Definition of a Beam

A beam is a bar subject to forces or couples that lie in a plane containing the longitudinal section
of the bar. According to determinacy, a beam may be determinate or indeterminate.

Statically Determinate Beams

Statically determinate beams are those beams in which the reactions of the supports may be
determined by the use of the equations of static equilibrium. The beams shown below are
examples of statically determinate beams.

Statically Indeterminate Beams

If the number of reactions exerted upon a beam exceeds the number of equations in static
equilibrium, the beam is said to be statically indeterminate. In order to solve the reactions of the
beam, the static equations must be supplemented by equations based upon the elastic
deformations of the beam.
 

The degree of indeterminacy is taken as the difference between the umber of reactions to the
number of equations in static equilibrium that can be applied. In the case of the propped beam
shown, there are three reactions R1, R2, and M and only two equations (ΣM = 0 and ΣFv = 0) can
be applied, thus the beam is indeterminate to the first degree (3 - 2 = 1).

Types of Loading
Loads applied to the beam may consist of a concentrated load (load applied at a point), uniform
load, uniformly varying load, or an applied couple or moment. These loads are shown in the
following figures.

 
 

Shear and Moment Diagrams

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Consider a simple beam shown of length L that carries a uniform load of w (N/m) throughout its
length and is held in equilibrium by reactions R1 and R2. Assume that the beam is cut at point C a
distance of x from he left support and the portion of the beam to the right of C be removed. The
portion removed must then be replaced by vertical shearing force V together with a couple M to
hold the left portion of the bar in equilibrium under the action of R1 and wx.
 
 

The couple M is called the resisting moment or moment and the force V is called the resisting
shear or shear. The sign of V and M are taken to be positive if they have the senses indicated
above.
 

INSTRUCTION:

Write shear and moment equations for the beams in the following problems. In each problem, let
x be the distance measured from left end of the beam. Also, draw shear and moment diagrams,
specifying values at all change of loading positions and at points of zero shear. Neglect the mass
of the beam in each problem.

Problem 403
Beam loaded as shown in Fig. P-403. See the instruction.
 

Solution 403
From the load diagram:

Segment AB:
 
 
 

Segment BC:

 
 
 

Segment CD:

 
 
 

To draw the Shear Diagram:

1. In segment AB, the shear is
uniformly distributed over the
segment at a magnitude of -30
kN.
2. In segment BC, the shear is
uniformly distributed at a
magnitude of 26 kN.

3. In segment CD, the shear is

uniformly distributed at a
magnitude of -24 kN.
To draw the Moment Diagram:
1. The equation MAB = -30x is linear, at x = 0, MAB = 0 and at x = 1 m, MAB = -30 kN·m.
2. MBC = 26x - 56 is also linear. At x = 1 m, M BC = -30 kN·m; at x = 4 m, MBC = 48 kN·m. When MBC = 0,
x = 2.154 m, thus the moment is zero at 1.154 m from B.

3. MCD = -24x + 144 is again linear. At x = 4 m, M CD = 48 kN·m; at x = 6 m, MCD = 0.

Problem 404
Beam loaded as shown in Fig. P-404. See the instruction.

Solution 404

Segment AB:

Segment BC:
 

Segment CD:

To draw the Shear

Diagram:
1. At segment AB, the shear is
uniformly distributed at 1900
lb.
2. A shear of -100 lb is
uniformly distributed over
segments BC and CD.

To draw the Moment

Diagram:
1. MAB = 1900x is linear; at x =
0, MAB = 0; at x = 3 ft, MAB =
5700 lb·ft.
2. For segment BC, MBC = -100x
+ 6000 is linear; at x = 3 ft, MBC = 5700 lb·ft; at x = 9 ft, MBC = 5100 lb·ft.
3. MCD = -100x + 1200 is again linear; at x = 9 ft, MCD = 300 lb·ft; at x = 12 ft, MCD = 0.

Problem 405
Beam loaded as shown in Fig. P-405. See the instruction.

 
 

Solution 405

Segment AB:

Segment BC:

 
To draw the Shear Diagram:
1. For segment AB, VAB = 114 - 10x is
linear; at x = 0, VAB = 14 kN; at x =
2 m, VAB = 94 kN.
2. VBC = 34 - 10x for segment BC is
linear; at x = 2 m, VBC = 14 kN; at x
= 10 m, VBC = -66 kN. When VBC =
0, x = 3.4 m thus VBC = 0 at 1.4 m
from B.

3.

To draw the Moment Diagram:

1. MAB = 114x - 5x2 is a second
degree curve for segment AB; at x
= 0, MAB = 0; at x = 2 m, MAB = 208
kN·m.
2. The moment diagram is also a
second degree curve for segment
BC given by MBC = 160 + 34x - 5x2;
at x = 2 m, MBC = 208 kN·m; at x =
10 m, MBC = 0.

3. Note that the maximum moment

occurs at point of zero shear. Thus, at x = 3.4 m, M BC = 217.8 kN·m.

Problem 406
Beam loaded as shown in Fig. P-406. See the instruction.

Solution 406
 

Segment AB:

Segment BC:

Segment CD:

 
To draw the Shear Diagram:
1. VAB = 670 - 60x for segment AB is
linear; at x = 0, VAB= 670 lb; at x =
4 ft, VAB = 430 lb.
2. For segment BC, VBC = -230 - 60x is
also linear; at x= 4 ft, VBC = -470 lb,
at x = 12 ft, VBC = -950 lb.

3. VCD = 1480 - 60x for segment CD is

again linear; at x = 12, VCD = 760
lb; at x = 18 ft, VCD = 400 lb.

To draw the Moment Diagram:

1. MAB = 670x - 30x2 for segment AB
is a second degree curve; at x = 0,
MAB = 0; at x = 4 ft, MAB = 2200
lb·ft.
2. For BC, MBC = 3600 - 230x - 30x2, is
a second degree curve; at x = 4 ft,
MBC = 2200 lb·ft, at x = 12 ft, MBC =
-3480 lb·ft; When MBC = 0, 3600 -
230x - 30x2 = 0, x = -15.439 ft and
7.772 ft. Take x = 7.772 ft, thus,
the moment is zero at 3.772 ft
from B.

3. For segment CD, MCD = -16920 +

1480x - 30x2 is a second degree curve; at x = 12 ft, M CD = -3480 lb·ft; at x = 18 ft, MCD = 0.

Problem 407
Beam loaded as shown in Fig. P-407. See the instruction.

Solution 407
 

Segment AB:

Segment BC:

Segment CD:

To draw the Shear

Diagram:
1. For segment AB, the shear is
uniformly distributed at 20 kN.
2. VBC = 110 - 30x for segment
BC; at x = 3 m, VBC = 20 kN; at
x = 5 m, VBC = -40 kN. For VBC
= 0, x = 3.67 m or 0.67 m from
B.
3. The shear for segment CD is
uniformly distributed at -40
kN.
To draw the Moment Diagram:
1. For AB, MAB = 20x; at x = 0, MAB = 0; at x = 3 m, MAB = 60 kN·m.
2. MBC = 20x - 15(x - 3)2 for segment BC is second degree curve; at x = 3 m, MBC = 60
kN·m; at x = 5 m, MBC = 40 kN·m. Note: that maximum moment occurred at zero shear;
at x = 3.67 m, MBC = 66.67 kN·m.
3. MCD = 20x - 60(x - 4) for segment BC is linear; at x = 5 m, MCD = 40 kN·m; at x = 6 m,
MCD = 0.

Problem 408
Beam loaded as shown in Fig. P-408. See the instruction.

Solution 408

Segment AB:

 
Segment BC:

Segment CD:

To draw the Shear

Diagram:
1. VAB = 90 - 50x is linear; at x =
0, VBC = 90 kN; at x = 2 m, VBC
= -10 kN. When VAB = 0, x =
1.8 m.
2. VBC = -10 kN along segment
BC.
3. VCD = -20x + 70 is linear; at x =
4 m, VCD = -10 kN; at x = 6 m,
VCD = -50 kN.

To draw the Moment

Diagram:
1. MAB = 90x - 25x2 is second degree; at x = 0, MAB = 0; at x = 1.8 m, MAB = 81 kN·m; at x
= 2 m, MAB = 80 kN·m.
2. MBC = -10x + 100 is linear; at x = 2 m, MBC = 80 kN·m; at x = 4 m, MBC = 60 kN·m.
3. MCD = -10x2 + 70x - 60; at x = 4 m, MCD = 60 kN·m; at x = 6 m, MCD = 0.

Problem 409
Cantilever beam loaded as shown in Fig. P-409. See the instruction.

Solution 409
Segment AB:

Segment BC:

To draw the Shear Diagram:

1. VAB = -wox for segment AB is linear; at x = 0,
VAB = 0; at x = L/2, VAB = -½woL.
2. At BC, the shear is uniformly distributed by
-½woL.

To draw the Moment Diagram:

1. MAB = -½wox2 is a second degree curve; at x =
0, MAB = 0; at x = L/2, MAB = -1/8 woL2.
2. MBC = -½woLx + 1/8 woL2 is a second degree;
at x = L/2, MBC = -1/8 woL2; at x = L, MBC =
-3/8 woL2.
 

Problem 410
Cantilever beam carrying the uniformly varying load shown in Fig. P-410. See the instruction.

Solution 410

Shear equation:

Moment equation:

 
To draw the Shear Diagram:
1. V = - wo x2 / 2L is a second degree curve; at x =
0, V = 0; at x = L, V = -½ woL.

To draw the Moment Diagram:

1. M = - wo x3 / 6L is a third degree curve; at x = 0,
M = 0; at x = L, M = - 1/6 woL2.

Problem 411
Cantilever beam carrying a distributed load with intensity varying from wo at the free end to zero
at the wall, as shown in Fig. P-411. See the instruction.

Solution 411

 
f1=

Shear equation:

Moment equation:

To draw the Shear Diagram:

1. V = wox2/2L - wox is a concave upward second
degree curve; at x = 0, V = 0; at x = L, V = -1/2
woL.

To draw the Moment diagram:

1. M = -wox2/2 + wox3/6L is in third degree; at x = 0,
M = 0; at x = L, M = -1/3 woL2.
 

Problem 412
Beam loaded as shown in Fig. P-412. See the instruction.

Solution 412

Segment AB:

Segment BC:
 

Segment CD:

To draw the Shear

Diagram:
1. 800 lb of shear force is uniformly
distributed along segment AB.
2. VBC = 2400 - 800x is linear; at x = 2
ft, VBC = 800 lb; at x = 6 ft, VBC =
-2400 lb. When VBC = 0, 2400 - 800x
= 0, thus x = 3 ft or VBC = 0 at 1 ft
from B.
3. VCD = 6400 - 800x is also linear; at x
= 6 ft, VCD = 1600 lb; at x = 8 ft, VBC
= 0.

To draw the Moment

Diagram:
1. MAB = 800x is linear; at x = 0, MAB =
0; at x = 2 ft, MAB = 1600 lb·ft.
2. MBC = 800x - 400(x - 2)2 is second degree curve; at x = 2 ft, MBC = 1600 lb·ft; at x = 6 ft,
MBC = -1600 lb·ft; at x = 3 ft, MBC = 2000 lb·ft.
3. MCD = 800x + 4000(x - 6) - 400(x - 2)2 is also a second degree curve; at x = 6 ft, MCD =
-1600 lb·ft; at x = 8 ft, MCD = 0.

Problem 413
Beam loaded as shown in Fig. P-413. See the instruction.

 
 

Solution 413

Segment AB:

Segment BC:

Segment CD:

 
Segment DE:

To draw the Shear

Diagram:
1. VAB = -100x is linear; at x = 0,
VAB = 0; at x = 2 ft, VAB = -200
lb.
2. VBC = 300 - 100x is also linear;
at x = 2 ft, VBC = 100 lb; at x =
4 ft, VBC = -300 lb. When VBC =
0, x = 3 ft, or VBC =0 at 1 ft
from B.
3. The shear is uniformly
distributed at -300 lb along
segments CD and DE.

To draw the Moment

Diagram:
1. MAB = -50x2 is a second degree
curve; at x= 0, MAB = 0; at x =
ft, MAB = -200 lb·ft.
2. MBC = -50x2 + 300x - 600 is
also second degree; at x = 2 ft; MBC = -200 lb·ft; at x = 6 ft, MBC = -600 lb·ft; at x = 3 ft,
MBC = -150 lb·ft.
3. MCD = -300x + 1200 is linear; at x = 6 ft, MCD = -600 lb·ft; at x = 7 ft, MCD = -900 lb·ft.
4. MDE = -300x + 2400 is again linear; at x = 7 ft, MDE = 300 lb·ft; at x = 8 ft, MDE = 0.