Distributed Loading

What is a Distributed Load?

• A load applied across

a length or area
instead of at one
point
Analyzing Distributed Loads

• A distributed load
can be equated with
a concentrated load
applied at a specific
point along the bar
Geometry Method
10 kN/m
• The magnitude of the
resultant force is
equivalent to the
1m 3m 2m
area under the curve
of the distributed
load F r  b * h  10 kN * 3m
m
F r  30 kN
Geometry Method
10 kN/m

• The location of the

1m 3m 2m
resultant force is at
the center of mass of
the distributed load.
30 kN
1 1
x  x0  b  1m  * 3m
2 2
x  2 .5 m 2.5 m
Geometry Method – Example
5 kN/m
• For a triangular
distributed load, the
magnitude of the
4m 4m
resultant force is the
area of the triangle, 1
½*b*h Fr  b * h  . 5 * 5 kN * 4m
2 m
F r  10 kN
Geometry Method – Example
5 kN/m
• For a triangular
distributed load, the
location of the
4m 4m
resultant force is 1/3
of the length of the
load, from the larger
10 kN
end 1 1
x  x0  b  0m  * 4m
3 3
x  4 m 1.33 m
3
Integral Method
1
w( x)  x 2

• The magnitude of the

resultant force is
given by the integral 5m 2m

of the curve defining 5m 5m

Fr   w ( x ) dx  
1/ 2
x dx
x0 x0
the force, w(x)
2 3
Fr  2 5m
[x ]0
3
F r  7 . 45 kN
Integral Method
1
w( x)  x 2
kN / m

• The location of the

resultant force is
given by the centroid
of the area under the 5m 2m

curve
L 5m 3

 
2
w ( x ) xdx x dx
x  0
L
 0

 w ( x ) dx 7 . 45 7.45 kN
0

2 5
x  2 5m
[x ]0
5 * 7 . 45
3m
x  3 .0 m
Integral Method – Example
• For a vertical bar,
simply integrate with
respect to y instead
of x
5m 5m
5m
Fr   w ( y ) dy  
2
y dy w ( y )  y kN / m
2
y0 y0

1
Fr 
3 5m
[ y ]0
3 2m
F r  41 . 7 kN
Integral Method – Example
• For a vertical bar,
simply integrate with
respect to y instead
of x
L 5m 3.75 m
 
3
w ( y ) ydy y dy
y  0
L
 0

 w ( y ) dy 41 . 7 41.7 kN
0

1
y 
4 5m
[ y ]0
4 * 41 . 7
y  3 . 75 m
References
• Vector Mechanics for Engineers: Statics (Beer, 9th
ed)
• Distributed Load on Beams
• www.engr.uky.edu/statics/Content/Chapter.../Chapter%205%20D.
doc
• Resolving Distributed Loads
• http://pages.uoregon.edu/struct/courseware/461/461_lectures/
461_lecture20/461_lecture20.html
• Distributed Load on a Beam (Centroid)
• http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K4ocb9KwPjo