WU, Dept.

of CENG

ENGINEERING MECHANICS I (CENG1041)

CHAPTER FIVE
INTERNAL ACTIONS IN BEAMS
5.1 Introduction
Beams are generally horizontal structural members subjected to lateral or transversal
loads, i.e. forces or moments having their vectors perpendicular to the axis of the bar. For
instance, the main members supporting floors of buildings are beams.
5.1 Classification of beams and Diagrammatic Conventions
5.1.1 Classification of beams
Beams or any other structures are classified into two general parts. They are either statically
determinate or indeterminate.
For statically determinate beams, the number of unknown reactions equals three and then using
the three equilibrium equations, we can determine force at any part of the structure-but not for
the statically indeterminate ones.
I)
Statically determinate beams are:
a) Simply supported beams (simple beams)

II). Statically indeterminate beams

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5.2 . Diagrammatic representation of internal actions in beams

The method of sections can be applied to obtain the forces that exists at a section of beam.
Consider a beam with certain concentrated and distributed forces acting on it .The externally
applied forces and the reactions at the support keep the whole body in equilibrium.
Now consider an imaginary cut x-x normal to the axis of the beam, which separates the beam
into two segments. If the whole body is in equilibrium, any part of it likewise is in equilibrium.
At a section of a beam, vertical forces, horizontal forces, and moments are necessary to maintain
the part of the beam in equilibrium. These quantities take on a special significance in beams &
therefore will be discussed separately.
SHEAR IN BEAM
To maintain the segment of a beam shown, in Fig (a) above, in equilibrium there must be an
internal vertical force V at the cut to satisfy the equation Fy=0. This internal force V, acting at
right angles to the axis of the beam, is called the shear or the shearing force.
Positive shear: A downward internal force acting on the left side of a cut or upward force acting
on the right side of the same cut corresponds to a positive shear. That is a positive shear tend to
rotate an element counterclockwise and vice versa.
AXIAL FORCE IN BEAMS
In addition to the shear V, a horizontal forces such as P may be necessary at a section of a
beam to satisfy the condition of equilibrium in x-axis i.e. Fx=0 If the horizontal force P acts
toward the cut, it is termed a trust; if away from the cut, it is termed as axial tension and if it
is towards to the cut, it is axial compression. In referring to either of these forces the term

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ENGINEERING MECHANICS I (CENG1041)

axial force is used.

BENDING MOMENT IN BEAM

The remaining condition of static equilibrium for a planar problem, i.e (Mz=0) can be satisfied
only by developing a couple or an internal resisting moment within the cross sectional area of the
cut to counteract the moment caused by the external forces. This internal resisting moment tends
to bend a beam in the plane of the load and is usually referred to as bending moment.

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ENGINEERING MECHANICS I (CENG1041)

5.3 Types of Loads and reactions

Beams are subjected to variety of loads. In general loads on beams can be classified as
concentrated or distributed. Commonly forces are acted on beams through a post, a hanger, or a
bolted detail as shown in the figure ( a) below. In such arrangements the force is applied over a
very limited portion of the beam and can be idealized as Concentrated Load for the purpose of
beam analysis as shown in figure (b)

Most commonly forces are applied over a considerable portion of the beam. Such forces are
termed Distributed Loads. Many types of distributed loads occur. Among these, two kinds are
particularly important: the uniformly distributed loads and the uniformly varying loads. Refer to
figure (a), (b) and (c).

5.4 Shear, Axial Force, And Bending-Moment Diagrams

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ENGINEERING MECHANICS I (CENG1041)

Shear, Axial-force & Bending moment diagrams are merely the graphical visualization of the
shear, axial and moment equations plotted on V-x, P-x & M-x axes. They are usually drawn
below the loading diagram. That is to show the variation of the internal forces with respect to the
horizontal distance x.
* Shear & moment diagrams are exceedingly important. From them a designer sees at a glance
the kind of performance that is designed from a beam at every section.
Example: - Construct the shear, axial force and bending moment diagrams for the weightless
beam shown subjected to the inclined force P=5KN.

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ENGINEERING MECHANICS I (CENG1041)

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Some conclusions: dMAB/dx=VAB

Maximum moment corresponds to the section of zero shear.
The beam between A & E is concave up, and between E & D it is concave down.
It is not surprising that the moment diagram has positive values corresponding to the
region AE, while for the position ED, where the beam is concave down; the moment diagram
has negative values.
Sketching the shape of the beam therefore provides a check of the sign of bending
moment.
At point E, where the beam changes its shape from concave up to concave down, we have
that is called a point of inflection, it corresponds to the section of zero bending moment.
Its position may be calculated by settling MBc=0
- 37x+250=0
x= 6.7
5.4 Relations between Static functions and their application
The relationships b/n load intensity function q(x) & bending moment function M(x) that exist at
any point on a loaded beam, provides:
- A method of construction shear & moment diagrams without writing shear
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& moment equations:

- A method of constructing the loading diagram or the bending moment diagram from the given
shear force diagram.
To develop these relationships consider a beam loaded or literarily, such as shown below.

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Relationship between Load, Shear, and Moment

Consider the shown below

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where R1 = R2 = wL/2

If we differentiate M with respect to x:

thus,

Thus, the rate of change of the bending moment with respect to x is equal to the shearing force,
or the slope of the moment diagram at the given point is the shear at that point.
Differentiate V with respect to x gives

Thus, the rate of change of the shearing force with respect to x is equal to the load or the slope of
the shear diagram at a given point equals the load at that point.
PROPERTIES OF SHEAR AND MOMENT DIAGRAMS
The following are some important properties of shear and moment diagrams:
1. The area of the shear diagram to the left or to the right of the section is equal to the moment
at that section.
2. The slope of the moment diagram at a given point is the shear at that point.
3. The slope of the shear diagram at a given point equals the load at that point.
4. The maximum moment occurs at the point of zero shears. This is in reference to property
number 2, that when the shear (also the slope of the moment diagram) is zero, the tangent
drawn to the moment diagram is horizontal.
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5. When the shear diagram is increasing, the moment diagram is concave upward.
6. When the shear diagram is decreasing, the moment diagram is concave downward.

SIGN CONVENTIONS
The customary sign conventions for shearing force and bending moment are represented by the
figures below. A force that tends to bend the beam downward is said to produce a positive
bending moment. A force that tends to shear the left portion of the beam upward with respect to
the right portion is said to produce a positive shearing force.

An easier way of determining the sign of the bending moment at any section is that upward
forces always cause positive bending moments regardless of whether they act to the left or to the
right of the exploratory section.

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WU, Dept. of CENG

ENGINEERING MECHANICS I (CENG1041)

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