AREA

METHOD
Area method

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Bending moment = shear area
Prof Schierle

Area Method
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Load diagram
Beam diagram
Shear diagram
Bending diagram

Consider the beam part between m and n

Equilibrium:
Vn = 0
Vn =Vm- wx
Vm - Vn - w x = 0
where
wx = load between m & n
Mn = 0
Mn= Mm+Vmx-wx2/2
Mm-Mn+Vmx-wx2/2=0
where
Vmx-wx2/2 = shear between m & n
Area Method:
Vn = Vm + load between m & n (down -)
Mn = Mm + shear area between m & n
Area method

Prof Schierle

Area Method implications

Positive shear = increasing bending

Negative shear = decreasing bending

Zero shear = maximum bending

Uniform load yields:

Linear shear

Area method

Parabolic bending moment

Moving from left to mid-span:

Decreasing shear reduces amount
of bending increase

Prof Schierle

Area Method implications

Point load yields:

Area method

Constant shear between point loads

Linear bending moment

Prof Schierle

Examples
Design
Defines beam size for actual loads and allowable stress of selected material
Analysis
Checks if a given beam satisfies allowable stress of the actual material
Assume:
Wood
Allowable bending stress
Fb = 1200 psi
Allowable shear stress (parallel to fiber)
Fv = 95 psi
Steel
Yield strength
Fy = 50 ksi
Fb = 30 ksi
Allowable bending stress (0.6 Fy)
Fv = 20 ksi
Allowable shear stress (0.4 Fy)
Note:
F = allowable stress
f = actual stress
Area method

Prof Schierle

Beam analysis
Reactions
Mc=0 =16 Rb-1000 (20)-300(4)18-200(16) 8
Rb=(20000+21600+25600)/16
Rb = 4200 lb
Mb=0 =-16 Rc-1000(4)-300(4)2+200(16)8
Rc=(-4000-2400+25600)/16
Rc = 1200 lb

Area method

Prof Schierle

Beam analysis
Reactions
Shear
Var = 0 - 1000
Vbl = -1000 - 300 (4)
Vbr = -2200 + 4200
Vcl = +2000 - 200(16) = -Rc
Find X (V = 0 Mmax)
Vbr-wX=0
X=Vbr/w = 2000/200
Bending moment
Mb=4(-1000-2200)/2
Mx=-6400+10(2000)/2
Section modulus
S=bd2/6=(3.5)11.252/6
Bending stress
fb=M/S= 6400(12)/74

Rb = 4200 lb
Rc = 1200 lb
Var= -1000 lb
Vbl =-2200 lb
Vbr = +2000 lb
Vcl = -1200 lb
X = 10 ft
Mb= -6400 lb
Mx= +3600 lb
S = 74 in3

fb=1038 psi
1038<1200
Shear stress
fv = 1.5V/(bd) = 1.5(2200)/[3.5(11.25)] fv = 84 psi<95

Area method

Prof Schierle

Steel beam design

1 Actual beam
2 Beam diagram - ignore loads at supports
(has no effect on shear & bending, but on columns)
Assume:
L = 30, P = 36 k, Fb = 30 ksi, Fv = 20 ksi
Reactions
R = 2P/2 = 2 (36)/2
R = 36 k
Shear
Var = Vbl = 36 k
Var = Vbl =R
Vbr = Vcl = 0
Vbr = Vcl = 36 - 36
Vcr = Vdl = -36 k
Vcr = Vdl = 0 - 36
Vdr = 0
Vdr = -36 + 36
Bending moment
Mb = 360 k
Mb = Mc = 36 (10)
Section modulus required
S = 144 in3
S = M/Fb = 360 k(12)/ 30 ksi
Use W18x76
S = 146 > 144
Shear stress
fv = 4.65 ksi<20
fv = V/(d tw) = 36k/(18.21x0.425)
Note: shear stress is rarely critical in steel beams

Area method

Prof Schierle

Area method

Prof Schierle

Concrete beam analysis

1 Actual beam
2 Beam diagram ignore load at supports
(has no effect on beam shear & bending, but column)
Assume:
Span L = 30, point load P = 20 k
Beam DL = 1.33x2x150 pcf /1000
w = 0.4 klf
Reaction
R = (2 P+w L)/2 = (2x20+0.4x30)/2
R = 26 k
Shear
Var = 26 k
Var = R
Vbl = 22 k
Vbl = 26 - 0.4 (10)
Vbr= 2 k
Vbr = 22 - 20
Vcl = -2 k
Vcl = 2 - 0.4 (10)
Vcr = -22 k
Vcr = -2 - 20
Vdl = -26 k
Vdl = -22 - 0.4 (10)
Bending moment
Mb = 240 k
Mb = 10 (26+22)/2
Mmax = 245 k
Mmax = Mb + 2(5)/2

Note: Concrete stress will be covered in Arch 313

Area method

Prof Schierle

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The end

Area method

Prof Schierle

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