Chapter 7

Engineering Mechanics – ME 1102

Sunil Kumar Singh and Rishi Raj

Courtesy: TMH
Application
Forces that are internal to the structural members – beams – are
the subject of this chapter

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Introduction
• Preceding chapters dealt with:
a) determining external forces acting on a structure, and
b) determining forces which hold together the various members
of a structure.

• The current chapter is concerned with determining the internal

forces (i.e., tension/compression, shear, and bending) which hold
together the various parts of a given member.

• We will focus on beams:

Beams - usually long, straight, prismatic members designed
to support loads applied at various points along the member.

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Prismatic Beam
A prismatic beam is a structural element with a consistent cross-sectional shape along
its entire length. This type of beam is commonly used for load-carrying applications due
to its consistent material properties. It allows for easier prediction and analysis of
behavior under various loading conditions.

Specifically, a prismatic beam has the following characteristics:

• Constant Cross-Section: The cross-sectional shape remains the same along the
entire length of the beam.
• Symmetrical: The cross section is symmetrical.
• Constant EI: The product of the modulus of elasticity (E) and the moment of inertia (I)
remains constant across the span of the beam.

In simpler terms, a prismatic member maintains the same shape and size from one end
to the other—no tapering or variation in dimensions!

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What are the internal forces?

• Reactions equivalent to a
force of unknown
direction and magnitude
and a couple of unknown
magnitude

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Internal Forces in Members
• Straight two-force member AB is in
equilibrium under application of F and
-F.
• Internal forces equivalent to F and -F are
required for equilibrium of free-bodies
AC and CB.

• Multiforce member ABCD is in equil-

ibrium under application of cable and
member contact forces.

• Internal forces equivalent to a force-

couple system are necessary for equil-
ibrium of free-bodies ABCJ and JD.

• An internal force-couple system is

required for equilibrium of two-force
members which are not straight.
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Sample Problem 7.1

Determine the internal forces (a) in

member ACF at point J and (b) in
member BCD at K.

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Sample Problem 7.1
SOLUTION:
• Compute reactions and connection forces.

Consider entire frame as a free-body, and

apply equilibrium conditions:
 ME = 0 :
− (2400 N )(3.6 m ) + F (4.8 m ) = 0 F = 1800 N

 Fy = 0 :
− 2400 N + 1800 N + Ey = 0 Ey = 600 N

 Fx = 0 : Ex = 0

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Sample Problem 7.1
Drawing the FBD for member BCD:
- Why are forces at B and C drawn in these
directions? Is there a choice on the directions?
- Why are there two force components at each
point instead of just a single force?

Drawing the FBD for member ABE:

- Why are forces at B in these directions? Is
there a choice on the directions?
- Why are there two force components at A
instead of just a single force?

Finally, the FBD for member ACF.

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Sample Problem 7.1
Consider member ABE as free-body:
MA = 0: Bx (2.7 m ) = 0 Bx = 0
 Fx = 0 : B x − Ax = 0 Ax = 0
 Fy = 0 : − Ay + B y + 600 N = 0 Ay = 1800 N

Consider member BCD as free-body:

 MB = 0 :
− (2400 N )(3.6 m) + C y (2.4 m) = 0 C y = 3600 N
 MC = 0 :
− (2400 N)(1.2 m) + By (2.4 m) = 0 B y = 1200 N

 Fx = 0 : − Bx + C x = 0 Cx = 0

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Sample Problem 7.1
• Cut member ACF at J. The internal forces at J are
represented by an equivalent force-couple system.
Consider free-body AJ:
MJ = 0:
− (1800 N )(1.2 m ) + M = 0 M = 2160 N  m

 Fx = 0 :
F − (1800 N ) cos 41.7 = 0 F = 1344 N

 Fy = 0 :
−V + (1800 N ) sin 41.7 = 0 V = 1197 N

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Sample Problem 7.1
• Cut member BCD at K. Determine a force-couple
system equivalent to internal forces at K .
Consider free-body BK:

MK = 0:
(1200 N )(1.5 m ) + M = 0 M = −1800 N  m

 Fx = 0 : F =0
 Fy = 0 :
− 1200 N − V = 0 V = −1200 N

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Various Types of Beam Loading and
Support
• Beam - structural member designed to support
loads applied at various points along its length.

• Beam can be subjected to concentrated loads or

distributed loads or combination of both.

• Beam design is a two-step process:

1) determine shearing forces and bending
moments produced by applied loads
2) select cross-section best suited to resist
shearing forces and bending moments

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Various Types of Beam Loading and
Support

• Beams are classified according to the way in which they

are supported.
• Reactions at beam supports are determinate if they involve
only three unknowns. Otherwise, they are statically
indeterminate.

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Shear and Bending Moment in a
Beam
• Wish to determine bending moment
and shearing force at any point (for
example, point C) in a beam subjected
to concentrated and distributed loads.
• Determine reactions at supports by
treating whole beam as free-body.

• Cut beam at C and draw free-body

diagrams for AC and CB. By
definition, positive sense for internal
force-couple systems are as shown for
each beam section.
• From equilibrium considerations,
determine M and V or M’ and V’.

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Sign Convention

• The shear force V and bending moment M at a given

point of a beam are said to be +ve when the internal
forces and the couples acting on each portion of the beam
are directed as shown in the Figure (a) on the right:

• The shear at C is +ve when the external forces

(loads and reactions) acting on the beam tend to
shear off the beam at C as indicated in Figure (b)

• The bending moment at C is positive when the

external forces acting on the beam tend to bend the
beam at C as indicated in Figure (c)
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Shear and Bending Moment
Diagrams
• Variation of shear and bending
moment along beam may be
plotted.
• Determine reactions at
supports.
• Cut beam at C and consider
member AC,
V = + P 2 M = + Px 2
• Cut beam at E and consider
member EB,
V = − P 2 M = + P (L − x ) 2

• For a beam subjected to

concentrated loads, shear is
constant between loading points
and moment varies linearly.

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Sample Problem 7.2
SOLUTION:
• Taking entire beam as a free-body,
calculate reactions at B and D.
• Find equivalent internal force-couple
systems for free-bodies formed by
cutting beam on either side of load
application points.
Draw the shear and bending moment
diagrams for the beam and loading • Plot results.
shown.

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Sample Problem 7.2
SOLUTION:
• Taking entire beam as a free-body, calculate
reactions at B and D.
• Find equivalent internal force-couple systems at
sections on either side of load application points.
 Fy = 0 : 20 kN +V1 = 0 V1 = −20 kN

 M1 = 0 : (20 kN )(0 m ) + M1 = 0 M1 = 0

Similarly,
V2 = −20 kN M 2 = −50 kN  m
V3 = 26 kN M3 = −50 kN  m
V4 = 26 kN M4 = +28 kN  m
V5 = −14 kN M5 = +28 kN  m
V6 = −14 kN M6 =0

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Sample Problem 7.2
• Plot results.
Note that shear is of constant value
between concentrated loads and
bending moment varies linearly.

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Relations Among Load, Shear, and
Bending Moment
• Relations between load and shear:
V − (V + V ) − wx = 0
dV V
= lim = −w
dx x →0 x
xD
VD − VC = −  w dx = −(area under load curve)
xC

• Relations between shear and bending moment:

(M + M ) − M − Vx + wx x = 0
2
dM
= lim
M
(
= lim V − 12 wx = V
dx x→0 x x→0
)
xD
M D − M C =  V dx = (area under shear curve)
xC

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Shear Force and Bending Moment Diagrams
𝑑𝑉 𝑑𝑀
= −𝑤 =𝑉
𝑑𝑥 𝑑𝑥

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Relations Among Load, Shear, and
Bending Moment
wL
• Reactions at supports, R A = RB =
2
• Shear curve,
x
V − V A = −  w dx = − wx
0
wL L 
V = V A − wx = − wx = w − x 
2 2 
• Moment curve,
x
M − M A =  Vdx
0

( )
x
L  w
M =  w − x dx = L x − x 2
0 2  2
wL2  dM 
M max =  M at = V = 0
8  dx 
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Sample Problem 7.3
SOLUTION:
• Taking entire beam as free-body,
calculate reactions at A and B.

• Determine equivalent internal force-

couple systems at sections cut within
segments AC, CD, and DB.
Draw the shear and bending moment
• Plot results.
diagrams for the beam AB. The
distributed load of 7200 N/m extends
over 0.3 m. of the beam, from A to C,
and the 1800-N load is applied at E.

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Sample Problem 7.3
SOLUTION:
• Taking entire beam as a free-body, calculate
reactions at A and B.
MA = 0:
By (0.8 m) − (2160 N)(0.5 m) − (1800 N)(0.55 m) = 0
By = 1642 N

MB = 0:
(2160 N )(0.65 m) + (1800 N )(0.25 N ) − A(0.8 m) = 0
A = 2318 N

 Fx = 0 : Bx = 0

• Note: The 1800 N load at E may be replaced by

a 1800 N force and 180 N . m couple at D.

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Sample Problem 7.3

1642 N

𝑑𝑉 𝑑𝑀
= −𝑤 =𝑉
𝑑𝑥 𝑑𝑥
• The change in shear between load application points is equal to negative of area
under load curve between points.
• The change in moment between load application points is equal to area under
shear curve between points.
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Sample Problem 7.3
• Evaluate equivalent internal force-couple systems
at sections cut within segments AC, CD, and DB.
From A to C:
 Fy = 0 : 2318 − 7200x − V = 0
V = (2318 − 7200x) N

 M 1 = 0 : − 2318 x − 7200 x( 12 x ) + M = 0
M = (2318 x − 3600 x 2 ) N - m
From C to D:

 Fy = 0 : 2318 − 2160 − V = 0
V = 158 N
 M 2 = 0 : − 2318 x + 2160 (x − 0.15 ) + M = 0
M = (324 + 158 x ) N  m
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Sample Problem 7.3
• Evaluate equivalent internal force-couple
systems at sections cut within segments AC,
CD, and DB.

From D to B:
 Fy = 0 : 2318 − 2160 −1800 −V = 0
V = −1642 N
M 3 = 0:

− 2318 x + 2160 (x − 0.15 ) − 180 + 1800 (x − 0.45 ) + M = 0

M = (1314 − 1642 x ) N  m

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Sample Problem 7.3
• Plot results.
From A to C:
V = (2318 − 7200x) N
M = (2318 x − 3600 x 2 ) N − m

From C to D:
V = 158 N
M = (324 + 158 x ) N  m

From D to B:
V = −1642 N
M = (1314 − 1642 x ) N  m
𝑑𝑉 𝑑𝑀
= −𝑤 =𝑉
𝑑𝑥 𝑑𝑥

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Moment of a Couple
• Two forces F and -F having the same magnitude,
parallel lines of action, and opposite sense are said
to form a couple.
You can again draw r from any
• Moment of the couple, point on F to any point on -F

M = rA  F + rB  (− F)
= (rA − rB )  F
= r F
M = rF sin  = Fd

• The moment vector of the couple is

independent of the choice of the origin of
the coordinate axes, i.e., it is a free vector
that can be applied at any point with the
same effect.

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Thought Exercise
Free vector?

• What does free vector mean really? If

I move 180 N-m moment of couple to
any other point, lets say C, how will
these diagrams change, if any?

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Thought Exercise
Free vector?

• What does free vector mean really? If

I move 180 N-m moment of couple to
any other point, lets say C, how will
these diagrams change, if any?

• Draw the shear force and bending

moment diagrams.

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Sample Problem 7.6
SOLUTION:
• The change in shear between A and B is equal
to the negative of area under load curve
between points. The linear load curve results
in a parabolic shear curve.
• With zero load, change in shear between B
and C is zero.
• The change in moment between A and B is
Sketch the shear and bending-
equal to area under shear curve between
moment diagrams for the
points. The parabolic shear curve results in
cantilever beam and loading
a cubic moment curve.
shown.
• The change in moment between B and C is
equal to area under shear curve between
points. The constant shear curve results in a
linear moment curve.

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Sample Problem 7.6
SOLUTION:
• The change in shear between A and B is equal to
negative of area under load curve between points.
The linear load curve results in a parabolic shear
curve.
dV
at A, V A = 0, = − w = − w0
dx

VB − V A = − 12 w0 a VB = − 12 w0 a

dV
at B, = −w = 0
dx

• With zero load, change in shear between B and C is

zero.

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Sample Problem 7.6
• The change in moment between A and B is equal
to area under shear curve between the points.
The parabolic shear curve results in a cubic
moment curve.
dM
at A, M A = 0, =V = 0
dx
M B − M A = − 13 w0 a 2 M B = − 13 w0 a 2
M C − M B = − 12 w0 a( L − a ) M C = − 16 w0 a(3L − a )

• The change in moment between B and C is equal

to area under shear curve between points. The
constant shear curve results in a linear moment
curve.

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Suggested Problems for Practice

• 7.9, 7.12, 7.17, 7.28, 7.31, 7.32, 7.35, 7.38,

7.41, 7.44, 7.47, 7.54, 7.73, 7.76, 7.78, 7.80,
7.83, 7.86

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