4.

ANALYSIS OF STATICALLY
DETERMINATE PLANE BEAMS AND
FRAMES
1

4.1 GENERAL REMARKS

4.2 INTERNAL LOADINGS AT A
SPECIFIED POINT
4.3 SHEAR AND MOMENT
FUNCTIONS
4.4 SHEAR AND MOMENT
DIAGRAMS FOR A BEAM
4.5 SHEAR AND MOMENT DIAGRAM
FOR A FRAME
 4.1 General Remarks2

 Before a structural member can be designed, it is

important to determine the force and moment that act
within it.
 This chapter will focus on the development of the
methods for finding these loadings at specified points
along a member’s axis and for showing the variation
graphically using the shear and moment diagrams.
 Applications will be given for both beams and frames.
 4.2 Internal Loadings at a
Specified
3 Point
 The internal loadings at a specified point in a member
can be determined by using the method of sections.
 In general, this loading for a coplanar structure will
consist of a normal force N, shear force V, and bending
moment M.
 Once these resultant internal loadings(stress resultants)
are determined, the magnitude of the stress can be
determined.
 Determination of stress caused by internal
loadings/stress resultants is dealt in CE 213(Mechanics
of materials).
 4.2 Internal Loadings at a
Specified Point…Cont’d
4

4.2.1 Sign Convention

 The following sign convention which defines the positive
and negative values of the internal normal force, shear
force and bending moment is adopted(Fig. 4-1a).
 On the left-hand face of the cut member the normal force
N acts to the right, the internal shear force V acts
downward, and the moment M acts counterclockwise.
 In accordance with Newton’s third law, an equal but
opposite normal force, shear force, and bending moment
must act on the right-hand face of the member at the
section.
 4.2 Internal Loadings at a
Specified Point…Cont’d
5

 An easy way to remember this sign convention is to isolate a

small segment of the member and note that

 Positive normal force tends to elongate the segment,Fig.4-
1b;
 Positive shear tends to rotate the segment clockwise, Fig.4-

1c; and
 Positive bending moment tends to bend the segment concave

upward, so as to “hold water”, Fig.4-1d

4.2 Internal Loadings at a
Specified Point…Cont’d
6

Fig 4-1: Positive Sign Convention

4.2 Internal Loadings at a
Specified Point…Cont’d
7

Sign Convention
 4.2 Internal Loadings at a
Specified Point…Cont’d
8

4.2.2 Procedure for Analysis

i. Determine the support reactions
ii. Cut the perpendicular section through the
member at the point where the internal
force/moment is to be determined.
iii. Draw a FBD of the segment that has the least
number of loads on it. At the section indicate
the unknown resultants N, V, and M acting in
their positive directions (Fig. 4-1a).
iv. Use equations of equilibrium to determine the
unknown internal loadings at the section.
 4.2 Internal Loadings at a
Specified Point…Cont’d
9

 Example 1: Determine the internal normal

force, shear force, and bending moment
acting at point C in the beam.
4.3 Shear and Moment
10 Functions
 The design of a beam requires a detailed
knowledge of the variations of the internal
shear force V and moment M acting at each
point along the axis of the beam.
 The variations of V and M as a function of the
position x of an arbitrary point along the
beam’s axis can be obtained by using the
method of sections.
 It is necessary to locate the imaginary section
or cut at an arbitrary distance x from one end
of the beam rather than at a specific point.
 4.3 Shear and Moment
Functions…Cont’d
11

 The internal shear and moment functions will be

discontinuous or their slope will be discontinuous,
at points where the type or magnitude of the
distributed load changes or where concentrated
forces or couple moments are applied.
 Because of this, shear and moment functions must
be determined for each region of the beam located
between any two discontinuities of loading.
 For example, coordinates x1, x2, and x3 will have
to be used to describe the variations of V and M
throughout the length of the beam in Fig. 4-2a.
 4.3 Shear and Moment
Functions…Cont’d
12

 These coordinates will be valid only within

regions from A to B for x1, from B to C for
x2, and from C to D for x3.
 Although each of these coordinates has the
same origin, as noted here, this does not
have to be the case.
 Indeed, it may be easier to develop the
shear and moment functions using
coordinates x1, x2, x3 having origins at A,
B, and D as shown in Fig.4-2b.
4.3 Shear and Moment
Functions…Cont’d
13

Fig 4-2
 4.3 Shear and Moment
Functions…Cont’d
14

Procedure for Analysis

i. Determine the support reactions on the beam.
ii. Specify separate coordinates x and associated
origins, extending into regions of the beam
between concentrated forces and/or couple
moments, or where there is a discontinuity of
distributed loading.
iii. Section the beam perpendicular to its axis at
each distance x, and from the FBD of one of the
segments determine the unknowns V and M at
cut section as functions of x using equations of
equilibrium.
 4.3 Shear and Moment
Functions…Cont’d
15

Example 2: Determine the internal shear and

moment in the beam as a function of x
throughout the beam.
4.4 Shear and Moment Diagrams
for a 16Beam
If the variations of V and M as functions of x
obtained in Sec, 4-3 are plotted, the graphs
are termed the shear diagram and moment
diagram, respectively.
Plotting V and M versus x can also be done
using the integration method which is based
on differential relations that exist between
the load, shear, and moment.
4.4 Shear and Moment Diagrams
for a Beam…Cont’d
17

Example 3: Draw the shear and moment

diagrams for the beam. Indicate values at the
supports and at the point where a change in
load occurs.
4.4 Shear and Moment Diagrams
for a Beam…Cont’d
18

Example 4: Draw the shear and moment

diagrams for the beam. Indicate values at the
supports and at the point where a change in
load occurs.
4.5 Shear and Moment Diagrams
for a Frame
19

Recall that a frame is composed of several

connected members that are either fixed or
pin connected at their ends.
The design of these structures often requires
drawing the shear and moment diagrams for
each of the members.
In addition to the shear and moment
diagrams described previously for beams,
frames have normal force/axial force diagram.
The moment diagram is always plotted on the
side of tension fibres.
4.5 Shear and Moment Diagrams
for a Frame…Cont’d
20
4.5 Shear and Moment Diagrams
for a Frame
21

Example 5: Draw the shear, bending moment,

and axial force diagrams for the frame shown
 4.6 Shear and Moment Diagrams
Using integration
22 Method
In cases where a beam is subjected to several
different loadings, determining V and M as
functions of x and then plotting these
equations can become quite tedious.
Plotting V and M versus x can also be done
using the integration method which is based
on differential relations that exist between
the load, shear, and moment.