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The first step in any beam problem is to calculate the reaction forces at the supports. To do this we must consider that the beam
is in static equilibrium. This means that we balance or resolve the forces acting on the beam.
After finding all the forces acting on the beam we can draw a free body diagram (FBD) and then balance these forces for static
equilibrium.
DL Forces from 0m to 8m
8 kN/m 64 kN 8 kN/m
x (m)
0 4 8
Start by finding the equivalent loads caused by the distributed loads (DLs).
Remember that the equivalent load of a DL has a magnitude equal to its area, acting through the area's centroid.
8m − 0m
Rectangular Load Position: 0m + = +4m
2
12 kN
8 kN/m 64 kN 8 kN/m
RA RB
x (m)
0 3 4 8
Let the left support have a vertical reaction RA and the right support have a vertical reaction RB .
+ ↑ ΣFy = 0
RA + RB − 12 − 64 = 0
RA + RB − 12 − 64 = 0
+ ↻ ΣM = 0
RA + RB = +76
RA + 36.5 = +76
RA = +39.5kN
You should aim to 'cut' the beam between loads, supports and along distributed loads. After taking a cut you simply consider
equilibirium in the y-axis (i.e. let the sum of the forces in the y-axis equal zero and solve for the unknown shear force V).
If you follow this procedure for every cut/section then you will Find the equation of shear force for every segment of the beam
and therefore you can create the shear force diagram (SFD).
8 kN/m8x kN 8 kN/m
V1
(x)
39.5 kN
x x
x (m)
0 /2 8
b × h = −8x = −8x
+ ↑ ΣFy = 0
V1 (x) = +39.5 − 8x
Shear for 3 ≤ x ≤ 8
12 kN
8 kN/m 8x kN 8 kN/m
V2
(x)
39.5 kN
x 3
x (m)
0 /2 x 8
b × h = −8x = −8x
+ ↑ ΣFy = 0
V2 (x) = +27.5 − 8x
You should aim to 'cut' the beam between loads, supports and along distributed loads. After taking a cut you simply consider
equilibirium about the point of the cut (i.e. let the sum of the moment about the cut equal zero and solve for the unknown
bending moment M).
If you follow this procedure for every cut/section then you will find the equation of bending moment for every segment of the
beam and therefore you can create the bending moment diagram (BMD).
Moment for 0 ≤ x ≤ 3
8 kN/m8x kN 8 kN/m
M1
(x)
39.5 kN
x x
x (m)
0 /2 8
b × h = −8x = −8x
x
2
So the moment force is: (−8x) ( ) = −4x
2
+ ↻ ΣMx = 0
2
+ (39.5) (x − 0) + [−4x ] − M1 (x) = 0
2
M1 (x) = +39.5x − 4x
2
∴ M1 (x) = +39.5x − 4x for 0 ≤ x ≤ 3
12 kN
8 kN/m 8x kN 8 kN/m
M2
(x)
39.5 kN
x 3
x (m)
0 /2 x 8
b × h = −8x = −8x
x
2
So the moment force is: (−8x) ( ) = −4x
2
+ ↻ ΣMx = 0
2
+ (39.5) (x − 0) + (−12) (x − 3) + [−4x ] − M2 (x) = 0
2
M2 (x) = +36 + 27.5x − 4x
2
∴ M2 (x) = +36 + 27.5x − 4x for 3 ≤ x ≤ 8
M (x) = ∫ V (x) dx
The integration method is one of the most common and simple methods to calculate the moment. This is an alternative
method
to using the method of sections/cuts as shown in the previous section of the hand calculations.
We start at the left side of the beam and we use the known value of the moment to calculate the constant of integration
in the
first moment equation, M1 (x). If there is a Fixed Support on the left side of the beam then the moment value at
x = 0 is the
value of the moment reaction. Otherwise, the value of the moment is zero at x = 0.
For all other moment equations apart from the first moment equation, the Continuity Condition is used to determine
the values of
the constants of integration.
2
M1 (x) = −4x + 39.5x + C
At the left side of the beam (x = 0), we know the moment value is 0 because there is NOT a Fixed Support there:
M1 (0) = 0
2
−4(0) + 39.5(0) + C = 0
0 +C = 0
C = 0
2
M1 (x) = −4x + 39.5x
Moment for 3 ≤ x ≤ 8
For 3 ≤ x ≤ 8 :
2
M2 (x) = −4x + 27.5x + C
M1 (3) = M2 (3)
2 2
−4(3) + 39.5(3) = −4(3) + 27.5(3) + C
82.5 = 46.5 + C
C = 36
2
M2 (x) = −4x + 27.5x + 36
Here the internal moment M must be expressed as a function of the x coordinates that extend across the beam. The constants of
integration are obtained from the boundary conditions at the pin, roller or fixed supports:
a) For a fixed support, the boundary condition states that the beam cannot deflect or rotate. This means that both the deflection
and slope are zero at the location of the support:
θ(x) = 0
and
υ(x) = 0
b) For a pin support or roller support, the boundary condition states that the beam cannot deflect but it is free to rotate. This
means that only the deflection is zero at the location of the support:
υ(x) = 0
Also note that to use these equations we need to ensure that the units are consistent. So we will convert this relationship to
using only our length units (m):
9
M kN × m kN × m kN × m 1000N × m 1000m 10
→ → → → → →
4 2 −6 −6
EI M P a × mm N N × mm N × 10
2
m 10
2
m m
4
× mm
2
mm
This means that when we integrate for the first time, we get the slope equation which is unitless (or radians) since we multiply by
the length unit. When we integrate for the second time, we get the deflection equation which is in m as we multiplied by the
length unit again.
2 2
EI d υ EI d υ
9 2
= 10 M1 (x) → = −4x + 39.5x
9 2 9 2
10 dx 10 dx
EI dυ dυ
2
= ∫ (−4x + 39.5x) dx and = θ(x) is the Slope
9
10 dx dx
3 2
EI −4x 39.5x
θ1 (x) = + + C1
9
10 3 2
EI
3 2
θ1 (x) = −1.33333x + 19.75x + C1
9
10
9
10
3 2
θ1 (x) = (−1.33333x + 19.75x + C1 )
EI
9
10
3 2
∫ θ1 (x) dx = ∫ (−1.33333x + 19.75x + C1 ) dx
EI
9 4 3
10 −1.33333x 19.75x
υ1 (x) = ( + + C1 x + C2 )
EI 4 3
9
10
4 3
υ1 (x) = (−0.333333x + 6.58333x + C1 x + C2 )
EI
According the type of support, we can use the next boundary conditiones for substituting these results into equations:
Pin: θ ≠ 0, υ = 0
Roller: θ ≠ 0, υ = 0
Fixed: θ = 0, υ = 0
9
10
4 3
(−0.333333(0) + 6.58333(0) + C1 (0) + C2 ) = 0
EI
4 3
−0.333333(0) + 6.58333(0) + C1 (0) + C2 = 0
0 + C1 (0) + C2 = 0
0C1 + C2 = 0
C2 = 0
2 2
EI d υ EI d υ
9 2
= 10 M2 (x) → = −4x + 27.5x + 36
9 2 9 2
10 dx 10 dx
EI dυ dυ
2
= ∫ (−4x + 27.5x + 36) dx and = θ(x) is the Slope
9
10 dx dx
3 2
EI −4x 27.5x
θ2 (x) = + + 36x + C3
9
10 3 2
EI
3 2
θ2 (x) = −1.33333x + 13.75x + 36x + C3
9
10
9
10
3 2
θ2 (x) = (−1.33333x + 13.75x + 36x + C3 )
EI
9
10
3 2
∫ θ2 (x) dx = ∫ (−1.33333x + 13.75x + 36x + C3 ) dx
EI
9 4 3 2
10 −1.33333x 13.75x 36x
υ2 (x) = ( + + + C3 x + C4 )
EI 4 3 2
9
10
4 3 2
υ2 (x) = (−0.333333x + 4.58333x + 18x + C3 x + C4 )
EI
According the type of support, we can use the next boundary conditiones for substituting these results into equations:
Pin: θ ≠ 0, υ = 0
Roller: θ ≠ 0, υ = 0
Fixed: θ = 0, υ = 0
9
10
4 3 2
(−0.333333(8) + 4.58333(8) + 18(8) + C3 (8) + C4 ) = 0
EI
4 3 2
−0.333333(8) + 4.58333(8) + 18(8) + C3 (8) + C4 = 0
2133.33 + C3 (8) + C4 = 0
8C3 + C4 = −2133.33
8C3 + C4 = −2133.33
θ1 (3) = θ2 (3)
9 9
10 10
3 2 3 2
(−1.33333(3) + 19.75(3) + C1 ) = (−1.33333(3) + 13.75(3) + 36(3) + C3 )
EI EI
3 2 3 2
−1.33333(3) + 19.75(3) + C1 = −1.33333(3) + 13.75(3) + 36(3) + C3
141.75 + C1 = 195.75 + C3
C1 − C3 = 54
9 9
10 10
4 3 4 3 2
(−0.333333(3) + 6.58333(3) + C1 (3)) = (−0.333333(3) + 4.58333(3) + 18(3) + C3 (3) + C4 )
EI EI
4 3 4 3 2
−0.333333(3) + 6.58333(3) + C1 (3) = −0.333333(3) + 4.58333(3) + 18(3) + C3 (3) + C4
Group the relevant equations to solve the values of the remaining constants:
8C3 + C4 = −2133.33
C1 − C3 = 54
C1 = −219.417
C2 = 0
C3 = −273.417
C4 = 54
For 0 ≤ x ≤ 3 :
9
10
3 2
θ1 (x) = (−1.33333x + 19.75x − 219.417)
EI
9
10
4 3
υ1 (x) = (−0.333333x + 6.58333x − 219.417x)
EI
For 3 ≤ x ≤ 8 :
9
10
3 2
θ2 (x) = (−1.33333x + 13.75x + 36x − 273.417)
EI
9
10
4 3 2
υ2 (x) = (−0.333333x + 4.58333x + 18x − 273.417x + 54)
EI
θ(x) = 0
For 0 ≤ x ≤ 3 :
9
10
3 2
θ1 (x) = (−1.33333x + 19.75x − 219.417)
EI
9
10 3 2
0 = (−1.33333x + 19.75x − 219.417)
EI
3 2
0 = −1.33333x + 19.75x − 219.417
This equation can't be solved, so there is not a maximum in this segment of the beam.
For 3 ≤ x ≤ 8 :
9
10
3 2
θ2 (x) = (−1.33333x + 13.75x + 36x − 273.417)
EI
9
10 3 2
0 = (−1.33333x + 13.75x + 36x − 273.417)
EI
3 2
0 = −1.33333x + 13.75x + 36x − 273.417
x = 3.925 is a solution to this equation, so there is a potential maximum there. Substitute it into the deflection equation:
9
10 4 3 2
υ2 (x) = (−0.333333x + 4.58333x + 18x − 273.417x + 54)
EI
9
10
4 3 2
υ2 (3.925) = (−0.333333(3.925) + 4.58333(3.925) + 18(3.925) − 273.417(3.925) + 54)
EI
9
10
υ2 (3.925) = (−543.829)
EI
9
10
4 3
υ1 (x) = (−0.333333x + 6.58333x − 219.417x)
EI
9
10 4 3
υ1 (0) = (−0.333333(0) + 6.58333(0) − 219.417(0))
EI
9
10
υ1 (0) = (0) , so this is not a maximum and we can ignore it.
EI
9
10
4 3 2
υ2 (x) = (−0.333333x + 4.58333x + 18x − 273.417x + 54)
EI
9
10
4 3 2
υ2 (8) = (−0.333333(8) + 4.58333(8) + 18(8) − 273.417(8) + 54)
EI
9
10
υ2 (8) = (0) , so this is not a maximum and we can ignore it.
EI
∴ From the equations above we can see that the absolute maximum deflection is located at x
9
10 −543829485807.3 −543829485807.3 × 1000
(−543.829) m = m = mm
EI EI EI
−543829485807291.7
= mm
EI