Lecture 3 Beam Reactions, Shears, Moments

3 rules of static analysis:

1) Fy = 0
2) Fx = 0
3) M = 0

summation of all vertical forces = 0

summation of all horizontal forces = 0
summation of all moments = 0

A) Finding Beam Reactions

Example 1:
6 kips (i.e., 6000 lbs.)
250 PLF

A
16-0

7-0
23-0

To find reaction at A:
MB = 0
A(23) = 6000 lbs(7) + 250 PLF(23)((23))
reaction at A = 4701 lbs.
To find reaction at B:
MA = 0
B(23) = 6000 lbs(16) + 250 PLF(23)((23))
reaction at B = 7049 lbs.
Check if Fv = 0
Forces down = forces up ?????
6000 lbs. + 250 PLF(23) = 4701 lbs. + 7049 lbs.
11750 lbs. = 11750 lbs. OK

Lecture 3 - Page 1 of 8

Example 2 (beam with single overhang):

5 kips

6 kips
250 PLF

6-0

7-0

16-0
23-0

To find reaction at A:
MB = 0
A(16) = 6000 lbs(7) + 250 PLF(7((7)) 5000 lbs(10) 250 PLF(16)((16))
reaction at A = 2117 lbs.
To find reaction at B:
MA = 0
B(16) = 6000 lbs(23) + 250 PLF(23((23)) + 5000 lbs(6)
reaction at B = 14,633 lbs.
Check if Fv = 0
Forces down = forces up ?????
5000 lbs. + 6000 lbs. + 250 PLF(23) = 2117 lbs. + 14,633 lbs.
16750 lbs. = 16750 lbs. OK

Lecture 3 - Page 2 of 8

B) Shear Diagrams
Basically, a shear diagram is a graph of the variability of the magnitude of
the applied vertical loads acting on a beam along the beams length.
Example 1:
6 kips = 6000 lbs.
250 PLF

R1

R2
16-0

R1 = 4701 lbs.
R2 = 7049 lbs.

7-0
23-0

4701 lbs.

See Ex. 1

4701 lbs. (250 PLF * 16) = 701 lbs.

701 lbs.
0 lbs.

0 lbs.
6000 lbs.
Shear Diagram
-5299 lbs.

701 6000 = -5299

Lecture 3 - Page 3 of 8

-7049 lbs.

Example 2 (beam with single overhang):

5 kips

6 kips
250 PLF

R1

R1 = 2117 lbs.
R2 = 14,633 lbs.

R2

6-0

7-0

16-0
23-0

7750 lbs.
2117 lbs.
617 lbs.
Shear Diagram 0

6000 lbs.
0
14,633 lbs.

-4383

-6883 lbs.

Lecture 3 - Page 4 of 8

See Ex. 2

Example 3 Cantilevered Beam:

3000 lbs.
200 PLF
R1
9-0

Since cant.
beams have
only one
support, the
reaction = sum
of vertical
loads

4-0

5600

5600 9(200 PLF) = 3800 lbs.

Shear Diagram

800 4(200 PLF) = 0 lbs.

3800 lbs. 3000 lbs. = 800 lbs.

Lecture 3 - Page 5 of 8

C) Moment Diagrams
RULES:
1. The area under the shear diagram = moment.
2. Maximum or minimum moments occur when shear crosses the zero line.
3. Moment diagrams start and end at zero moment (except for cantilever
beams and continuous beams, See Lect. 15).
Example 1: (See Ex. 1 above for Shear Diagram)
6 kips
250 PLF

16-0

7-0
23-0

4701 lbs.
+

701 lbs.

0 lbs.

0 lbs.

Shear Diagram

-5299 lbs.

-7049 lbs.

Shaded Area =
(4701+701)(16)
= 43,216 ft-lb

Shaded Area =
43,216 [(5299 + 7049)(7)]
= 0 ft-lb

Lecture 3 - Page 6 of 8

Moment Diagram

Example 2 (beam with one overhang): (See Ex 2 above for Shear Diagram)

5 kips

6 kips
250 PLF

6-0
7-0

16-0
23-0

7750 lbs.
2117 lbs.
+

617 lbs.

6000 lbs.
0 lbs.

0 lbs.

Shear Diagram

-4383

-6883 lbs.

(2117 + 617)(6)
= 8202 ft-lb

Moment Diagram
-48,125 + [(7750 + 6000)(7)]
= 0 ft-lb

8202 [(4383 + 6883)(10)]

= -48,125 ft-lb

Lecture 3 - Page 7 of 8

Example 3 Cantilevered Beam: (See Ex 3 above for Shear Diagram)

3000 lbs.
200 PLF
R1
9-0

4-0

5600 lbs.
3800 lbs.
-

800 lbs.

0 lbs.

Shear Diagram
0 lbs.

0 ft-lb

0 ft-lb
Moment Diagram
(800 + 0)(4)
= 1600 ft-lbs.
Moments at R1

13'
= 200 PLF(13) + 3000lbs (9' )
2
= 43,900 ft-lbs.

Lecture 3 - Page 8 of 8