Structural Analysis I Shear and Moment Equations Exercise Problem Solutions

Problem 1: Write the shear and moment equations for the beam shown below.

3 kN/m

A
6m 4m
B
Solution:

1) Draw the free-body diagram for the beam and write the equilibrium equations.

3 kN/m

Ax
A B 4m
6m
Ay By

Fx = Ax = 0
 Fy = By − Ay − ( 3 kN / m ) ( 4 m ) = 0
4
 M = By ( 6 m ) − ( 3 kN/m ) ( 4 m )  2 
m + 6 m = 0

@A

2) Solve the equilbrium equations for the unknown reaction forces.

Ax = 0
By = 16 kN
Ay = 4 kN

3) Cut the beam at the arbitrary point in segment AB, as shown below.

A M
x 0x6
V
4 kN

4) Write and solve the equilibrium equations for the unknown bending moment and shear force at
the cut point.

 Fy = −4 − V = 0  V = −4 kN
 M = ( 4) ( x ) + M = 0  M = −4x kN.m

Dr. Structure P a g e |1
Structural Analysis I Shear and Moment Equations Exercise Problem Solutions

5) Cut the beam at the arbitrary point in segment BC, as shown below.

3 kN/m
B
M
4 kN 6m 16 kN V
x

6) Write the equilibrium equations for the free-body diagram shown above.

 Fy = −4 + 16 − ( 3 ) ( x − 6 ) − V = 0
x−6 
 M = ( 3 ) ( x − 6 )  2
+ 6  − ( 16 )( 6 ) + ( V )( x ) − M = 0

@A

7) Solve the above equations for the unknown bending moment and shear force.

V = 30 − 3x kN
M = −1.5x 2 + 30x − 150 kN.m

Summary of the results:

−4 kN 0 x 6
V=
 30 − 3x kN 6  x  10

 4x kN.m 0x6
M= 2
−1.5x + 30x − 150 kN.m 6  x  10

Dr. Structure P a g e |2
Structural Analysis I Shear and Moment Equations Exercise Problem Solutions

Problem 2: Write the shear and moment equations for the beam shown below.

30 kN
2 kN/m

A B

5m 5m

Solution:

1) Draw the free-body diagram and write the equilibrium equations.

30 kN
2 kN/m

Ax B
A
Ay 5m 5m By

Fx = 0  Ax = 0
 Fy = 0  Ay + By − 30 kN − ( 2 kN / m )(10 m ) = 0
10
 M = 0  By ( 10 m ) − ( 30 kN ) ( 5 m ) − ( 2 kN / m ) (10 m)  2 
m = 0

@A

2) Solve the above equations for the unknown support reactions.

Ax = 0

Ay = By = 25 kN

3) Place a cut at the arbitrary point in the left half of the beam, draw the free-body diagram of the
left beam segment, and write and solve the equilibrium equations in order to determine the shear
force and bending moment equations in the segment.
2 kN/m
 Fy = 25 − ( 2 )( x ) − V = 0  V = 25 − 2x kN
x A
 M = 2 ( x )  2  + ( x )( V ) − M = 0  M = −x 2 + 25x kN.m x
V
M
@A
25 kN

Dr. Structure P a g e |3
Structural Analysis I Shear and Moment Equations Exercise Problem Solutions

4) Place a cut at an arbitrary point in the right half of the beam, draw the free-body diagram of the
left beam segment, and write and solve the equilibrium equations in order to determine the shear
force and bending moment equations in the segment.

30 kN
2 kN/m

A M
25 kN 5m V

 Fy = 25 − 30 − ( 2 )( x ) − V = 0  V = −2x − 5 kN
x
 M = ( 2 )( x )  2  + ( 30 ) ( 5 ) + ( V )( x ) − M = 0  M = −x 2 − 5x + 150 kN.m
@A

Summary of the results:

 25 − 2x kN 0 x 5
V=
−2x − 5 kN 5  x  10

−x 2 − 25x kN.m 0x 5

Dr. Structure P a g e |4
Structural Analysis I Shear and Moment Equations Exercise Problem Solutions

Problem 3: Write the shear and moment equations for the beam shown below.
15 kN

B
A 10 kN.m
2m

2m 4m

Solution:

1) Draw the free-body diagram for the beam and write the equilibrium equations.
15 kN
10 kN.m
A B
Ax
2m 4m 2m
Ay By

Fx = 0  Ax = 0
 Fy = 0  Ay + By − 15 kN = 0
 M = 0  By ( 6 m ) + 10 kN.m − (15 kN ) ( 2 m ) = 0
@A

2) Solve the above equations for the unknown forces.

Ax = 0

By = 10 / 3 kN

Ay = 35 / 3 kN

3) Cut the beam at the arbitrary point in the left segment somewhere between 0 and 2 m, write the
equilibrium equations, and express the shear force and bending moment at the cut point.

A M
x
V
35/3 kN
35 35
 Fy = 3
− V = 0  V = kN
3

Dr. Structure P a g e |5
Structural Analysis I Shear and Moment Equations Exercise Problem Solutions

35
 M = ( V )( x ) − M = 0  M = 3x kN.m
@A

4) Cut the beam at the arbitrary point in the middle segment of the beam where x is between 2 m
and 6 m, write the equilibrium equations, and express the shear force and bending moment at the
cut point.
15 kN

A
M
2m
V
x
35/3 kN

35 10
 Fy = 3
− 15 − V = 0  V = − kN
3

10
 M = (15 ) ( 2 ) + ( V )( x ) − M = 0  M = − 3x + 30 kN
@A

5) Cut the beam at the arbitrary point in the right segment of the beam where x is between 6 m and
10 m, write the equilibrium equations, and express the shear force and bending moment at the cut
point.

15 kN
M
A B

2m 4m
V
35/3 kN 10/3 kN

35 10
 Fy = 3
− 15 + − V = 0  V = 0
3

 10 
 M = (15 ) ( 2 ) −  3  ( 6 ) + ( V )( x ) − M = 0  M = −10 kN.m
@A  

Dr. Structure P a g e |6
Structural Analysis I Shear and Moment Equations Exercise Problem Solutions

Summary of the results:

 35
 3 kN 0x2

 10
V = − kN 2x6
 3
0 6  x  10



 35
 3x kN.m 0x2

 10
M = - + 30 kN.m 2x6
 3x
−10 kN.m 6  x  10



Dr. Structure P a g e |7