Shear and Moment in Beams

Algebraic Method
Follow-up Exercise
by: Sr Magi
Analyze the beam shown using Algebraic Method
P = 4 kN
w = 2kN/m
s=1m

Step 1: Solve for the reactions

 P = 4 kN
w = 2kN/m
s=1m

Solving for the reactions:

ΣMA = 2kN/m ⸱ 2 ⸱ 1 + 4kN ⸱ 3 + 2kN/m ⸱ 1 ⸱ 4.5 = 4RB
RB = 6.25 kN
ΣFV = 2kN/m ⸱ 2 + 4kN + 2kN/m ⸱ 1 = RA + RB
RA = 3.75 kN
At section 1:

ΣFV = 0; V = RA – w ⸱ x
V = 3.75 kN – 2kN/m ⸱ x ⸫ V1= 3.75 – 2x

ΣM1 = 3.75kN ⸱ x – 2kN/m ⸱ x ⸱ x/2

P = 4 kN M1 = 3.75x – x2
w = 2kN/m
s=1m
RA = 3.75 kN
At section 2:

ΣFV = 0; V = RA – w ⸱ 2
V = 3.75 kN – 2kN/m ⸱ 2 ⸫ V2 = -0.25 kN

ΣM2 = 3.75kN ⸱ x – 2kN/m ⸱ 2 ⸱ (x-1)

P = 4 kN M2 = -0.25x + 4 [kN]
w = 2kN/m
s=1m
RA = 3.75 kN
At section 3:
P = 4 kN, w = 2kN/m
s = 1 m, RA = 3.75 kN

ΣFV = 0; V = RA – w ⸱ 2 - P
V = 3.75 kN – 2kN/m ⸱ 2 - 4kN ⸫ V3 = -4.25 kN

ΣM3 = 3.75kN ⸱ x – 2kN/m ⸱ 2 ⸱ (x-1) – P ⸱ (x-3)

M3 = -4.25x + 16 [kN-m]
At section 4:
P = 4 kN, w = 2kN/m
s = 1 m, RA = 3.75 kN
RB = 6.25 kN

ΣFV = 0; V = RA – w ⸱ 2 – P + RB
V = 3.75 kN – 2kN/m ⸱ 2 - 4kN + 6.25 – 2kN/m ⸱ (x-4)
⸫ V4 = 10 – 2x kN
ΣM4 = 3.75kN ⸱ x – 2kN/m ⸱ 2 ⸱ (x-1) – P ⸱ (x-3) + 6.25kN ⸱ (x-4) –
2kN/m ⸱ (x-4) ⸱ (x-4)/2
M4 = -x2 + 10x – 25 [kN-m]
 equation x V (kN) x V (kN)
3.75 – 2x 0 3.75 1 1.75
-0.25 2 -0.25 3 -0.25
Determining the ordinates

-4.25 3 -4.25 4 -4.25

4 2 4.25 1.5
10 – 2x
4.5 1 5 0
equation x M (kN-m) x M (kN-m)
0 0 0.5 1.625
3.75x – x2 1 2.75 1.5 3.375
1.875 3.515625 2 3.5
-0.25x + 4 2 3.5 3 3.25
-4.25x + 16 3 3.25 4 -1.0
4 -1.0 4.25 -0.5625
-x + 10x – 25
2
4.5 -0.25 5 0
Plotting the diagrams V Diagram [kN]

VMAX = 4.25 kN

M Diagram [kN-m]
MMAX = 3.516 kN-m