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Load Distribution and Shear/Bending Diagrams
- Thread starter MTGIRONES
- Start date
Statics! The load could be anywhere, and you would still be able to solve for the reactions. I’m assuming this is a statically determinate beam that is simply supported. Post a sketch, and maybe also move this to the student forum.
Write out your the relevant equations of equilibrium: sum of vertical forces and sum of moments about a point. You should be able to solve for the two unknown reactions using these two independent equations, by algebraic principles.
Shear is the derivative of moment. They are both load effects. Shearing forces are those that cause adjacent sections of the beam to slide against each other, and bending moments flex the beam such that the bottom is pulled apart and the top is compressed.
Write out your the relevant equations of equilibrium: sum of vertical forces and sum of moments about a point. You should be able to solve for the two unknown reactions using these two independent equations, by algebraic principles.
Shear is the derivative of moment. They are both load effects. Shearing forces are those that cause adjacent sections of the beam to slide against each other, and bending moments flex the beam such that the bottom is pulled apart and the top is compressed.
First, I agree, move this to the "Student Engineer General Discussion".
I do not know how far you are into engineering, but Statics is generally a 1st semester class. Statics is where your answer will be found. If you have had Statics but cannot solve this item, your concept of how to learn engineering may be flawed. Students tend to use 1 of 2 concepts in their approach to learning engineering. The 1st one is, give me a 1,000 worked examples to learn so I can learn how to solve each of those problems. This one never works, because there will be problem 1,001 eventually and on it, you will be lost. The 2nd one is to learn the concepts, rules, terminology and behavior of the items under study. Believe it or not, this takes much less time, less memorization, can be mentally retained longer and won't leave you clueless on problem 1,001. It also prepares you for the next class that relies on this one for success in it.
Since you are also inquiring about shear and moment, I assume you have moved from Statics to Strength of Materials. Have you completed Statics? If so, you will struggle unless you back up and get a stronger "feeling" for statics.
I do not know how far you are into engineering, but Statics is generally a 1st semester class. Statics is where your answer will be found. If you have had Statics but cannot solve this item, your concept of how to learn engineering may be flawed. Students tend to use 1 of 2 concepts in their approach to learning engineering. The 1st one is, give me a 1,000 worked examples to learn so I can learn how to solve each of those problems. This one never works, because there will be problem 1,001 eventually and on it, you will be lost. The 2nd one is to learn the concepts, rules, terminology and behavior of the items under study. Believe it or not, this takes much less time, less memorization, can be mentally retained longer and won't leave you clueless on problem 1,001. It also prepares you for the next class that relies on this one for success in it.
Since you are also inquiring about shear and moment, I assume you have moved from Statics to Strength of Materials. Have you completed Statics? If so, you will struggle unless you back up and get a stronger "feeling" for statics.
Now I have become REALLY curious about this post. MTGIRONES cannot solve a simple span beam statics problem, but at the same time is commenting on "Becoming a Better Structural Engineer" post as if they are experienced in SE. Their response is below:
" totally understand. The key is to find resources that fit your pace and needs. I'd recommend exploring courses on platforms like Coursera or LinkedIn Learning, which offer specialized content in structural engineering. Also, finding a mentor in your network or through professional forums like SEAOI can provide more personalized guidance. The goal is to integrate continuous learning into your daily routine efficiently. Keep up the great work"
Are 2 different people using this credential? If so, MTGIRONES#1, please help MTGIRONES#2.
" totally understand. The key is to find resources that fit your pace and needs. I'd recommend exploring courses on platforms like Coursera or LinkedIn Learning, which offer specialized content in structural engineering. Also, finding a mentor in your network or through professional forums like SEAOI can provide more personalized guidance. The goal is to integrate continuous learning into your daily routine efficiently. Keep up the great work"
Are 2 different people using this credential? If so, MTGIRONES#1, please help MTGIRONES#2.
Yes, that sum of the forces in the Y is hard to remember unless you use it daily. After countless hours of formula memorization in Statics of Sum-Y, Sym-X, Mom-Z = 0, they throw in 3D and I have to add Sum-Z, Mom-X and Mom-Y. 6 whole formulas. I still wonder how I got through it. And don't get me started on the Right Hand Rule that was inherently unfair to "Lefties".
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when I was a manager, and hiring grads from a local uni ... these are 4th year grads ... one year none, none!, of more than 20 I interviewed could correctly derive the bending moment on a simply supported beam with a load at "a". A couple could draw it, but they had all forgotten the theory behind it. and they had plenty of help, no "water-boarding"... "yes, I know there's pressure in the interview, but where do you start ?". sad, but understandable ... they teach them some much these days (most of which they'll never use), they have to do a "RAM dump" at the end of each year !
That is what I was referring to in my first post on this thread. The learn by example ones do the "RAM dump" when the class is over and they have their grade. The ones who learn the concepts and behaviors rather than the worked examples, don't have to RAM dump and in fact, I don't think they can dump basic knowledge. It takes less storage space for concepts, behaviors and terminology and they are somewhat linked together. The learn by example problems method requires a lot of storage space plus there are numerous memory registers with ???? in them.
When I learned a single concept like "anything in compression may have a stability issue to investigate", I retained it. Then in steel, concrete, cold-formed and timber we kept addressing buckling due to compression. The buckling of each material had different concerns but once you spot any portion of the element in compression, you know to check for some potential instability. The first concept became linked to those materials.
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