Shear Force and Bending Movement Diagram

Point of contra-flexure is a point on the beam where the Bending Moment changes from sagging
(+) to hogging (-) or hogging (-) to sagging (+). The bending moment is thus ZERO at this point.
The point of contra-flexure is also called the point of inflexion.

Lim Chin Guan SFD and BMD (v3) 1

Lim Chin Guan SFD and BMD (v3) 2
Example 1
The beam shown, simply supported at B and D, carries at A and C concentrated loads of 10 kN and
30 kN.
a) Sketch the free body diagram
b) Find the support reactions at B and D
c) Sketch the shear force diagram for the beam. What is the maximum shear force on the beam?
(Magnitude and position).

10 kN 30 kN

B
A
C

2m 6m 2m

Example 2
For the simply supported beam loaded as shown.
a) Sketch the Free Body diagram and calculate support reactions.
b) Draw the Shear Force diagram.
c) Calculate the bending moments at salient points and draw the Bending Moment diagram

5 kN

A B
C

7m 3m

Lim Chin Guan SFD and BMD (v3) 3

Example 3
For the simply supported beam loaded as shown.
(a) Sketch the Free Body diagram and calculate support reactions.
(b) Draw the Shear Force diagram.
(c) Calculate the bending moments at salient points and draw the Bending Moment diagram.

30 kN 40 kN 10 kN

2m 3m 2m 1m

A B C D E

Example 4
For the simply supported beam loaded as shown.
(a) Draw the Free Body diagram and calculate support reactions.
(b) Draw the Shear Force diagram.
(c) Calculate the bending moments at salient points and draw the Bending Moment diagram.
(d) State the position and magnitude of the maximum shear force and maximum bending moment.

10 kN

10 kN/m
1m 1m
3m B C
A D

Lim Chin Guan SFD and BMD (v3) 4

Example 5
For the light beam shown,
a) Sketch the Free Body diagram and calculate support reactions.
b) Draw the Shear force diagram.
c) Calculate the Bending moments at salient points and draw the Bending moment diagram.
d) Determine the maximum bending moment and the point of contra-flexure.

20 kN

20 kN/m
2m
5m
A B C

Example 6
For the cantilever beam loaded as shown,
a) Sketch the free body diagram
b) Find the support reactions, including the fixing moment at A
c) Sketch the shear force diagram for the beam. What is the maximum shear force on the beam?
(Magnitude and position).

6m

10 kN
A B C

6 kN
4m

Lim Chin Guan SFD and BMD (v3) 5

Example 7
For the propped cantilever loaded as shown
(a) Sketch the Free Body diagram and calculate support reactions.
(b) Draw the Shear Force diagram.
(c) Calculate the bending moments at salient points and draw the Bending Moment diagram.

4 kN

A B C

3m 5m

6 kN

Example 8
For the light beam shown,
a) Sketch the Free Body diagram and calculate support reactions
b) Draw the Shear Force diagram
c) Draw the Bending Moment diagram

20 kN/m
A
7m B

Lim Chin Guan SFD and BMD (v3) 6

Example 9
For the light beam shown,
a) Sketch the Free Body diagram and calculate support reactions
b) Draw the shear force diagram
c) Calculate the Bending moments at salient points and draw the Bending moment diagram

100 kN

20 kN/m

3m 2m
A B 2m
D

Tutorial
1. For the beam loading of Figure 1, draw the complete shearing force and bending moment
diagrams, and determine the bending moments at point A, B and C.

Figure 1

2. Draw the free body diagram of only the horizontal beam portion of the below given figures. The
draw the complete shear and bending moment diagrams.

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 Figure 2-39

Figure 2-46

Figure 2-47

Lim Chin Guan SFD and BMD (v3) 8