T

The Free Body

A B Diagram

The Concurrent System

 Concept of Free Body Particle System
Diagrams
Rigid Body
Free Body diagram
of Rigid Bodies Systems

Types of
Concept of
Beam
Equilibrant
Supports Applied and Graphical
Reaction Forces in Determination of
Beams
Equilibrant
 Free Body Diagrams
• Essential step in solving Equilibrium problems
• Complex Structural systems reduced into concise
FORCE systems

WHAT IS A FREE BODY DIAGRAM?

A FBD is a simplified representation of a PARTICLE
or RIGID BODY that is isolated from its surroundings
and on which all applied forces and reactions are
shown.
All forces acting on a particle original body must be
considered, and equally important any force not directly
applied on the body must be excluded.
 Free Body Diagram
BC
C

BA

B
A

W
Draw the Free Body Diagrams
REAL LIFE CONCURRENT
SYSTEMS

Equilibrium of a Particle
Problem
Force in
Boom= 4000#

  30 ?

Q=800#

P=?
  60 A   30 B
 Change
Problem

4
C D
3

A B   30

BA=?
W=100#
BC=?
CD=?
CE=?
 Y
1 400#
Y 3 300N

  30
12

P P 5
X X
   20
3
  60 4 F1
450N
F2
F1

Y Y
2 7 kN 4
F

3 P P
X 4.5 kN 
 X
  60 

F   30
2.25 kN
3 kN 7.5 kN
CONCEPT OF THE EQUIBILIRIANT

F1 R

F2
E Resultant

Equilibrant
TIP-TO-TAIL
METHOD A B

60  30
Y
C
Line of action of CA 60 30

200 #
X
60
Line of action of CB
W=200# CA

CB
30 Measure CB
and CA

RESULTANT EQUILIBRIANT
 A B
PARALLELOGRAM 60 30
METHOD
C
60 30

200 #

30 60 Measure CB and CA

200 #
CA

CB

EQUILIBRIANT RESULTANT
RIGID BODY SYSTEMS

ASimple Supported Beam

A Cantilever Beam
A Propped Cantilever with Three
Concentrated Load

A Simply Supported Beam with

Three concentrated Loads
 APPLIED AND REACTION FORCES IN BEAMS

In the Chapter on Force Systems, we discussed the concept

of APPLIED FORCES, REACTION FORCES and
INTERNAL FORCES
Here we well discuss the relevance and importance of
APPLIED FORCES and REACTION FORCES in the
case of Beams.
Before we proceed further please study the animated
visuals on the next slide
APPLIED FORCES AND REACTION FORCES ON
RIGID BODY SYSTEMS

A Foundation resting on Soil, with

APPLIED FORCES and REACTION
FORCES

A Simple Supported Beams with APPLIED

FORCES and REACTION FORCES

A Cantilever Beam with APPLIED

FORCES and REACTION
FORCES
A Beam is an example of Rigid Body. Generally loads are
applied on the beams. And the beams develop reactions. We
named the loads hat are applied on the beams like Dead
Load, Live Load, Wind Load. Earthquake Loads as
APPLIED FORCES, and the consequent reactions that are
simultaneously developed as REACTION FORCES. These
REACTION FORCES generally develop at the supports. We
use the same color code as described earlier for clarity.
The reactions develop as a direct consequence of Newton’s
Third Law,. Which states that for every action there is an
equal and opposite reaction. In the three examples presented,
if we separate the rigid body for its supports we can see
equal and opposite forces acting at the supports..
From the above we can describe the concept of the
FREE BODY DIAGRAM of a Rigid Body as folows. It
is representing the rigid body with all the Forces- the
APPLIED FORCES and REACTION FORCES acting
on it
It is axiomatic that the Rigid Body must be in
equilibrium under the action of the APPLIED
FORCES and the REACTION FORCES. Hence the
FREE BODY DIAGRAMS can also be called as
EQUILIBRIUM DIAGRAMS, even though the former
name is more popular.
Finding the REACTION of beams for various types of
APPLIED LOADS is a basic requirement in STATICS
The above diagrams, which show the complete system
of applied and reactive forces acting on a body, are
called free body diagrams.
The whole system of applied and reactive forces acting
on a body must be in a state of equilibrium. Free-body
diagrams are, consequently ,often called equilibrium
diagrams.

Drawing equilibrium diagrams and finding

reactions for loaded structural members is a
common first step in a complete structural
analysis
Roller, Hinge and Fixed Supports

Hinge
supports

Roller Supports

Fixed Supports
 ROLLER SUPPORT
Applied Force

Reactive Forces

The Reactive Force must

always be perpendicular to
the surface for a ROLLER
 Roller Support

Roller Support allows horizontal movement

It allows the beam to bend
 Rocker Support

A Rocker Support is similar to the Roller Support

A variation of Roller Support
PIN or HINGE SUPPORT

Applied Force

Reactive Force

The Reactive Force can be in

any direction
 Pin or Hinge Support

Pin support does no allow any movement

It allows the beam to bend
 FIXED SUPPORT

No movement
No Rotation
 Why Roller Support is Important?

500 ft. 2.34”

T= 40 deg T= 100 deg

Half the strength of the Bridge is lost by not

allowing the Bridge to expand due to the
Temperature Rise
Why Hinge Support is Important ?
 Why Fixed Support is Important?

Hinge

A Cantilever has to be fixed to support a load

 REAL LIFE HINGES

Top part

Pin

Bottom
part

A Steel Hinge A Concrete Hinge A Neoprene Pad Hinge

The rotation of The close confinement of the The shear deformation of
the top part steel rods will not allow moment the Neoprene pad mimics
about the pin transfer, but only Vertical & the horizontal movement of
allows a Hinge Horizontal Forces a Roller
action
Question 1. What is the difference between a
Rigid Body and a Particle

Question 2: Explain the Difference between a

Roller Support, Hinge Support and Fixed
Support
FREE BODY DIAGRAMS OF RIGID SYSTEMS
 Free Body Diagrams
1. Try to draw the free body diagram for a axle of a bicycle wheel as shown
below:
Axle

2. Draw the free body diagram for a propped cantilever shown below:
P

3. Does a Neoprene pad bearing function like a Hinge or a Roller.

4. Attempt to draw the Free body diagram for the circled part of the building
• 5. Draw the Free Body Diagram for the following Dam:

Water