Topic 4.

FORCE LAWS

MECHANICS OF STRUCTURES
Academic year 2019/20

Topic 4
FORCE LAWS (I)

• CONCEPT OF INTERNAL FORCE

• TYPES OF INTERNAL FORCES

• DETERMINATION OF INTERNAL FORCES IN BEAMS

• RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN LOAD, SHEAR FORCE, AND BENDING

MOMENT
 Topic 4. FORCE LAWS

MECHANICS OF STRUCTURES
Academic year 2019/20

Topic 4
FORCE LAWS (I)

• CONCEPT OF INTERNAL FORCE

• TYPES OF INTERNAL FORCES

• DETERMINATION OF INTERNAL FORCES IN BEAMS

• RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN LOAD, SHEAR FORCE, AND BENDING

MOMENT
 Topic 4. FORCE LAWS

CONCEPT OF INTERNAL FORCE

A bar subjected to a force system in equilibrium:

F1 F2

Ra Rb

EQUATIONS OF EQUILIBRIUM:

F = 0
M = 0
 Topic 4. FORCE LAWS

CONCEPT OF INTERNAL FORCE

A bar subjected to a force system in equilibrium:

The bar is cut by the plane P.

F1 F2

Ra Rb
P
Section S
 Topic 4. FORCE LAWS

CONCEPT OF INTERNAL FORCE

A bar subjected to a force system in equilibrium:

The bar is cut by the plane P.

F1 F2

Ra Rb
P
Section S

F1 F2

No equilibrium
S

Ra Rb
 Topic 4. FORCE LAWS

CONCEPT OF INTERNAL FORCE

A bar subjected to a force system in equilibrium:

The bar is cut by the plane P.

F1 F2

Ra Rb
P
Section S

F1 F2

Fb,a
Fb,a=-Fb,a
S

Ra Fa,b
Rb
 Topic 4. FORCE LAWS

CONCEPT OF INTERNAL FORCE

Fb,a
y

P x

o
z
 Topic 4. FORCE LAWS

CONCEPT OF INTERNAL FORCE

The action Fb,a can be reduced to the C.O.M. of the section

Equivalent system
Fb,a
y

P x

o
z
 Topic 4. FORCE LAWS

CONCEPT OF INTERNAL FORCE

The action Fb,a can be reduced to the C.O.M. of the section

Equivalent system
Fb,a
y

P x Force: The
F IS units are
Newtons (N)
o
z

M=OPF

Moment: The IS units correspond to

a force multiply by a distance (N·m)
 Topic 4. FORCE LAWS

CONCEPT OF INTERNAL FORCE

The action Fb,a can be reduced to the C.O.M. of the section

Equivalent system

P x
F

o
z

We can define two axis in the plane section (x,y). Then the resultant force F and the
resultant moment M can be divided in their components.
 Topic 4. FORCE LAWS

CONCEPT OF INTERNAL FORCE

The action Fb,a can be reduced to the C.O.M. of the section

Equivalent system

Qx x
Qy
N
z
Qx Qy : shear forces
N : axial force

We can define two axis in the plane section (x,y). Then the resultant force F and the
resultant moment M can be divided in their components.
 Topic 4. FORCE LAWS

CONCEPT OF INTERNAL FORCE

The action Fb,a can be reduced to the C.O.M. of the section

Equivalent system

y
Mx My : bending moments
x Mz : torsional moment

Mz
Mx
z

My M

We can define two axis in the plane section (x,y). Then the resultant force F and the
resultant moment M can be divided in their components.
 Topic 4. FORCE LAWS

CONCEPT OF INTERNAL FORCE

Considering a cutting plane P:

F1 F2
y

Ra Rb

Any part of the structure must be in equilibrium under the action of

external loads, reaction forces, and internal forces.
 Topic 4. FORCE LAWS

MECHANICS OF STRUCTURES
Academic year 2019/20

Topic 4
FORCE LAWS (I)

• CONCEPT OF INTERNAL FORCE

• TYPES OF INTERNAL FORCES

• DETERMINATION OF INTERNAL FORCES IN BEAMS

• RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN LOAD, SHEAR FORCE, AND BENDING

MOMENT
 Topic 4. FORCE LAWS

TYPES OF INTERNAL FORCES

Axial force (N): consist of two equal and opposite forces, perpendicular to the
cutting plane. They are the normal components of the internal forces which are acting
between the two parts of the bar.

Shear force (Q): consist of two equal and opposite forces, parallel to the cutting
plane. They are the in-plane components of the internal forces which are acting between
the two parts of the bar.

z
 Topic 4. FORCE LAWS

TYPES OF INTERNAL FORCES

Bending Moment (M): consist of two equal and opposite moment vectors, parallel
to the cutting plane. They are the in-plane components of the internal moments which
are acting between the two parts of the bar.
y

Torsional Moment (MT): consist of two equal and opposite moment vectors,
perpendicular to the cutting plane. They are the normal components of the internal
moments which are acting between the two parts of the bar.
 Topic 4. FORCE LAWS

MECHANICS OF STRUCTURES
Academic year 2019/20

Topic 4
FORCE LAWS

• CONCEPT OF INTERNAL FORCE

• TYPES OF INTERNAL FORCES

• DETERMINATION OF INTERNAL FORCES IN BEAMS

• RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN LOAD, SHEAR FORCE, AND BENDING

MOMENT
 Topic 4. FORCE LAWS

DETERMINATION OF INTERNAL FORCES IN BEAMS

Under the assumption of co-planar load system acting in plane y-z, QX=MY=MT=0.
QY and MX can be called Q and M respectively:

Cutting plane

A B
y
z
Q Q
M M
N
A N B

N: axial force
Q: shear force
M: bending moment
 Topic 4. FORCE LAWS

DETERMINATION OF INTERNAL FORCES IN BEAMS

Example 1.

Determinate the internal forces in the next beam as a function of W1 y W2.

The beam is simply supported on its right end, and subjected to the action of a cable with a
tension of T.

T
A B
30°
XB

YB
W1 W2
a a a 2a
19
 Topic 4. FORCE LAWS

T
T cos60
B
30°
T cos 30 XB
y
+ a a a 2a

x YB

W1 W2

Equations of equilibrium:

8 4
 B
M = 0 = 4aW 1
+ 2aW2 − 3aT cos 60  T =
3
W1 +
3
W2

1 1
 Fy = 0 = −W1 − W2 + T cos 60 + YB  YB = − W1 + W2
3 3
4 3 2 3
 Fx = 0 = R x + T cos 30  R x = − 3
W1 −
3
W2
 Topic 4. FORCE LAWS

Determination of internal forces:

0 xa
x

T
XB
N
M
a a a 2a YB
Q
W1 W2

y
+
F = 0 = N
x

x  F = 0 = −Q
y

M = 0 = M
 Topic 4. FORCE LAWS

Determination of internal forces:

a  x  2a
x x-a

T N
XB M

a a a 2a W1 Q
YB

W1 W2

F x =0=N
y
+ F y = 0 = − W1 − Q
x Q = − W1
 M = 0 = ( x − a)W + M 1

M = −( x − a)W1
 Topic 4. FORCE LAWS

Determination of internal forces:

2a  x  3a
x T

T N
M
Rx
Q
a a a 2a W1 x-a x-2a
Ry

W1 W2

F x = 0 =T cos 30 + N
y N = −4 3
3 W1 − 2 3
3 W2
+
x
F y = 0 = − W1 + T cos 60 − Q
Q = 1 3 W1 + 2 3 W2
 M = 0 = ( x − a)W − ( x − 2a)T cos 60 + M
1

M = − W1 ( x − a) + ( 4 3 W1 + 2 3 W2 )( x − 2a)
 Topic 4. FORCE LAWS

Determination of internal forces:

3a  x  5a
x
x-2a
T
T N
M
Rx
W1 W2 x-3a
Q
a a a 2a Ry x-a

W1 W2

y
F x = 0 =T cos 30 + N

+ N = −4 3
3 W1 − 2 3
3 W2
x F y = 0 = − W1 + T cos 60 − W2 − Q
Q = 1 3 W1 − 1 3 W2
 M = 0 = W ( x − a) − T cos 60  ( x − 2a) + W ( x − 3a) + M
1 2

M = − W1  ( x − a) − W2 ( x − 3a) + ( 4 3 W1 + 2 3 W2 )( x − 2a)
 Topic 4. FORCE LAWS

Internal forces diagram:

N: axial force A B

−4 3
3 W1 − 2 3
3 W2

Q: shear force 1
3 W1 + 2 3 W2

A B

1
3 (W1 − W2 )
− W1

M: bending moment
2
3 a(W2 − W1 )

A B

−W1a
 Topic 4. FORCE LAWS

Example 2: Beam subjected to point loads.

Determinate the diagram of shear and bending forces in the next beam:
 Topic 4. FORCE LAWS

SOLUTION:

• Reactions in B and D.

F y = 0 =  M B : RB = 40 kN RD = 14 kN

• Determinate the internal force in the sections:

 Fy = 0 : − 20 kN − V1 = 0 V1 = −20 kN

 M 2 = 0 : (20 kN )(0 m) + M1 = 0 M1 = 0

Using the same technique:

V2 = −20 kN 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
 Topic 4. FORCE LAWS

• Diagram of internal forces:

Notice that the shear diagram is constant between two point load while the
bending diagram varies linearly.
 Topic 4. FORCE LAWS

Example 3: Beam subjected to distributed and point loads

40 N/m

400 N

m m
6m 4m
cm
32 m
 Topic 4. FORCE LAWS

40 N/m SOLUTION:

• Determination of reactions:

400 N

m m MA = 0:
6m 4m
cm
32 m
YB ( 32m ) − ( 480 N )( 6m ) − ( 400 N )( 22 m ) = 0
480 N
YB = 365 N
MB = 0:
400 N
( 480 N )( 26m ) + ( 400 N )(10 m ) − YA (32 m ) = 0
6 16 m 10
YA = 515 N
 Fx = 0 : XB = 0
• Notice that the point load acting on E can be
replaced by a point force and a moment on D.
 Topic 4. FORCE LAWS

• Determination of shear and moment laws:

40 N/m
1600 N·m

N N
N A to C:
 Fy = 0 : 515 − 40 x − V = 0
V = 515 − 40 x
N
 M1 = 0 : ( )
− 515 x − 40 x 12 x + M = 0
N
M = 515 x − 20 x 2
C to D:

 Fy = 0 : 515 − 480 − V = 0
N
V = 35 N
 M 2 = 0 : − 515x + 480(x − 6)+ M = 0
M = (2880 + 35 x ) N  m
 Topic 4. FORCE LAWS

cm
cm cm • Determination of shear and moment laws:
40 N/m
1600 N·m
D to B:

N N
N
 Fy = 0 : 515 − 480 − 400 − V = 0
N

1600 N·m V = −365 N

M2 = 0:
N
− 515 x + 480( x − 6) − 1600 + 400( x − 18) + M = 0
N

M = (11, 680 − 365 x ) N  m.

 Topic 4. FORCE LAWS

m
m m • Diagram of internal forces:
40 N/cm
1600 N·m A to C:
V = 515 − 40 x

N N M = 515 x − 20 x 2
N
C to D:
V = 35 N
M = (2880 + 35 x ) N  m
N N
m m
D to B:
m
N V = −365 N
3510 N·m 5110 N·m
3330 N·m M = (11,680 − 365 x ) N  m
 Topic 4. FORCE LAWS

Example 4: Beam subjected to a linear distributed load

q0

A B

L
 Topic 4. FORCE LAWS

SOLUTION:

• Determination of reactions:
q0 Reduce the force system to a
resultant force.
A B
q0 L
L R =
2

q0 F y = 0 = MA

A B
q0 L qL
2/3 L RA = , RB = 0
6 3
RA RB
 Topic 4. FORCE LAWS

q0 x
R ( x) =
q ( x) x q( x) =
2 L

M(x)
N(x)
2/3 L Q(x)

RA x

• Shear forces diagram:

 q0 L   q( x) x  q0 L  3x 
2
Q( x) = RA − R =  − = 
1 − L2 
 6   2  6  

• Bending moment diagram:

 q0 Lx  x2 
M ( x) = RA x − R ( L − x) =  1 − 2 

 6  L 
 Topic 4. FORCE LAWS

MECHANICS OF STRUCTURES
Academic year 2019/20

Topic 4
FORCE LAWS (I)

• CONCEPT OF INTERNAL FORCE

• TYPES OF INTERNAL FORCES

• DETERMINATION OF INTERNAL FORCES IN BEAMS

• RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN LOAD, SHEAR FORCE, AND BENDING

MOMENT
 Topic 4. FORCE LAWS

Relationship between load, shear force and bending moment

• Distributed load: • Relationship distributed load - shear force:

Q − (Q + Q ) − wx = 0
dQ Q
= lim = −w
dx x → 0 x
xD

QD − QC = −  w dx = − ( area under the curve )

xC

• Relationship shear force – bending moment

(M + M ) − M − Qx + wx x = 0
2
Q
M
= lim (Q − 12 wx ) = Q
dM
= lim
dx x→0 x x→0

Q+Q xD

M D − MC =  Q dx = ( area under the curve )

xC
 Topic 4. FORCE LAWS

Shear force and bending moment diagrams

Pb
• Reactions: RA =
• Point load: L
P Pa
a b RB =
L
• Shear force: Pb
A to C: QAC = RA =
N
L
M
Pa
QCB = − RB = −
Q
C to D:
N M L
x-a Q
QAC − QCB = RA + RB = P

• Bending moment:
Pb
A to C: M AC ( x) = RA  x = x
L
b
C to D: M CB ( x) = RA  x − P  ( x − a ) = P  a − P  x  (1 − )
L
M AC ( x = a ) = M CB ( x = a)
 Topic 4. FORCE LAWS

Shear force and bending moment diagrams

• Several point loads:

a3 P3 • Reactions:
a2 P2
a1 P1 RA , RB

• Shear force: Q1 = RA
Q2 = RA − P1
RA
Q3 = RA − P1 − P2
P1
Q4 = RB
P2

P3
-RB
• Bending moment:

M1
M2 M 1 = RA a1
M3
M 2 = RA a2 − P1 (a2 − a1 )
M 3 = RB b3
 Topic 4. FORCE LAWS

Shear force and bending moment diagrams

wL
• Distributed loads:
• Reactions: R A = RB =
2
• Shear force:
x
Q − QA = −  w dx = − wx
0

wL L 
Q = QA − wx = − wx = w  − x 
2 2 

• Bending moment:

x
M − M A =  Qdx
0

L 
x
M =  w  − x  dx = ( Lx − x 2 )
w
0 2  2
wL2  dM 
M max =  M in = Q = 0
8  dx 
 Topic 4. FORCE LAWS

Example 5: Beam subjected to point and distributed loads

20 kN 12 kN 15 kN/m

8m 10 m 8m
6m
 Topic 4. FORCE LAWS

12 kN SOLUTION:
20 kN 12 kN
• Reactions:

MA = 0:
8 10 8
1.5 kN/m D(24 m ) − (20 kN )(6 m ) − (12 kN )(14 m ) − (12 kN )(28 m ) = 0
20 kN 12 kN

D = 26 kN
 F y =0 :
18 kN 26 kN
20 kN Ay − 20 kN − 12 kN + 26 kN − 12 kN = 0

Ay = 18 kN
18 kN • Shear force remains constant between the
sections of the point loads (AB,BC,CD).
dV dx = − w = 0
• Linear variation from D to E (uniform distributed
load).
 Topic 4. FORCE LAWS

15 kN/m
• Diagram of bending moments can be obtained
20 kN 12 kN
from the shear force law
dM
=Q dM = Q dx
dx
18 kN 26 kN

- Zero bending moment at A and E

- Linear bending moment law between A,

B, C and D

- Quadratic bending moment law from D to E

(parabola)

- The difference between the bending

moment of two sections is equal to the
area of the shear force law
Topic 4. FORCE LAWS

SOLUTION:
• Reactions:

 Fy = 0 = − 12 w0 a + RC RC = 12 w0 a
 a  a
 M C = 0 = 12 w0 a L −  + M C M C = − 12 w0 a L − 
 3  3

• Shear force law:

a
a
 x   x2 
QB − QA = −  w0 1 −  dx = −  w0  x −  
0  a   2a   0
QB = − 12 w0 a = − ( area under the curve )

- Quadratic shear force between A and B,

and constant from B to C
 Topic 4. FORCE LAWS

• Bending moment law:

a
a  x 2    x 2 x3 
M B − M A =   − w0  x −   dx = − w0  − 
  2a     2 6a  
0    0
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

MC is equal to the reaction moment

The difference between MA and MB is the area
under the shear force law.
A parabolic shear force law leads to a cubic
bending moment law.