MECHANICS OF

MATERIALS

4 Bending Moment
and Shear Force
Diagrams
MECHANICS OF MATERIALS
Introduction

Beams - structural members supporting loads at

various points along the member

Transverse loadings of beams are classified as

concentrated loads or distributed loads
Applied loads result in internal forces consisting
of a shear force (from the shear stress
distribution) and a bending couple (from the
normal stress distribution)
MECHANICS OF MATERIALS
Types of Beam supports
MECHANICS OF MATERIALS
Shear and Bending Moment Diagrams
• We need maximum internal shear force and
bending couple in order to find maximum
normal and shear stresses in beams.

• Shear force and bending couple at a point are

determined by passing a section through the
beam and applying an equilibrium analysis on
the beam portions on either side of the
section.

• Sign conventions for shear forces V and V’

and bending couples M and M’
MECHANICS OF MATERIALS
Example 1
SOLUTION:
• Treating the entire beam as a rigid
body, determine the reaction forces

• Section the beam at points near

supports and load application points.
Apply equilibrium analyses on
resulting free-bodies to determine
For the timber beam and loading internal shear forces and bending
shown, draw the shear and bend- couples
moment diagrams
• Identify the maximum shear and
bending-moment from plots of their
distributions.
MECHANICS OF MATERIALS
Example 1
SOLUTION:
• Treating the entire beam as a rigid body, determine
the reaction forces
from  Fy  0   M B : RB  40 kN RD  14 kN

• Section the beam and apply equilibrium analyses

on resulting free-bodies
 Fy  0  20 kN  V1  0 V1  20 kN
 M1  0 20 kN0 m   M1  0 M1  0

 Fy  0  20 kN  V2  0 V2  20 kN
 M2  0 20 kN2.5 m   M 2  0 M 2  50 kN  m

V3  26 kN M 3  50 kN  m
V4  26 kN M 4  28 kN  m
V5  14 kN M 5  28 kN  m
V6  14 kN M 6  0
MECHANICS OF MATERIALS
Example 1
• Identify the maximum shear and bending-
moment from plots of their distributions.
Vm  26 kN M m  M B  50 kN  m
MECHANICS OF MATERIALS
Example 2
SOLUTION:
Replace the 45 kN load with an
equivalent force-couple system at D.
Find the reactions at B by considering
the beam as a rigid body.

Section the beam at points near the

support and load application points.
Apply equilibrium analyses on
The structure shown is
resulting free-bodies to determine
constructed of a W 250x167 internal shear forces and bending
rolled-steel beam. Draw the couples.
shear and bending-moment
diagrams for the beam and the
given loading.
MECHANICS OF MATERIALS
Example 2
SOLUTION:
Replace the 45 kN load with equivalent force-
couple system at D. Find reactions at B.
Section the beam and apply equilibrium
analyses on resulting free-bodies.
From A to C :
 F  0  45x  V  0
y V  45 x kN
 M  0 45x  x   M  0
1
1
2 M  22.5 x 2 kNm

From C to D :
F  0
y  108  V  0 V  108 kN
M  0 2 108x  1.2  M  0 M  129.6  108 x  kNm

From D to B :
V  153 kN M  305.1  153 x  kNm
MECHANICS OF MATERIALS
Example 2
MECHANICS OF MATERIALS
Relations Among Load, Shear, and Bending Moment
• Relationship between load and shear:
 Fy  0 : V  V  V   w x  0
V   w x
dV
 w
dx
xD
VD  VC    w dx
xC

• Relationship between shear and bending

moment:
 M C  0 : M  M   M  V x  wx x  0
2
M  V x  12 w x  2

dM
V
dx
xD

M D  MC   V dx
xC
MECHANICS OF MATERIALS
Example 3
SOLUTION:
• Taking the entire beam as a free body,
determine the reactions at A and D.

• Apply the relationship between shear and

load to develop the shear diagram.

Draw the shear and bending • Apply the relationship between bending
moment diagrams for the beam moment and shear to develop the bending
and loading shown. moment diagram.
MECHANICS OF MATERIALS
Example 3
SOLUTION:
Taking the entire beam as a free body, determine the
reactions at A and D.
M A 0
0  D7.2 m   90 kN 1.8 m   54 kN 4.2 m   52.8 kN 8.4 m 
D  115.6 kN
F y 0
0  Ay  90 kN  54 kN  115.6 kN  52.8 kN
Ay  81.2 kN

Apply the relationship between shear and load to

develop the shear diagram.
dV
 w dV   w dx
dx
- zero slope between concentrated loads
- linear variation over uniform load segment
MECHANICS OF MATERIALS
Example 3

Apply the relationship between bending moment

and shear to develop the bending moment
diagram.
dM
V dM  V dx
dx
- bending moment at A and E is zero
- bending moment variation between A, B,
C and D is linear
- bending moment variation between D
and E is quadratic
- net change in bending moment is equal to
areas under shear distribution segments
- total of all bending moment changes across
the beam should be zero
MECHANICS OF MATERIALS
Example 4
SOLUTION:
• Taking the entire beam as a free body,
determine the reactions at C.

• Apply the relationship between shear

and load to develop the shear diagram.

Draw the shear and bending moment • Apply the relationship between
diagrams for the beam and loading bending moment and shear to develop
shown. the bending moment diagram.
MECHANICS OF MATERIALS
Example 4
SOLUTION:
• Taking the entire beam as a free body,
determine the reactions at C.
 Fy  0   12 w0 a  RC RC  12 w0 a
 a  a
 M C  0  12 w0 a L    M C M C   12 w0 a L  
 3  3
Results from integration of the load and shear
distributions should be equivalent.
• Apply the relationship between shear and load
to develop the shear diagram.
a
a
 x   x 2 
VB  V A    w0 1   dx    w0  x  
 2a 
0  a   0
VB   12 w0 a    area under load curve
- No change in shear between B and C.
- Compatible with free body analysis
MECHANICS OF MATERIALS
Example 4
• Apply the relationship between bending moment
and shear to develop the bending moment
diagram.
a
a  x 2    x 2 x3 
 
M B  M A    w0  x   dx   w0   
  2a    2 6a 
0     0
M B   13 w0 a 2

 
L
M B  M C    12 w0 a dx   12 w0 aL  a 
a
a w0  a
M C   16 w0 a3L  a   L 
2  3

Results at C are compatible with free-body

analysis