acting on the free body diagram of the detached portion of this loaded
beam are the following
• The shearing force F and F+ δF at the section x and x + δx respectively.
• The bending moment at the sections x and x + δx be M and M + dM respectively.

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• Force due to external loading, if ‘w' is the mean rate of loading per unit length then
the total loading on this slice of length δx is w. δx, which is approximately acting
through the centre ‘c'. If the loading is assumed to be uniformly distributed then it
would pass exactly through the centre ‘c'.
This small element must be in equilibrium under the action of these forces and
couples.
Now let us take the moments at the point ‘c'. Such that

Conclusions: From the above relations,the following important conclusions may be

drawn
• From Equation (1), the area of the shear force diagram between any two points,
from the basic calculus is the bending moment diagram

• The slope of bending moment diagram is the shear force, thus

Thus, if F=0; the slope of the bending moment diagram is zero and the bending
moment is therefore constant.'

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• The maximum or minimum Bending moment occurs where
The slope of the shear force diagram is equal to the magnitude of the intensity of the
distributed loading at any position along the beam. The –ve sign is as a
consequence of our particular choice of sign conventions

Procedure for drawing shear force and bending moment diagram:

Preamble:
The advantage of plotting a variation of shear force F and bending moment M in a
beam as a function of ‘x' measured from one end of the beam is that it becomes
easier to determine the maximum absolute value of shear force and bending
moment.
Further, the determination of value of M as a function of ‘x' becomes of paramount
importance so as to determine the value of deflection of beam subjected to a given
loading.
Construction of shear force and bending moment diagrams:
A shear force diagram can be constructed from the loading diagram of the beam. In
order to draw this, first the reactions must be determined always. Then the vertical
components of forces and reactions are successively summed from the left end of
the beam to preserve the mathematical sign conventions adopted. The shear at a
section is simply equal to the sum of all the vertical forces to the left of the section.
When the successive summation process is used, the shear force diagram should
end up with the previously calculated shear (reaction at right end of the beam. No
shear force acts through the beam just beyond the last vertical force or reaction. If
the shear force diagram closes in this fashion, then it gives an important check on
mathematical calculations.
The bending moment diagram is obtained by proceeding continuously along the
length of beam from the left hand end and summing up the areas of shear force
diagrams giving due regard to sign. The process of obtaining the moment diagram
from the shear force diagram by summation is exactly the same as that for drawing
shear force diagram from load diagram.

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It may also be observed that a constant shear force produces a uniform change in
the bending moment, resulting in straight line in the moment diagram. If no shear
force exists along a certain portion of a beam, then it indicates that there is no
change in moment takes place. It may also further observe that dm/dx= F therefore,
from the fundamental theorem of calculus the maximum or minimum moment occurs
where the shear is zero. In order to check the validity of the bending moment
diagram, the terminal conditions for the moment must be satisfied. If the end is free
or pinned, the computed sum must be equal to zero. If the end is built in, the moment
computed by the summation must be equal to the one calculated initially for the
reaction. These conditions must always be satisfied.
Illustrative problems:
In the following sections some illustrative problems have been discussed so as to
illustrate the procedure for drawing the shear force and bending moment diagrams
1. A cantilever of length carries a concentrated load ‘W' at its free end.
Draw shear force and bending moment.
Solution:
At a section a distance x from free end consider the forces to the left, then F = -W
(for all values of x) -ve sign means the shear force to the left of the x-section are in
downward direction and therefore negative
Taking moments about the section gives (obviously to the left of the section)
M = -Wx (-ve sign means that the moment on the left hand side of the portion is in
the anticlockwise direction and is therefore taken as –ve according to the sign
convention)
so that the maximum bending moment occurs at the fixed end i.e. M = -W l
From equilibrium consideration, the fixing moment applied at the fixed end is Wl and
the reaction is W. the shear force and bending moment are shown as,

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2. Simply supported beam subjected to a central load (i.e. load acting at the mid-
way)

By symmetry the reactions at the two supports would be W/2 and W/2. now consider
any section X-X from the left end then, the beam is under the action of following
forces.

.So the shear force at any X-section would be = W/2 [Which is constant upto x < l/2]
If we consider another section Y-Y which is beyond l/2 then

for all values greater = l/2

Hence S.F diagram can be plotted as,

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.For B.M diagram:
If we just take the moments to the left of the cross-section,

Which when plotted will give a straight relation i.e.

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It may be observed that at the point of application of load there is an abrupt change
in the shear force, at this point the B.M is maximum.
3. A cantilever beam subjected to U.d.L, draw S.F and B.M diagram.

Here the cantilever beam is subjected to a uniformly distributed load whose intensity
is given w / length.
Consider any cross-section XX which is at a distance of x from the free end. If we
just take the resultant of all the forces on the left of the X-section, then
S.Fxx = -Wx for all values of ‘x'. ---------- (1)
S.Fxx = 0
S.Fxx at x=1 = -Wl
So if we just plot the equation No. (1), then it will give a straight line relation. Bending
Moment at X-X is obtained by treating the load to the left of X-X as a concentrated
load of the same value acting through the centre of gravity.
Therefore, the bending moment at any cross-section X-X is

The above equation is a quadratic in x, when B.M is plotted against x this will
produces a parabolic variation.
The extreme values of this would be at x = 0 and x = l

Hence S.F and B.M diagram can be plotted as follows:

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4. Simply supported beam subjected to a uniformly distributed load [U.D.L].

The total load carried by the span would be

= intensity of loading x length
=wxl
By symmetry the reactions at the end supports are each wl/2
If x is the distance of the section considered from the left hand end of the beam.
S.F at any X-section X-X is

Giving a straight relation, having a slope equal to the rate of loading or intensity of
the loading.

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The bending moment at the section x is found by treating the distributed load as
acting at its centre of gravity, which at a distance of x/2 from the section

So the equation (2) when plotted against x gives rise to a parabolic curve and the
shear force and bending moment can be drawn in the following way will appear as
follows:

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