SHEAR FORCE AND BENDING MOMENT DIAGRAMS

Simply supported beam with a point load at its mid-point.

A B
C L

(Fig. a)

w
2 +ve B

A C
-ve w
2

(Fig. b)

𝑊𝐿⁄
4

+ve
B
A C

(Fig C)

Consider a simply supported beam AB of span L and carrying a point load W at its mid-point C as shown
in fig (a). since the load is at the mid-point of the beam, the reactions at the supports.

R A = RB = W
2
The shear force at any section btw B and C (i.e. up to the point just before the load W) is constant and
equal to the unbalanced vertical force,
 FB = − RB = −W
2
(− ve due to right upward )

And shear force at any section btw A and C (i.e. just after the load W) is also constant, and is equal to
the unbalanced vertical force.

FA = R A = + W
2
(− ve due to left upward )
The bending moment at A and B is zero. It increases by a straight line law, and is max. at the center of
the beam where shear force changes sign.

∴ B.M. at C

𝑊 𝐿 𝑊𝐿
𝑀𝐶 = + × = (+ve sign due to sagg)
2 2 4
Simply supported beam with an Eccentric point load

W
a b
B
(a) C
L

fig(a)

wb +ve
L C B

A
(b) -ve wa
L

fig(b)

wab
L

(C) +ve
A C B
fig(c)
Consider a simply supported beam AB of length L and carrying an eccentric point load (W) at C shown in
fig (a)

Let AC = a and CB = b

Since the load is eccentric, the reaction at A,

Wb Wa
RA = and R B =
L L
The shear force at any section btw B and C is constant and is equal to this unbalanced vertical forces

FB = − RB (-ve sign due to right upwards)

Wa
=−
L
And the shear force at any section btw A and C is constant and is equal to the unbalanced vertical force,

FA = + R A = +
Wb
(- ve sign due to the left upwards )
L
The B.M. at A and B is zero. It increases by a straight line law and is maximum at C where the S.F.
changes sign. Therefore B.M. at C

Wa Wab
MC = + b = (+ ve sign due to sagging)
L L
 Simply supported beam with a uniformly distributed load

C
w/unit length

A B

C X x
L

A Fig(a)

+ve B

Fig(b)
-ve

A Fig(c) C X B

Consider a simply supported beam AB of length L and carrying a uniformly distributed load of W per
unit length and shown in fig (a)

Since the load is uniformly distributed, are the entire length of the beam, the reactions at the supports.
𝑤𝑙
𝑅𝐴 = 𝑅𝐵 =
2
The shear force at any section at a distance x from B

wL
Fx = − RB + Wx = Wx −
2
Therefore, shear force at B= − wL
2(where x = 0)
and increases uniformly by a straight-line law to zero

at C, the mid-point of the beam (where x = L ) . It continues to increase uniformly to

wL 2
M x = RB  x − wx  x = x − wx
2 2 2

Therefore, we see, that B.M. is zero at A and B (where x=L and x=0) and increases in the form of a
parabolic curve, at C i.e., midpoint of the beam where S.F. changes sign.

M max = MC =  −
2 2 2 2
=( )
wL  L  w L 2 wL2 wL2 wL2
4
−
8
=
8