Strength of Materials for

Technicians
Fourth Edition

Chapter 6
Shear Force and Bending Moment

Jan Drotsky
Lecture slides prepared by
IEA Aghachi
 What you should know
• Before you start with this unit, you should be
able to do the following:
• Determine the moment of a force about any given
point given appropriate data, plot to scale and
obtain values from a graph.
• Explain what a statically determinate beam is.
• Determine the roots of a quadratic equation.
• Draw a free body diagram.
• Apply the method of sections.
• Apply the conditions for static equilibrium.
 Expected Outcomes
• Upon Completion of this unit, you should be
able to do the following:
• Distinguish between various types of beams
and loading.
• Define shear force and bending moment and
obtain these values at any given point on a
straight or curved beam.
• Explain the relationship between load, shear
force and bending moment.
 Expected Outcomes
• Plot the shear force and bending moment
diagrams for statically determinate beams.
• Determine the maximum shear force and
bending moment for statically determinate
beams and built-in beams, where the built-in
beams are subjected to symmetrical loading.
• Define and obtain the point of contraflexure
on a beam.
 Beams
• Beams or bars are members subjected to lateral
forces or moments having their vectors
perpendicular to the axis of the beam or bar.
• Some of the beams that will be considered here
are:
• (a) Cantilever.
• (b) Simply supported beam.
• (c) Overhanging beam.
• (d) Built-in beams.
 Cantilever beam
• A cantilever is a beam rigidly fixed at one end.
• This may be done by building the one end into a
wall or by welding one end to another member.
• If the cantilever is subjected to a force W a
reaction and a resisting (fixing) moment will be
caused at the fixed end.
 Simply supported beam
• A simply supported beam is supported at the
ends by (at least) one roller and a pin.
• The roller is to ensure that no longitudinal
forces are induced in the beam by the lateral
forces.
• There are no resisting moments at the supports.
 Overhanging beam
• The only difference between this type of beam
and a simply supported beam is that in this case
one or both ends of the beam extend beyond
the supports.
• The beams considered above are all statically
determinate.
 Built-in beams
• A beam is termed built-in or encastré if both
ends are rigidly fixed. This type of beam is
statically indeterminate.
 Types of load
(point or concentrated load)
• This is a load applied over a very small
distance of the beam.

• P is a point load on the beam.

 Uniformly distributed load
(UDL)
• This is a load uniformly distributed over a
considerable length of the beam.

• This can be expressed as q/unit length or

w/unit length.
 Uniformly varying load
• This is similar to the UDL but the magnitude of
q or w varies over the length of the beam.
Shear force and bending moment
• When a beam is subjected to loads, direct and
shear stresses will be induced in the beam,
causing the beam to deflect.
• Looking at the beam below,

W1
Shear force and bending moment
• If we draw the free body diagram (FBD) of a
point p at a distance x from the free end of
the cantilever, it will look so.

M
Shear force and bending moment
• If we apply the method of sections and
consider the section of the beam, to the right
of line p, it will reveal the reactions at that
point that will keep this section to be in
equilibrium.
 Shear force and bending moment
• M = moment.
• V =internal force.
• RA = reaction at the wall.
• The force, V, is called the
shear force.
• The shear force at any
section of a beam is
numerically equal to the
algebraic sum of the lateral
components of the forces
to one side of the section.
 Shear force and bending moment
• In order to determine
the magnitude of V one
must first calculate the
reaction at the wall, RA.
• For a cantilever it is
easier to consider the
section on the open or
free end of the beam.
 Shear force and bending moment
• The internal resisting
moment, M, must
counteract the moment
M
caused by W1 and W2
about point p.
• The magnitude of the
reaction moment MA at
the wall needs to be first
need to determine .
• The internal moment, M,
is termed the bending
moment at point p.
 Shear force and bending moment
• The bending moment at any section of a beam is
equal to the algebraic sum of the moment of the
forces to one side of the section.
• The shear forces and bending moments are very
important factors in the design of a beam.
• These can be graphical represented as shear
force and bending-moment diagrams.
• These diagrams makes it easier to locate the
position and magnitude of important quantities
 Sign conventions

Positive Negative

Bending moment

Shear force
 Example 6.1
• Draw the shear-force and bending-moment
diagrams for a simply supported beam, length
l, subjected to a concentrated load W at
midspan. W

L
 Solution

• Shear force
diagram

• Bending moment
diagram
 Solution
• Shear forces (V): Adding the forces to the left of
each of the following positions:
 Solution
• Drawing the shear force
diagram (fig(b)), it seems
that the shear force takes
on two values at some
points.
• at point A we have 0 and +
W/ 2.
• In practice the bearing
surface between the beam
and the support will be a -w/2
small area (fig(a)) and not a
point or straight line.
 Solution
• This will result in
• a shear force diagram as
shown in figure (b).
 Solution

• Bending moment (M): Taking moments in the

direction of the nearest end of the beam: W

Wl/4

O O

• Draw the bending-moment diagram, figure (c).

 Example 6.2
• Draw the shear-force and bending-moment
diagram for a simply supported beam, length
l, subjected to a uniformly distributed load, w
per unit length, over its full length.
 Solution
• The free-body diagram is shown in figure (a).

• Shear force
diagram

• Bending
moment
diagram
 Solution
• Bending moment (M): Taking moments in the
direction of the nearest end of the beam:
 Solution
• The bending
moment
diagram is
shown in
figure (c) and
the curve
is a parabola.
 Relationship between load, shear
force and bending moment
• The figure shows a beam subjected to a uniformly
distributed load, w per unit length.
 Relationship between load, shear
force and bending moment
• Let the small
section AB have a length dx,
M and V be the bending
moment and shear
force at point
A respectively,
and M + dM
and V + dV the bending
moment and shear force
at point B.
 Relationship between load, shear
force and bending moment
• From the first condition for static equilibrium
applied to section AB (fig. (b)):
• wdx + (V + dV) – V = 0.

• (6.1)

• Applying the second condition for static

equilibrium, taking moments about section A
 Relationship between load, shear
force and bending moment

• And ignoring the squares of small quantities,

• M + Vdx –M – dM = 0

• (6.2)
 Conclusions
• (a) The shear-force diagram can be drawn by
starting at the left-hand end and following the
direction of the loads on the beam.
• (b) From example 6.1 it can be seen that for any
part of the span carrying point loads only, the
• shear-force diagram consists of horizontal lines,
joined by vertical straight lines, and the bending
moment diagram consists of a number of sloping
straight lines (and in some cases horizontal lines).
 Conclusions
• (c) From example 6.2 it can be seen that for any part of the
span carrying uniformly distributed loads, the shear-force
diagram consists of sloping straight lines, and the bending-
moment diagram consists of parabolas.
• (d) If the shear-force changes sign (i.e. S.F = 0) the
corresponding value on the bending-moment diagram is a
maximum (positive or negative). If the line on the shear-
force diagram that cuts the zero line is vertical, the
corresponding maximum value on the bending-moment
diagram can be read off directly .
• If it is a sloping line, the corresponding maximum value on
the bending-moment diagram will lie at the vertex of the
parabola and in most cases this value (if required) is
obtained by calculation .
 Bending-moment diagram by
summation
• To obtain this, equation 6.2 is integrated resulting in the
following:

1
M   Vdx  C
0

• It can be shown that the constant C is equal to any

externally applied couples or moments.
• Hence the bending-moment at any section of a beam is
equal to the algebraic sum of all the externally applied
moments and the areas of the shear-force diagram to
one side of the section.
 Bending-moment diagram by
summation
• The following steps will be followed to draw
the shear-force and bending-moment
diagrams:
• 1.) Determine the reactions at the supports.
• 2.) Draw a free-body diagram of the beam –
the length must be to scale.
• 3.)Draw vertical lines downwards from points
where concentrated loads act and from the
beginning and end of each uniformly
distributed load.
 Bending-moment diagram by
summation
• 4. Draw two horizontal lines equal to the length
of the beam in 2.
• One will be used for the shear force diagram
and the other for the bending-moment diagram.
• 5. Start on the left end of the beam and draw
the shear-force diagram by following the
directions of the applied loads.
• The shear-force on the right end of the beam
must return to zero.
 Bending-moment diagram by
summation
• 6. Start on the left end of the beam and draw
the bending-moment diagram by adding the
areas on the shear-force diagram to the left of
every section in consideration.
• The bending-moment at the right end of the
beam must be zero.
 Point of
contraflexure or the inflexion point
• This a point on a beam where the bending-
moment changes sign (M = 0).

• If a beam is very long it should be joined at the

point of contraflexure to prevent the joint from
being subjected to bending stresses.
 Example 6.3
• For the beam shown in the next slide :
• (a) Draw the shear force and bending-moment
diagrams.
• (b) Find the position and magnitude of the
maximum shear-force and bending moment.
• (c) Determine the positions of the points of
contraflexure.
Example 6.3
 Solution
• (a) Following the steps outlined above:
• ƩMB = 0
• ∴ 80 × 1 + 10 × 3 – 15 × 1 – RD × 2 = 0
• ∴ RD = 47,5 kN
• ƩMD = 0
• ∴ 10 × 1 + RB × 2 – 15 × 3 – 80 × 1 = 0
• ∴ RB = 57,5 kN
 Solution
• To verify these answers:
• Upward forces = downward forces
• ∴ 47,5 + 57,5 = 15 + 80 + 10
• ∴ 105 kN = 105 kN
• Note that if these answers are wrong, the
shear force and bending-moment diagrams
will be wrong.
Solution

kN Shear force
diagram

Bending
moment
diagram
 Solution
• ƩMA = 0
• MB = –15 × 1 = 15 kN.m
• MC = –15 × 1 + 42,5 × 1 = 27,5 kN.m
• MD = –15 × 1 + 42,5 × 1 – 37,5 × 1 = –10 kN.m
• ME = –15 × 1 + 42,5 × 1 – 37,5 × 1 + 10 × 1 = 0.
• (b) From figure shown in the previous slide,
• Vmax = 42,5 kN, between points B and C.
• Mmax = 27,5 kN.m, at point C.
 Solution
• (c) There are two points of contraflexure. Let
one of these points be at a distance r from the
left support. Then:
• –15 × 1 + 42,5 × r = 0
• ∴ r = 0,353 m.
 Solution
• This is a different method of calculating point of
contraflexure :
• The shear force between C and D represents the
slope m of the straight line
(y = mx + c, with c = 0) on the bending-moment
diagram between C and D (equation 6.2).
• Ignoring the signs of both shear-force and
bending moment, a point of contraflexure will
occur at a distance 10
 0,0267m
37.5
 Solution
• This is to the left of D in example 6.3.
• Therefore, one point of contraflexure is
1,353 m from the left-hand end and the other
1,267 m from the right-hand end of the beam.
 Combined loading
• The parabola curves direction can be determine
from the shear-force diagram.

Shear force diagram

Bending moment
diagram
 Combined loading
• Between points A and C on the shear-force
diagram of the previous slide, the area is
positive.
• The corresponding parabolas on the bending-
moment diagram will increase in a positive
direction from left to right.
• Between points C and E on the shear-force
diagram the area is negative.
• the corresponding parabolas will decrease in a
negative direction.
 Combined loading
• The slope of the bending-moment curve at any
section is equal to the shear force at that
section.
• At section A the shear force is zero, hence the
slope of the bending moment curve at this
section is zero.
• As B is approached (from the left) the shear
force increases and the slope of the bending-
moment curve increases accordingly.
 Combined loading
• As C is approached the shear force decreases with a
corresponding decrease in the slope of the bending-
moment curve until the slope is zero at point C.
• To determine the direction in which a parabola on
the bending moment diagram will curve:
• 1) If the area on the shear-force diagram is positive,
the parabola will curve upwards, from left to right, in
a positive direction and if the area is negative the
parabola will curve in a negative direction.
 Combined loading
• 2.) If the shear force increases (ignoring the
sign), the slope of the parabola will increase
and if the shear force decreases the slope of
the parabola will decrease.
 Example 6.4
• For the beam shown in the figure,
• (a) Draw the shear-force and bending-moment
diagrams.
• (b) Find the position and magnitude of the
maximum shear force and bending moment.
• (c) Determine the position of the point of
contraflexure.
 Solution
• (a) ƩMA = 0
• ∴ 4 × 12 × 6 + 8 × 20 – RC × 16 = 0
• ∴ RC = 28 kN
• ƩMC = 0
• ∴ 8 × 4 + RA × 16 – 4 × 12 × 10 = 0
• ∴ RA = 28 kN
• Upward forces = downward forces
• 28 + 28 = 4 × 12 + 8
• 56 kN = 56 kN, which is correct.
 Solution
• ƩMA = 0
• Applying equation 6.1, E is at a distance
24 y
 7m ( x  )
4 m
to the right of A.
• ME = ½× 7 × 28 = 98 kN.m
• MB = 98 – ½× 5 × 20 = 48 kN.m
• MC = 48 – 4 × 20 = –32 kN.m
• MD = –32 + 8 × 4 = 0
Solution

(a)

(b)
Shear force
diagram

(c)
Bending moment
diagram
 Solution
• (b) Vmax = 28 kN, at the left-hand end of the
beam
• Mmax = 98 kN.m, 7 m from the left-hand end
(calculated above).
• (c) G is the point of contraflexure at a distance
32
 1,6 m
20
to the left of C.
 Example 6.5
• Draw the shear-force and bending-moment
diagrams, indicating all relevant points, for the
cantilever shown below. The vertical lever ED is
rigidly fixed to the cantilever and is 1,5 m long.
 Solution
• It is not necessary to determine the reaction and
resisting moment in the wall if one starts drawing
the shear-force diagram from the free end of the
cantilever.

• MA = 0
• MB = –5 × 1 = –5 kN.m
• MC = –5 + 7 × 1 = 2 kN.m
• MH = 2 + 0.5× 2,333 m × 7 = 10,167 kN.m
• M to the left of D = 10,167 – 0.5× 0,667 × 2 = 9,5
kN.m
Solution

0
Shear force
diagram

-20,9 kN

0 Bending
moment
diagram
-24,85kN.m
 Solution
• The position of point H is 7/3= 2,333 to the right
of C.
• M to the right of D = sum of areas between A
and D + externally applied moment = 9,5 + 14,85
= 24,35 kN.m
• M to the left of G = 24,35 –_ 1 2 (11,9 + 20,9) 3 =
–24,85 kN.m
• M to the right of G = –24,85 + 24,85 = 0
• (The +24,85 is the resisting moment at the wall.)
 Solution
• Rules 1 and 2 are used to determine the shapes
of the parabolas between points C and D and
between D and G.
• Vmax and Mmax:
• Vmax = –20,9 kN at the wall (the sign indicates the
direction of the shear force ↓↑).
• Mmax = –24,85 kN.m at the wall (the sign
indicates the direction in which the beam will
end at this point ⌢).
 Solution
• Points of contraflexure (points J and K):
• Point J is 5/7= 0,714 m from B.
• Point K: The bending moment to the right of D:

• One point of contraflexure occurs 1,714 m and the

other 6,687 m from the free end of the cantilever.
 Bending-moment diagram by
definition
• The bending moment at any section will now
be determined by adding the moments of the
forces to one side of the section.
• This will be illustrated using an example.
 Example 6.6
• Calculate the bending moments at the
indicated points of example 6.3 using the
definition.
 Solution
• MA = 0.
• MB = –15 × 1 = –15 kN.m.
• MC = –15 × 2 + 57,5 × 1 = 27,5 kN.m.
• MD = –10 × 1 = –10 kN.m.
• ME = 0.
 Example 6.7
• For the beam shown below:
• (a) Draw the shear-force and bending-moment
diagrams.
• (b) Find the position and magnitude of the
maximum shear force and bending moment.
• (c) Determine the positions of the points of
contraflexure.
 Solution
• (a) ƩMB = 0
• ∴ 10 × 4 × 2 + 8 × 5 + 5 × 6 – 5 × 1 – RC × 4 = 0
• ∴ RC = 36,25 kN
• ƩMC = 0
• ∴ 8 × 1 + 5 × 2 + RB × 4 – 5 × 5 –10 × 4 × 2 = 0
• ∴ RB = 21,75 kN
• Verify these answers:
• Upward forces = downward forces
• ∴ 36,25 + 21,75 = 5 + 4 × 10 + 8 + 5
• ∴ 58 kN = 58 kN which is correct.
 Solution
• Bending moments
• MA = 0
• MB = –5 × 1 = – 5 kN.m
• MC = –5 × 2 – 8 × 1 = –18 kN.m
• MD = –5 × 1 = –5 kN.m
• ME = 0
Solution

kN

Shear force
diagram

Bending moment
diagram
 Solution
• Between points A and B, C and D, and D and E,
there are straight lines on the bending-
moment diagram.
• Between points B and C there is a parabola
and its equation is determined as follows:
• Let p be a point, at a distance x from B (in the
last slide figure) that can move between points
B and C.
 Solution
• The distance x is measured from the end of the
uniformly distributed load and not from the end
of the beam to simplify further calculations.
• Although x is not measured from the end of the
beam all the moments of the forces to the left of
point p must be considered.
• The distance x could have been measured from
point C, in which case all the moments of the
forces to the right of point p should have been
considered.
 Solution

• (1)
• Let x = 0, then MP = –5 kN.m.
• This must be equal to MB and is used to verify
the equation above.
 Solution
• x = 1; MP = 6,75 kN.m
• x = 2; MP = 8,5 kN.m
• x = 3; MP = 0,25 kN.m
• x = 4; MP = –18 kN.m (=MC)
• (b) Vmax = –23,25 kN on the inside of the right-
hand support.
• Mmax = –18 kN.m at the right-hand support.
 Solution
• (c) Points of contraflexure (points G and H on the
bending-moment diagram): Both these points
occur on the parabola where M = 0.

= 0,33 m and 3,02 m

The points of contraflexure occur 1,33 m and 4,02 m

from the left end of the beam.
 Example 6.8
• (a) Draw the shear-force and bending-moment
diagrams for the beam shown in the figure
• (b) Find the maximum shear force and bending
moment.
• (c) Calculate the position of the point of
contraflexure.
Solution
Solution
Solution
 Solution
• (b) Vmax = -8,8 kN ↓↑ at the inside of the
right-hand support. The maximum bending
moment occurs between B and C since the
shear force is zero between these points. The
equation for the bending moment between B
and C.
 Solution
• From equation 6.2, the maximum bending
moment will occur where,
 Solution
• (c) The point of contraflexure occurs between points C and
D. The equation between C and D

• ∴ The point of contraflexure occurs 4,77 m from A.

 Example 6.9
• A simply supported beam, 4 m long, carries a
distributed load which varies linearly from
zero at one support to 30 kN/m at the other
support.
• Sketch the shear-force and bending-moment
diagrams and find the maximum shear force
and bending moment.
Solution
Solution
Solution
Solution
 Solution
• ∴ x = 2,31 and substituting into (2)
• Mmax = 20 × 2,31 – 1,25 × 2,313= 30,79 kN.m
• The maximum bending moment is 30,79 kN.m,
2,31 m from the left end of the beam.
 Built-in beams
• A built-in (encastré) beam is one which is rigidly
fixed at each end, both ends being horizontal
and usually at the same level.

• If this beam is loaded symmetrically, the

resisting (fixing) moments M will be equal and
the reactions at the walls will be equal.
 Built-in beams
• If the built-in beam is loaded unsymmetrical,
the resisting moments at the walls will not be
equal and the reactions are different to those
of a simply supported beam with the same
loading conditions.
 Mohr’s moment-area method
(as applied to slopes only)
• The following is the differential equation used for
calculating the slope and deflections of beams:

• (6.3)

• E is the modulus of elasticity for the beam material,

• I is the second moment of area of the section of the
beam, a constant not required at this stage.
• M is the bending moment equation for the beam
and y the vertical deflection.
 Mohr’s moment-area method
(as applied to slopes only)
• Integrating equation 6.3, the change in slope
between two points A and B on the beam.

• ∴ The change in slope between points A and B 1

1
• = EI × area of bending-moment diagram between
points A and B.
• The change in slope between the two walls where
the beam is built in, is zero.
 Mohr’s moment-area method
(as applied to slopes only)
• ∴ 0 = EI1 × area of the whole bending-moment
diagram.
• E and I are constants, therefore the sum of the
areas on the bending-moment diagram of a
built-in beam must be equal to zero.
 Mohr’s moment-area method
(as applied to slopes only)
• The areas under the
parabolas shown in the
figure can only be
calculated if the vertex
of each parabola is
included.
 Mohr’s moment-area method
(as applied to slopes only)
• To ensure that this is the case
for each parabola in the
bending-moment diagram, the
principle of super positioning
will be used.
• The bending-moment diagram
for each force will be drawn
separately and the resultant
bending moment at any point
on the beam is then equal to
the algebraic sum of all the
partial bending moments at
that point.
 Example 6.10
• A built-in beam, 6 m long, carries a uniformly
distributed load of 25 kN/m throughout its
length. In addition it carries two concentrated
loads, each 32 kN, 2 m from each wall. Draw
the shear-force and bending-moment diagrams
and calculate all relevant values.
 Solution
• The beam is loaded symmetrically, therefore
the reaction at each wall.

• The shear-force diagram is shown in the next

slide.
 Solution
• Bending-moment diagram:
• Two separate bending-moment diagrams for the
two 32 kN loads could be drawn, but since there
are no parabolas involved, a single diagram may
be drawn for all the point loads (fig. (b)) of the last
slide.
• Separate bending-moment diagrams is drawn for
the uniformly distributed load in (fig. (c))
• And the fixing moment (fig. (d)).
• The sum of the areas of the partial bending-
moment diagrams = 0
Solution
 Solution
• There are two points of contraflexure, both at
the same distance from each wall.
• Equation of parabola between A and B
• MP = –12,5x2 + 107x –117,67 (0≤ x ≤2)
• Point of contraflexure occurs where MP = 0
• ∴ –12,5x2 + 107x – 117,67 = 0
 Solution

• ∴ Both points of contraflexure occur 1,29 m

from the walls.
 Curved beams
• This will be illustrated using an example.
 Example 6.11
• (a) Determine the shear force and bending
moment at section x-x of the curved beam.
• (b) Write down equations for the shear force
and bending moment.
 Solution
• (a) The beam is in a state of equilibrium, therefore any
part of the beam must be in equilibrium.
• Resolve the applied force into components parallel and
perpendicular to the plane x-x and consider the free-
body diagram of section AC (fig. (b)).
• If this part of the beam is in equilibrium, there must be
opposing forces at section x-x (ƩP = 0 in any direction),
and in addition there must be a moment MC (the
bending moment) to counteract the effect of the two
couples.
 Solution
• The shear force VC = 400 N
• ƩMC = 0
• ∴ 800(0,3 – 0,3 cos 30°) – MC = 0
• ∴ MC = 32,154 N.m
• The shear force and bending moment at point
C is 400 N and 32,154 N.m in the directions
indicated.
 Solution
• b) Consider the free-body
diagram shown in the figure
• The shear force at p,
• VP = 800 sin θ
• The bending moment at p:
• ƩMO = 0
• ∴ 800(0,3 – 0,3 cos θ) – MP =
0
• ∴ MP = 240(l – cos θ)
• The axial force at point p =
800 cos θ