A STEP BY ATEP SHEAR AND MOMENT DIAGRAM

Example 1- Draw the shear and bending moment diagrams of a beam by writing the equations.

Solution.
Step 1: Get support reactions (Ay and Dy)
Dy

Ay

+ MD=0
Ay (12) 15 (6) (9) + 150 50 (3) = 0.
Ay = 67.5 kN.
+ Fy =0.
Ay 15 (6) 50 + Dy = 0.
Dy = 72.5 kN.

Step 2: Define the regions of loading change (or support change). Choosing to start from left to
right or the opposite direction make it easier for the solution but either ways will give the same
end results.
Region 1: 0 x < 6 m. between A and B.
Region 2: 6 x < 9 m. between B and C.
Region 3: 9 x < 12 m. between C and D.

Step 3 to 5: For each region, draw the Free Body Diagram of a section inside the region (not at
the border), i.e. x between the limits of the region a not at the edge of the region.
Then find the shear (V) and the moment (M) as a function of the abscissa x.
Take some points to find V and M, as to allow the drawing of the V and M diagram.
Step 3: Region 1: 0 x < 6 m.
Shear:

15 kN/m
M

+ Fy = 0.
67.5 15 (x) V = 0
V = 15 x + 67.5
@ x=0
@

x=6m

linear

V = 67.5 kN.

67.5 kN

V = 22.5 kN.

As the shear passes from a > 0 value to a negative value, it goes through 0. Thus we have to
determine the abscissa, where the V = 0. At this x value, the moment will be maximum (or
minimum).
Mmax when V= 0.
V = 15 x + 67.5 = 0.

@ x0 = 4.5 m.

15 kN/m

Moment

+ MS = 0
67.5 (x) 15 (x) (x/2) M = 0.
M = 7.5 x2 + 67.5 x

Parabolic

@ x=0

M = 0.

x=6m

M = 135 kN. m.

x = 4.5 m

M = 151.9 kN.m.

67.5 kN

This is Mmax for this region only.

Step 4: Region 2: 6 x < 9 m.

Shear:
+ Fy = 0.
67.5 15 (6) V = 0

15 kN/m
150 kN.m M

V = - 22.5 kN.m Constant.

6m

Moment
67.5 kN

+ MS = 0
67.5 (x) 15 (6) (x 3) + 150 M = 0.
M = 22.5 x + 420. linear
@ x=6 m

M = 285 kN.m.

M = 217.5 kN. m.

x=9m

Step 5: Region 3: 9 x 12 m.
Shear:
+ Fy = 0.

50 kN

15 kN/m

C67.5 15 (6) 50 V = 0

150 kN.m

V = 72.5 kN.m Constant.

6m

3m

x
Moment

67.5 kN

+ MS = 0
67.5 (x) 15 (6) (x 3) + 150 50 (x 9) M = 0.
M = 72.5 x+ 870. linear
@ x=9 m

M = 217.5 kN.m.

M = 0.

x = 12 m

Note that at both ends (when there is no applied couple) and with the condition of either a hinge
or a roller, the moment is zero (0).

Step 6: Shear and moment bending diagram.

Draw the shear forces and the bending moment diagram according to the results found above,
under the figure of the beam.

.
Figure 3

+
4.5 m

+
+

Example 2a- Draw the shear and bending moment diagrams of a the cantilever beam by writing
the equations.

Method 1: Start from the right (free end).

By starting from the right there is no need to look for the reactions et the left support, unless
you want to confirm the left end results. So we start straight forward by step 2:

Step 2: Define the regions. The regions change each time the load changes. Here we have 2
regions:
Region 1:

0 x < 0.8 m

C B

Region 2:

0.8 m x 2 m

B A

Step 3 to step 4:

For each step:

i.

Make the cut between C and B;

ii.

Draw the FBD between 0 and the cut

iii.

Find the shear by taking

iv.

Find the moment by taking

+ Fy = 0.
+ MS = 0

Step 3: Region 1:

0 x < 0.8 m

C B
M

Shear.
+ Fy = 0.

600 N

V
S

100 Nm

V 600 = 0.
V = 600 N

Constant.

Moment
+ MS = 0

- M 600 (x) 100 = 0

M = - 600 (x) - 100.

Linear.

So we need two points to later draw the moment diagram (limits).

@x=0

M = 0.

@ x = 0.8 m M = - 580 N.m

Step 4: Region 2:

0.8 x < 2 m

B A

400 N/m

600 N

M V

Shear.
+ Fy = 0.

S X 0.8 B
x

0.8 m

C 100 Nm

V 400 ( x - 0.8 ) - 600 = 0.

V 400 ( x ) + 400 x 0.8 - 600 = 0.
V = 400 (x) + 280.

Linear.

So we need two points to later draw the shear diagram (limits).

@ x = 0.8 m

V = 600 N.

@x=2m

V = 1 080 N

Moment
+ MS = 0
400 N/m
- M 400 (x 0.8) (0.5) ( x 0.8 ) 600 (x) 100 = 0.
.- M - 200 ( x 0.8 )2 600 x 100 = 0.
- M -200 (x2 2 (x) (0.8) + (0.8)2) 600 x 100 = 0.
. M 200 x2 + 320 (x) 128 600 x 100.

600 N

M V
S X 0.8 B
x

0.8 m

C 100 Nm

- M 200 x2 280 (x) 228 = 0

M = - 200 x2 280 (x) 228.

Parabola

So we need two points to later draw the diagram (limits).

@ x = 0.8 m

M = - 128 -224 -228 = - 580 N.m.

@x=2m

M = - 800 560 228 = 1 588 N.m

To know if the parabola is concave up or down, lets check the sign of the coefficient before x 2.
The following figure is in case if you start from left only. Otherwise take the opposite.

Concave up
Concave down

Here the coef is < 0 so the parabola is concave down.

1080

600

V (N)

M (N.m)

- 100
- 580

-1588
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Example 2b- Draw the shear and bending moment diagrams of a the cantilever beam by
graphical method (using the relationship between Load, shear and Moment).

Method 1: Start from the right (free end).

By starting from the right we do not need to find the reactions, unless if you want to check the
shear and Moment at the left end.
1) Shear:
We us the following sign convention for the shear:

Starting from the left

+
Starting from the right

+
Shear, V
From C to B: To start from the right, we begin with the 600 N as a concentrated force. According
to the sign convention (using the right part), the force is down and thus positive. For the shear,
we ignore the applied couple (100 Nm).
For the concentrated load, the change in shear:
V = F (here it is 600 N).

600
V (N)
8

Now we use the following table to know the shape of the shear and moment under different
type of loading.
Table 1: Shape of the shear and Moment according to the loading.
Loading

Shear

Moment

Constant

Linear

Linear

Parabola

Parabola

Cubic curve

Concentrated (point) Load

Uniformly Distributed Load

Triangular Loading

From this table, we can see that for the concentrated Load, the shear is constant.(Add an
horizontal line in the diagram, up to B, where the load changes).

600

V (N)

From B to A.
From table 1, you can see that under the distributed load the shear is linear. For this case the
shear is related to the loading by the following relation:
= = Area of the loading
Area of the loading = w L = 400 (1.2) = 480 N.
The new shear at the A is:
VA =VB + V = 600 + 480 = 1080 N.
So the rest of the diagram is a linear line from 600 to 1080.
9

1080

600

V (N)

2) Moment
We us the following sign convention for the moment:

Starting from the left

Starting from the right

Moment, M
Again, we start from the right. Now the applied
external moment (couple) is considered.

The 600 N force would give nothing at the

C
0.8 m

beginning.
From the above convention we see that

1080

the 100 N.m applied moment gives a negative moment.

600

V (N)

A1
M (N.m)
100

10

At B, the jump in the Moment is the area of the shear.

= = = A1 = 600 (0.8) = 480 N.m

At B the moment effect of the 100 N load is turning

According to the moment sign convention, it gives a

negative moment. Thus we should take( 480 N.m)

1080

the Beam clockwise.

MB = - 100 480 = - 580 N.m

600

V (N)

Between C and B, the load is a concentrated 100 N

A2

point load, so according to the Table 1,

A1
M (N.m)

the diagram is linear. From 100 to 580 N.m

-100

-580
To find the Moment value at A, again we look for the moment jump.
= = = A2 = 600 (1.2)+ (1080-600) (1.2) = 1008 N.m
Hence the moment at A is: MA = MB -1008 = - 580 1008 = -1588 N.m
Now, according to table 1, the shape of the line between moments at B and A is a parabola
(since the load is uniformly distributed). But the question is it concave up or down? To answer
this question, we use the following figure (Fig. 2) (figure worked out when reading the shear
from left to right, here from A to B).

Shear Big to Small

Shear Small to Big

- ve Shear

+ve Shear

Shear Big to Small

Shear Small to Big

Fig. 2: Shape of the Moment Diagram

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Here shear is positive, thus we use the right part of

the figure. In this example and by looking at the
A

shear diagram, we can see that that shear goes

thus the moment curve is concave down.

1080

from Big to small (from 1080 to 600),

+
A2

600

V (N)

A1

-1588

M (N.m)

-100

-580

Do not forget to put the + or sign inside the V and M diagram

PS: During the Quiz and Final Exam, I will provide you with the sign convention (for V and M in
red boxes) and the Fig. 2. You should know the table 1.

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Method 2: Start from the left (fixed end).

We are going to take the sample example but this time, we are going to solve it by starting from
left. We are going to see that we reach the same answer.
But, this time we need to find the reactions at first (Ay and MA).

The free body diagram is:

MA
Ay
So lets find the reactions:
+ Fy = 0
Ay 400 (1.2) 600 = 0
Solve for Ay = 1080 N.
Moment MA ?
+ M/A = 0
MA 400 (1.2) (1.2/2) 600 (2) 100.
Solve for MA = 1588 N.m

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1) Shear:
We us the following same convention for the shear, but this time we use the left part only:

Starting from the left

+
Starting from the right

+
Shear, V
From A to B: To start from the left, we begin with the
reaction Ay = 1080 N as a concentrated force.
A

According to the sign convention (using the right part),

the reaction Ay is up and thus positive.

For the shear, we ignore the moment reaction MA.

VA = Ay = 1080 N.

1080
V (N)

We continue by finding the shear at B, VB.

The jump of the shear at B is the area of the uniformly distributed loading w =400 N/m on the
1.2 m length.
Area A0 = 400 (1.2) = 480 N.
According to the sign convention of the shear, this loading
is down and thus opposite to the + and should be -.

So the shear at B is:

VB = 1080 480 = 600 N.

1080
600

V (N)

14

In between A and B, the shear is linear (see table 1)

and thus we complete the line between VA and VB

by a linear (straight) line.

1080

600

V (N)

From B to C:
To reach the C, we note that since that there is no
loading the shear stays constant (since jump in shear = 0).

Thus the shear at C is VC = 600 N.

We end up with the drawing of an horizontal line

between B and C for the shear diagram.

1080

600
V (N)

2) Moment:
We us the same sign convention for the moment, but taking the left part only (blue):

Starting from the left

Starting from the right

Moment, M

15

From A to B: To start from the left, we begin with the

reaction MA, as a concentrated moment.

C
0.8 m

As this moment turns counterclockwise,

its value is negative, MA = -1588 N.m

1080
Now to find the value of the moment at B,

we consider the Area A2 of the shear from A to B.

this area is the jump of the moment.

600

V (N)

A2

= = = A2

M (N.m)

A2 = 600 (1.2)+ (1080-600) (1.2) = 1008 N.m

-1588

Hence the moment at B is: MB = MA +1008 = - 580 N.m

To complete the junction between A and B,

we use again Table 1.
Because the load is uniformly distributed,
The moment diagram would be a Parabola.
But to know if it is concave up or down, we use the figure 2.

Shear Big to Small

Shear Small to Big

- ve Shear

+ve Shear

Shear Big to Small

Shear Small to Big

Fig. 2: Shape of the Moment Diagram

16

At first, we notice that the shear is positive,

so we use the right part. Then, because the

shear is from big to small, we use the red curve,

that is concave down.

1080
600

V (N)

A2

M (N.m)
-1588

-580

Now to find the value of the moment at right end,

we look for the Area A1 under the shear from B to C.
Area A1 = 600 (0.8) = 480 N.m

Thus the jump in the moment M = A1 = 480 N.m

0.8 m

The moment at C, MC is then:

MC = - 580 + 480 = -100 N.m

1080

Finally we notice that the junction between B and C is

600

linear according to table 1.

A2

V (N)

A1
M (N.m)

-1588

-580

-100

End of the example

Dr. Mongi Ben Ouezdou, UOS
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