Shear Force and Bending

Moment Diagram
P
L

P = wL

P = wL

V = +P/2
V = +P

Mmax = -PL

Vmax = +P

Mmax = -PL/2
= -wL2/2

Vmax = +P/2

V = -P/2

Vmax = -P/2

Mmax = PL/4

Mmax = PL/8
= wL2/8

Ashwin Dobariya

Overview of the session

Introduction
Learning outcomes
Shear force
Bending moment
Worked examples
Assignment questions
Summary/conclusions

Objective of the session

At the end of this lecture, you would be able to:
Explain and calculate shear force and bending moment
in beams
Calculate the shear force and bending moments of
simply supported beams
Draw shear force and bending moment diagrams for
simply supported beams

Solve Assignments questions

What is Shear Force and Bending Moment?

Shear Force: is the algebraic sum of the vertical forces
at any section is known as shear force. It is briefly
written as SF.
Bending Moment: The algebraic sum of the moments
of all the forces acting to the right or left of the section
is known as bending moment. It is written as BM.
In this session the shear force and bending moment
diagrams for different types of loads acting on the
beam (simply supported) will be considered.

SF and BM diagram
A SF diagram is one which shows the variation
of the shear force along the length of the beam
A BM diagram is one which shows the variation
of the bending moment along the length of the
beam

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Sign convention for shear force and

bending moment
The force on a beam produce shearing at
all sections along the length
Upward total force on the left section
indicates positive shear
Downward total force on the left section
indicates negative shear
Positive shear trends to make the section
slide up on the left

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Sign convention for shear force and

bending moment
(a) Positive bending moment compresses
the top section of the beam and stretch
the lower section (sagging)

(b) Negative bending moment occurs

when the loads causes the beam to
stretch on its top surface (hogging)

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Important points for SF and BM

diagram
Consider left/right section of the beam
Add the forces (including reaction)
The positive value of SF and BM are plotted above the base
line and negative values below the base line
The SF diagram will increase or decrease suddenly i.e. by a
vertical straight line at a section where there is a vertical
point load
The SF between ay two vertical point load will be constant
and hence the shear SF diagram will be horizontal
The BM at the supports of a simply supported beam will be
zero
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Nature of SF and BM variations

load

SF

BM

No Load

Constant

Linear

UDL

Linear

Parabolic

Uniformly varying

Parabolic

Cubic

The bending moment is maximum/minimum wherever shear force is zero.

Such points are significant points and should be indicated in BMD
The point of contraflexure (where BM changes its sign) is also very important
and hence should be indicated in BMD

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Example
A simply supported beam of length 6 m, carries
point load of 3 kN and 6 kN at a distance of 2 m
and 4 m from the left end. Draw the SF and BM
diagram for the beam.

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Solution
A
RA

3 kN

6 kN

D
B

2m

2m
6m

RB

First calculate the reaction RA and RB

+ = + =
Taking moment of the force about A we get,
= +
=
= kN
Which gives =
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Solution
Shear Force Diagram
Shear force at A = + 4 kN

3 kN
C
2m

Shear force between A and C is constant and

RA
equal to +4 kN

6 kN
D

2m
6m

RB

Shear force at C = 4 3 = +1 kN
Shear force between C and D is constant and
4 kN
equal to +1 kN

3 kN
1 kN
5 kN

Shear force at D = 1 - 6 = -5 kN

5 kN

Shear force between D and B is constant and

equal to -5 kN
Shear Force at B = -5 kN
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Solution
Bending Moment Diagram
BM at A, MA = 0 kN

BM at C, MC = RA 2 = 4 2 = + 8 kNm

3 kN
C
2m

RA

6 kN
D

2m
6m

RB

BM at D, MD = RA 4 - 3 2 = 4 4 - 3 2
= +10 kNm
4 kN

BM at B, MB = 0 kN

3 kN

1 kN
-

Points to remember:
The area of + ve and ve SF diagram
always remains same

5 kN

5 kN
10 kNm

BM is maximum where SF is zero

8 kNm

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SF and BM diagram for a simply

supported beam carrying a UDL
Draw the shear force and bending moment diagram for a
simply supported beam of length 9 m and carrying a UDL of 10
kN/m for a distance of 6 m from the left end. Also calculate the
maximum BM on the section.
10 kN/m
C
A
RA

6m
9m

RB

First calculate the reaction RA and RB

Taking moment of the forces about A,
we get

= =

=
=

+ = =
Which gives =

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Solution
10 kN/m
Consider any section at a distance x form A
between A and C. The shear force at the
section is given by
= 10 = +40 10 . . (1)
Equation (1) shows that shear force varies
by a straight line law between A and C
At A, x =0 hence = 40 0 = +40
At C, x = 6 m hence = +40 10 6 =
20
This means that somewhere between A
and C the shear force is zero.
Let SF is zero at x meter from A
0 = 40 10
40
=
=4
10
Hence SF is zero at a distance 4 m from A
The SF is constant between C and B
At B SF is -20 kN
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C
A

6m
9m

RA

40

RB

20

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solution
BM Diagram
The BM at any section between A and C at a
distance x form A is given by

= 10. . 2 = 40 5 2 .(2)
Equation (2) shows that BM varies according
to parabolic law between A and C
At x = 0 hence = 40 0 5 0 = 0
At x = 6 hence = 40 6 5 62 =
+ 60
At x = 4 hence = 40 4 5 42 =
+ 80

10 kN/m
C
A

6m
9m

RA

40

RB

20

A
Parabolic

Straight
line

The bending moment varies between C and

B varies according to linear law
Maximum Bending Moment
The BM is maximum at a point where shear
force changes sign.
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Max BM = +80 kNm

D
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B
Base line 16

Extra Example

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Simply supported beam with point load and udl

A simply supported beam of length 10 m, carries the
uniformly distributed load and two point loads as shown
in figure. Draw the SF and BM diagram for the beam. Also
calculate the maximum bending moment.

Simply supported beam with

point load and udl

Solution,
First calculate the reactions RA , RB
+ = 50 + (10 4) + 40 = 130
Taking moments of all forces about A, we get
4
10 = (50 2) + (10 4 2 + ) + 40(2 + 4)
2
10 = 100 + 160 + 240 = 500
500
=
= 50
10
From + = 130 which gives = 80

SF Diagram
The SF at A, RA=+80 kN
The SF will remain constant between
A and C and equal to +80 kN
The SF at C = 80-50 = +30 kN
The SF just on LHS of D =80-50104=-50 kN
The SF at B = -50 kN
The SF remain constant between D
and B equal to -50 kN
The SF is zero at point E between C
and D
Let the distance of E from point A is x,
Now SF at E = 80-50-10(x-2)
But SF at E =0
50-10x=0 which gives x = 0

BM Diagram
BM diagram
BM at A is zero
BM at B is zero
BM at C, = RA 2=802=160 kNm
BM at D, = 6 50 4 10
4
4 = 80 6 200 80 = 480
2
200 80 = 200
At E, x = 5 m and hence BM at E,
52
= 5 50 5 2 10
2
3
= 80 5 50 3 10 3
2
= 400 150 45 = 205
The maximum BM is at E, where SF
becomes zero after changing its sign
Maximum BM = 205 kNm at E

Recap
We have covered shear force and bending moment
diagram of beams
We learned about how bending moment become
maximum
We calculated maximum bending moment
Next session:
Stresses in Bending and theory of bending