CHAPTER 6 SIMPLY SUPPORTED BEAMS

EXERCISE 40, Page 87

1. Determine the moment of a force of 25 N applied to a spanner at an effective length of 180 mm

from the centre of a nut.

Moment, M = force × distance

= 25 N × 0.18 m = 4.5 N m

2. A moment of 7.5 N m is required to turn a wheel. If a force of 37.5 N applied to the rim of the

wheel can just turn the wheel, calculate the effective distance from the rim to the hub of the

wheel.

Moment, M = force × distance

moment, M 7.5 N m
from which, distance from rim to hub = = = 0.2 m = 200 mm
force, F 37.5 N

3. Calculate the force required to produce a moment of 27 N m on a shaft, when the effective

distance from the centre of the shaft to the point of application of the force is 180 mm.

Moment, M = force × distance

moment, M 27 N m
from which, force = = = 150 N
dis tan ce, d 180 ×10−3 m

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EXERCISE 41, Page X89

1. Determine distance d and the force acting at the support A for the force system shown below,

when the system is in equilibrium.

Clockwise moment = anticlockwise moment

Hence, 2.8 × d = 1 × 140

1×140
i.e. distance, d = = 50 mm
2.8

Force at support A, R A = 1 + 2.8 = 3.8 kN

2. If the 1 kN force shown below is replaced by a force F at a distance of 250 mm to the left of R A ,

find the value of F for the system to be in equilibrium.

Clockwise moment = anticlockwise moment

Hence, if d = 50 mm from above, then

2.8 × 50 = F × 250

2.8 × 50
and force, F = = 0.56 kN = 560 N
250

3. Determine the values of the forces acting at A and B for the force system shown below.

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At equilibrium, R A + R B = 20 + 30 = 50 N (1)

Taking moments about point A gives:

clockwise moment = anticlockwise moment

Hence, 20 × 20 + 30 × 50 = R B × 76

i.e. 400 + 1500 = 76 R B

1900
from which, force acting at B, R B = = 25 N
76

From equation (1), R A + 25 = 50

from which, R A = 50 – 25 = 25 N

4. The forces acting on a beam are as shown below. Neglecting the mass of the beam, find the

value of R A and distance d when the beam is in equilibrium.

At equilibrium, R A + 60 = 40 + 25

from which, R A = 40 + 25 – 60 = 5 N

Taking moments about the 60 N force gives:

clockwise moment = anticlockwise moment

Hence, 25 × d + R A × 35 = 40 × (35 – 15)

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i.e. 25d + 5 × 35 = 40 × 20

i.e. 25d + 175 = 800

i.e. 25d = 800 - 175

800 − 175 625

from which, distance, d = = = 25 mm
25 25

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EXERCISE 42, Page 92

1. Calculate the force R A and distance d for the beam shown below. The mass of the beam should

be neglected and equilibrium conditions assumed.

At equilibrium, 0.2 + 2.7 + 0.4 = R A + 1.3

from which, R A = 0.2 + 2.7 + 0.4 – 1.3 = 2.0 kN

Taking moments about the 2.7 kN force gives:

clockwise moment = anticlockwise moment

Hence, 0.4 × (d + 15) + R A × 10 = 1.3 × d + 0.2 × (12 + 10)

i.e. 0.4d + 6 + 2.0 × 10 = 1.3d + 4.4

i.e. 0.4d + 6 + 20 = 1.3d + 4.4

i.e. 6 + 20 – 4.4 = 1.3d – 0.4d

and 21.6 = 0.9d

21.6
from which, distance, d = = 24 mm
0.9

2. For the force system shown below, find the values of F and d for the system to be in equilibrium.

At equilibrium, 1.4 + 0.7 + F = 2.3 + 0.8

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i.e. force, F = 2.3 + 0.8 – 1.4 – 0.7 = 1.0 kN

Taking moments about the 0.7 kN force gives:

clockwise moment = anticlockwise moment

Hence, F × d + 2.3 × 12 = 0.8 × (d + 5) + 1.4 × (14 + 12)

i.e. 1.0 × d + 27.6 = 0.8d + 4 + 36.4

i.e. d – 0.8d = 4 + 36.4 – 27.6

and 0.2d = 12.8

12.8
from which, distance, d = = 64 mm
0.2

3. For the force system shown below, determine distance d for the forces R A and R B to be equal,

assuming equilibrium conditions.

For equilibrium, R A + R B = 10 + 15 + 25 = 50 N

50
Hence, if R A = R B then R A = R B = = 25 N
2

Taking moments about the R A gives:

clockwise moment = anticlockwise moment

Hence, 15 × 20 + 25 × (20 + 20 + 20) = R B × (20 + 20) + 10 × d

i.e. 300 + 1500 = 25 × 40 + 10d

i.e. 1800 = 1000 + 10d

and 10d = 1800 – 1000 = 800

800
from which, distance, d = = 80 m
10

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4. A simply supported beam AB is loaded as shown below. Determine the load F in order that the

reaction at A is zero.

If R1 = 0, then taking moments about R 2 gives:

clockwise moment = anticlockwise moment

i.e. F × 2 = 16 ×2 + 10 × (2 + 2)

i.e. 2F = 32 + 40 = 72

72
from which, load, F = = 36 kN
2

5. A uniform wooden beam, 4.8 m long, is supported at its left-hand end and also at 3.2 m from the

left-hand end. The mass of the beam is equivalent to 200 N acting vertically downwards at its

centre. Determine the reactions at the supports.

The beam is shown above.

Taking moments about the left-hand support gives:

clockwise moment = anticlockwise moment

i.e. 200 × 2.4 = R B × 3.2

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 200 × 2.4
from which, RB = = 150 N
3.2

For equilibrium, R A + R B = 200

Hence, R A = 200 - R B

= 200 – 150 = 50 N

6. For the simply supported beam PQ shown below, determine (a) the reaction at each support,

(b) the maximum force which can be applied at Q without losing equilibrium.

(a) Taking moments about the left-hand support gives:

clockwise moment = anticlockwise moment

i.e. 4 × 1.5 + 6 × (1.5 + 4.0) + 5 × (1.5 + 4.0 + 1.5 + 2.0) = R 2 × (1.5 + 4.0 + 1.5)

i.e. 6 + 33 + 45 = 7 R 2

6 + 33 + 45 84
from which, R2 = = = 12 kN
7 7

For equilibrium, R1 + R 2 = 4 + 6 + 5 = 15 kN

Hence, R1 + 12 = 15

from which, R 1 = 15 – 12 = 3 kN

(b) Let the force at Q be R Q

Taking moments about R 2 gives:

clockwise moment = anticlockwise moment

i.e. R Q × 2.0 = 6 × 1.5 + 4 × 5.5

i.e. 2 R Q = 9 + 22 = 31
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 31
from which, RQ = = 15.5 kN
2

7. A uniform beam AB is 12.0 m long and is supported at distances of 2.0 m and 9.0 m from A.

Loads of 60 kN, 104 kN, 50 kN and 40 kN act vertically downwards at A, 5.0 m from A, 7.0 m

from A and at B. Neglecting the mass of the beam, determine the reactions at the supports.

The beam is shown above.

For equilibrium, R1 + R 2 = 60 + 104 + 50 + 40 = 254 kN (1)

Taking moments about A gives: clockwise moments = anticlockwise moments

i.e. 5.0 × 104 + 7.0 × 50 + 12.0 × 40 = 2.0 × R1 + 9.0 × R 2

i.e. 520 + 350 + 480 = 2 R1 + 9 R 2

i.e. 1350 = 2 R1 + 9 R 2 (2)

and from above 254 = R1 + R 2 (1)

Equation (1) × 2 gives: 508 = 2R1 + 2R 2 (3)

Equation (2) – equation (3) gives: 842 = 7R 2

842
from which, R2 = = 120.3 kN
7

From equation (1), R 1 = 254 - R 2 = 254 – 120.3 = 133.7 kN

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8. A uniform girder carrying point loads is shown below. Determine the value of load F which

causes the beam to just lift off the support B.

At equilibrium, R A + R B = F + 10 + 4 + 5

When the beam is just lifting off of the support B, then R B = 0, hence R A = (F + 19)kN.

Taking moments about the left-hand end:

clockwise moments = anticlockwise moments

i.e. (10 × 2) + (4 × 6) + (5 × 9) = (R A × 4) + (R B × 11)

i.e. 20 + 24 + 45 = (F + 19) × 4 + (0)

89
i.e. = (F + 19)
4

from which, F = 22.25 – 19 = 3.25 kN

i.e. the value of force F which causes the beam to just lift off the support B is 3.25 kN

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EXERCISE 43, Page 94

1. Determine the reactions acting on the simply supported beam shown below.

Taking moments about B:

clockwise moments = anticlockwise moments

i.e. RA × 5 + 5 = 0

Hence, 5 RA = - 5

and R A = - 1 kN

Resolving vertically:

upward forces = downward forces

i.e. RA+ RB= 0

i.e. R B = - R A = - (- 1) = 1 kN

2. Determine the reactions acting on the simply supported beam shown below.

Taking moments about B:

clockwise moments = anticlockwise moments

i.e. RA × 5 + 5 = 0

Hence, 5 RA = - 5

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and R A = - 1 kN

Resolving vertically:

upward forces = downward forces

i.e. RA+ RB= 0

i.e. R B = - R A = - (- 1) = 1 kN

3. Determine the reactions acting on the simply supported beam shown below.

Resolving vertically:

upward forces = downward forces

i.e. RA+ RB= 0

i.e. RB= - RA

Taking moments about B:

clockwise moments = anticlockwise moments

i.e. R A × 8 + 10 = 6 + 12

Hence, 8 R A = 6 + 12 – 10 = 8

and R A = 1 kN

Also, R B = - R A = - 1 kN

4. Determine the reactions acting on the simply supported beam shown below.

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Resolving vertically:

upward forces = downward forces

i.e. RA+ RB= 0

i.e. RA= - RB

Taking moments about R A :

clockwise moments = anticlockwise moments

i.e. 10 = R B × 5 + 10

Hence, 5 RB = 0

and RB = 0

Also, RA= - RB = 0

5. Determine the reactions acting on the simply supported beam shown below.

Taking moments about R B :

clockwise moments = anticlockwise moments

i.e. 10 + R A × 3 = 10

Hence, 3 RA = 0

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and RA = 0

Resolving vertically:

upward forces = downward forces

i.e. RA+ RB= 0

i.e. RB = - RA = 0

6. Determine the reactions acting on the simply supported beam shown below.

Resolving vertically:

upward forces = downward forces

i.e. RA+ RB= 8

i.e. RB= 8 - RA

Taking moments about R B :

clockwise moments = anticlockwise moments

i.e. R A × 6 = 8 × 4 + 10

Hence, 6 R A = 32 + 10 = 42

and R A = 7 kN

Also, R B = 8 - R A = 8 – 7 = 1 kN

7. Determine the reactions acting on the simply supported beam shown below.

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Resolving vertically:

upward forces = downward forces

i.e. RA+ RB= 0

i.e. RB= - RA

Taking moments about R B :

clockwise moments = anticlockwise moments

i.e. R A × 6 + 12 = 10

Hence, 6 R A = 10 - 12 = - 2

1
and RA = − kN = - 333.3 N
3

Also, R B = - R A = 333.3 N

EXERCISE 44, Page 95

Answers found from within the text of the chapter, pages 86 to 94.

EXERCISE 45, Page 95

1. (a) 2. (c) 3. (a) 4. (d) 5. (a) 6. (d) 7. (c) 8. (a) 9. (d) 10. (c) 11. (c)

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