CHAPTER 6

EXTERNAL AND INTERNAL ACTIONS

ON BEAMS

Habtamu E.
2023
 5. BEAMS… 1
Types of beams
 Beams supported so that their external support reactions can be calculated by the methods
of statics alone are called statically determinate beams.
 A beam which has more supports than needed to provide equilibrium is statically
indeterminate. To determine the support reactions for such a beam we must consider its
load-deformation properties in addition to the equations of static equilibrium.

Simply supported beams

(simple beams)

Overhanging beam

Compound beam
 A. Determining external effects 2

 Beams may also be identified by the type of external loading they support.
Resultant load R is represented
Beams supporting by the area formed by the
• Concentrated loads intensity w (force per unit length
of beam) and the length L over
• Distributed loads which the force is distributed.
 Uniform: constant load intensity, w The resultant passes through the
centroid of this area.

 Linearly varying The trapezoidal area is broken

into a rectangular and a
triangular area, and the
corresponding resultants R1
 Trapezoidal and R2 of these subareas are
determined separately.
A. Determining external effects… 3

 For a more general load distribution

 we must start with a differential increment of force
dR =w dx. The total load R is then the sum of the
differential forces, or

 The resultant R is located at the centroid of the

area under consideration. The x-coordinate of this
centroid is found by the principle of moments

 Once the distributed loads have been reduced to their equivalent concentrated loads,
the external reactions acting on the beam may be found by a straightforward static
analysis
 A. Determining external effects... 4
Example 1: Determine the reactions at A and B for the beam subjected to a combination of
distributed and point loads.
R1=(2kN/m)*1.8m/2= 1.8kN
R2=(2kN/m)*1.2m/2= 1.2kN

1.8kN 1.2kN
1.3kN
1.0m 2.6m 1.2m
AX 0.75kN

Ay By
ΣMA=0, By*4.8 – 1.3*3.6 - 1.2*1 =0
By=1.23 kN
ΣFx=0, Ax – 0.75=0 ΣFy=0, Ay + 1.23- 2 - 1.2 -1.3=0
Ax=0.75kN Ay=3.07 KN
 B. Determining internal effects 5

 In this article we introduce internal beam effects and apply principles of statics to
calculate the internal shear force and bending moment as functions of location along the
beam.
 Shear, Bending, and Torsion
• In addition to supporting tension or compression, a beam can resist shear, bending, and
torsion.
• These three effects are illustrated in Figures below. The force V is called the shear
force, the couple M is called the bending moment, and the couple T is called a torsional
moment.
• These effects represent the vector components of the resultant of the forces acting on a
transverse section of the beam as shown in the right figure.
 B. Determining internal effects … 6

 From the principle of action and reaction

we can see that the directions of shear V
and bending moment M are reversed on
the two sections. It is frequently
impossible to tell without calculation
whether the shear and moment at a
particular section are positive or
negative.
 For this reason it is advisable to
represent V and M in their positive
directions on the free-body diagrams
and let the algebraic signs of the
calculated values indicate the proper
directions.
Shear and moment diagrams 7
Example 2: Determine the shear and moment distributions produced
in the simple beam by the 4-kN concentrated load.
Solution: 1st using FBD of entire system determine external or
support reactions
2
1

x
x

FBD of Section 1
A section of the beam of length x is next isolated with its FBD on which we show the shear
V and the bending moment M in their positive directions. Equilibrium gives

These values of V and M apply to all sections of the beam to the left of the 4-kN load.
 Shear and moment diagrams… 8
Solution: continued…
A section of the beam to the right of the 4-kN load is next isolated with FBD on which V and
M are shown in their positive directions. Equilibrium requires
FBD of Section 2

These results apply only to sections of the beam to the right of the 4-kN load.
The values of V and M are plotted as shown.

The maximum bending moment occurs where

the shear changes direction. As we move in
the positive x-direction starting with x = 0, we
see that the moment M is merely the
accumulated area under the shear diagram.
 READING ASSIGNMENT 9
Shear and moment diagrams…
Example 2: Construct the shear and moment diagrams for the beam loaded as shown

2 kN
1 kN/m
2 kNm

2m 2m 1m 1m 2m
A B
Solution:
i) Analyze the beam externally (i.e determine support reactions )
• 2 kN
Free body diagram 1 kN/m
2 kNm
AX
Ay
2m 2m 1m 1m 2m By

• Substitute the distributed force by its equivalent concentrated force at its centroid
1 kN/m)*2m/2= (1 kN/m)*2m=
1kN 2kN 2 kN
2 kNm
AX
Ay 0.67 m
1.33 m 1m 1m 1m 1m 2m By

By considering the beam as it is under state of equilibrium, we can solve the unknowns through equations of
equilibrium
 10
Shear and bending moment diagrams…
Example 2: Solution…
 ∑Fx=0, Assume as positive, hence Ax+0=0, Ax=0
 ∑MA=0, Assume CCW as positive moment, Thus
By*8m-1kN*1.33m-2kN*3m-2kNm-2kN*6m=0; By=2.67kN ( )
 ∑Fy=0, Assume as positive, thus Ay+By-1kN-2kN-2kN=0,
Ay+By=5kN
by substituting the value of By=2.67 kN, then Ay=2.33kN ( )
ii) Analyze the beam internally (i.e determine internal actions such as shear and bending moment )

• Free body diagram this time including values of support reactions

1 2 2 kN
3 4 5
1 kN/m
2 kNm

1 2 3 4 5
2m 2m 1m 1m 2m
2.33kN 2.67kN

• Decide on the number of segments to be analyzed. (i.e the number of sections to cut the beam )
 Show the representative sections on the above free body diagram
(0≤ X ≤2)…by section 1---1 where x: distance on the beam as it is measured from left end.
(2≤X ≤4)…by section 2---2
(4≤ X ≤5)…by section 3---3
(5≤ X ≤6)…by section 4---4
(6≤ X ≤8)…by section 5---5
 11
Shear and moment diagrams…
Example 2: solution …

 Analysis of beam segment (0< X ≤2)

• Free body diagram of LHS of section 1---1

w (kN/m)

V M

2.33kN
x

1 • From triangle similarity, w/1=x/2 ; Thus w=(x/2)kN/m.

w
• Its equivalent concentrated force =w*x/2
x =(x/2)*(x/2)=x2/4
2 Which is to be located 2x/3 from left end

X2/4 kN • Now it is easy to write equilibrium equation

 From
∑Fy=0, Assume as positive, thus
V M 2.33-x2/4-V=0, V=2.33- x2/4; When x=0, V=2.33 kN
2x/3 x/3
When X=2, V=2.33- 22/4=1.33kN
2.33kN x ∑MA=0, Assume CCW as positive moment, thus

M-2.33*x+(x2/4)*x/3=0; M=2.33x-x3/12
When x=0, M=2.33*0-03/12=0
When X=2, M=2.33*2- 23/12=4kN
 2
Shear and moment diagrams…
Example 2: solution …

 Analysis of beam segment (2≤ X ≤4)

• Free body diagram of LHS of section 2---2 (1kN/m)*(x-2)=1(X-2) kN
(1kN/m)*2m=1 kN
1 (kN/m)

M V M
V
1.33m 0.67m
2m x-2
x-2 2.33kN
2.33kN x
x

• Now it is easy to write equilibrium equation

 From
∑Fy=0, Assume as positive, thus
2.33-1-1(x-2)-V=0, V=2.33-1-(x-2); V=1.33 - (x-2);
When x=2, V=1.33 kN
When X=4, V=1.33 - (4-2)=-0.67kN

∑MA=0, Assume CCW as positive moment, thus

M-2.33*x+1*(x-1.33)+1(x-2)*(x-2)/2=0;
M=2.33x-(x-1.33)-(x-2)*(x-2)/2
When x=2, M=2.33*2-(2-1.33)-(2-2)*(2-2)/2=4kNm
When X=4, M=2.33*4-(4-1.33)-(4-2)*(4-2)/2=4.65kNm
 13
Shear and moment diagrams…
Example 2: solution …
 Analysis of beam segment (4≤ X <5)
• Free body diagram of LHS of section 3---3. RHS of this and other sections afterwards may be easy. But lets use LHS
for all of them. You can check by using RHS
(1kN/m)*(2m)=2 kN

1 (kN/m) (1kN/m)*2m=1 kN
M
M

1.33m 0.67m 1m x-3

2m V V
2m 2.33kN
2.33kN
x
x

• Now it is easy to write equilibrium equation

 From
∑Fy=0, Assume as positive, thus
2.33-1-2-V=0, V=2.33-1-2=-0.67kN
(Shear force is constant throughout this segment);
When x=4, V=-0.67 kN
When X=5, V=-0.67kN
∑MA=0, Assume CCW as positive moment, thus

M-2.33*x+1*(x-1.33)+2(x-3)=0;
M=2.33x-(x-1.33)-2(x-3)
When x=4, M=2.33*4-(4-1.33)-2(4-3)=4.65kNm
When X=5, M=2.33*5-(5-1.33)-2(5-3)=3.98kNm
 14
Shear and moment diagrams…
Example 2: solution …

 Analysis of beam segment (5< X <6)

• Free body diagram of LHS of section 4---4. (1kN/m)*(2m)=2 kN
(1kN/m)*2m=1 kN
1 (kN/m)
2kNm M
M

1.33m 0.67m 1m x-3

2m V
2m V 2.33kN
2.33kN
x
x

• Now using equilibrium equation

 From
∑Fy=0, Assume as positive, thus
2.33-1-2-V=0, V=2.33-1-2=-0.67kN
(Shear force is constant throughout this segment);
When x=4, V=-0.67 kN
When X=5, V=-0.67kN
∑MA=0, Assume CCW as positive moment, thus

M-2.33*x+1*(x-1.33)+2(x-3)-2=0;
M=2.33x-(x-1.33)-2(x-3)+2
When x=5, M=2.33*5-(5-1.33)-2(5-3)+2=5.98kNm
When X=6, M=2.33*6-(6-1.33)-2(6-3)+2=5.31kNm
 15
Shear and moment diagrams…
Example 2: solution …

 Analysis of beam segment (6< X <8)

• Free body diagram of LHS of section 5---5
1 (kN/m) 2 kN

2kNm M

2m 2m 1m 1m
2.33kN V
x
2 kN
1 kN 2 kN

2kNm M

1.33m 0.67m 1m 1m 1m 1m
V
2.33kN
x

• Now using equilibrium equation

 From ∑Fy=0, Assume as positive, thus 2.33-1-2-2-V=0, V=2.33-1-2-2=-2.67kN
(Shear force is constant throughout this segment);
When x=6, V=-2.67 kN
When X=8, V=-2.67kN
∑MA=0, Assume CCW as positive moment, thus
M-2.33*x+1*(x-1.33)+2(x-3)-2+2(x-6)=0;
M=2.33x-(x-1.33)-2(x-3)-2(x-6)+2 When x=6, M=2.33*6-(6-1.33)-2(6-3)-2(6-6)+2=5.31kNm
When X=8, M=2.33*8-(8-1.33)-2(8-3)-2(8-6)+2=0kNm
 16
Shear and moment diagrams…
Example 2: solution …

iii) Draw diagrams

2 kN
 Force diagram 1 kN/m
2 kNm

2m 2m 1m 1m 2m
2.33kN 2.67kN
 Shear force diagram 2.33

1.33
+ve
V(kN)

-0.67
-ve

5.98
 Bending moment diagram -2.67

4.65
4

3.98

5.31
M(kNm)

+ve
0
-ve
 17
Shear and moment diagrams…
Example 2: Solution …
iv) Determine the minimum and maximum moment
The location of minimum and maximum moment corresponds to the location where shear
force is zero. Thus, look at the shear force diagram and identify the segment. After this use
the segment`s equation of shear to be equal to zero.
i.e in this case segment two(2≤x≤4) with equations
 V=1.33-(x-2)
 M=2.33x-(x-1.33)-(x-2)*(x-2)/2
@ M max, , V=0 hence 1.33-(x-2)=0 , x=3.33m from left is the location
Where shear force is zero and corresponding maximum moment in this segement.
Substituting x=3.33m in the moment equation gives the maximum moment as
Mmax=2.33*3.33-(3.33-1.33)-(3.33-2)*(3.33-2)/2
=7.76-2-0.88; Mmax=4.88kNm in segment two. But look at the BMD, due
to presence of CW concentrated moment at X=3, The BMD rises by that amount resulting in
the maximum moment through out the beam. Thus Mmax=5.98 kNm
Mmin=0 by inspection, at the both in ends of the beam
 18
Determining external effects…
Exercise

1. Calculate the support reactions at A and B for the

beam subjected to the two linearly varying load
distributions

2. A cantilever beam supports the variable load

shown. Calculate the supporting force RA and
moment MA at A
 19
Shear and moment diagrams…

3. Construct the shear and moment diagrams for the beam loaded by the 2-kN force and
the 1.6-kN m couple. State the value of the bending moment at point B.

4. Plot the shear and moment diagrams for the beam loaded with both the distributed and point loads. What
are the values of the shear and moment
at Determine the maximum bending moment, M max