Draw FBD and Find Reactions at Supports

The first step in any beam problem is to calculate the reaction forces at the supports. To do this we must consider that the beam is in
static equilibrium. This means that we balance or resolve the forces acting on the beam.

After finding all the forces acting on the beam we can draw a free body diagram (FBD) and then balance these forces for static
equilibrium.

DL Forces from 3m to 5m

5 N/m 10 N 5 N/m

(m)
xV3

0 3 4 5 (x)

Start by finding the equivalent loads caused by the distributed loads (DLs).

Remember that the equivalent load of a DL has a magnitude equal to its area, acting through the area's centroid.

Equivalent load(s) of the DL from x = 3m to x = 5m:

Rectangular Load Magnitude:  (5m − 3m) × (−5N/m) = −10N

5m − 3m
Rectangular Load Position: 3m + = +4m
2

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 Vertical Reactions

10 N

5 N/m 10 N 5 N/m

RA RB

x (m)
0 1 3 4 5

Let the left support have a vertical reaction RA  and the right support have a vertical reaction RB  .

Sum of forces along the y-axis is equal to zero for static equilibrium:

+ ↑ ΣFy = 0

RA + RB − 10 − 10 = 0

RA + RB − 10 − 10 = 0

RA + RB = +20N ---- (1)

 

Sum of moments about the left support is equal to zero for static equilibrium:

+ ↻ ΣM = 0

RB (4 − 0) + (−10) (1) + (−10) (+4) = 0

RB (4 − 0) + (−10) (+1) + (−10) (+4) = 0

RB = +12.5N ---- (2)

Substitute (2) into (1):

RA + RB = +20

RA + 12.5 = +20

RA = +7.5N

Find Shear Forces (V) and Draw SFD

The 'Method of Sections' or 'Method of Cuts' is used to determine the shear force value at locations along the beam.

You should aim to 'cut' the beam between loads, supports and along distributed loads. After taking a cut you simply consider
equilibirium in the y-axis (i.e. let the sum of the forces in the y-axis equal zero and solve for the unknown shear force V).

If you follow this procedure for every cut/section then you will Find the equation of shear force for every segment of the beam and
therefore you can create the shear force diagram (SFD).

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 Shear for 0 ≤ x ≤ 1

V1

(x)

7.5 N

x (m)
0 x 4 5

Take a cut for 0 ≤ x ≤ 1 :

+ ↑ ΣFy = 0

+7.5 − V1 (x) = 0

V1 (x) = +7.5
 

∴ V1 (x) = +7.5  for  0 ≤ x ≤ 1

Shear for 1 ≤ x ≤ 3

10 N

V2

(x)

7.5 N

x (m)
0 1 x 4 5

Take a cut for 1 ≤ x ≤ 3 :

+ ↑ ΣFy = 0

+7.5 − 10 − V2 (x) = 0

V2 (x) = −2.5
 

∴ V2 (x) = −2.5  for  1 ≤ x ≤ 3

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 Shear for 3 ≤ x ≤ 4

10 N

5 5(x
N/m N 5 N/m

− 3)

7.5 N

(x − 3)

/2
x (m)
0 1 3 x 4 5

Take a cut for 3 ≤ x ≤ 4 :

Find the forces due to the DL from x = 3 to x = 5 :

x−3
The rectangular DL acts at distance of   from the cut with a force of:
2

b × h = −5(x − 3) = +15 − 5x

+ ↑ ΣFy = 0

+7.5 − 10 + [+15 − 5x] − V3 (x) = 0

V3 (x) = +12.5 − 5x
 

∴ V3 (x) = +12.5 − 5x  for  3 ≤ x ≤ 4

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 Shear for 4 ≤ x ≤ 5

10 N

5 N/m 5(x N 5 N/m

− 3)

V4

(x)

7.5 N 12.5 N

(x − 3)
4
/2
x (m)
0 1 3 x 5

Take a cut for 4 ≤ x ≤ 5 :

Find the forces due to the DL from x = 3 to x = 5 :

x−3
The rectangular DL acts at distance of   from the cut with a force of:
2

b × h = −5(x − 3) = +15 − 5x

+ ↑ ΣFy = 0

+7.5 + 12.5 − 10 + [+15 − 5x] − V4 (x) = 0

V4 (x) = +25 − 5x
 

∴ V4 (x) = +25 − 5x  for  4 ≤ x ≤ 5

Find Bending Moments (M) and Draw BMD

The 'Method of Sections' or 'Method of Cuts' is used to determine the bending moment value at locations along the beam.

You should aim to 'cut' the beam between loads, supports and along distributed loads. After taking a cut you simply consider
equilibirium about the point of the cut (i.e. let the sum of the moment about the cut equal zero and solve for the unknown bending
moment M).

If you follow this procedure for every cut/section then you will find the equation of bending moment for every segment of the beam and
therefore you can create the bending moment diagram (BMD).

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 Moment for 0 ≤ x ≤ 1

M1

(x)

7.5 N

x (m)
0 x 4 5

Take a cut for 0 ≤ x ≤ 1 :

+ ↻ ΣMx = 0

+ (7.5) (x − 0) − M1 (x) = 0

M1 (x) = +7.5x
 

∴ M1 (x) = +7.5x  for  0 ≤ x ≤ 1

Moment for 1 ≤ x ≤ 3

10 N

M2

(x)

7.5 N

x (m)
0 1 x 4 5

Take a cut for 1 ≤ x ≤ 3 :

+ ↻ ΣMx = 0

+ (7.5) (x − 0) + (−10) (x − 1) − M2 (x) = 0

M2 (x) = +10 − 2.5x

 

∴ M2 (x) = +10 − 2.5x  for  1 ≤ x ≤ 3

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 Moment for 3 ≤ x ≤ 4

10 N

5 5(x
N/m N 5 N/m
− 3)
M3

(x)

7.5 N

(x − 3)

/2
x (m)
0 1 3 x 4 5

Take a cut for 3 ≤ x ≤ 4 :

Find the moments due to the DL from x = 3 to x = 5 :

x−3
The rectangular DL acts at distance of   from the cut with a force of:
2

b × h = −5(x − 3) = +15 − 5x

x−3
2
So the moment force is:  (+15 − 5x) ( ) = −22.5 + 15x − 2.5 x
2
 

+ ↻ ΣMx = 0
2
+ (7.5) (x − 0) + (−10) (x − 1) + [−22.5 + 15x − 2.5 x ] − M3 (x) = 0

2
M3 (x) = −12.5 + 12.5x − 2.5 x
 
2
∴ M3 (x) = −12.5 + 12.5x − 2.5 x  for  3 ≤ x ≤ 4

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 Moment for 4 ≤ x ≤ 5

10 N

5 N/m 5(x N 5 N/m

− 3)
M4

(x)

7.5 N 12.5 N

(x − 3)
4
/2
x (m)
0 1 3 x 5

Take a cut for 4 ≤ x ≤ 5 :

Find the moments due to the DL from x = 3 to x = 5 :

x−3
The rectangular DL acts at distance of   from the cut with a force of:
2

b × h = −5(x − 3) = +15 − 5x

x−3
2
So the moment force is:  (+15 − 5x) ( ) = −22.5 + 15x − 2.5 x
2
 

+ ↻ ΣMx = 0
2
+ (7.5) (x − 0) + (12.5) (x − 4) + (−10) (x − 1) + [−22.5 + 15x − 2.5 x ] − M4 (x) = 0

2
M4 (x) = −62.5 + 25x − 2.5 x
 
2
∴ M4 (x) = −62.5 + 25x − 2.5 x  for  4 ≤ x ≤ 5

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