DEPARTMENT OF BUILT ENVIRONMENT

STRUCTURES AND CONCRETE

II
STC20BE
Module 9: Moment of a Force

Lecturer: Mr SI Mtetwa
 MOMENT OF A FORCE
• Before you can understand • Figure 1 / DIVING BOARD
bending and shear force,
you need to understand
the idea of a moment of a d = moment arm
force.
• A moment is a “bending F = weight
M of person
force” caused by a force Cement
acting on an object at some foundation A
distance from a fixed joint Dividing Board
or point of interest. The force (F) produces a moment or “turning force” (M) that
• Consider the diving board tries to rotate the diving board around a fixed joint (A) – in this
case the moment bends the diving board.
shown. The stronger the force and the greater the distance at which
• The heavier the person, it acts, the larger the moment or “turning force” it produced
and the farther he walks by the force.
out on the board, the A moment or “turning force” (M) is calculated by multiplying
greater the “turning force” a force(F) by its moment arm (d) – the moment arm is the
distance at which the force is applied, taken from the fixed
which acts on the diving joint:
board support. M=Fd
(as long as the force acting on the object is perpendicular to
the object)
 MOMENT OF A FORCE
• Bending: Bending is created
when a moment or “turning
force” is applied to a structural
member making it deflect (sag
or arch by bending, from its
original position.
• A moment which causes bending
is called a bending moment.
• Bending actually produces
tension and compression
between molecules of a
structural member, causing it to
“smile” – the molecules on the
top of the smile get squeezed
together, while the molecules on
the bottom of the smile get
stretched out – a beam or pole
in bending will fail in tension
(break on the side that is being
pulled apart)
• Figure 2 / A SHELF IN A BOOF CASE
TOP OF SHELF IS IN COMPRESSION AND GETS
SQUEEZED TOGETHER -THE MOLEKULES PUSH BACK
TRYING TO STAY APART
F =weight of
books
Side of book case
M M
Bottom of shelve in tension and gets
stretched apart the molecules pull on each
other to try to stay together
A beam is said to smile in
bending: the top is in
compression and the
bottom in tension
 MOMENT OF A FORCE
• DEFINITION Notes
THE MOMENT OF A FORCE ABOUT A POINT IS THE
MAGNITUDE OF THE FORCE MULTIPLIED BY THE
• The moment of a force is a measure of
PERPENDICULAR DISTANCE FROM THAT POINT TO its tendency to turn about the point. We
THE LINE OF ACTION OF THE FORCE. therefore distinguish between clockwise
and anti-clockwise.
• From the definition, it is clear that when
a force passes through the point about
F = Force which moments are taken, it has no
moment, i.e the moment = 0
• The moment effect of a force about a
point is the same as the moment effect
Distance of its components about the same
x point.

A Clockwise

MA = F x ( the units are therefore = Nm )

 Line of Action
• This is simply an
extension, to either ACTION
side, of the line
along which the 80N
force is acting.
20°
• This is an important LINE OF
concept when we
deal with MOMENTS
 CLASS EXAMPLE
• CALCULATE THE MOMENT OF THE • SOLUTION
FORCE ABOUT POINT A USING:
1. The force itself
1. The force itself
d = 5 sin 70° = 4,698m or m = force x distance
2. The vertical and horizontal
Thus = 4,698m x 20 N = (20sin70°) x 5m
components
= 93,9692 Nm = 93,9692Nm
3. The parallel and perpendicular
20N
components
d
20 N
5m 70°
A

70°

5m 30°
A
 CLASS EXAMPLE
• The vertical and horizontal • The sketch now becomes
components
12,856N
• V = 20 sin 40° = 12,856 N
• H = 20 cos 40° = 15,321 N 15,321N

5m
a
V 30°

40°
b
H

5m a = 5 sin 30° = 2,5m

b = 5 cos 30° = 4,33m
A
Thus MA = (15,321N x 2,5m) +
(12,856N x 4,33m)
= 93,97Nm
 CLASS EXAMPLE
• The parallel and perpendicular • The sketch now becomes
components

20N 18,794N

70° 5m

5m
A

A
We see that we can exclude the
moment of the 6,84N force because its
Parallel = 20 cos 70° = 6,84N
line of action goes through point A
Perpendicular = 20 sin 70° = 18,794N
Thus MA = 18,794N x 5m
= 93,97Nm
 LOADS ON BEAMS
• Beams can be constructed from Uniformly distributed loads ( UDL )
wood, steel or reinforced concrete.
W1 KN/m W2 KN/m
• One sees therefore that the self-
weight of a beam can often
constitute the greatest load that the
beam has to carry.
• Although we distinguish between
live and dead loads, we will only
consider the following two types of
dead loads on beams: 2. Point Loads
1. Uniformly distributed loads ( UDL ) W W
W KN/m

R1 R2

Note the reactions themselves are

treated as point loads
 REACTIONS
• The first step in analysing a beam is • Example
to determine the values of the
ΣM = 0
reactions at the supports.
ΣV = 0
• The following procedure is always
W KN/m W
adopted:
STEP 1 - apply the equilibrium
condition ΣM = 0 about the left
head support. This will solve the R1 R2
right hand vertical reaction.
Procedure
STEP 2 – apply the equilibrium
i. Take moments about R1 – hence
condition ΣM = 0 about the right solve R2
head support. This will solve the left ii. Take moments about R2 – hence
hand vertical reaction. solve R1
STEP 3 – check these calculations by iii. Check calculations by using ΣV = 0
applying the equilibrium condition
ΣV = 0
 REACTIONS
• NOTE: • EXAMPLE 1
When taking moments of a UDL, the 8KN/m
force used is the result out and its 6 KN/m
position is in the middle of the UDL
viz.
2m A B
10 KN/m
4m 2m 2m
2m 2m
Moments about A ΣMA = 0
MB x 8(ANTI CLOCK) = (6 x 4 x 2) + (8 x 6)[ CLOCKWISE]
= 48 + 48
4m = 96 / 8
B = 12 KN
Moments about B ΣMB = 0
RESULTANT = 40 KN MA x 8(ANTI CLOCK) = (8 x 2) + (6 x 4 x 6)[CLOCKWISE]
= 16 + 144
= 160 / 8
A = 20 KN
CHECK:
ΣV = 24 + 8 = 32KN
OK
ΣV = 12 + 20 = 32KN
 REACTIONS
• EXAMPLE 2 • Check :
20 KN 30 KN ΣV = 20 + 320 + 30 = 370KN
40 KN/m ΣV = 260 + 110 = 370KN OK

A B

2m 4m 2m

Moments about A ΣMA = 0

MB x 6 = ( 20 x 2 ) + ( 40 x 8 x 4 ) + ( 30 x 8 )
MB = 1560 / 6
B = 260 KN
Moments about B ΣMB = 0
MA x 6 = ( 40 x 6 x 3 ) + ( 20 x 4 ) – ( 30 x 2 )
– ( 40 x 2 x 1 )
MA = 660 / 6
A = 110 KN
 SELF EVALUATION EXERCISES
• IN EACH OF THE CASES BELOW,
SOLVE THE REACTIONS
8KN 10KN
1. 14KN 12KN
2.
10KN 12KN 8KN

A 1m 1,5m 2,5m 1,5m 1,5m B 2m 2m 2m 2m

A B
 SELF EVALUATION EXERCISES
• IN EACH OF THE CASES BELOW, SOLVE
THE REACTIONS
3. 20KN 60KN 15KN

18KN/m

2m 2m 2m 2m

A B
 BEAM ANALYSIS
• When a loaded beam is • SHEAR FORCE
analysed, one usually deals • Failure to transmit shearing force
simultaneously with the at any given section, will cause
applied loading, shear force failure in the beam as shown
and bending moment. below.
• This is done in order to
provide the necessary
reinforcement to ensure a
strong and stable beam.
• To facilitate the understanding
of the principle involved we
If the shear force present is known, steel
will initially deal with shear
(known as stirrups) is provided to prevent this
force and bending moment
failure.
separately. Definition
At any section in a loaded beam, the shear
force is the algebraic sum of all the forces
acting to any one side of the section.
 SIGN CONVENTION
• Considering the section, the Example
following sign convention is
Calculate the shear force at points A,B,C
adopted
and D for examples 1 and 2
SOLUTION 8KN
Upward = positive (+)
6KN/m

Downwards = negative ( - )
4m 2m 2m

Moments about A ΣMA = 0

By starting left and working across MB x 8(ANTI CLOCK) = (6 x 4 x 2) + (8 x 6)[ CLOCKWISE]
the beam, check on the values used = 48 + 48
is built in = 96 / 8
B = 12 KN
Moments about B ΣMB = 0
MA x 8(ANTI CLOCK) = (8 x 2) + (6 x 4 x 6)[CLOCKWISE]
= 16 + 144
= 160 / 8
A = 20 KN
 SIGN CONVENTION
20KN 20KN
• SOLUTION • Example
6KN/m 8KN
40KN/m

4m 2m 2m 2m 4m 2m

A C D B A C B D
Moments about A ΣMA = 0
By definition it is clear that at point MB x 6 = ( 20 x 2 ) + ( 40 x 8 x 4 ) + ( 30 x 8 )
loads there will be two values for the MB = 1560 / 6
B = 260 KN
shear force – one just left of the point
Moments about B ΣMB = 0
and MA x 6 = ( 40 x 6 x 3 ) + ( 20 x 4 ) – ( 30 x 2 )
- one just right – ( 40 x 2 x 1 )
At A: Left 0 MA = 660 / 6
Right +20KN A = 110 KN
At C: +20 – 24 = -4KN
At D: Left -4KN SHEAR FORCE
Right -4-8 = -12KN At A: L 0
R +110KN
At B: Left -12KN
At C: +110 – 80 = +30KN
Right -12+12 = 0 30 – 20 = +10KN
 SIGN CONVENTION
At B: +10 – 160 = -150KN
- 150 + 260 = +110KN
At D: +110 – 80 = +30 KN
+ 30 – 30 = 0

SELF EVALUATION EXERCISE 2:

CALCULATE SHEAR FORCE AT ALL RELEVANT POINTS FOR THE PREVIOUS
EXERCISES
 SHEAR FORCE DIAGRAMS
• These diagrams represent the • DIAGRAM REPRESENTATION
distribution of shearing force over
25 25
the length of the beam and gives
+
graphical illustration of where shear +
0 0
steel is most likely needed. -
- 25 25
( a ) POINT LOADS
50KN
We see that whenever a point load is
2m 2m present on the beam, there is a vertical
25 25 jump in the shear force diagram equal
B to the magnitude of the force
A C
SF@ A 0
+25KN
SF@B +25KN
+25-50 = -25KN
SF@C -25KN
-25+25 = 0
 SHEAR FORCE DIAGRAMS
( b ) UNIFORMLY DISTRIBUTED LOAD • DIAGRAM REPRESENTATION

8KN/m 20

5m + +
20 20 0 0
C - -
A B
20
SF@A 0
+20KN
SF@C +20-20 =0
SF@B 0-20 = -20KN
-20+20 =0
 SHEAR FORCE DIAGRAMS
• EXAMPLE • EXAMPLE 20KN 30KN
8KN
6KN/m 40KN/m

20 12 2m 4m 2m
4m 2m 2m
C D
C D B A
A B
110 260
Since the reactions and shear force have
been worked out, only the diagram will be 110
110
drawn 30 30
20
10
+ +
0 0
+ +
0
- -
0 4
- -
12 12
-150
 QUESTIONS?

THANK YOU
Contact details
Name of Lecturer: Mr SI Mtetwa
Contact
Tel.: details
051 507 3649
Name of Lecturer: Mr SI Mtetwa
E-mail: smtetwa@cut.ac.za
Tel.: 051 507 3649
E-mail: smtetwa@cut.ac.za

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