0% found this document useful (0 votes)
82 views

Internal Forces

1. The internal forces acting on structural members must be determined to ensure the stresses stay within safe limits. 2. To find the internal forces at a point, take a cut at that location and draw and analyze a free body diagram of one side of the cut. 3. Common internal forces are normal force (N), shear force (V), and bending moment (M). Their values can be found by applying equilibrium equations to the free body diagram.
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PPT, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
0% found this document useful (0 votes)
82 views

Internal Forces

1. The internal forces acting on structural members must be determined to ensure the stresses stay within safe limits. 2. To find the internal forces at a point, take a cut at that location and draw and analyze a free body diagram of one side of the cut. 3. Common internal forces are normal force (N), shear force (V), and bending moment (M). Their values can be found by applying equilibrium equations to the free body diagram.
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PPT, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
You are on page 1/ 12

Chapter 7

INTERNAL FORCES
APPLICATIONS

These beams are used to


support the roof of this gas
station.

Why are the beams tapered?


Is it because of the internal
forces?

If so, what are these forces


and how do we determine
them?
APPLICATIONS
(continued)

A fixed column supports


Statics Rules this rectangular billboard.

Usually such columns are


wider at the bottom than at
the top. Why?
Is it because of the internal
forces?
If so, what are they and how
do we determine them?
APPLICATIONS
(continued)

The concrete supporting a


bridge has fractured.
What might have caused the
concrete to do this?

How can we analyze or design


these structures to make them
safer?
INTERNAL FORCES
The design of any structural member
requires finding the forces acting
within the member to make sure the
material can resist those loads.
For example, we want to determine
the internal forces acting on the cross
section at C. First, we first need to
determine the support reactions.
Then we need to cut the beam at C
and draw a FBD of one of the halves
of the beam. This FBD will include
the internal forces acting at C.
Finally, we need to solve for these
unknowns using the E-of-E.
INTERNAL FORCES (continued)

In two-dimensional cases, typical internal


loads are normal or axial forces (N, acting
perpendicular to the section), shear forces
(V, acting along the surface), and the
bending moment (M).

The loads on the left and right sides of the section at C are equal
in magnitude but opposite in direction. This is because when the
two sides are reconnected, the net loads are zero at the section.
STEPS FOR DETERMINING INTERNAL FORCES

1. Take an imaginary cut at the place where you need to


determine the internal forces. Then, decide which
resulting section or piece will be easier to analyze.
2. If necessary, determine any support reactions or joint
forces you need by drawing a FBD of the entire structure
and solving for the unknown reactions.
3. Draw a FBD of the piece of the structure you’ve decided
to analyze. Remember to show the N, V, and M loads at
the “cut” surface.
4. Apply the E-of-E to the FBD (drawn in step 3) and
solve for the unknown internal loads.
EXAMPLE

Given: The loading on the beam.

Find: The internal forces at point C.

Plan: Follow the procedure!!

Solution
1. Plan on taking the imaginary cut at C. It will be easier to
work with the left section (point A to the cut at C) since
the geometry is simpler.
2. We need to determine Ax and Ay using a FBD of the entire
frame.
FBD: 400 N
1.2 m
Ax Ay By
3m 2m

Applying the E-of-E to this FBD, we get

 +  Fx = Ax + 400 = 0 ; Ax = – 400 N

+  MB = -Ay(5) - 400 (1.2) = 0 ; Ay = – 96 N


EXAMPLE (continued)

3. Now draw a FBD of the left section. Assume directions


for VC, NC and MC.
1.5 m
400 N NC MC
C
A
96 N VC

4. Applying the EofE to this FBD, we get

 +  Fx = NC – 400 = 0; NC = 400 N

 +  Fy = – VC – 96 = 0; VC = – 96N

+  MC = 96 (1.5) + MC = 0 ; MC = -144 N m
EXAMPLE

Given: The loading on the


beam.

Find: The internal forces at


point C.

Plan: Follow the procedure!!

Solution
1. Plan on an imaginary cut at C. Why will it be easier
to work with segment AC?
EXAMPLE
2. We need to determine Ax and Ay using a FBD and the
EofE for the entire frame. 6 ft 12 ft 6 ft
Ax 6 kip 5 kip

Ay By
 +  Fx = Ax = 0
+  MB = -Ay(24) + 6 (18) + 5 (6) = 0 ; Ay = 5.75 kip
3 ft 3 kip 3 ft
3. A FBD of section AC is Nc Mc
shown to the right. A
C
5.75 kip Vc
4. Applying the E-of-E to the FBD, we get
 +  Fx = Nc = 0
 +  Fy = 5.73 – 3 – Vc = 0 ; Vc = 2.75 kip
+  MC = 3 ( 3 ) – 5.75 ( 6 ) + Mc = 0 ; MA = 25.5 kip·ft

You might also like