Third Edition

CHAPTER

MECHANICS OF
MATERIALS
Ferdinand P. Beer
E. Russell Johnston, Jr.
John T. DeWolf
Lecture Notes:
J. Walt Oler
Texas Tech University

Analysis and Design

of Beams for Bending

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Analysis and Design of Beams for Bending

Introduction
Shear and Bending Moment Diagrams
Sample Problem 5.1
Sample Problem 5.2
Relations Among Load, Shear, and Bending Moment
Sample Problem 5.3
Sample Problem 5.5
Design of Prismatic Beams for Bending
Sample Problem 5.8

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Introduction
Objective - Analysis and design of beams
Beams - structural members supporting loads at
various points along the member
Transverse loadings of beams are classified as
concentrated loads or distributed loads
Applied loads result in internal forces
consisting of a shear force (from the shear stress
distribution) and a bending couple (from the
normal stress distribution)
Normal stress is often the critical design criteria
x

My
I

Mc M

I
S

Requires determination of the location and

magnitude of largest bending moment
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MECHANICS OF MATERIALS
Introduction
Classification of Beam Supports

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Beer Johnston DeWolf

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Shear and Bending Moment Diagrams

Determination of maximum normal and
shearing stresses requires identification of
maximum internal shear force and bending
couple.
Shear force and bending couple at a point are
determined by passing a section through the
beam and applying an equilibrium analysis
on the beam portions on either side of the
section.
Sign conventions for shear forces V and V
and bending couples M and M

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Sample Problem 5.1

SOLUTION:
Treating the entire beam as a rigid
body, determine the reaction forces

For the timber beam and loading

shown, draw the shear and bendmoment diagrams and determine the
maximum normal stress due to
bending.

Section the beam at points near

supports and load application points.
Apply equilibrium analyses on
resulting free-bodies to determine
internal shear forces and bending
couples
Identify the maximum shear and
bending-moment from plots of their
distributions.
Apply the elastic flexure formulas to
determine the corresponding
maximum normal stress.

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Sample Problem 5.1

SOLUTION:
Treating the entire beam as a rigid body, determine
the reaction forces
from Fy 0 M B : RB 40 kN

RD 14 kN

Section the beam and apply equilibrium analyses

on resulting free-bodies
Fy 0

20 kN V1 0

V1 20 kN

M1 0

20 kN 0 m M1 0

M1 0

Fy 0

20 kN V2 0

V2 20 kN

M2 0

20 kN 2.5 m M 2 0

M 2 50 kN m

V3 26 kN

M 3 50 kN m

V4 26 kN M 4 28 kN m
V5 14 kN

M 5 28 kN m

V6 14 kN M 6 0
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Sample Problem 5.1

Identify the maximum shear and bendingmoment from plots of their distributions.
Vm 26 kN M m M B 50 kN m

Apply the elastic flexure formulas to

determine the corresponding
maximum normal stress.
S 16 b h 2 16 0.080 m 0.250 m 2
833.33 10 6 m3
MB
50 103 N m
m

S
833.33 10 6 m3

m 60.0 106 Pa

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Sample Problem 5.2

SOLUTION:
Replace the 10 kip load with an
equivalent force-couple system at D.
Find the reactions at B by considering
the beam as a rigid body.
Section the beam at points near the
support and load application points.
Apply equilibrium analyses on
The structure shown is constructed of a
resulting free-bodies to determine
W10x112 rolled-steel beam. (a) Draw
internal shear forces and bending
the shear and bending-moment diagrams
couples.
for the beam and the given loading. (b)
determine normal stress in sections just
Apply the elastic flexure formulas to
to the right and left of point D.
determine the maximum normal
stress to the left and right of point D.

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Sample Problem 5.2

SOLUTION:
Replace the 10 kip load with equivalent
force-couple system at D. Find reactions at
B.
Section the beam and apply equilibrium
analyses on resulting free-bodies.
From A to C :
Fy 0 3 x V 0
M1 0

3x 12 x M

From C to D :
Fy 0 24 V 0

V 3x kips
0 M 1.5 x 2 kip ft

V 24 kips

M 2 0 24 x 4 M 0 M 96 24 x kip ft
From D to B :
V 34 kips

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M 226 34 x kip ft

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Sample Problem 5.2

Apply the elastic flexure formulas to
determine the maximum normal stress to
the left and right of point D.
From Appendix C for a W10x112 rolled
steel shape, S = 126 in3 about the X-X axis.
To the left of D :
M 2016 kip in

S
126 in 3
To the right of D :

M 1776 kip in

S
126 in 3

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m 16.0 ksi

m 14.1 ksi

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Relations Among Load, Shear, and Bending Moment

Relationship between load and shear:
Fy 0 : V V V w x 0
V w x
dV
w
dx
xD

VD VC w dx
xC

Relationship between shear and bending

moment:
M C 0 :

M M M V x wx x 0
M V x 12 w x
dM
0
dx
xD

M D M C V dx
xC

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Sample Problem 5.3

SOLUTION:
Taking the entire beam as a free body,
determine the reactions at A and D.
Apply the relationship between shear and
load to develop the shear diagram.
Draw the shear and bending
moment diagrams for the beam
and loading shown.

Apply the relationship between bending

moment and shear to develop the bending
moment diagram.

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Sample Problem 5.3

SOLUTION:
Taking the entire beam as a free body, determine the
reactions at A and D.
MA 0
0 D 24 ft 20 kips 6 ft 12 kips 14 ft 12 kips 28 ft
D 26 kips
Fy 0
0 Ay 20 kips 12 kips 26 kips 12 kips
Ay 18 kips

Apply the relationship between shear and load to

develop the shear diagram.
dV
w
dx

dV w dx

- zero slope between concentrated loads

- linear variation over uniform load segment
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Sample Problem 5.3

Apply the relationship between bending
moment and shear to develop the bending
moment diagram.
dM
V
dx

dM V dx

- bending moment at A and E is zero

- bending moment variation between A, B,
C and D is linear
- bending moment variation between D
and E is quadratic
- net change in bending moment is equal to
areas under shear distribution segments
- total of all bending moment changes across
the beam should be zero
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Sample Problem 5.5

SOLUTION:
Taking the entire beam as a free body,
determine the reactions at C.
Apply the relationship between shear
and load to develop the shear diagram.
Draw the shear and bending moment
diagrams for the beam and loading
shown.

Apply the relationship between

bending moment and shear to develop
the bending moment diagram.

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Sample Problem 5.5

SOLUTION:
Taking the entire beam as a free body,
determine the reactions at C.
Fy 0 12 w0 a RC
a

M C 0 12 w0 a L M C
3

RC 12 w0 a

M C 12 w0 a L
3

Results from integration of the load and shear

distributions should be equivalent.
Apply the relationship between shear and load
to develop the shear diagram.
a

x
x

VB V A w0 1 dx w0 x

a
2a

0
VB 12 w0 a area under load curve

- No change in shear between B and C.

- Compatible with free body analysis
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Sample Problem 5.5

Apply the relationship between bending moment
and shear to develop the bending moment
diagram.
a

x
M B M A w0 x dx

2a

M B 13 w0 a 2
L

M B M C 12 w0 a dx 12 w0 a L a
a

a w0
a
M C 16 w0 a 3L a
L
2
3

Results at C are compatible with free-body

analysis

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x 2 x3
w0

2 6a

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Design of Prismatic Beams for Bending

The largest normal stress is found at the surface where the
maximum bending moment occurs.
M max c M max
m

I
S

A safe design requires that the maximum normal stress be

less than the allowable stress for the material used. This
criteria leads to the determination of the minimum
acceptable section modulus.
m all
S min

M max
all

Among beam section choices which have an acceptable

section modulus, the one with the smallest weight per unit
length or cross sectional area will be the least expensive
and the best choice.
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Sample Problem 5.8

SOLUTION:
Considering the entire beam as a freebody, determine the reactions at A and
D.
A simply supported steel beam is to
carry the distributed and concentrated
loads shown. Knowing that the
allowable normal stress for the grade
of steel to be used is 160 MPa, select
the wide-flange shape that should be
used.

Develop the shear diagram for the

beam and load distribution. From the
diagram, determine the maximum
bending moment.
Determine the minimum acceptable
beam section modulus. Choose the
best standard section which meets this
criteria.

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Sample Problem 5.8

Considering the entire beam as a free-body,
determine the reactions at A and D.

M A 0 D 5 m 60 kN 1.5 m 50 kN 4 m
D 58.0 kN
Fy 0 Ay 58.0 kN 60 kN 50 kN
Ay 52.0 kN

Develop the shear diagram and determine the

maximum bending moment.
V A Ay 52.0 kN
VB V A area under load curve 60 kN
VB 8 kN

Maximum bending moment occurs at

V = 0 or x = 2.6 m.
M max area under shear curve, A to E
67.6 kN
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Sample Problem 5.8

Determine the minimum acceptable beam
section modulus.
M max 67.6 kN m
S min

all
160 MPa
422.5 10 6 m3 422.5 103 mm3

Choose the best standard section which meets

this criteria.
Shape

S , mm3

W410 38.8

637

W360 32.9

474

W310 38.7

549

W250 44.8

535

W200 46.1

448

W 360 32.9

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