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