5-1

Chapter 7

Analysis of beam
structures
7- 2 Contents

Introduction Sample Problem 7.4

Internal Forces in Members
Sample Problem 7.1
Various Types of Beam Loading and
Support
Shear and Bending Moment in a
Beam
Sample Problem 7.2
Sample Problem 7.3
Relations Among Load, Shear, and
Bending Moment
Sample Problem 7.6
Cables With Concentrated Loads
Cables With Distributed Loads
Parabolic Cable
Sample Problem 7.8
Catenary
7- 3 Introduction
• Preceding chapters dealt with:
a) determining external forces acting on a structure and
b) determining forces which hold together the various members
of a structure.

• The current chapter is concerned with determining the internal

forces (i.e., tension/compression, shear, and bending) which hold
together the various parts of a given member.

• Focus is on two important types of engineering structures:

a) Beams - usually long, straight, prismatic members designed
to support loads applied at various points along the member.
b) Cables - flexible members capable of withstanding only
tension, designed to support concentrated or distributed loads.
 Internal Forces in Members
7- 4
• Straight two-force member AB is in
equilibrium under application of F and
-F.

• Internal forces equivalent to F and -F are

required for equilibrium of free-bodies
AC and CB.

• Multiforce member ABCD is in equil-

ibrium under application of cable and
member contact forces.

• Internal forces equivalent to a force-

couple system are necessary for equil-
ibrium of free-bodies JD and ABCJ.

• An internal force-couple system is

required for equilibrium of two-force
members which are not straight.
 Sample Problem 7.1
7- 5

SOLUTION:
• Compute reactions and forces at
connections for each member.

• Cut member ACF at J. The internal

forces at J are represented by equivalent
force-couple system which is determined
by considering equilibrium of either part.

• Cut member BCD at K. Determine

force-couple system equivalent to
internal forces at K by applying
equilibrium conditions to either part.
Determine the internal forces (a) in
member ACF at point J and (b) in
member BCD at K.
 Sample Problem 7.1
7- 6
SOLUTION:
• Compute reactions and connection forces.

Consider entire frame as a free-body:

ME  0:
 2400 N 3.6 m  F 4.8 m  0 F  1800 N

 Fy  0 :
 2400 N  1800 N  E y  0 E y  600 N

 Fx  0 : Ex  0
 Sample Problem 7.1
7- 7
Consider member BCD as free-body:
MB  0:
 2400 N 3.6 m  C y 2.4 m  0 C y  3600 N
 MC  0 :
 2400 N 1.2 m  B y 2.4 m  0 B y  1200 N
 Fx  0 :  Bx  C x  0

Consider member ABE as free-body:

M A  0: Bx 2.4 m  0 Bx  0
 Fx  0 : Bx  Ax  0 Ax  0
 Fy  0 :  Ay  B y  600 N  0 Ay  1800 N

From member BCD,

 Fx  0 :  Bx  C x  0 Cx  0
 Sample Problem 7.1
7- 8
• Cut member ACF at J. The internal forces at J are
represented by equivalent force-couple system.

Consider free-body AJ:

MJ  0:
 1800 N 1.2 m  M  0 M  2160 N  m

 Fx  0 :
F  1800 N  cos 41.7  0 F  1344 N

 Fy  0 :
V  1800 N sin 41.7  0 V  1197 N
 Sample Problem 7.1
7- 9

• Cut member BCD at K. Determine a force-couple

system equivalent to internal forces at K .

Consider free-body BK:

MK  0:
1200 N1.5 m  M  0 M  1800 N  m

 Fx  0 : F 0

 Fy  0 :
 1200 N  V  0 V  1200 N
 Concept question
7- 10

• A quarter circular member is shown. If an external force P applied at A, at which location

the bending moment would be maximum
 Example
7- 11

• A semicircular rod is loaded as shown. Determine the magnitude and location of the
maximum bending moment in the rod.
 Example
7- 12
 Example
7- 13
 Example
7- 14
 Concept question
7- 15

• In which parts of the frame shown, shear forces are zero.

shear force is parallel to the cut plane

bending force is perpendicular

axial force not zero but shear force is zero at EG

because g is a roller support.
 Group problem solving
7- 16

• In the structure shown, find shear force, axial force and bending moment at point H.

• Answer:
 Various Types of Beam Loading and Support
7- 17
• Beam - structural member designed to support
loads applied at various points along its length.

• Beam can be subjected to concentrated loads or

distributed loads or combination of both.

• Beam design is two-step process:

1) determine shearing forces and bending
moments produced by applied loads
2) select cross-section best suited to resist
shearing forces and bending moments
 Beams
7- 18 Beams (Spars)

Beams Column
 Various Types of Beam Loading and Support
7- 19

• Beams are classified according to way in which they are

supported.

• Reactions at beam supports are determinate if they

involve only three unknowns. Otherwise, they are
statically indeterminate.
 Shear force and Bending Moment in a Beam
7- 20
• Wish to determine bending moment
and shearing force at any point in a
beam subjected to concentrated and
distributed loads.

• Determine reactions at supports by

treating whole beam as free-body.

• Cut beam at C and draw free-body

diagrams for AC and CB. By
definition, positive sense for internal
force-couple systems are as shown.

• From equilibrium considerations,

determine M and V or M’ and V’.
 Shear force and Bending Moment Diagrams
7- 21
• Variation of shear and bending moment
along beam may be plotted.

• Determine reactions at supports.

• Cut beam at C and consider member AC,

V   P 2 M   Px 2

• Cut beam at E and consider member EB,

V   P 2 M   P L  x  2

• For a beam subjected to concentrated

loads, shear is constant between loading
points and moment varies linearly.
 Sample Problem 7.2
7- 22
SOLUTION:
• Taking entire beam as a free-body,
calculate reactions at B and D.

• Find equivalent internal force-couple

systems for free-bodies formed by
cutting beam on either side of load
application points.

• Plot results.
Draw the shear and bending moment diagrams
for the beam and loading shown.
 Sample Problem 7.2
7- 23
SOLUTION:
• Taking entire beam as a free-body, calculate
reactions at B and D.
• Find equivalent internal force-couple systems at
sections on either side of load application
points.
 Fy  0 :  20 kN  V1  0 V1  20 kN

20 kN 0 m  M1  0 M1  0
M2  0 :
Similarly,
V3  26 kN M 3  50 kN  m
V4  26 kN M 4  50 kN  m
V5  26 kN M 5  50 kN  m
V6  26 kN M 6  50 kN  m
 Sample Problem 7.2
7- 24

• Plot results.
Note that shear is of constant value
between concentrated loads and
bending moment varies linearly.
 Sample Problem 7.3
7- 25
SOLUTION:
• Taking entire beam as free-body,
calculate reactions at A and B.

• Determine equivalent internal force-

couple systems at sections cut within
segments AC, CD, and DB.

• Plot results.

Draw the shear and bending moment diagrams

for the beam AB. The distributed load of 40
lb/in. extends over 12 in. of the beam, from A
to C, and the 400 lb load is applied at E.
 Sample Problem 7.3
7- 26
SOLUTION:
• Taking entire beam as a free-body, calculate
reactions at A and B.
M A  0:
B y 32 in.  480 lb6 in.  400 lb22 in.  0

B y  365 lb
MB  0:
480 lb26 in.  400 lb10 in.  A32 in.  0
A  515 lb
 Fx  0 : Bx  0

• Note: The 400 lb load at E may be replaced by a

400 lb force and 1600 lb-in. couple at D.
 Sample Problem 7.3
7- 27
• Evaluate equivalent internal force-couple systems
at sections cut within segments AC, CD, and DB.

From A to C:

 Fy  0 : 515  40 x  V  0
V  515  40 x

 M1  0 :  
 515 x  40 x 12 x  M  0
M  515 x  20 x 2
From C to D:

 Fy  0 : 515  480  V  0
V  35 lb

 M 2  0 :  515x  480 x  6  M  0
M  2880  35x  lb  in.
 Sample Problem 7.3
7- 28
• Evaluate equivalent internal force-couple
systems at sections cut within segments AC,
CD, and DB.

From D to B:

 Fy  0 : 515  480  400  V  0

V  365 lb

M2  0 :
 515x  480 x  6  1600  400 x  18  M  0
M  11,680  365x  lb  in.
 Sample Problem 7.3
7- 29
• Plot results.
From A to C:
V  515  40 x

M  515 x  20 x 2
From C to D:
V  35 lb
M  2880  35x  lb  in.
From D to B:
V  365 lb
M  11,680  365x  lb  in.
 Relations Among Load, Shear, and Bending Moment
7- 30
• Relations between load and shear:
V  V  V   wx  0
dV V
 lim  w
dx x0 x
xD
VD  VC    w dx  area under load curve 
xC

• Relations between shear and bending moment:

M  M   M  Vx  wx x  0
2
dM
 lim
M

 lim V  12 wx  V
dx x0 x x0

xD
M D  M C   V dx  area under shear curve 
xC
 Relations Among Load, Shear, and Bending Moment
7- 31
wL
• Reactions at supports, R A  RB 
2
• Shear curve,
x
V  V A    w dx   wx
0
wL L 
V  V A  wx   wx  w  x 
2 2 
• Moment curve,
x
M  M A   Vdx
0

 
x
L  w
M   w  x dx  L x  x 2
0 2  2
wL2  dM 
M max   M at  V  0
8  dx 
 Sample Problem 7.4
SOLUTION:
7- 32
• Taking entire beam as a free-body, determine
reactions at supports.

• Between concentrated load application

points, dV dx  w  0 and shear is
constant.
• With uniform loading between D and E, the
shear variation is linear.
• Between concentrated load application
points, dM dx  V  constant . The change
in moment between load application points is
Draw the shear and bending- equal to area under shear curve between
moment diagrams for the beam points.
and loading shown.
• With a linear shear variation between D and
E, the bending moment diagram is a
parabola.
 Sample Problem 7.4
7- 33 SOLUTION:
• Taking entire beam as a free-body,
determine reactions at supports.
M A  0:
D24 ft   20 kips 6 ft   12 kips 14 ft 
 12 kips 28 ft   0
D  26 kips

 F y 0 :
Ay  20 kips  12 kips  26 kips  12 kips  0
Ay  18 kips

• Between concentrated load application points,

dV dx  w  0 and shear is constant.

• With uniform loading between D and E, the shear

variation is linear.
 Sample Problem 7.4
7- 34
• Between concentrated load application
points, dM dx  V  constant . The change
in moment between load application points is
equal to area under the shear curve between
points.

M B  M A  108 M B  108 kip  ft

M C  M B  16 M C  92 kip  ft
M D  M C  140 M D  48 kip  ft
M E  M D  48 M E  0

• With a linear shear variation between D

and E, the bending moment diagram is a
parabola.
 Group problem solving
7- 35
Sketch the shear and bending-
moment diagrams for the
cantilever beam and loading
shown.
SOLUTION:
• The change in shear between A and B is equal
to the negative of area under load curve
between points. The linear load curve results
in a parabolic shear curve.
• With zero load, change in shear between B
and C is zero.
• The change in moment between A and B is
equal to area under shear curve between
points. The parabolic shear curve results in
a cubic moment curve.
• The change in moment between B and C is
equal to area under shear curve between
points. The constant shear curve results in a
linear moment curve.
 Group problem solving
7- 36
SOLUTION:
• The change in shear between A and B is equal to
negative of area under load curve between points.
The linear load curve results in a parabolic shear
curve.
dV
at A, V A  0,   w   w0
dx
VB  V A   12 w0 a VB   12 w0 a

dV
at B,  w  0
dx

• With zero load, change in shear between B and C is

zero.
 Group problem solving
7- 37
• The change in moment between A and B is equal
to area under shear curve between the points.
The parabolic shear curve results in a cubic
moment curve.
dM
at A, M A  0, V  0
dx

M B  M A   13 w0 a 2 M B   13 w0 a 2
M C  M B   12 w0 aL  a  M C   16 w0 a3L  a 

• The change in moment between B and C is equal

to area under shear curve between points. The
constant shear curve results in a linear moment
curve.