Strength of Materials Arz Yahya, PH.D.

CHAPTER 6 BENDING
1. SHEAR AND MOMENT DIAGRAM
A Beam is a member that is slender and support loadings that are applied to its longitudinal
axis.
Beams are considered as one of the most important structural elements.
• Beams support: Floors, bridges, wing of an aircraft, axle of a car, boom of a crane
• A beam is a structure that carries transverse loads. This means that a cross section will carry
a shear force and a bending moment.

Why do we need to know shear force and bending moment in a beam?

• The design of a beam requires a detailed knowledge of the variation of the internal shear
force V and bending moment M acting at each point along the axis of the beam.
• After the shear force and bending-moment analysis is done, the theory of mechanics of
materials and an appropriate engineering design code can be used to determine the beam’s
required cross-sectional area.
How to obtain a relation between V and M in terms of x?
• The variations of V and M in terms of the position x along the beam’s axis are obtained
using the method of sections. To apply this method we section the beam at an arbitrary
distance x from one end rather than at a specified point.
• The plots will show graphical variations of V and M as functions of x and are named shear
diagram and bending-moment diagram.
Strength of Materials Arz Yahya, PH.D.
Sign Convention
The choice of a sign convention is arbitrary. However, we will adopt the following
convention:
• Normal force (N) will be considered positive when
generates tension.
• Shear force (V) will be considered positive when causes
the beam segment where it acts to rotate clockwise.
• Bending moment (M) will be considered positive when
the segment on which it acts tends to bend in a concave
upward manner. A positive bending moment creates
compression at the top of the beam and tension at the
bottom of the beam.

One way to plot these quantities is by using the method of sections to find V and M as
functions of length.
Procedures for Constructing Shear and Moment Diagram:
• First, draw FBD for the entire beam and the equilibrium equations are used to calculate the
reaction forces.
• It is necessary to recognize that V and M may not be able to be represented as a single
function over the entire length. In this case, the beam must first be divided into sections
where V and M can be represented by single functions. This occurs between points of
concentrated force or moment, supports, or a change in the functional representation of a
distributed load.
• Then, using the method of sections, interior cuts are made for each section at an arbitrary
distance x measured from the left hand end of the beam.
• Next, the FBD of each part of the beam is drawn assuming V and M in their positive
directions and apply equilibrium equations to determine functions for V and M in terms of x.
• Then the functions obtained are plotted.
Strength of Materials Arz Yahya, PH.D.
Example 1: Draw the shear and moment diagrams for the beam shown in Figure.

Example 2: Draw the shear and moment diagrams for the beam shown in Figure.

Example 3: Draw the shear and moment diagrams for the beam shown in Figure.

Example 4: Draw the shear and moment diagrams for the beam shown in Figure.
Strength of Materials Arz Yahya, PH.D.
2. GRAPHICAL METHOD FOR CONSTRUCTING MOMENT AND SHEAR
DIAGRAM
When a beam is subjected to several different loadings, the construction of the shear force
and bending moment diagrams can be quite involving.
2.1. Regions of Distributed Load
By using the differential relation that exists between distributed load and shear, and between
shear and moment, the construction of the shear and moment diagrams can be simplified.

If Δx is very small such that the term containing Δx2 can be neglected when compared to
the other terms: V Δx = ΔM
Strength of Materials Arz Yahya, PH.D.
These equations are valid in regions of distributed load (between concentrated forces and
moments).
By integrating:

The following expressions are obtained:

That is, the shear at some point x2 equals the shear at the starting point x1 plus the area under
the distributed load curve between the two points.

That is, the moment at a point x2 equals the moment at the starting point x1 plus the area
under the shear diagram between the two points.

2.2. Regions of Concentrated Force and Moment

• At points of concentrated forces, a discontinuity in the shear diagram in the same direction
as the force occurs, the magnitude of this discontinuity is equal to the concentrated force.

• At points of concentrated moments, a discontinuity in the moment diagram occurs, the

magnitude of the discontinuity is equal to the magnitude of the concentrated moment.
Strength of Materials Arz Yahya, PH.D.
• The direction of the jump is up when the moment is clockwise and down when
counterclockwise.

Thus, the procedure for graphically constructing shear and moment diagrams can be
summarized as follows:
1. Draw a free body diagram of the beam and use equilibrium to determine the reaction
forces.
2. Draw the shear diagram using the following rules:
a. Start at the left end (x = 0)
b. When a concentrated force appears, follow the force. That is jump in the direction of the
force with a magnitude equal to the magnitude of the force.
c. Between concentrated forces, apply: V2 = V1 +∫w(x) dx to find the shear at the end of the
section
d. Then apply dV/dx = w(x) to draw the line over the section.
3. Draw the moment diagram by following these steps:
a. Start at the left end.
b. When a concentrated moment appears, a jump up is drawn if the moment is clockwise or
down if the moment is counterclockwise. The magnitude of the discontinuity is equal to the
magnitude of the moment.
c. Between concentrated moments, apply: M2 = M1 +∫V(x) dx to find the moment at the end of
a section.
d. Then apply dM/dx = V(x) to draw the line over the section.
Notes:
1. Both diagrams must return to zero at the right end of the beam. If one of them does not,
then a mistake has been made. For example, an area may have been calculated incorrectly or
the reactions may be wrong.
2. The maximum moment will occur at an end or where dM/dx = V = 0. Therefore, it is
necessary to determine M at all places where V = 0.
3. If w(x) is a curve of degree n, V(x) will be a curve of degree n + 1 and M(x) will be a curve
of degree n + 2. For example, if w(x) is uniform, V(x) will be linear and M(x) will be
parabolic.
Strength of Materials Arz Yahya, PH.D.
Example 5: Draw the shear and moment diagrams for the beam shown in Figure.

Example 6: Draw the shear and moment diagrams for the beam shown in Figure.

Example 7: Draw the shear and moment diagrams for each of beams shown in Figures.

Example 8: Draw the shear and moment diagrams for the cantilever beam shown in Figure.

Example 9: Draw the shear and moment diagrams for the cantilever beam shown in Figure.

Example 10: The shaft in Figure is supported by a thrust bearing at A and a journal bearing
at B. Draw the shear and moment diagrams.
Strength of Materials Arz Yahya, PH.D.
Sheet No. 1

Q 1: Draw the shear and moment diagrams for

the beam.

Q 2: Draw the shear and moment diagrams for the

cantilever beam.

Q 3: Draw the shear and moment diagrams for

the overhang beam.

Q 4: If the force applied to the handle of the load binder is 50 lb,

determine the tensions T1 and T2 in each end of the chain and
then draw the shear and moment diagrams for the arm ABC.

Q 5: Members ABC and BD of the counter chair are

rigidly connected at B and the smooth collar at D is
allowed to move freely along the vertical post. Draw the
shear and moment diagrams for member ABC.

Q 6: Draw the shear and moment diagrams for the

figures below.