STRUCTURAL ANALYSIS I

CE 2011

For beams

Dr. (Eng.) P. Dhammika Dharmaratne

Ph.D, B.Sc.Eng(Hons) , MEng(Struct.Eng.).
MEng(Geo.Eng.), PG Dip(Const.Mgt.). C.Eng., FIE(SL).
Int PEng, MSSE(SL). M Cons E(SL).
 INTERNAL FORCES AT A SPECIFIED POINT

• The internal forces in a member [at a specified point] can be determined by using the
method of sections.

• A coplanar structure will consist of a Normal force N, Shear force V, and Bending
moment M.

• These forces actually represent the resultants of the stress distribution over the
member’s cross-sectional area at the cut section.

• Once the resultant internal forces are known, the magnitude of the stress can be
determined.
 SIGN CONVENTION
• We need to give/establish a sign convention to define their “positive” and “negative”
values, before presenting a method for finding the internal normal force, shear force,
and bending moment.

• On the left-hand faces of the cut section of the member, the normal force “N” acts to
the right, the shear force “V” acts downward, and the moment “M” acts
counterclockwise.

• In accordance with Newton’s third law, an equal but opposite normal force, shear force,
and bending moment must act on the right-hand face of the member at the section.
The easy way to remember this sign convention is to isolate a small segment of the
member.

1. Positive normal force tends to elongate the segment

2. Positive shear tends to rotate the segment clockwise

3. Positive bending moment tends to bend the segment concave upward.

Procedure for Analysis

The following procedure provides the method of sections to determine the internal
normal force, shear force, and bending moment at a specific location in a structural
member.

Support Reactions

• First, It may be necessary to determine the member’s support reactions

• Thereafter you should cut the member.

• The equilibrium equations are used only to solve for the internal forces.

• If the member is part of a pin-connected structure, the pin reactions can be

determined using different methods you studied.
• Put/ Keep all distributed loads, moments, and forces acting on the member in their
correct/exact location.

• Then cut an imaginary section perpendicular to its axis through the member at the point
where the internal loading is to be determined.

• After the section/cut is made, draw a free-body diagram of the segment. [That has the
least number of loads on it].

• At the section/cut, you need to mark the unknown resultants N, V, and M acting in their
positive directions.
 EQUATIONS OF EQUILIBRIUM

• Moments should be added at the section about axes that pass through
the centroid of the member’s cross-sectional area, in order to eliminate
the unknowns N and V and thereby obtain a direct solution for M.

• If the solution of the equilibrium equations yields a quantity having a

negative magnitude, the assumed directional sense of the quantity is
opposite.
EXAMPLE-01

The building roof weight is given 1.8 kN/m2 and supported on 8m long simply supported
beams that are spaced at 1 m apart. Each beam transmits its loading to two girders,
which located at the front and back of the building.

Determine shear force and the bending moment at location of point C.

Neglect the weight of the members.
Roof load is transferring to each beam is as a one-way slab. ( L2/L1 = 8 m / 1 m = 8 > 2).
So,

Udl along the middle beam = 1.8 x 1 = 1.8 kN/m

Udl along the edge beam = 0.9 x 1 = 0.9 kN/m
Reaction on girder from middle beam = 1.8 x 8 /2 = 7.2 kN
Reaction on girder from edge beam = 0.9 x 8 /2 = 3.6 kN
Column reaction should be =
Equations of Equilibrium
EXAMPLE-02
Determine the internal shear force and moment acting at a section “C” in the beam
shown in Figure. [ Note : Given all loads are assumed in SI units, kN and m]
3kN/m2

Total vertical load = ½ x 18 x 3 = 27 kN [ This load is acting at the center of gravity the
beam ]. Since the load is in triangular distribution, the udl is proportional to the length of
the beam.
Consider the vertical equilibrium and taking the moment about A, we can find the support
reactions.
RA = 9 kN , RB = 18 kN
Shear at C = 6 kN and Moment at C = 48kNm.
EXAMPLE-03
The 9 kN force is supported by the floor panel DE, which is simply supported at its ends
by floor beams. These beams transmit their loads to the simply supported girder AB.
Determine the internal shear and moment acting at point C in the girder.

Shear Force at C = -2.25 kN

Moment at C = 38.25 kNm
 SHEAR AND MOMENT FUNCTIONS

• The design of a beam requires a detailed knowledge of the variations of the internal
shear force V and moment M acting along the axis of the beam.

• The internal normal force “N” is generally not considered.

(1) in most cases, the loads applied to a beam act perpendicular to the beam’s
axis and hence produce only an internal shear force and bending moments.

(2) For design purposes, the beam’s resistance to shear and bending is more
important than its ability to resist normal force.

• When the beams are subjected to compressive axial forces, the buckling or instability
may occur.
The variations of “V” and “M” as a function of the distance “x” of an arbitrary point
along the beam’s axis can be obtained by using previous method.

it is necessary to locate the imaginary section at an arbitrary distance “x” from one end
of the beam.

➢ The shear and moment functions will be discontinuous, or their slope will be
discontinuous at points where the type or magnitude of the distributed load changes
or where concentrated forces or couple moments are applied.

➢ Because of this, shear and moment functions must be determined for each region of
the beam located between any two discontinuities of loading.
These coordinates will be valid only within the regions from A to B for x1, from B to C
for x2 and from C to D for x3.

It may be easier to develop the shear and moment functions using coordinates having
x1, x2, x3 origins at A, B, and D.
The following procedure helps to determine the variation of shear and moment in a
beam as a function of position x.

Support Reactions
• Determine the support reactions.
• Resolve all the external forces acting perpendicular and parallel to the beam’s axis.

Shear and Moment Functions

• Section/Cut the beam perpendicular to its axis at each distance x.
• Determine the unknowns “V” and “M” at the cut section as functions of x.
• V and M should be shown acting in their positive direction in free body diagram.
• V is obtained from ∑Fy = 0 and M is obtained by summing moments about the point
“S” located at the cut section ∑Ms = 0.
EXAMPLE-03

Determine the shear and moment in the beam as a function of x.

Note : Consider all units are in SI .

Support Reactions
N
Total load = 30 x 2 /2
= 30 kN
This load is acting at the center of the
gravity of the force distribution diagram.
Take the cut section from “x” distance and consider the
vertical equilibrium
EXAMPLE-04
Determine the shear and moment in the beam as a function of x.
Reaction at fixed support = 108 kN
Moment = 1,588 kNm

Shear and Moment Functions.

• Since there is a discontinuity of distributed load at x = 12m, the two regions of “x”
must be considered in order to describe the shear and moment functions for the
entire beam.
• Here x1 is appropriate for the left 12 m and x2 can be used for the remaining
segment.

The M and V are shown in the positive direction

These results can be checked, when x2 = 20 m, Then V = 60 kN and M = -100kN. And
also note that dM/dx = V and dV/dx = w.
EXAMPLE-05
Determine the shear force and bending moment in the beam as a function of x.

Support Reactions
• To determine the support reactions, the distributed load is divided into a triangular
and rectangular loading.
• These loadings are replaced by their resultant forces.
• The reactions can be computed using a free body diagram.
Shear and Moment Functions

• The trapezoidal loading is replaced by rectangular and triangular distributions.

• The intensity of the triangular load at the cut is found by proportion.
• The resultant force of each distributed loading and its location are indicated.

Applying the equilibrium equations

SHEAR AND MOMENT DIAGRAMS FOR A BEAM

• When a beam is subjected to several concentrated forces, couples, and distributed

loads, plotting V and M versus “x” can become quite tedious.

• Because we have to plot several functions.

• In this section, a simpler method for constructing these diagrams is discussed

• Consider the beam “AD” in figure to derive these relations.

• This beam is subjected to an arbitrary distributed loading w=w(x) and a series of

concentrated forces ( F1, F2, F3) and couples (M1, M2).

• The distributed load will be considered positive when the loading acts upward.
• Consider the free-body diagram for a small segment “∆x” of
the beam.

• This segment is selected “x” distance away from the support

“A” along the beam.

• It is not subjected to a concentrated force or couple, any

results obtained will not apply at points of concentrated
loading.

• Both the shear force and moment acting on the right face
must be increased by a small/ finite amount in order to keep
the segment in equilibrium.

The distributed loading has been replaced by a concentrated

force “w(x) ∆x” that acts at a fractional distance from ε(∆x) the
right end. Where 0< ε<1,
 If w(x) is uniform, then w(x)∆x will act at ½ (∆x), so ε = ½,

Dividing by “∆x” and taking the limit ∆x 0 as these equations become

Slope of the shear diagram (dV/dx) at

a point is equal to the intensity of the
distributed load w(x) at that point.
 Slope of the bending moment diagram (dM/dx) is
2
equal to the intensity of the shear at the point.

These 2 equations can be “integrated” from one point to another between concentrated
forces or couples such as from B to C.
 3 4

• The change in the shear between
any two points on a beam equals
the area under the distributed
loading diagram between the
points.
• The change in the moment between the
two points equals the area under the shear
diagram between the points, If the areas
under the shear diagrams are easy to
compute.

Above equations provide a method for

determining the numerical values of the shear
force and bending moment at various points
along a beam.
• Equation 1 and 3 can not be used at points where a concentrated force acts.
• Because these equations do not account for the sudden change in shear at these
points.
Similarly,

• Equation 2 and 4 cannot be used at points where a couple /moment is applied.

• Because of a discontinuity of moment In order to account for these two cases.

We must consider the free-body diagrams of

differential/small elements of the beam. It is seen that
force equilibrium satisfy the change in shear is …….
HOW TO DEVELOP

1. SHEAR FORCE
2. BENDING MOMENT DIAGRAMS

Support Reactions
• Determine the support reactions and resolve the forces acting on the
beam into components which are perpendicular and parallel to the
beam’s axis.
SHEAR FORCE DIAGRAM

• Establish the shear force “V” at Y axis and distance in X axes and plot
the values of the shear at the two ends of the beam.

• Since dV/dx is “w”, the slope of the shear diagram at any point is equal
to the intensity of the distributed loading at the point. (Note that “w” is
positive when it acts upward.)

• If a numerical value of the shear is to be determined at the point, one

can find this value either by using the method of sections, which states
that the change in the shear force is equal to the area under the
distributed loading diagram.

• Since w(x) is integrated to obtain V, if w(x) is a curve of degree n, then

V(x) will be a curve of degree (n+1). For example, if w(x) is uniform, V(x)
will be linear.
BENDING MOMENT DIAGRAM
• Establish the Moment “M” in the Y axis and distance in X axes and plot the
values of the moment at the ends of the beam.

• The dM/dx = V slope of the bending moment diagram at any point is equal
to the intensity of the shear at the point.

• At the point where the shear is zero dM/dX = 0, and therefore this may be
a point of maximum or minimum moment.

• If the numerical value of the moment is to be determined at a point, one

can find this value either by using the method of sections. which states that
the change in the moment is equal to the area under the shear diagram.

• Since V(x) is integrated to obtain M, if V(x) is a curve of degree n, then

M(x) will be a curve of degree n+1 For example, if V(x) is linear, M(x) will be
parabolic.
EXAMPLE-06
Shear Diagram.

• The end points x = 0, V = -4 kN and x = 6m, V = 4 kN are

plotted first.

• The shear between each concentrated force is

constant.

• The shear diagram can also be established by

“following the free-body diagram”.

• Beginning at A the 4 kN load acts downward so VA = -4

kN. No load acts between A and B so the shear is
constant. At B, the 6 kN force acts upward, so the shear
jumps up 6 kN, from -4kN to +2 kN. etc.
Moment Diagram.

• The moment at the end points x = 0, M = 0. and x = 6 m M =

0.

• The slope of the moment diagram within each 1.5m is

constant because V is constant.

• The moment at C can be determined by the method of

sections or finding the change in moment by the area under
the shear diagram.
EXAMPLE-06
Draw the shear and moment diagrams for the Support Reactions.
beam
The reactions have been calculated and
they are
shown on the free-body diagram.

Ra + Rb = 9 x 20 / 2 = 90 kN
Total load is acting through the center of
gravity.
( 6m away from the joint A)
Taking moment about A
90 x 6 = Rb x 9
Rb = 60 kN
Ra = 30 kN
For the vertical equilibrium

-V=0

When x = 0, V = 30kN
x = 9, V = -60kN
When V = 0, then x = 5.20m

dM/dx = 0,
That means, at x = 5.20 m , bending
moment is maximum or minimum.
To calculate the maximum bending moments, substitute
x = 5.2 m to this equation.

M = 104 kNm
EXAMPLE-07
Draw the shear and moment diagrams for the beam. Consider the lengths are meters
and forces and moments are kN and kNm.

Support Reactions.
The reactions are calculated and indicated
on the free-body diagram.
For vertical equilibrium

Ra + Rb = 600 kN
Taking moment about D

4000 + 1500 -1300 = 5 Rb

Rb = 500 kN
Ra = 100 kN

Since there is no udl on the beam, the slope

of the shear force diagram is zero.

The value of the shear just to the right of C can be found by sectioning the beam at this
point. Notice that no jump or discontinuity in shear occurs at D, the point where the
couple moment is applied.
Moment Diagram.

The moment at each end of the beam is zero. The value of the moment at C can be
determined by the method of sections by finding the area under the shear diagram
between A and C.

A jump occurs at point D due to the couple moment of the method of sections.
Draw the shear and moment diagrams for the beam. Indicate values at the supports and
at the points where a change in load occurs.
Draw the shear and moment diagrams for the beam. Indicate values at the supports and
at the points where a change in load occurs.

Draw the shear and moment diagrams for the beam (a) in terms of the parameters
shown; (b) set M0 = 500 Nm, L = 8 m.
Draw the shear and moment diagrams for the beam.