Shear and moment diagram

L
2

L
2

Shear

P
2

Normal positive shear force convention (left) and normal bending

moment convention (right).

P2
Moment

PL
4

from left to right and positive in the vertical direction is

normally taken to be up, the positive shear convention was
chosen to be up from the left, and to make all drawings
consistent down from the right. The positive bending convention was chosen such that a positive shear force would
tend to create a positive moment.

Shear and moment diagram for a simply supported beam with a

concentrated load at mid-span.(right)

Shear and bending moment diagrams are analytical

tools used in conjunction with structural analysis to help
perform structural design by determining the value of
shear force and bending moment at a given point of a
structural element such as a beam. These diagrams can
be used to easily determine the type, size, and material of
a member in a structure so that a given set of loads can be
supported without structural failure. Another application
of shear and moment diagrams is that the deection of a
beam can be easily determined using either the moment
area method or the conjugate beam method.

1.2 Alternative drawing convention

In structural engineering and in particular concrete design
the positive moment is drawn on the tension side of the
member. This convention puts the positive moment below the beam described above. A convention of placing
moment diagram on the tension side allows for frames to
be dealt with more easily and clearly. Additionally placing the moment on the tension side of the member shows
the general shape of the deformation and indicates on
which side of a concrete member rebar should be placed,
as concrete is weak in tension.[2]

Convention

Although these conventions are relative and any convention can be used if stated explicitly, practicing engineers
have adopted a standard convention used in design practices.

1.1

2 Calculating shear force and

bending moment

Normal convention

The normal convention used in most engineering applications is to label a positive shear force one that spins
an element clockwise (up on the left, and down on the
right). Likewise the normal convention for a positive
bending moment is to warp the element in a u shape
manner (Clockwise on the left, and counterclockwise on
the right). Another way to remember this is if the moment is bending the beam into a smile then the moment Loaded beam
is positive, with compression at the top of the beam and
tension on the bottom.[1]
With the loading diagram drawn the next step is to nd
This convention was selected to simplify the analysis of the value of the shear force and moment at any given point
beams. Since a horizontal member is usually analyzed along the element. For a horizontal beam one way to per1

2 CALCULATING SHEAR FORCE AND BENDING MOMENT

form this is at any point to chop o the right end of the tions at the supports have to be incorporated into the subeam.
perposed solution so that the deformation of the entire
The example below includes a point load, a distributed beam is compatible.
load, and an applied moment. The supports include both
hinged supports and a xed end support. The rst drawing shows the beam with the applied forces and displacement constraints. The second drawing is the loading diagram with the reaction values given without the calculations shown or what most people call a free body diagram. The third drawing is the shear force diagram and
the fourth drawing is the bending moment diagram. For
the bending moment diagram the normal sign convention
was used. Below the moment diagram are the stepwise
functions for the shear force and bending moment with
the functions expanded to show the eects of each load
on the shear and bending functions.

From the free-body diagram of the entire beam we have

the two balance equations

F =0,

MA = 0 .

Summing the forces, we have

10 (1)(15) + Ra + Rb + Rc = 0
and summing the moments around the free end (A) we
have

The example is illustrated using United States customary

units. Point loads are expressed in kips (1 kip = 1000 lbf
= 4.45 kN), distributed loads are expressed in k/ft (1 k/ft (Ra )(10)+(Rb )(25)+(Rc )(50)(1)(15)(17.5)50+Mc = 0 .
= 1 kip/ft = 14.6 kN/m), moments are expressed in ft-k
(1 ft-k = 1 ft-kip = 1.356 kNm), and lengths are in ft (1 We can solve these equations for R and R in terms of R
ft = 0.3048 m).
and M :

2.1

Step 1: Compute the reaction forces R = 37.5 1.6R + 0.04M

b
a
c
and moments
and

Rc = 12.5 + 0.6Ra 0.04Mc .

If we sum moments about the rst support from the left
of the beam we have

(10)(10)(1)(15)(7.5)+(Rb )(15)+(Rc )(40)50+Mc = 0 .

Free-body diagram of whole beam

If we plug in the expressions for R and R we get the

trivial identity 0 = 0 which indicates that this equation is
not independent of the previous two. Similarly, if we take
moments around the second support, we have

The rst step obtaining the bending moment and shear

(10)(25)(Ra )(15)+(1)(15)(7.5)+(Rc )(25)50+Mc = 0 .
force equations is to determine the reaction forces. This
is done using a free body diagram of the entire beam.
Once again we nd that this equation is not independent
The beam has three reaction forces, R, R at the two sup- of the rst two equations. We could also try to compute
ports and R at the clamped end. The clamped end also moments around the clamped end of the beam to get
has a reaction couple M . These four quantities have to be
determined using two equations, the balance of forces in
the beam and the balance of moments in the beam. Four (10)(50)(Ra )(40)(Rb )(25)+(1)(15)(32.5)50+Mc = 0 .
unknowns cannot be found given two independent equations in these unknown variables and hence the beam is This equation also turns out not to be linearly independent
statically indeterminate. One way of solving this problem from the other two equations. Therefore, the beam is statis to use the principle of linear superposition and break ically indeterminate and we will have to nd the bending
the problem up into the superposition of a number of stat- moments in segments of the beam as functions of R and
ically determinate problems. The extra boundary condi- M .

2.4

2.2

Step 4: Compute shear forces and moments - second piece

Step 2: Break beam into segments

2.4 Step 4: Compute shear forces and moments - second piece

After the reaction forces are found, you then break the
beam into pieces. The location and number of external
forces on the member determine the number and location
of these pieces. The rst piece always starts from one end
and ends anywhere before the rst external force.

2.3

Step 3: Compute shear forces and moments - rst piece

Free-body diagram of segment 2
Taking the second segment, ending anywhere before the
second internal force, we have

F = 10 + Ra (1)(x 10) V2 = 0

and
Free-body diagram of segment 1

MA = Ra (10)(1)(x10)

(x + 10)
V2 x+M2 = 0 .
2

Let V 1 and M 1 be the shear force and bending moment

in a cross-section of the rst beam segment, respectively.
As the section of the beam moves towards the point of Therefore,
application of the external force the magnitudes of the
shear force and moment may change. This makes the
shear force and bending moment a function of the pox2
V2 = Ra x and M2 = 50 + Ra (x 10)
.
sition of cross-section (in this example x).
2
By summing the forces along this segment and summing
the moments, the equations for the shear force and bend- Notice that because the shear force is in terms of x, the
moment equation is squared. This is due to the fact that
ing moment are obtained. These equations are:
the moment is the integral of the shear force. The tricky
part of this moment is the distributed force. Since the
force changes with the length of the segment, the force

will be multiplied by the distance after 10 ft. i.e. (xF = 10 V1 = 0

10) the moment location is dened in the middle of the
distributed force, which is also changing. This is where
(x+10)/2 is derived from.
and
Alternatively, we can take moments about the crosssection to get

MA = V1 x + M1 = 0 .

Therefore,

V1 = 10

MA = 10xRa (x10)+(1)(x10)

Again, in this case,

and M1 = 10x .

M2 = 50 + Ra (x 10)

x2
.
2

(x 10)
+M2 = 0 .
2

2.5

2 CALCULATING SHEAR FORCE AND BENDING MOMENT

Step 5: Compute shear forces and moments - third piece

10 + Ra + Rb (1)(15) V4 = 0
and a balance of moments around the cross-section leads
to

(10)(x)Ra (x10)Rb (x25)+(1)(15)(x17.5)50+M4 = 0 .

Solving for V 4 and M 4 , we have
Free-body diagram of segment 3
V4 = 25 Ra Rb = Rc
Taking the third segment, and summing forces, we have

10 + Ra + Rb (1)(15) V3 = 0

and

M4 = 312.5+Ra (x10)+Rb (x25)25x = 625+Ra (300.6x)+M

and summing moments about the cross-section, we get

By plotting each of these equations on their intended intervals, you get the bending moment and shear force dia(10)(x)Ra (x10)Rb (x25)+(1)(15)(x17.5)+M3grams
= 0 . for this beam. In particular, at the clamped end of
the beam, x = 50 and we have
Therefore,

V3 = 25 Ra Rb = Rc
and

M4 = Mc = 937.5 + 40Ra + 25Rb .

2.7 Step 7: Compute deections of the four

segments

M3 = 262.5+Ra (x10)+Rb (x25)25x = 675+RaWe

(300.6x)M
. theory to comnow use thec (10.04x)+12.5x
Euler-Bernoulli beam
pute the deections of the four segments. The dierential
Notice that the distributed force can now be considered equation that relates the beam deection (w) to the bendone force of 15 kips acting in the middle of where it is ing moment (M) is
positioned.

2.6

2
Step 6: Compute shear forces and mo- d w = M
dx2
EI
ments - fourth piece

where E is the Youngs modulus and I is the area moment

of inertia of the beam cross-section.
Substituting the expressions for M 1 , M 2 , M 3 , M 4 into the
beam equation and solving for the deection gives us

5
x3 + C1 + C2 x
3EI
[
]
1
w2 =
x2 x2 + 600 4Ra (x 30) + C3 + C4 x
24EI [
x3
1
(625 + 30Ra 2Mc ) 50x2 (675 + 30Ra Mc )
w3 =
100EI 3
[ 3
1
x
w4 =
(625 + 30Ra 2Mc ) 50x2 (625 + 30Ra Mc )
100EI 3
w1 =

Free-body diagram of segment 4

Taking the fourth and nal segment, a balance of forces
gives

2.9

Step 9: Solve for Mc and Ra

2.8

Step 8: Apply boundary conditions

2.9 Step 9: Solve for M and R

Now we will apply displacement boundary conditions for Because w2 = 0 at x = 25, we can solve for M in terms
the four segments to determine the integration constants. of R to get
For the fourth segment of the beam, we consider the
boundary conditions at the clamped end where w4 =
Mc = 175 7.5Ra .
dw/dx = 0 at x = 50. Solving for C 7 and C 8 gives
Also, since w1 = 0 at x = 10, expressing the deection
in terms of R (after eliminating M ) and solving for R,
1250
125
gives a ) .
C7 =
(625+Mc +30Ra ) and C8 =
(125+6R
3EI
EI
Therefore, we can express w4 as
Ra = 25.278
=
Mc = 14.585 .
w4 =

1
(x50)2 [5(6Ra 125)(x 50) + 2Mc (x + 25)] .
2.10 Step 10: Plot bending moment and
300EI

shear force diagrams

Now, w4 = w3 at x = 37.5 (the point of application of the

external couple). Also, the slopes of the deection curves
at this point are the same, i.e., dw4 /dx = dw3 /dx. Using
these boundary conditions and solving for C 5 and C 6 , we
get

625
250
(5675+8Mc +240Ra ) and C6 =
(3Ra 70) .
12EI
EI
Substitution of these constants into the expression for w3
gives us
Free-body diagram

C5 =

w3 =

1 [
30Ra (50 + x)3 2Mc (50 + x)2 (25 + x)
300EI
]
625(141875 + x(8400 + (162 + x)x)) .

Similarly, at the support between segments 2 and 3 where

x = 25, w3 = w2 and dw3 /dx = dw2 /dx. Using these and
solving for C 3 and C 4 gives
3125
(1645+4Mc +64Ra )
24EI
Therefore,

C3 =

w2 =

and C4 =

Shear force diagram

25
(40325 + 6Mc + 120Ra ) .
12EI

1 [
3125(1645 + 4Mc + 64Ra )+
24EI

]
2
3
moment
50(4025 + 6Mc + 120Ra )x + 120(5 + RBending
x4 .
a )x 4R
a x +diagram

At the support between segments 1 and 2, x = 10 and w1

We can now calculate the reactions R and R , the bend= w2 and dw1 /dx = dw2 /dx. These boundary conditions
ing moments M 1 , M 2 , M 3 , M 4 , and the shear forces V 1 ,
give us
V 2 , V 3 , V 4 . These expressions can then be plotted as a
function of length for each segment.
125
25
C1 =
(40145+100Mc +1632Ra ) and C2 =
(1315+2Mc +48Ra ) .
24EI
4EI
2.11 Relationship between shear force and
Therefore,
bending moment
w1 =

It is important to note the relationship

between the two
]
5 [
1026125 39450x + 8x3 + 20Mc (125 +diagrams.
3x) + 480R
(85 + diagram
3x) . is a visual representation
amoment
The
24EI

7 FURTHER READING

of the area under the shear force diagram. That is, the it can be shown that a point load will lead to a linearly
moment is the integral of the shear force. If the shear varying moment diagram, and a constant distributed load
force is constant over an interval, the moment equation will lead to a quadratic moment diagram.
will be in terms of x. If the shear force is linear over an
interval, the moment equation will be quadratic.
Another note on the shear moment diagrams is that they
show where external force and moments are applied.
With no external forces, the piecewise functions should
attach and show no discontinuity. The discontinuities on
the graphs are the exact magnitude of either the external
force or external moments that are applied. For example, at x = 10 on the shear force diagram, there is a gap
between the two equations. This gap goes from 10 to
15.3. The length of this gap is 25.3, the exact magnitude of the external force at that point. At section 3 on
the moment diagram, there is a discontinuity of 50. This
is from the applied moment of 50 on the structure. The
maximum and minimum vales on the graphs represent the
max forces and moments that this beam will have under
these circumstances.

Relationships between load,

shear, and moment diagrams

Since this method can easily become unnecessarily complicated with relatively simple problems, it can be quite
helpful to understand dierent relations between the
loading, shear, and moment diagram. The rst of these is
the relationship between a distributed load on the loading
diagram and the shear diagram. Since a distributed load
varies the shear load according to its magnitude it can be
derived that the slope of the shear diagram is equal to the
magnitude of the distributed load. The relationship between distributed load and shear force magnitude is:[3]

4 Practical considerations
In practical applications the entire stepwise function is
rarely written out. The only parts of the stepwise function that would be written out are the moment equations
in a nonlinear portion of the moment diagram; this occurs
whenever a distributed load is applied to the member. For
constant portions the value of the shear and/or moment
diagram is written right on the diagram, and for linearly
varying portions of a member the beginning value, end
value, and slope or the portion of the member are all that
are required.[5]

5 See also
Bending
Euler-Bernoulli beam theory
Bending moment
Singularity function#Example beam calculation

6 References
[1] Livermore, Carol; Henrik Schmidt, James Williams Jr.,
and Simona Socrate. 2.001 Mechanics & Materials I,
Fall 2006.. Lecture 5: MIT OpenCourseWare: Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Retrieved 25 October
2013. Cite uses deprecated parameter |coauthors= (help)
[2] Moment Diagram Sign Convention Poll. Eng Tips Forum. Retrieved 25 October 2013.

dQ
= q
dx
Some direct results of this is that a shear diagram will
have a point change in magnitude if a point load is applied
to a member, and a linearly varying shear magnitude as a
result of a constant distributed load. Similarly it can be
shown that the slope of the moment diagram at a given
point is equal to the magnitude of the shear diagram at
that distance. The relationship between distributed shear
force and bending moment is:[4]

[3] Emweb.unl.edu
[4] Beer, Ferdinand P.; E. Russell Johnston; John T. DeWolf
(2004). Mechanics of Materials. McGraw-Hill. pp. 322
323. ISBN 0-07-298090-7.
[5] Hibbeler, R.C (1985). Structural Analysis. Macmillan.
pp. 146148.

7 Further reading

dM
=Q
dx

Cheng, Fa-Hwa. Shear Forces and Bending Moments in Beams Statics and Strength of Materials.
New York: Glencoe, McGraw-Hill, 1997. Print.

A direct result of this is that at every point the shear diagram crosses zero the moment diagram will have a local maximum or minimum. Also if the shear diagram is
zero over a length of the member, the moment diagram
will have a constant value over that length. By calculus

Spotts, Merhyle Franklin, Terry E. Shoup, and Lee

Emrey. Hornberger. Shear and Bending Moment Diagrams. Design of Machine Elements. Upper Saddle River, NJ: Pearson/Prentice Hall, 2004.
Print.

External links
FREE Online Shear Force and Bending Moment Diagram (SFD & BMD) Calculator. (Note: only free
up to 3 point loads.)
To draw the shear and moment diagrams by writing
the shear and moment equations.
Online Calculator for Shear Force and Bending Moment.
To draw the shear and moment diagrams by the relationship between load, shear, and moment.

9 TEXT AND IMAGE SOURCES, CONTRIBUTORS, AND LICENSES

Text and image sources, contributors, and licenses

9.1

Text

Shear and moment diagram Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shear_and_moment_diagram?oldid=695485681 Contributors: Bender235, Alansohn, MattWade, Mikeo, BD2412, MZMcBride, Rsrikanth05, NawlinWiki, SmackBot, Wine Guy, Wizard191, Yaris678,
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