[ ABHIYANTA ACADEMY FE APM Part I ]

Chapter 3 support reactions of beams

Beams
Beam is defined as the horizontal member of structural construction of
which length is comparatively much larger than the width & thickness. Length of
beam is called as effective span and denoted by L.

Types of beams –
1] Simply supported beam – It is a beam supported at its both ends.
2] Overhanging beam – It is a beam having its one or both ends in the form of
cantilever ( beyond the support ).

Simply supported both ends overhanging one end overhanging

3] Cantilever beam – It is beam with one end fixed & other end free.

4] Compound beam – It is combination of two or more beams as shown.

A At point B, reaction at B is upward for

B C beam AB and it is downward for beam
BC. Both equal in magnitude.

5] Beam with hinged & roller supports 6] Beam with both ends hinged
7] Propped cantilever 8] Continuous beam

Beam reactions –
Beam reactions are the reactions exerted at the supports of beam to
maintain equilibrium against loads on beam. Denoted by RA – reaction at A and
RB – reaction at B.

Types of loads –
1] Point load – a load acting at a point on the beam.

2] Uniformly distributed load (u.d.l.) – a load spread uniformly over the beam.
Load per unit length is constant. It can be converted in to point load by assuming
it to be acting at C.G. of load. Total u.d.l. equal to product of load per unit length
and total length.
udl w N/m

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3] Non uniformly distributed load – It is distributed over length but load per unit
length is not constant.

4] Uniformly varying load (UVL) – It is distributed over length and load per unit
length increases or decreases gradually. There are two types as Triangular &
Trapezoidal load.
Triangular load – Total load is equal to area of triangle and it is supposed to
act at centroid of triangle i.e. h/3 from side.

ℓ/3
Trapezoidal load – For analysis it is split up in two parts as rectangular udl
and triangular uvl. Load equal to area of rectangle is supposed to act at centroid
of rectangle. Load equal to area of triangle is supposed to act at centroid of
triangle.

ℓ/2 ℓ/3
5] Couple – It produce only rotational effect. It is not considered in vertical loads.
It is given as only moment. It may be clockwise or anti clock wise.

Types of beam supports –

1] Simple support – Beam is supported on knife edges. Support reaction is
always vertical. Example – beams of buildings, sheds.

RA
2] Roller support – End of beam is supported on rollers. The support reaction is
always perpendicular to supporting surface.

RA RA
3] Hinged support – End of beam is hinged with the support. Reaction may be at
any direction depending upon load. Example – gate at Railway crossing.

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4] Fixed support – Beam end is rigidly fixed in wall or column. It may have
reaction at any direction and it produces moment.

MA

Steps in finding support reactions by analytical method –

1] Resolve inclined forces in to Fx & Fy. Convert udl & uvl in to corresponding
point loads and mark their positions.
2] Consider ΣFx = 0 condition to get one equation.
3] Consider ΣFy = 0 condition to get another equation.
4] Consider ΣM = 0 by taking moments about any one support. Find value of
reaction of other support from this equation. By putting this value in above
equations we can get value of other reactions & angle made by reaction.

This method is useful for analysis of statically determinate beam i.e. in

which there are only three unknowns.

Reactions at supports
by Graphical method –
Previously we have seen graphic representation of force. In graphical
method of finding reactions at support Bow’s notation is used.
In Bow’s notation, force is represented by two spaces on its both sides. By
using this Space diagram is drawn and then Vector diagram is drawn to find
reactions.

Space diagram –
It is the diagram showing exact location & direction of forces acting on
body. W1 W2
P Resultant A B C

D A Q
C D
B RA RB

R
Force P = CD Force W1 = AB
Force Q = AB Force W2 = BC
Force R = BC Reaction RB = CD
Resultant = AD Reaction RA = DA

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Vector diagram or force diagram –

In vector diagram all forces are drawn graphically in the form of vectors and
in sequence named with small letters as in space diagram.
In this diagram all known forces are drawn sequentially to form the open
polygon. Then polygon is closed by vector from start of first vector up to end of
last vector gives

Polar diagram –
In polar diagram, a suitable point is chosen away from all vectors which is
called as pole. Points on vector diagram are joined to pole by lines called as rays.

Funicular diagram –
A funicular polygon is constructed in space diagram with the help of rays
in polar diagram. In funicular polygon first & last lines are extended to cross each
other and this crossing point is point of application of force.

Condition –
1] In case of coplanar concurrent forces resultant is obtained by only two
diagrams viz. space diagram & vector diagram.
2] In case of coplanar non concurrent & parallel forces, polar & funicular
diagram are also necessary. In other words when moments of forces are to be
considered, these all the four diagrams are to be drawn.

VIRTUAL WORK
We know when some force acts on body & body undergoes displacement
then some work is said to be done. That means W = F . s . In case of force
inclined to the direction of motion, W = F cos θ .s .

Concept of virtual work –

If is body under action of number of forces & is in equilibrium, then work
done by these forces is equal to zero. If we considered individual force and
assumed infinitely small imaginary displacement due to this force (known as
virtual displacement) then some work can be imagined to be done. This imaginary
work is called virtual work. This concept is used to find unknown forces in force
system.

Principle of virtual work –

This principle states that, ‘if system of forces act on the body and body is in
equilibrium and small displacement of body is imagined then algebraic sum of
virtual works of all forces of system is equal to zero.’

In case of linear virtual displacement ‘δs’ under action of force F, virtual

work is given by δW = F . δs
In case of angular virtual displacement ‘δθ’ under action of couple M,
virtual work is given by δW = M . δθ

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Sign convention –
1) Vertical force – upward positive & downward negative
2) Horizontal force – towards right positive & towards left negative
3) Moment of force – clockwise positive & anti clockwise negative
4) Nature of force – Tensile positive & compressive negative
5) Virtual work – positive if force & displacement are in same direction

Steps to find support reactions by method of virtual work –

1) Assume beam as hinged at one of the support and suppose displacement due
to other support reaction as y.
2) Draw triangle with one side as y. Find virtual displacements due to other loads
using geometry.
3) Then by principle, sum of virtual works due to all forces is equal to zero & find
reactions.

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