Structural Analysis Questions and Answers –

Shear and Moment Diagrams for a Beam

This set of Structural Analysis Multiple Choice Questions & Answers (MCQs) focuses on “Shear
and Moment Diagrams for a Beam”.

Following sign convention for force direction is followed:-

For moments, clockwise is considered –ve.

1. In case of a beam, resistance to normal force is considered to be more important than

resistance to bending and shear force.
State whether the above statement is true or false.
a) True
b) False
View Answer

Answer: b
Explanation: Resistance to bending and shear force is given more importance than resistance to
normal force in most cases involving beams.

2. What is the exceptional case when resistance to normal force is considered to be more
important than resistance to bending and shear force in beams?
a) Expansive axial force
b) Compressive axial force
c) Bending moment at both ends
d) Bending moment at one end
View Answer

Answer: b
Explanation: In these cases, buckling effects have to be nullified.

Following figure is used in Q3-Q8.

In the following figure, all supports are roller type and B and D are hinges. All the options are
given in KN and KN/M wherever applicable.
BMD and SFD starts from point A.
AB = BC = CD = DE = EF = FG = 2m

3. What will be the starting value of SFD?

a) 10
b) -10
c) 5
d) -5
View Answer

Answer: b
Explanation: Support reaction at point A is 10KN in downward direction.

4. What will be the shape of SFD in the entire beam?

a) Straight line
b) Straight line with point of discontinuities
c) Curve
d) Curve with point of discontinuities
View Answer

Answer: b
Explanation: Since load is not a function of x, so SFD will always be straight line. But, since
load varies suddenly at some points, SFD will have discontinuities.

5. How many points of discontinuities will be there in the SFD?

a) 1
b) 2
c) 3
d) 4
View Answer

Answer: c
Explanation: 3 discreet loads are applied in between the beam (excluding starting and end
points). So, 3 discontinuities will be there.

6. What will be the starting value of BMD?

a) 20
b) -20
c) 5
d) -5
View Answer
Answer: a
Explanation: Bending moment at point A is +20KN/M. So, curve will start with +20.

7. What will be the shape of BMD in the entire beam?

a) Straight line
b) Straight line with point of discontinuities
c) Curve
d) Straight line with varying slope
View Answer

Answer: d
Explanation: Since, SFD is always parallel to the x axis (as load is always discreet) BMD will
always be a straight line. Since, there is an absence of discreet external moment in between the
beam, there won’t be any discontinuities in the graph. But, slopes will vary as SFD has
discontinuities.

8. How many times would slope of BMD change?

a) 1
b) 2
c) 3
d) 4
View Answer

Answer: c
Explanation: There are 3 points of discontinuities in SFD. So, slope will also change at those
three points.

Following figure is used in Q9-Q14

In the following figure AB=BC=CD=2m, and DE=EF=1m.
A is a fixed support while C and F are of roller type. B and D are hinges.
All the options are given in KN and KN/M wherever applicable.
BMD and SFD starts from point A.

9. What will be the starting value of SFD?

a) 25
b) -25
c) 15
d) -15
View Answer
Answer: a
Explanation: Support reaction at point A comes out to be 25KN in upward direction upon solving
as shown in earlier questions.

10. What will be the shape of SFD in the entire beam?

a) Straight line
b) Straight line with points of discontinuities
c) Curve
d) Straight line with points of discontinuities parallel to x axis
View Answer

Answer: b
Explanation: On integrating load SFD comes out to be straight line. It will have points of
discontinuities too as discreet loads are there in between. But, SFD won’t be always be parallel
to x axis as continuous load is applied.

11. How many points of discontinuities will be there in the SFD?

a) 1
b) 2
c) 3
d) 4
View Answer

Answer: b
Explanation: 2 discreet loads are applied in between the beam (excluding starting and end
points). So, 3 discontinuities will be there.

12. What will be the starting value of BMD?

a) 20
b) -20
c) 10
d) -10
View Answer

Answer: d
Explanation: Bending moment at point A is -10KN/M. So, curve will start with -10.

13. What will be the shape of BMD in the entire beam?

a) Straight line
b) Straight line with point of discontinuities
c) Curve
d) Combination of curve and straight line
View Answer

Answer: d
Explanation: A combination of discreet and continuous load will lead to such BMD.
14. How many times would slope of BMD change?
a) 1
b) 2
c) 3
d) infinite
View Answer

Answer: d
Explanation: Since a part of BMD is curve, it will change its slope continuously.

Structural Analysis Questions and Answers –

Conjugate-Beam Method
This set of Structural Analysis Multiple Choice Questions & Answers (MCQs) focuses on
“Conjugate-Beam Method”.

1. Conjugate-Beam method was developed by:-

a) Hooke
b) Otto mohr
c) Charles E.greene
d) H.muller-Breslau
View Answer

Answer: d
Explanation: Moment area method was developed by mohr and Greene.

2. In this method, shear compare with:-

a) Slope
b) Moment
c) Displacement
d) External load
View Answer
Answer: a
Explanation: They have similar equations. In one we find area under load, while in other we find
area under M/EI.

3 In this method, moment compare with:-

a) Slope
b) Shear
c) Displacement
d) External load
View Answer

Answer: c
Explanation: They have similar equations as they both are doubly integrated.

4. If L is length of conjugate beam and l is length of real beam then:

a) L > l
b) L < l
c) L = l
d) Can’t say
View Answer

Answer: c
Explanation: Length remains same while converting a beam into its conjugate.

5. While converting a beam into its conjugate one, end supports remain same. This statement is:-
a) Always true
b) Always false
c) Can’t say
d) Depends upon type of load
View Answer

Answer: c
Explanation: To account for slope and displacement of real beam, support changes of conjugate
beam but not every time.

6. Pin joint is replaced by __________ in conjugate beam.

a) Roller
b) Pin
c) Fixed support
d) Link
View Answer

Answer: b
Explanation: Since pin has non-zero slope but zero displacement, conjugate beam has got to have
zero moment.
7. Roller is replaced by fixed joint in conjugate beam.
State whether the above statement is true or false.
a) True
b) False
View Answer

Answer: b
Explanation: It is replaced by a roller only. Logic of pin applies here also.

8. Fixed joint is replaced by ___________ in conjugate beam.

a) Roller
b) Pin
c) Free end
d) Link
View Answer

Answer: c
Explanation: Since fixed support has non-zero slope and non-zero displacement, conjugate beam
has got to be free.

9. Free end is replaced by __________ in conjugate beam.

a) Roller
b) Pin
c) Fixed support
d) Link
View Answer

Answer: c
Explanation: Since a free end has non-zero slope and non- zero displacement, conjugate beam
has got to have non-zero moment and non-zero slope.

10. Internal pin is replaced by __________ in conjugate beam.

a) Roller
b) Pin
c) Fixed support
d) Hinge
View Answer

Answer: d
Explanation: Since int. pin has non-zero slope but zero displacement, conjugate beam has got to
have zero moment.

11. Hinge is replaced by ___________ in conjugate beam.

a) Roller
b) Hinge
c) Fixed support
d) Link
View Answer

Answer: a
Explanation: Since hinge has non-zero slope and non- zero displacement, conjugate beam has got
to have non-zero moment and non-zero shear.

12. In conjugate beam, load is always away from beam.

State whether the above statement is true or false.
a) True
b) False
View Answer

Answer: a
Explanation: If M/EI is +ve then it acts upward, otherwise downward.

Structural Analysis Questions and Answers –

Conjugate-Beam Method – 2
This set of Structural Analysis MCQs focuses on “Conjugate-Beam Method – 2”.

B is a hinge support and C is roller support. A and D are free ends. A load of 60 KN acts in
downward direction at point D. Sign conventions are as usual.
AB = CD = 1m and BC = 3m
All force options are in kN.
All moment options are in KNM.
All deformation options are in M.
E and I are given.
1. What will be the reaction force at support C?
a) 20
b) 40
c) 80
d) 120
View Answer

Answer: c
Explanation: Balance moment about point B.

2. What will be the shape of SFD in this case?

a) Linear
b) Parabolic
c) Linear with discontinuity
d) Arbitrary curve
View Answer

Answer: c
Explanation: Since loads are not uniform, SFD will be linear and support at point C and B will
lead to discontinuity.

3. What is the shape of BMD for this diagram?

a) Rectangular
b) Triangular
c) Parabolic
d) Arbitrary curve
View Answer

Answer: b
Explanation: It will be 0 till point B, and then will increase till C and then again decrease till D
(every time linearly), thus making it triangular.

4. What will be the peak value of SFD?

a) 20
b) 40
c) 60
d) 80
View Answer

Answer: c
Explanation: It will decrease to 20 at point B and then increase by 80 at point C and then will
remain constant. So, peak value will be 80-20 i.e. 60KN.

5. Where would peak value of BMD lie?

a) A
b) B
c) C
d) D
View Answer

Answer: c
Explanation: It will be 0 till point B, and then will increase till C and then again decrease till D
(every time linearly), thus making it triangular.

6. Which type of joint would replace point A in its conjugate beam?

a) roller
b) pin
c) hinge
d) fixed
View Answer

Answer: d
Explanation: Since point A is a free end, a fixed joint would replace it in the conjugate beam.

7. How many fixed joint will be there in conjugate beam?

a) 1
b) 2
c) 3
d) 4
View Answer

Answer: b
Explanation: Since there are 2 fixed ends in initial beam, there will be two fixed joints.

8. There won’t be any hinge in the conjugate beam.

State whether the above statement is true or false.
a) true
b) false
View Answer

Answer: b
Explanation: Initial beam comprises of one internal pin and one internal roller, so conjugate
beam would contain two hinges.

9. What will be the shear developed at hinge B in conjugate beam?

a) 30/EI
b) 40/EI
c) 60/EI
d) 80/EI
View Answer
Answer: a
Explanation: Balance moment about point C in the beam BC.

10. What will be the shear developed at hinge C in conjugate beam?

a) 30/EI
b) 40/EI
c) 60/EI
d) 80/EI
View Answer

Answer: c
Explanation: Balance moment about point B in the beam BC.

11. What will be the modulus of slope at point A?

a) 90/EI
b) 40/EI
c) 30/EI
d) 20/EI
View Answer

Answer: c
Explanation: Just balance shear forces in the conjugate beam AB.

12. What will be the modulus of slope at point D?

a) 90/EI
b) 40/EI
c) 30/EI
d) 20/EI
View Answer

Answer: a
Explanation: Just balance shear forces in the conjugate beam CD after balancing moment.

13. What will be the modulus of deflection of point A?

a) 20/EI
b) 30/EI
c) 80/EI
d) 90/EI
View Answer

Answer: b
Explanation: Balance moment about point B in beam AB.

14. What will be the modulus of deflection of point D?

a) 20/EI
b) 30/EI
c) 80/EI
d) 90/EI
View Answer

Answer: c
Explanation: Balance moment about point C in beam CD.