MECHANICS OF

MATERIALS
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.

5- 8
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 108x 1.2 M 0 M 129.6 108 x kNm

From D to B :
V 153 kN M 305.1 153x kNm

5- 9
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 wx x 0
2
2
M V x 12 w x
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

5- 13
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 w0a RC RC 12 w0a
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 2
x x
VB V A w0 1 dx w0 x
a 2a
0 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 w0a L a
a
a w0 a
M C 16 w0a3L a L
2 3

Results at C are compatible with free-body

analysis