BEAM DESIGN FORMULAS

WITH SHEAR AND MOMENT

DIAGRAMS
2005 EDITION
ANSI/AF&PA NDS-2005
Approval Date: JANUARY 6, 2005

ASD/LRFD

N DS
®

NATIONAL DESIGN SPECIFICATION®

FOR WOOD CONSTRUCTION

WITH COMMENTARY AND

SUPPLEMENT: DESIGN VALUES FOR WOOD CONSTRUCTION

American
ᐉ Forest &
x Paper
Association
wᐉ

American Wood Council

R R
ood Council

ᐉ ᐉ
2 2
V

Shear V
Wood
American W

Mmax

Moment

American
Forest &
Paper
DESIGN AID No. 6 Association
 BEAM FORMULAS WITH
SHEAR AND MOMENT
DIAGRAMS

The American Wood Council (AWC) is part of the wood products group of the
American Forest & Paper Association (AF&PA). AF&PA is the national trade
association of the forest, paper, and wood products industry, representing member
companies engaged in growing, harvesting, and processing wood and wood fiber,
manufacturing pulp, paper, and paperboard products from both virgin and recycled
fiber, and producing engineered and traditional wood products. For more information
see www.afandpa.org.

While every effort has been made to insure the accuracy

of the information presented, and special effort has been
made to assure that the information reflects the state-of-
the-art, neither the American Forest & Paper Association
nor its members assume any responsibility for any
particular design prepared from this publication. Those
using this document assume all liability from its use.

Copyright © 2007
American Forest & Paper Association, Inc.

American Wood Council

1111 19th St., NW, Suite 800
Washington, DC 20036
202-463-4713
[email protected]
www.awc.org
AMERICAN WOOD COUNCIL
Introduction
Introduction Notations Relative to “Shear and Moment
Diagrams”
Figures 1 through 32 provide a series of shear
and moment diagrams with accompanying formulas E = modulus of elasticity, psi
for design of beams under various static loading I = moment of inertia, in.4
conditions. L = span length of the bending member, ft.
Shear and moment diagrams and formulas are R = span length of the bending member, in.
excerpted from the Western Woods Use Book, 4th M= maximum bending moment, in.-lbs.
edition, and are provided herein as a courtesy of P = total concentrated load, lbs.
Western Wood Products Association. R = reaction load at bearing point, lbs.
V = shear force, lbs.
W= total uniform load, lbs.
w = load per unit length, lbs./in.
Δ = deflection or deformation, in.
x = horizontal distance from reaction to point
on beam, in.
List of Figures
Figures
Figure 1 Simple Beam – Uniformly Distributed Load ................................................................................................ 4
Figure 2 Simple Beam – Uniform Load Partially Distributed..................................................................................... 4
Figure 3 Simple Beam – Uniform Load Partially Distributed at One End .................................................................. 5
Figure 4 Simple Beam – Uniform Load Partially Distributed at Each End ................................................................ 5
Figure 5 Simple Beam – Load Increasing Uniformly to One End .............................................................................. 6
Figure 6 Simple Beam – Load Increasing Uniformly to Center .................................................................................. 6
Figure 7 Simple Beam – Concentrated Load at Center ............................................................................................... 7
Figure 8 Simple Beam – Concentrated Load at Any Point.......................................................................................... 7
Figure 9 Simple Beam – Two Equal Concentrated Loads Symmetrically Placed....................................................... 8
Figure 10 Simple Beam – Two Equal Concentrated Loads Unsymmetrically Placed .................................................. 8
Figure 11 Simple Beam – Two Unequal Concentrated Loads Unsymmetrically Placed .............................................. 9
Figure 12 Cantilever Beam – Uniformly Distributed Load ........................................................................................... 9
Figure 13 Cantilever Beam – Concentrated Load at Free End .................................................................................... 10
Figure 14 Cantilever Beam – Concentrated Load at Any Point .................................................................................. 10
Figure 15 Beam Fixed at One End, Supported at Other – Uniformly Distributed Load ............................................. 11
Figure 16 Beam Fixed at One End, Supported at Other – Concentrated Load at Center ........................................... 11
Figure 17 Beam Fixed at One End, Supported at Other – Concentrated Load at Any Point ..................................... 12
Figure 18 Beam Overhanging One Support – Uniformly Distributed Load ............................................................... 12
Figure 19 Beam Overhanging One Support – Uniformly Distributed Load on Overhang ......................................... 13
Figure 20 Beam Overhanging One Support – Concentrated Load at End of Overhang ............................................. 13
Figure 21 Beam Overhanging One Support – Concentrated Load at Any Point Between Supports ........................... 14
Figure 22 Beam Overhanging Both Supports – Unequal Overhangs – Uniformly Distributed Load ......................... 14
Figure 23 Beam Fixed at Both Ends – Uniformly Distributed Load ........................................................................... 15
Figure 24 Beam Fixed at Both Ends – Concentrated Load at Center .......................................................................... 15
Figure 25 Beam Fixed at Both Ends – Concentrated Load at Any Point .................................................................... 16
Figure 26 Continuous Beam – Two Equal Spans – Uniform Load on One Span ....................................................... 16
Figure 27 Continuous Beam – Two Equal Spans – Concentrated Load at Center of One Span ................................. 17
Figure 28 Continuous Beam – Two Equal Spans – Concentrated Load at Any Point ................................................ 17
Figure 29 Continuous Beam – Two Equal Spans – Uniformly Distributed Load ....................................................... 18
Figure 30 Continuous Beam – Two Equal Spans – Two Equal Concentrated Loads Symmetrically Placed ............. 18
Figure 31 Continuous Beam – Two Unequal Spans – Uniformly Distributed Load ................................................... 19
Figure 32 Continuous Beam – Two Unequal Spans – Concentrated Load on Each Span Symmetrically Placed ..... 19

AMERICAN FOREST & PAPER ASSOCIATION

Figure 1 Simple Beam – Uniformly Distributed Load

ᐉ
x
wᐉ

R R

ᐉ ᐉ
2 2
V

Shear V

Mmax

Moment

7-36 A
Figure 2 Simple Beam – Uniform Load Partially Distributed

ᐉ
a b c
wb

R1 R2

V1
Shear
V2

R
a + —1
w

Mmax

Moment

7-36 B

AMERICAN WOOD COUNCIL

Figure 3 Simple Beam – Uniform Load Partially Distributed at One End

ᐉ
a
wa

R1 R2

x
V1
Shear

V2

R
—1
w

Mmax

Moment

Figure 4 7-37 ASimple Beam – Uniform Load Partially Distributed at Each End

ᐉ
a b c
w1a
w2c

R1 R2

V1

V2
Shear

R1
—
w1

Mmax

Moment

7-37 B

AMERICAN FOREST & PAPER ASSOCIATION

Figure 5 Simple Beam – Load Increasing Uniformly to One End

x
W

R1 R2

.57741

V1
Shear
V2

Mmax

Moment

Figure 6 Simple Beam – Load Increasing Uniformly to Center

7-38 A

ᐉ
x
W

R R
ᐉ ᐉ
2 2

V
Shear
V

Mmax

Moment

7-38 B

AMERICAN WOOD COUNCIL

Figure 7 Simple Beam – Concentrated Load at Center

x P

R R

ᐉ ᐉ
2 2

V
Shear
V

Mmax

Moment

Figure 8 Simple Beam – Concentrated Load at Any Point

7-39 A

x P

R1 R2

a b

V1
V2
Shear

Mmax

Moment

7-39-b AMERICAN FOREST & PAPER ASSOCIATION

Figure 9 Simple Beam – Two Equal Concentrated Loads Symmetrically Placed

x P P

R R

a a

V
Shear V

Mmax

Moment

Figure 10 7-40 A Simple Beam – Two Equal Concentrated Loads Unsymmetrically

Placed

x P P

R1 R2

a b

V1

Shear V2

M2
M1

Moment

7-40 B AMERICAN WOOD COUNCIL

Figure 11 Simple Beam – Two Unequal Concentrated Loads Unsymmetrically
Placed

ᐉ
P1 P2
x

R1 R2

a b

V1
Shear V2

M1 M2

Moment

Figure 12 Cantilever Beam – Uniformly Distributed Load

7-41-a
wᐉ

V
Shear

Mmax
Moment

7-41- B

AMERICAN FOREST & PAPER ASSOCIATION

Figure 13 Cantilever Beam – Concentrated Load at Free End

Shear

Mmax
Moment

Figure 14 7-42 A
Cantilever Beam – Concentrated Load at Any Point

x P

a b

Shear V

Mmax
Moment

7-42-b
AMERICAN WOOD COUNCIL
Figure 15 Beam Fixed at One End, Supported at Other – Uniformly Distributed
Load

wᐉ

R2
R1

V1
Shear
V2

3
ᐉ
8
ᐉ
—
4
M1

Mmax

Figure 16 Beam Fixed at One End, Supported at Other – Concentrated Load at

Center
7-43 A

x P
R2
R1

ᐉ ᐉ
2 2

V1
Shear V2

M1

M2

3
—ᐉ
11

AMERICAN FOREST & PAPER ASSOCIATION

7-43 B
Figure 17 Beam Fixed at One End, Supported at Other – Concentrated Load at
Any Point

x P

R2
R1

a b

V1
Shear V2

M1

Moment M2
Pa
—
R2

Figure 18 Beam Overhanging One Support – Uniformly Distributed Load

ᐉ 7-44 A a

x x1
w(ᐉ+ a)

R1 R2

ᐉ (1 – a 2 )
2 ᐉ2

V1 V2

V3
Shear

M1
Moment
M2
a2 )
ᐉ (1 –
ᐉ2

7-44 B
AMERICAN WOOD COUNCIL
Figure 19 Beam Overhanging One Support – Uniformly Distributed Load on
Overhang

ᐉ a

x x1
wa

R1 R2

V2

V1
Shear

Mmax
Moment

7-45 A

Figure 20 Beam Overhanging One Support – Concentrated Load at End of

Overhang

ᐉ a
x x1
P

R1 R2

V2

V1
Shear

Mmax
Moment

7-45 B

AMERICAN FOREST & PAPER ASSOCIATION

Figure 21 Beam Overhanging One Support – Concentrated Load at Any Point
Between Supports

x x1

R1 R2

a b

V1

V2
Shear

Mmax

Moment

Figure 22 Beam
7-46 A Overhanging Both Supports – Unequal Overhangs – Uniformly
Distributed Load

wᐉ

R1 R2
ᐉ
a b c

V2 V4
V1 V3
X
X1
M3
Mx 1
M1
M2

7-46 B

AMERICAN WOOD COUNCIL

Figure 23 Beam Fixed at Both Ends – Uniformly Distributed Load

ᐉ
x
wᐉ

R R

ᐉ ᐉ
2 2

V
Shear
V

.2113 ᐉ

M1
Moment Mmax

7-47 A
Figure 24 Beam Fixed at Both Ends – Concentrated Load at Center

ᐉ
x
P

R R

ᐉ ᐉ
2 2

V
Shear
V

ᐉ
4

Mmax
Moment Mmax

7-47 B

AMERICAN FOREST & PAPER ASSOCIATION

Figure 25 Beam Fixed at Both Ends – Concentrated Load at Any Point

ᐉ
x
P

R1 R2

a b

V1

Shear V2

Ma

M1 Moment
M2

7-48 A
Figure 26 Continuous Beam – Two Equal Spans – Uniform Load on One Span

wᐉ

R1 R2 R3

ᐉ ᐉ
V1
V2 Shear V3
7ᐉ
16

Mmax

M1
Moment

7-48 B

AMERICAN WOOD COUNCIL

Figure 27 Continuous Beam – Two Equal Spans – Concentrated Load at Center
of One Span

ᐉ ᐉ
2 2
P

R1 R2 R3

ᐉ ᐉ
V1 V3
V2 Shear

Mmax

M1
Moment

7-49 A

Figure 28 Continuous Beam – Two Equal Spans – Concentrated Load at Any

Point

a b

R1 R2 R3

ᐉ ᐉ

V1
V3
V2 Shear

Mmax
Moment
M1

7-49 B

AMERICAN FOREST & PAPER ASSOCIATION

Figure 29 Continuous Beam – Two Equal Spans – Uniformly Distributed Load

wl wl

R1 R2 R3
l l

V1 V2
V2 V3
3l/8 3l/8

M2

M1

Δ max
0.4215 l 0.4215 l

7-50 A

Figure 30 Continuous Beam – Two Equal Spans – Two Equal Concentrated Loads
Symmetrically Placed

P P

R1 R2 R3

a a a a

V1 V2
V3 V2

x
Mx M2

M1

l l

AMERICAN WOOD COUNCIL

Figure 31 Continuous Beam – Two Unequal Spans – Uniformly Distributed Load

w l1 w l2

R1 R2 R3

l l
1 2

V1 V3
V4
V2

x1 x2

Mx1 Mx2

M1

Figure 32 Continuous Beam – Two Unequal Spans – Concentrated Load on Each

Span Symmetrically Placed

P1 P2

R1 R2 R3
l l
1 2

a a b b

V3
V1
V2 V4

Mm
1 Mm
2
M1

AMERICAN FOREST & PAPER ASSOCIATION

American FForest
orest & P aper Association
Paper A F & P A®
American W ood Council
Wood
1111 19th S tree
Stree t, NW
treet,
Suite 800
Suite
Washingt on, DC 20036
ashington,
Phone: 202-463-4 713
202-463-47
Fax: 202-463-279
202-463-279
7911
awcinf [email protected]
[email protected]
www
www.a.awc.org
.aw 11-07
Some Guidelines for Constructing Shear Force and Bending Moment Diagrams

SIGN CONVENTIONS
+V
-V
+M +M -M -M

+V -V

BOUNDARY CONDITIONS

A B
Ax Bx

Ay By
Pinned LEFT End: Pinned Right End:
Reaction force, Ax is unknown. Reaction force, Bx is unknown.
Reaction force, Ay is unknown. Reaction force, By is unknown.
V (shear force) = Ay (reaction force) V (shear force) = -By (reaction force)
M = 0 (unless there is an applied moment at this point) M = 0 (unless there is an applied moment at this point)
Deflection, y = 0 Deflection, y = 0
Slope, θ is unknown Slope, θ is unknown

A B
Ax Bx

Ay
By

Pinned LEFT End: Roller Support at Right End:

Reaction force, Ax is unknown. Reaction force, Bx =0.
Reaction force, Ay is unknown. Reaction force, By is unknown.
V (shear force) = Ay (reaction force) V (shear force) = -By (reaction force)
M = 0 (unless there is an applied moment at this point) M = 0 (unless there is an applied moment at this point)
Deflection, y = 0 Deflection, y = 0
Slope, θ is unknown Slope, θ is unknown

MA B
A
Ax

Ay
Clamped End: Free End:
Reaction force, Ax is unknown. V (shear force) = 0 (unless there is an applied point
Reaction force, Ay is unknown. force at this end)
Reaction moment, MA is unknown M = 0 (unless there is an applied moment at this point)
V (internal shear force) = Ay (reaction force) Deflection, y is unknown
M (internal bending moment) = MA Slope, θ is unknown
Deflection, y = 0
Slope, θ = 0
Example:
Draw the shear force and bending moment diagram for the following beam:

20 kips 12 kips 1.5 kips/ft

A D 20 kips 1.5 kips/ft

12 kips

B C E A D

Ax B C E
6 ft 8 ft 10 ft 8 ft Ay Dy

Step 1: Find the reaction forces at A and D.

Draw F.B.D.:
∑ Fx = 0, Ax = 0
∑ MA = 0, (20 kips)(6 ft) + (12 kips)(14 ft) + (1.5 kips/ft)(8 ft)(28ft) – (Dy)(24 ft) = 0
Dy = 26 kips
∑ Fy = 0, Ay + Dy – 20 kips – 12 kips – (1.5 kips/ft)(8 ft) = 0, Ay = 18 kips

Construction of the shear force diagram

20 kips 12 kips 1.5 kips/ft

A D

B 8 ft C E
6 ft 10 ft 8 ft
18 kips
26 kips

18 kips

12 kips
x

-2 kips

-14 kips

a) V = Ay = 18 kips at point A.
b) The shear force is constant until there is another load applied at B.
c) The shear force decreases by 20 kips to –2 kips at B because of the applied 20 kip force in the negative y direction.
d) The shear force is constant until there is another load applied at C.
e) The shear force decreases by 12 kips to –14 kips at C because of the applied 12 kip force in the negative y direction.
f) The shear force is constant until there is another load applied at D.
g) The shear force increases by 26 kips to 12 kips at D because of the 26 kip reaction force in the positive y direction.
h) The shear force decreases linearly from D to E because there is a constant applied load in the negative y-direction.
i) The change in shear force from D to E is equal to the area under the load curve between D and E, -12 kips, [ADE = (-1.5
kips/ft)(8 ft) = -12 kips]
j) The shear force at E = 0 as expected by inspection of the boundary conditions.
Construction of the Bending Moment diagram

V B 8 ft C E
6 ft 10 ft 8 ft

18 kips

12 kips
x

-2 kips

-14 kips

108 kip-ft
92 kip-ft

-48 kip-ft

a) M = 0 at point A because it is a pinned end with no applied bending moment.

b) MB = Ma + (the area under the shear force diagram between A and B.)
c) MB = 0 + (18 kips)(6 ft) = 108 kip-ft
d) MC = MB + (the area under the shear force diagram between B and C.)
e) MC = 108 kip-ft - (2 kips)(8 ft) = 92 kip-ft
f) MD = MC + (the area under the shear force diagram between C and D.)
g) MD = 92 kip-ft - (14 kips)(10 ft) = -48 kip-ft
h) ME = MD + (the area under the shear force diagram between D and E.)
i) ME = -48 kip-ft + 1/2 (12 kips)(8 ft) = 0 kip-ft (as expected)
 EngineeringSpreadsheets.co.uk
The Website for Civil, Structural and Mechanical Engineers
Technical Data Sheet :- Continuous Beams 1 Date :- 01.01.2003

ANALYSIS OF EQUAL SPAN CONTINUOUS BEAMS

WITH UNIFORMLY DISTRIBUTED LOADS
Moment = coefficient x W x L
Reaction = coefficient x W
where W is the UDL on one span only and L is one span
w w
-0.125
0.070 0.070
0.375

1.250

0.375
w
-0.063
0.096
0.438

0.625

0.063
w w w
-0.100 -0.100
0.080 0.025 0.080
0.400

1.100

1.100

0.400
w w
-0.050 -0.050
0.101 0.101
0.450

0.550

0.550

0.450
w
-0.050 -0.050
0.075
-0.050

-0.050
0.550

0.550

w w
-0.117 -0.033
0.073 0.054
-0.033
0.383

1.200

0.450

w
-0.067 +0.017
0.094
-0.100
0.433

0.650

0.017

w w w
-0.107 -0.071 -0.107
0.077 0.036 0.036 0.077
0.393

1.143

0.929

1.143

0.393

w w
-0.054 -0.036 -0.054
0.100 0.081
-0.054
0.446

0.572

0.464

0.572

w w w
-0.121 -0.018 -0.058
0.072 0.061 0.098
0.380

1.223

0.357

0.598

0.442

w w
-0.036 -0.107 -0.036
0.056 0.056
-0.036

-0.036
0.464

1.143

0.464

0.094
-0.107

-0.005
0.433

0.652

0.027

w
-0.049 -0.054 +0.014
0.074
-0.049

-0.080
0.545

0.571

0.013
 EngineeringSpreadsheets.co.uk
The Website for Civil, Structural and Mechanical Engineers
Technical Data Sheet :- Continuous Beams 2 Date :- 01.01.2003

ANALYSIS OF EQUAL SPAN CONTINUOUS BEAMS

WITH CENTRAL POINT LOADS
Moment = coefficient x W x L
Reaction = coefficient x W
where W is the Load on one span only and L is one span
w w
-0.188
0.156 0.156
0.313

1.375

0.313
w
-0.094
0.203

-0.094
0.406

0.688
w w w
-0.150 -0.150
0.175 0.100 0.175
0.350

1.150

1.150

0.350
w w
-0.075 -0.075
0.213 0.213
0.425

0.575

0.575

0.425
w
-0.075 -0.075
0.175
-0.075

-0.075
0.575

0.075

w w
-0.175 -0.050
0.163 0.138
-0.050
0.325

1.300

0.425

w
-0.100 +0.025
0.200
-0.150
0.400

0.725

0.025

w w w w
-0.161 -0.107 -0.161
0.170 0.116 0.116 0.170
0.339

1.214

0.893

1.214

0.339

w w
-0.080 -0.054 -0.080
0.210 0.183
-0.080
0.420

0.607

0.446

0.607

w w w
-0.181 -0.027 -0.087
0.160 0.146 0.207
0.319

1.335

0.286

0.647

0.413

w w
-0.054 -0.161 -0.054
0.143 0.143
-0.054

-0.054
0.446

1.214

0.446

w
-0.100 +0.027 -0.007
0.200
-0.161

-0.007
0.400

0.728

0.040

w
-0.074 -0.080 +0.020
0.173
-0.074

-0.121
0.567

0.607

0.020
 EngineeringSpreadsheets.co.uk
The Website for Civil, Structural and Mechanical Engineers
Technical Data Sheet :- Continuous Beams 3 Date :- 01.01.2003

ANALYSIS OF EQUAL SPAN CONTINUOUS BEAMS

WITH POINT LOADS AT THIRD POINTS OF SPAN
Moment = coefficient x W x L
Reaction = coefficient x W
where W is the total load on one span only and L is one span
w/2 w/2 w/2 w/2
-0.167
0.111 0.111
0.330

1.330

0.330
w/2 w/2
-0.083
0.139

-0.083
0.417

0.670
w/2 w/2 w/2 w/2 w/2 w/2
-0.133 -0.133
0.122 0.033 0.122
0.367

1.133

1.133

0.367
w/2 w/2 w/2 w/2
-0.067 -0.067
0.145 0.145
0.433

0.567

0.567

0.433
w/2 w/2
-0.067 -0.067
0.100
-0.067

-0.067
0.567

0.567

w/2 w/2 w/2 w/2

-0.156 -0.045
0.115 0.085
-0.045
0.345

1.267

0.433

w/2 w/2
-0.089 +0.022
0.137
-0.133
0.411

0.700

0.022

w/2 w/2 w/2 w/2 w/2 w/2 w/2 w/2

-0.143 -0.096 -0.143
0.119 0.056 0.056 0.119
0.357

1.190

0.905

1.190

0.357

w/2 w/2 w/2 w/2

-0.072 -0.048 -0.072
0.143 0.111
-0.072
0.428

0.596

0.452

0.596

w/2 w/2 w/2 w/2 w/2 w/2

-0.161 -0.024 -0.078
0.113 0.097 0.141
0.340

1.298

0.309

0.631

0.423

w/2 w/2 w/2 w/2

-0.048 -0.143 -0.048
0.111 0.111
-0.048

-0.048
0.453

1.190

0.453

w/2 w/2
-0.089 +0.024 -0.006
0.137
-0.143

-0.006
0.411

0.702

0.036

w/2 w/2
-0.066 -0.071 +0.018
0.099
-0.066

-0.107
0.560

0.595

0.018