CH.

4 BEAMS & COLUMNS

BEAMS
Beams

Basic theory of bending: internal resisting moment at any point in a beam must equal the bending
moments produced by the external loads on the beam

Rx = Cc + Tt
If the beam is in equilibrium then all moment forces must cancel out
Positive: clockwise rotation
Negative: counterclockwise rotation
Moment increases as the distance from the reaction increases or as the distance from the
neutral axis increases, therefore in a simply supported beam:
Maximum moment occurs at the center span
Beam is subject to highest bending stress at extreme top and bottom fibers
In order for a beam to support loads, material, size and shape of beam must be selected to
sustain the resisting moments at the point on the beam where the moment is greatest
Section modulus: ratio of the beams moment of inertia to the distance from the neutral axis to the
outermost part of the section (extreme fibers)
-

S = I/c

Shear: tendency of two adjacent portions of the beam to slide past each other in a vertical direction
Horizontal shear: two adjacent portions of a beam to slide past each other in the direction parallel
to the length of the beam
Horizontal shear stress is:
Vh = VQ/Ib

Rectangular sections horizontal shear stress at mid-depth of the beam (where stress is a
maximum)
Vh = 3V/2bd (@ neutral axis of beam)

Types of Beams

Basic beam types: all have ends that are free to rotate as the load is applied
Simply supported
Overhanging
Continuous beam held up by more than two supports
Other beam types: one or both sides restrained against rotation
Cantilever beam
Fixed-end beam

Typical load types

Concentrated load (P)
Uniformly distributed load (W)
Resultant of uniformly distributed loads is at the center of the load
Useful when summing moments of partial uniform loads
Statically determinate: reaction can be found using the equations of equilibrium OR summation of
horizontal, vertical and moment forces equals zero
Simply supported beams
Overhang beams
Cantilever beams
Statically indeterminate: more complex calculations required
Continuous beams
Fixed-end beams
Basic requirements for structural design of a beam
Determine stresses due to bending moment and vertical shear caused by particular loading
conditions
However, before these are determined reactions of supports must be calculated
Principles of equilibrium
Sum of all vertical forces acting on body must equal zero
Sum of all horizontal forces acting on body must equal zero
Sum of all moments acting on body OR the moment of all forces about a point
on the body must equal zero
Example 4.1: Find the reactions of the beam shown

P1

P2

R2

+ 3(500 x 6) + (2500 x 10) + (7000 x 17) 14R2 = 0

+ 9000 + 25000 + 119,000 - 14R2 = 0
+ 153,000 - 14R2 = 0 (solve for R )
-153,000 + (+ 153,000 - 14R2) = 0 153,000
-14R2 = -153,000
(1/14) 14R2 = 153,000 (1/14) (negatives cancel out, Isolate R )
R2 = 153,000/14
R2 = 10,928.57 lbf
2

Since summation of all vertical forces must be equal reaction R1 can be found by subtracting
10,929 from the total of all loads acting on the beam.
W
P1
P2 .
[(500 x 6) + 2500 + 7000] = 1,571
R1 = 1,571 lbf

Once all loads and reactions are known, shear and moment diagrams can be drawn
Critical to know values at points where shear and moment are at their maximum and
where they are zero

Shear Diagrams

Graphic representation of the values of vertical shear anywhere along a beam

To find values:
Take a section at any point and algebraically sum the reactions and loads to the left of the
section
Same can be done by taking values on right but convention is to work from left to right

Example 4.2: What is the vertical shear at points 4 and 10 to the right of reaction R1?

First: compute reactions using summation of moments

Solve for R2 about R1:
P1
R2 .
+ (8000 x 8) 20R2 = 0
+64,000 - 20R2 = 0

-64,000 + (+64,000 - 20R2) = 0 64,000

- 20R2 = -64,000
(1/20) 20R2 = -64,000 (1/20)
R2 = 64,000/20
R2 = 3,200 lbf
-

(negatives cancel out, Isolate R )

2

Solve for R1: Total sum of forces R2

P1
R2 .
8000 3,200 = R1
R1 = 4,800 lbf

Second: consider the point 4 from the left reaction A-A

At this point there is only the upward reaction of 4800lbf
At the point 10 from the reaction there are two forces to the left
Reaction R1 of 4800lbf
Load of 8000lbf
This net shear is 3200lbf which is exactly the same as the reaction R2 b/c no
other loads or reactions so the summation of all vertical loads equals zero as
dictated by the Principles of Equilibrium

Draw the shear diagram of the beam

Draw the beam and loads to scale (see a)
Draw horizontal line length of beam and decide on vertical scale to represent the loading
Beginning from the left, positive values plotted above the line and negative values below

Notice:
When no intervening loads between reaction and load (or between two loads) the
portion of the shear diagram is a horizontal line
Concentrated load or reaction causes shear diagram to change abruptly in the vertical
direction

Uniform loading of the simply supported beam @ 1500plf

Calculate total load

1500plf x 20 = 30,000lbf

Total load is equally distributed between two reactions

@ R1 the only force is the reaction of +15000lbf
Long version for clarity solving for reaction R2 about R1
W

R2 .

+ (1,500 x 20) 20R2 = 0

+ 300,000 20R2 = 0
-300,000 + (+300,000 20R2) = 0 300,000
- 20R2 = -300,000
(1/20) 20R2 = 300,000 (1/20) (negatives cancel out, Isolate R )
R2 = 300,000/20
R2 = 15,000lbf
2

Beginning at R1 for the remainder of the beam the uniform load acts in a downward
direction
1-0 from reaction, shear = 15,000 (1)(1500) = 13,500lbf
3-0 from reaction, shear = 15,000 (3)(1500) = 10,500lbf
@ mid-span, shear is zero and begins to be negative value b/c accumulating
load is now larger than the reaction R1
At reaction R2, the positive value of the reaction brings the shear back to zero
which is consistent with the Principles of Equilibrium

Moment Diagrams

Graphic representation of the moment at all points along a beam

To find the moment at any point remember:
Bending moment is the algebraic sum of the moments of the forces to the left of the section
under consideration
Moment is the value of the force times distance: M = PL

Example 4.3: Find the moments at sections A-A and B-B

To visualize, draw free-body diagrams of the two conditions

Solving for moment about A-A, moment at the reaction is zero since the moment arm distance
is zero
At point A-A, 4-0 from the left reaction the moment is:
R1

+ (4 x 4,800lbf) = 19,200 ft-lbf

-

At point B-B, 10-0 from the left reaction the moment is:
R1

+(10 x 4,800) (8000 x 2) = 32,000ft-lbf

-

B/c maximum moment occurs where shear diagram crosses zero, calculate moment at this
point also. This is the point where the concentrated load (P) occurs
The moment just to the left of the point load (P) is:
R1

+(8 x 4,800) = 38,400ft-lbf

-

Draw the moment diagram

Calculate moments at several points (all reactions & forces) and connect them with line

Notice:
First: maximum moment does occur where shear diagram passes through zero and is
indicated by the highest point of the moment diagram
Second: when the shear diagram is a constant horizontal line between two
concentrated loads or reactions, the moment diagram between these two points is a
straight, constant sloped line
Third: where shear changes abruptly, the slope of the moment line also changes
abruptly

Example 4.4: Draw the moment diagram for the uniform load of 15000plf over the simply supported
beam. (from example 4.2)

Since the distance of the moment arm at each reaction is zero, the moment at these two
points will also be zero
Maximum moment will occur where shear diagram passes through zero so start
here
When calculating moments due to uniform loads, moments resultant is at the
center of the uniform loads and therefore moment of those loads is calculated as
if the total load were concentrated at the midpoint of the loads
This is why the uniform load on the beam is multiplied by 5
It is recorded as a negative number b/c it tends to cause a counter
clockwise rotation about the center of the beam where moments are
taken
W(total)
w(midpoint of uniform load bet. R1 & W)
M = (15,000 x 10) [(1,500 x 10)5]
M = 150,000 75,000
M 75,000ft-lbf

Note:
-

Area of the shear diagram between two points along the beam is numerically
equal to the change in moment of the beam between the same two points. Thus
at the midpoint of the beam as shown the area of the triangle is
[(15,000 x 10)/2] = 75,000ft-lbf

Example 4.5: find the reactions and draw the shear and moment diagrams of the beam

First: find reactions sum of moments about one reaction and set them equal to zero
Solve for R2 about R1:
W

P1

P2

R2 .

[(1000 x 10)5] + (3000 x 6) + (5000 x 15) 12R2 = 0

+ 50,000 + 18,000 + 75,000 12R2 = 0
+ 143,000 12R2 = 0
-143,000 + (+143,000) 12R2 = 0 143,000
-12R2 = - 143,000
(1/12) 12R2 = 143,000 (1/12) (negatives cancel out, Isolate R )
R2 = 143,000/12
R2 = 11916.7
2

Solve for R1: Total sum of forces R2

W
P1
P2
R2
.
10,000 + 3,000 + 5,000 11,916.7 = 6,083.3

Second: Find vertical shears and draw the shear diagram starting with left reaction
Construct free-body diagrams
Starting with the left reaction R1, the shear is 6083.3lbf in the upward (+)
direction
Shear just to the left of the 3000lbf load is the sum of the loads and
reactions so at this point it is:
V = 60.83.3 (1000 x 6)
V = 83.3lbf
-

At P1 3000lbf load, the shear is:

V = 6083.3 (1000 x 6) 3000
V = 2916.7lbf

Since the load between R1 and P1, 3000lbf is uniformly distributed, the
two points connect with a sloped line
Shear at the end of the uniform load is found in the same way. From this point
to the reaction R2 there are no loads or reactions so the line is horizontal
At reaction R2 the load changes abruptly in the magnitude of the reaction or
11,916.7lbf which is added to the negative shear of 6016.7lbf given a net value
of +5000lbf
No other loads are encountered until the P2 5000lbf load at the end of the
overhang. Since it is downward direction (-) it brings the shear to zero at the end
of the beam
Expected result b/c of the Principles of equilibrium
Third: Calculate and draw the moment diagram
In this example, there are two points where the shear diagram crosses zero

will be two maximum moments
One positive similar to simply supported beam
One negative means the beam is bending upward above a support
instead of downward b/c the way the loads are applied
Both moments need to be calculated to determine which is the greather
Highest value is one used to design beam
-

Two ways to find the moments:

Draw free-body diagrams at each point of interest and take the moment
about that point
Find the area of the shear diagram between points of interest (simpler)
To find the maximum moment at the P1 3000lbf load, find the area of the
trapezoid with the bases of 6083.3lbf and 83.3lbf and the height of 6-0
A = 1/2(b1 + b2)h
A = 1/2 (6083.3 + 83.3) x 6
A = 18,500ft-lbf

To find the moment 10 to the right of the reaction R1 find the area of the
trapezoid from the P1 3000lbf load to the end of the uniform load and subtract it
from the previous moment.
This is because this area is below the baseline oof the shear diagram
and is negative
A = 1/2 (29.7 + 6916.7) x 4
A = 19,667ft-lbf

The moment is therefore:

18,500 19,667 = -1167ftlbf

Next calculate the area of the rectangle from the end of the uniform load to the
reaction R2 (13,833ft-lbff) and subtract this from the last value

COLUMNS

Resist axial compressive forces

Other considerations:
Tendency of a long slender column to buckle even though the columns material and size can
withstand the load
Column will fail in buckling under a much smaller load
Fa = P/A
-

Combined loading: due to the normal compressive force plus lateral load (wind)
Combined loading can also be induced by an eccentric compressive load applied off the
centroidal axis of the column
In case column acts like a beam standing on end with one face in compression & other
in tension
Compressive forces due to the eccentric load add to the normal compressive stress on one
side and subtract from the normal compressive stresses on the other
Flexural stress caused by eccentricity is given by
F = Mc/I

Radius of Gyration

Ability of a column to withstand a load is dependent on

Length
Cross sectional shape
Area
Moment of inertia
Combined properties of area and moment of inertia is called radius of gyration
R =
I/A

Slenderness Ratio

Most important factor in column design

Slenderness ratio = l/r