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Beam Formulae
Simply Supported, Single Span
Concentrated Load at an Intermediate Point Between Supports

DOCUMENT DETAILS
Reference: TME_TEC_INF_MCD_ME_002
Version: 01.0
Title: Simply Supported Beam: Concentrated Load at Any Point

REVISION HISTORY:
Issue Date Status Comment
01.0 April 2019 First Issue

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1. INTRODUCTION
This worksheet calculates the reaction forces, shear forces, bending moments and deflections in the beam
configuration noted in the document title.
The following highlighting conventions are used:
VARIABLE Highlighting denotes a user defined (input) variable
EQUATION Highlighting denotes a correctness check; no impact on calculation
UPDATE Highlighting denotes an update relative to previous version (not
applicable to v01.0).
2. REFERENCES
1. EN 1993-1-1:2005 - Design of Steel Structures, General Rules and Rules for Buildings

3. STANDARD CALCULATION DEFINITIONS

3.1. DEFINE UNITS: SI SYSTEM
Array origin ORIGIN ≡ 0
Tolerance value for lookup functions TOL := 0.000000001
Mass 1M = 1 kg tonne = 1000 kg t ≡ tonne
Length 1L = 1 m mm = 0.001 m μm ≡ 0.001 ⋅ mm
Time 1T = 1 ⋅ sec s = 1 ⋅ sec years := 365 ⋅ 24 ⋅ hr
Force N = 1 ⋅ newton
Angle 180 ⋅ deg = 3.1 ⋅ rad rev ≡ 2 ⋅ π ⋅ rad
−1 −1
Rotational Speed rpm ≡ rev ⋅ min rpm = 0.1 ⋅ rad ⋅ sec
Power W = 1 ⋅ watt kW = 1 ⋅ 1000 ⋅ watt
−2
Gravity g = 9.8 ⋅ m ⋅ s
5
Pressure bar ≡ 10 ⋅ Pa
3
Volume litre := 0.001m

3.2. DEFINE MATERIAL DATA: STANDARD STRUCTURAL STEEL

All data taken from Eurocode EN 1993-1-1:2005 - Design of Steel Structures, General Rules [5].
Elastic / Young's Modulus Es ≡ 210GPa

Poisson's Ratio νs ≡ 0.3

−3
Density ρs ≡ 7850 ⋅ kg ⋅ m
Es
Shear Modulus Gs ≡ = 80.8 ⋅ GPa
(modulus of rigidity) (
2 1 + νs )
μm
Coefficient of Thermal Expansion αs := 12.0
m⋅ K for T <= 100 degC

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4. BEAM CONFIGURATION
The Free Body Diagram (FBD) of the beam is presented in Figure 1.

Figure 1: Free body diagram of beam

5. INPUT DATA
5.1. SUPPORT GEOMETRY
Lbm := 1000mm
Length of beam
5.2. BEAM SECTION PROPERTIES
Assume beam is solid rectangular section, for simplicity.
Beam width bsec := 100mm

Beam depth dsec := 50mm

3
Second area moment of inertia bsec ⋅ dsec 4
Ibm := Ibm = 104.2 ⋅ cm
12

5.3. APPLIED LOADING

5.3.1. Point Loads
Load 1 P1 := 50kN

Distance of from left hand end of beam to

abm := 500mm
line of action of point load
Distance of from right hand end of beam bbm := Lbm − abm bbm = 500 ⋅ mm
to line of action of point load
5.3.2. Distributed Loads
None
5.3.3. Externally Applied Moments
None
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6. HEADLINE RESULTS
6.1. REACTION FORCES
P1 ⋅ bbm
Reaction at A RA := RA = 25 ⋅ kN
Lbm

P1 ⋅ abm
Reaction at B RB := RB = 25 ⋅ kN
Lbm

RA + RB
Check reactions =1 If equal to 1, then
P1 OK

6.2. BENDING MOMENTS

P1 ⋅ abm ⋅ bbm
Maximum bending moment Mbm.max := Mbm.max = 12.5 ⋅ kN ⋅ m
Lbm

Occurs at concentrated load

6.3. DEFLECTIONS
Maximum deflection
(
P1 ⋅ abm ⋅ bbm abm + 2 ⋅ bbm ⋅ ) ( )
3 ⋅ abm ⋅ abm + 2 ⋅ bbm
∆max :=
27Es ⋅ Ibm ⋅ Lbm

∆max = 4.8 ⋅ mm

Occurs at position:

(
abm ⋅ abm + 2 ⋅ bbm ) if abm > bbm
x bm.max :=
3

x bm.max = 500 ⋅ mm

IMPORTANT NOTE:
if abm is not greater than or equal to bbm, then simply flip your view
of the beam about the vertical axis, i.e. look at the beam from the
other side. Otherwise, please see Section 7.3.3 for deflection
values along the full beam length.

2 2
P1 ⋅ abm ⋅ bbm
Deflection at point of concentrated load ∆P1 := ∆P1 = 4.8 ⋅ mm
3Es ⋅ Ibm ⋅ Lbm

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7. DETAILED RESULTS
7.1. SHEAR FORCE AND BENDING MOMENTS
Shear force and bending moment vary as functions of position along the beam. This calculation sheet defines
functions describing:

• position along the beam

• shear force
• bending moment.

Each of the defined functions takes a range variable which describes the position along the beam as the input
(argument).
The calculations are made at increments along the beam length equal to the user defined variable inc. It must be
noted that the quality of the results depends heavily on the increment variable, inc. Please refer to the Appendix
for further information.
Lbm Refer to the Appendix for
Increment of length inc :=
1000 further information.

Set unitless range variable over the full Lbm Permits matrix/vector
jL := 0 ..
length of the beam. inc manipulation of the function
output.
iL := 0 , inc .. Lbm + inc The argument which is applied
Set range variable
to the position, shear force and
moment functions.
NOTE:
The addition of variable inc to the length of the range ensures that
( )
the shear force function outputs the correct value at Vbm Lbm . If
this addiotion was not made, then the Heaviside function results in
an visual output equal to 0.5 x the expected value when reaction
forces are applied at right hand beam end.

Generate a function which takes an input ()

x bm iL := iL
length and outputs the same length

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7.1.1 Shear Force as a Function of Position along the Beam

Shear force along beam () ( () )
Vbm iL := RA ⋅ Φ xbm iL − inc ...
+ ( −1 ) P1 ⋅ Φ x bm iL − abm ...
( () )
( () )
+ RB ⋅ Φ x bm iL − Lbm

NOTE:
( ()
The subtraction of variable inc in the RA ⋅ Φ xbm iL − inc term )
ensures that the shear force function outputs the correct value at
Vbm ( 0). If this subtraction was not made, then the Heaviside
function results in an visual output equal to 0.5 x the expected value
when reaction forces are applied at the left hand beam end.

7.1.2 Bending Moment as a Function of Position along the Beam

Bending moment along beam () ( ( )) ( ( ))
Mbm iL := RA ⋅ Φ xbm iL ⋅ x bm iL ...
+ ( −1 ) P1 ⋅ Φ x bm iL − abm ⋅ x bm iL − abm ...
( () )( () )
( () )( () )
+ RB ⋅ Φ x bm iL − Lbm ⋅ xbm iL − Lbm

7.1.3 Deflection as a Function of Position along the Beam

 P1 ⋅ bbm ⋅ xbm ( iL)  2

⋅ 2 ⋅ Lbm ⋅ ( Lbm − xbm ( iL) ) − bbm − ( Lbm − xbm ( iL) )  if x bm ( iL) ≤ abm
2
()
δbm iL :=   
 6 ⋅ Es ⋅ Ibm ⋅ Lbm 
 1 bm ( bm bm ( L) ) 
P ⋅ a ⋅ L − x i 2
⋅ 2 ⋅ Lbm ⋅ bbm − bbm − ( Lbm − x bm ( iL) )  if x bm ( iL) > abm
2
 6 ⋅ Es ⋅ Ibm ⋅ Lbm  
 
0 otherwise

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7.2. PLOT RESULTS

30

20 4
1× 10

10

( )
Vbm iL
0
( )
Mbm iL
kN kN ⋅ mm
3
5× 10
− 10

− 20

− 30 0
3
0 500 1× 10
( )
xbm iL
mm
Figure 2: Shear force (kN) and bending moment (kN.mm)

δbm iL( ) 2
mm

−1
3
0 500 1× 10
( )
xbm iL
mm

Figure 3: Deflection (mm)

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7.3. DETERMINE MAGNITUDE AND LOCATION OF EXTREME VALUES

IMPORTANT NOTE:
The functions defined in this calculation sheet take a range variable as the argument. In MathCAD, when a range
variable is applied as the argument to a function, then the function is evaluated once for each value of the range
variable. The output of the function is another range variable and not a vector. In order to fully manipulate and
interrogate the results we must generate vectors from the function ouputs.

Position vector (
x bm.vec := xbm jL ⋅ inc
j
) The subscript .vec
L denotes that the
variable is a vector.
Shear force vector (
Vbm.vec := Vbm jL ⋅ inc
j
)
L

Bending moment vector

Mbm.vec := Mbm jL ⋅ inc
j
( )
L

Deflection vector (
δbm.vec := δbm jL ⋅ inc
j
)
L

7.3.1. Shear Force

Maximum shear force (

Vmax := max Vbm.vec ) Vmax = 25 ⋅ kN

Minimum shear force Vmin := min ( Vbm.vec) Vmin = −25 ⋅ kN

Maximum shear force magnitude Vmax.mag := max ( Vmax , Vmin )

Vmax.mag = 25 ⋅ kN

Location of maximum shear force Shear force is constant across significant portions of the beam.
Refer to the shear force diagram.

7.3.2. Bending Moment

Maximum bending moment (

Mmax := max Mbm.vec ) Mmax = 12.5 ⋅ kN ⋅ m

Mbm.max
Check value in Section 6 =1 Equal to 1,
Mmax therefore OK

Minimum bending moment (

Mmin := min Mbm.vec ) Mmin = 0 ⋅ kN ⋅ m

Maximum bending moment magnitude (

Mmax.mag := max Mmax , Mmin )
Mmax.mag = 12.5 ⋅ kN ⋅ m

Position of maximum bending moment (

x M.max := match Mmax , Mbm.vec ⋅ inc )
relative to left hand end of beam
x M.max = ( 500 ) ⋅ mm Result is in vector form

Position of minimum bending moment (

x M.min := match Mmin , Mbm.vec ⋅ inc )
relative to left hand end of beam
 0  ⋅ mm
x M.min =   Result is in vector form
 1000 

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7.3.3. Deflection

Maximum deflection (
δmax := max δbm.vec ) δmax = 4.8 ⋅ mm

Minimum deflection δmin := min ( δbm.vec) δmin = 0 ⋅ mm

Maximum bending moment magnitude δmax.mag := max ( δmax , δmin )

δmax.mag = 4.8 ⋅ mm

∆max
Check value in Section 6 =1 Equal to 1,
δmax.mag therefore OK

Position of maximum deflection relative to ( )

x δ.max := match δmax , δbm.vec ⋅ inc
left hand end of beam
x δ.max = ( 500 ) ⋅ mm Result is in vector form

Position of minimum deflection relative to ( )

x δ.min := match δmin , δbm.vec inc
left hand end of beam
 0 
x δ.min =   ⋅ mm Result is in vector form
 1000 

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A1. APPENDIX
A1.1. SELECTION OF INCREMENT
Section 7 of the calculation determines shear force and bending moment as functions of position along the beam.
Separate functions for shear force and bending moment are defined. These functions take the position along the
beam as the input (argument).
The calculation determines the shear force and bending moment along the beam at increments equal to the user
defined variable inc. The quality of the graphical output depends heavily on the increment variable, inc. The
choice of increment can be defined by the user, taking into consideration the following:

• the length of the beam;

• the resolution in accuracy of the positioning of boundary conditions (e.g. supports, loads);
• computational power available to the user;
• the desired quality of the shear force and bending moment diagram.

In general, it is recommended that the user defines the increment resolution to be at least as small as the
minimum order of magnitude of the resolution applied to the geometrical location of boundary conditions. For
example:

1. A beam of 500mm length is considered. The user needs to define loads and supports positioned to a
precision of 1mm. A recommended increment resolution may therefore be 1mm.
2. A beam of 7m length is considered. he user needs to define loads and supports positioned to a minimum
precision of 10mm. Therefore a recommended increment resolution may be 10mm.
3. A beam of 7m length is considered. The user needs to define loads and supports positioned to a minimum
resolution of 100mm. Therefore a recommended increment may be 100mm; however this will result in poor
quality graphical output, as described below.

Lbm
A value for inc approximately equal to is reasonable.
1000

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A1.1. USE OF HEAVISIDE DISCONTINUITY STEP FUNCTION

The MathCAD inbuilt Heaviside step function, Φ ( x ) is applied in the shear force and bending moment functions.

The Heaviside function is a discontinuous step function whose value is:

• 0 for negative argument,

• 1 for positive argument
• 0.5 when the agument is equal to 0

As the function is discontinous, any graphical plot with a step change generated by the Φ ( x ) function includes a
sloped line between the Φ ( x ) output values of 0 and 1, with a midpoint output of 0.5. The slop of the line joining
the 0 and 1 values approaches infinity (verticality) as increment size, inc approaches 0. As a consequence, the
visual appearance of the shear force and bending moment at the location of step change is heavily dependent on
the user defined increment value, inc. If the increment resolution is large relative to the length of the beam,
Lbm
(i.e. inc > ), then a pronounced slope of the shear or bending moment diagram will be visible at the step
100
change. This effect is illustrated in the examples below.

Test range variable 1 test1 := −2 , −1.99 .. 2

1
0.8

0.6
Φ ( test1)
Visualisation of Heaviside function 0.4

0.2
0
−2 −1 0 1 2 3
test1

Figure 4: Test case 1 - Gradient exists, but is barely visible.

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Test range variable 2 test2 := −2 , −1 .. 2

1
0.8
0.6
Φ ( test2)
Visualisation of Heaviside function 0.4

0.2
0
−2 −1 0 1 2
test2
Figure 5: Test case 1 - Gradient is clearly visible.

A1.1. POLYNOMIAL APPROXIMATION OF DEFLECTED SHAPE

The MathCAD built-in multivariate regression analysis function polyfitc ( ) is used to approximate the coefficients
of a polynomial describing the beam deflection, such that it can be sketched as a polyline in a CAD package, if
necessary.
Magnitude of deflected
SFAC := −100
shape Scale Factor
Order polynomial npoly := 4
approximations
Generate vector defining the polynomial  xbm.vec SFAC δbm.vec 
coefficients. PFIT := polyfitc  , , npoly
 mm mm 
Extract coefficients from result matrix (
Coeffs := submatrix PFIT , 1 , npoly + 1 , 1 , 1 )
 −3.665E+000 
 −1.295E+000 
 
Coeffs =  −1.046E-003 
 4.683E-006 
 
 −2.341E-009 

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Generate polynomial
4 3 2
defpol ( x ) := Coeffs ⋅ x + Coeffs ⋅ x + Coeffs ⋅ x + Coeffs ⋅ x + Coeffs
4 3 2 1 0

− 100

− 200
 xbm.vec 
defpol  
 mm 
− 300

− 400

− 500
3
0 200 400 600 800 1×10
xbm.vec
mm

Figure 6: Test case 1 - Polynomial approximation (order npoly)

of deflected beam shape, with deflection scale factor SFAC
IMPORTANT NOTE:
The polynomial approximation may not yield an exact fit of the roots of the polynomial to the support points of
the beam. Therefore care must be taken in using the polynomial approximation.

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