EQUILIBRIUM OF COPLANAR

5 NON-CONCURRENT
FORCE SYSTEM

SUPPORT REACTIONS
The various structural members are connected to the surroundings by various types of supports.
The structural members exert forces on supports known as action. Similarly, the supports exert
forces on structural members known as reaction.
A beam is a horizontal member, which is generally placed on supports. The beam is subjected
to vertical forces known as action. Supports exert forces, known as reaction, on the beam.

Types of Supports
The following types of supports are found in practice:
1. Simple supports
2. Roller supports
3. Hinged or pinned supports
4. Fixed supports
Simple supports
Simple supports (Figure 6.1) are those which exert reactions perpendicular to the plane of support.
They restrict translation of the body in one direction only, but do not restrict rotation.

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 Figure 6.1 Simple supports.
Roller supports
Roller supports (Figure 6.2) are those which exert reactions perpendicular to the plane of the
support. They restrict translation of the body along one direction only, and rotation is allowed.

Figure 6.2 Roller supports.

Hinged or pinned supports
Hinged supports (Figure 6.3) are those which exert reactions in any direction, but from our
convenient point of view we resolve these reactions into two components. Therefore, hinged supports
restrict translation in both directions. But rotation is possible.

Figure 6.3 Hinged supports.

Fixed supports
Fixed supports (Figure 6.4) are those which restrict both translation and rotation of the body.
Fixed supports develop an internal moment known as restraint moment to prevent the rotation of
the body.

Figure 6.4 Fixed supports.

Types of Beams
Simply supported beam
It is a beam which consists of simple supports (Figure 6.5). Such a beam can resist forces normal
to the axis of the beam.

Figure 6.5 Simply supported beam.

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Continuous beam
It is a beam which consists of three or more supports (Figure 6.6).

Figure 6.6 Continuous beam.

Cantilever beam
It is a beam whose one end is fixed and the other end is free (Figure 6.7).

Figure 6.7 Contilever beam.

Propped cantilever beam
It is a beam whose one end is fixed and the other end is simply supported (Figure 6.8).

Figure 6.8 Propped cantilever beam.

Overhanging beam
It is a beam which extends beyond support(s). In Figure 6.9, it is seen that the beam extends
beyond support B up to C. The overhang portion is BC.

Figure 6.9 Overhanging beam.

Types of Loads
Concentrated load
A load which is concentrated at a point in a beam is known as concentrated load (Figure 6.10).

Figure 6.10 Concentrated loads.

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Uniformly distributed load
A load which is distributed uniformly along the entire length of the beam is known as uniformly
distributed load (such as the load 20 kN per metre (UDL), length shown in Figure 6.11.

Figure 6.11 Uniformly distributed load.

To convert the 20 kN/m UDL into a point load which is acting at the centre of a particular
span (i.e. 3 m), we proceed as follows:
Magnitude of point load = 20 kN/m ´ 3 m = 60 kN
Uniformly varying load
A load which varies with the length of the beam is known as uniformly varying load (Figure 6.12).
The magnitude of the point load corresponding to a uniformly varying load such as that shown in
Figure 6.12, is calculated as follows:

Figure 6.12 Uniformly varying load.

1 1
Magnitude of point load = Area of the triangle = ´ base ´ height = ´ 2 ´ 2 = 2 kN
2 2
The point load acts at the centre of gravity (CG) of the triangle.

PROBLEMS ON EQUILIBRIUM OF COPLANAR NON-CONCURRENT FORCE

SYSTEM
Tips to Solve the Problems
1. In a coplanar non-concurrent force system, three conditions of equilibrium can be applied,
namely as follows:
SFx = 0, SFy = 0 and SM = 0

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 2. Draw the free body diagram of the given beam by showing all the forces and reactions
acting on the beam.
3. Apply the three conditions of equilibrium to calculate the unknown reactions at the supports.
Example 6.1 A simply supported beam of length (span) 5 m is loaded as shown in Figure 6.13.
Find the reactions at A and B.

Figure 6.13 Example 6.1.

Solution It is a coplanar non-concurrent force system, therefore, it is possible to apply three

conditions of equilibrium to calculate the reactions at the supports A and B.

Figure 6.14 Example 6.1.

SFy = 0
or RA + RB – 6 – 2 – 5 = 0
or RA + RB = 13
SMA = 0
or –RB ´ 5 + 6 ´ 2 + 2 ´ 3 + 5 ´ 4 = 0
or 5RB = 38 Þ RB = 7.6 kN Ans.
\ RA = 13 – 7.6 = 5.4 kN Ans.
Example 6.2 A simply supported beam of span 6 m is subjected to loading as shown in
Figure 6.15. Determine the reactions at A and B.

Figure 6.15 Example 6.2.

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Solution Converting the UDL of 3 kN/m over a span of 3 m into a point load, and applying the
laws of equilibrium (Figure 6.16), we get

Fy = 0
or RA + RB – 5 – 9 – 2 = 0
or RA + RB = 16
SMB = 0
or –2 ´ 1.5 – 9 ´ 3 – 5 ´ 4.5 + RA ´ 6 = 0
52.5
\ RA = = 8.75 kN Ans.
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or RB = 7.25 kN Ans.

Figure 6.16 Example 6.2.

Example 6.3 Determine the reactions at A and E for the beam shown in Figure 6.17.

Figure 6.17 Example 6.3.

Solution Converting the UDL of 20 kN/m over a span of 3 m into a point load, and applying the
laws of equilibrium (Figure 6.18), we get

Figure 6.18 Example 6.3.

SFx = 0
or RAX – 200 cos 45° = 0
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\ RAX = 141.421 kN Ans.
SFy = 0
or RE + RAY – 100 – 60 – 200 sin 45°
or RE + RAY = 301.421 (i)
SMA = 0
or –RE ´ 12 + 200 sin 45° ´ 9 + 60 ´ 4.5 + 100 ´ 3 + 100 = 0
\ RE = 161.899 kN Ans.
Substituting RE in (i), we get
161.899 + RAY = 301.421
\ RAY = 139.522 kN Ans.
Example 6.4 Determine the distance x such that RA and RB are equal, for the beam shown in
Figure 6.19. VTU (January 2007)

Figure 6.19 Example 6.4.

Solution Applying the conditions of equilibrium to calculate the value of x, we have

SFy = 0
or RA + RB – 30 – 20 – 10 – 20 = 0
or 2RA – 80 = 0
\ RA = RB = 40 kN (since RA = RB)
SMA = 0
or 20 ´ 1 + 30 ´ 2 + 20 ´ 3 – 40 ´ 7 + 10(7 + x) = 0
\ x=7m Ans.
Example 6.5 For the beam with loading shown in Figure 6.20, determine the reactions at the
supports. VTU (February 2004)

Figure 6.20 Example 6.5.

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 1
Solution tan q =
2
È 1Ø
Þ q = tan–1 ÉÊ 2 ÙÚ = 26.56°

Figure 6.21 Example 6.5.

SFx = 0
or RAX + 100 cos 45° – RD sin 26.56° = 0
or RAX – 0.477 RD = 70.71 (i)
SFy = 0
RAY + RD cos 26.56° – 100 sin 45° – 150° = 0
RAY + 0.894 ´ RD = 220.71 (ii)
SMA = 0
–5RD cos 26.56° + 150 ´ 3.5 + 100 sin 45° ´ 1 = 0
\ RD = 133.199 kN Ans.
Substituting the value of RD in (i), we get
RAX = –11.15 kN
Substituting the value of RD in (ii), we get
RAY = 101.63 kN

RA = 2
RAX  RAY
2
( 7.174)2  (101.63)2 = 101.88 kN Ans.
Example 6.6 Find the support reactions at A and B for the beam loaded as shown in Figure 6.22.
VTU (July 2006)

Figure 6.22 Example 6.6.

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Solution Using the conditions of equilibrium, we have
SFx = 0
or RAX – 3 = 0
\ RAX = 3 kN
SFy = 0
RAY + RB – 5 – 6 = 0
\ RAY + RB = 11 (i)

Figure 6.23 Example 6.6.

Also, SMA = 0
or –RB ´ 6 + 5 ´ 1 + 6 ´ 4.5 – 3 ´ 0.5 – 10
\ RB = 3.417 kN Ans.
Substituting the value of RB in (i), we get
RAY + 3.417 = 11
\ RAY = 7.583 kN
RA = 2
RAX  RAY
2
(3)2  (7.583)2
\ RA = 8.155 kN Ans.
Example 6.7 Calculate the support reactions for the cantilever beam shown in Figure 6.24.

Figure 6.24 Example 6.7.

Solution Using Figure 6.25,

SFx = 0
or RAX – 60 cos 53.13° = 0
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\ RAX = 60 cos 53.13° = 36 kN Ans.
Also, SFy = 0
or RAY – 40 – 60 sin 53.13° – 30 – 20 = 0

Figure 6.25 Example 6.7.

\ RAY = 138 kN Ans.

SMA = 0
or 40 ´ 1 + 60 sin 53.13° ´ 2 + 30 ´ 3.5 + 20 ´ 5 + MA = 0
\ MA = –341 kN-m
Our assumption is wrong.
\ The moment at A is anticlockwise in nature. Ans.
Example 6.8 Calculate the support reactions for the cantilever beam shown in Figure 6.26.

Figure 6.26 Example 6.8.

Solution First, we convert the rectangular load into point load,

Figure 6.27 Example 6.8.

Magnitude of load = Area of triangle = (1/2) ´ 2 ´ 2 = 2 kN

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 Load is acting at the CG of the triangle as shown in Figure 6.28.
Now, SFx = 0
or RAX = 80 cos 30° = 0
\ RAX = 69.282 kN Ans.

Figure 6.28 Example 6.8.

SFy = 0
or RAY – 80 sin 30° – 2 – 12 – 30 = 0
\ RAY = 84 kN Ans.
Now, SMA = 0
È2 Ø
or +80 sin 30° ´ 3 + 2 É – 2  5Ù + 12 ´ 8.5 + 30 ´ 12 + MA = 0
Ê3 Ú
\ MA = –594.667 kN-m Ans.
MA is in anticlockwise direction.
Example 6.9 Determine the reactions at the supports A and B for a beam loaded as shown in
Figure 6.29.

Figure 6.29 Example 6.9.

Solution Using the conditions of equilibrium shown in Figure 6.30, we have

SFx = 0
or 40 cos 45° – RAX = 0
\ RAX = 28.284 kN
SFy = 0
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 Figure 6.30 Example 6.9.

or RAY + RB – 40 sin 45° – 60 – 60 = 0

or RAY + RB = 148.284 (i)
Now, SMA = 0
or –RB ´ 3 + 60 ´ 1.5 + 60 ´ 2 + 50 – 40 sin 45° ´ 1 = 0
\ RB = 77.238 kN Ans.
Substituting the value of RB in (i), we get
RAY = 71.046 kN

\ RA = 2
RAX  RAY
2

RA = (28.284)2  (71.046)2 = 78.469 kN Ans.

È 71.046 Ø
ÿÿÿÿÿq = tan–1 É = 68.29° Ans.
Ê 28.284 ÙÚ

Example 6.10 Find the support reactions of the beam loaded as shown in Figure 6.31.

Figure 6.31 Example 6.10.

Solution Using the conditions of equilibrium shown in Figure 6.32, we have

Figure 6.32 Example 6.10.

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 SFx = 0
or REX – 5 cos 30° = 0
\ REX = 4.33 kN
Also, SFy = 0
or RB + REY – 3 – 12 – 5 sin 30° – 1 = 0
or RB + REY = 18.5 (i)
Also, SMB = 0
or –REY ´ 6 + 12 ´ 0.5 – 3 ´ 1 – 2 + 5 sin 30° ´ 4 + 1 ´ 6.334 = 0
\ REY = 2.889 kN
Substituting the value of REY in (i), we get
RB = 15.611 kN Ans.
RE = (4.33)2  (2.889)2 = 5.205 kN Ans.
ÈR Ø
ÿÿq = tan–1 É EY Ù
Ê REX Ú
È 2.889 Ø
\ q = tan–1 É = 33.71° Ans.
Ê 4.33 ÙÚ

Example 6.11 Find the support reactions for the beam shown in Figure 6.33.

Figure 6.33 Example 6.11.

Solution Using the equilibrium conditions shown in Figure 6.34, we have

Figure 6.34 Example 6.12.

SFx = 0
or RAX – 20 + 10 sin 30° = 0
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\ RAX = 15 kN
Also, SFy = 0
or RAY + RB – 20 – 10 cos 30° = 0
\ RAY + RB = 28.66
Also, SMA = 0
\ –20 ´ 0.5 + 10 cos 30° ´ 5 + 20 ´ 3 – RB ´ 8 = 0
\ RB = 11.663 kN Ans.
\ RAY = 28.66 – 11.663 = 16.997 kN
RAX = 15 kN
or RA = ( RAX )2  ( RAY )2

= (15)2  (16.997)2
= 22.669 kN Ans.

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