How to Calculate Shear force and Bending moments of a Beam

 To calculate shear forces and bending moments of a beam, you would typically follow these steps:

Step 1: Determine the reactions at the supports

- Find the external forces acting on the beam and their locations.

- Sum the vertical forces to find the reaction forces at the supports.

Step 2: Select a section of the beam

- Choose a section along the length of the beam where you want to calculate the shear force and bending moment.

Step 3: Draw the free-body diagram

- Isolate the selected section of the beam.

- Draw all the external forces acting on the section, including the reaction forces from Step 1.

Step 4: Calculate the shear force

- Sum the vertical forces acting on the section.

- Shear force (V) = Sum of the vertical forces at that section.

Step 5: Calculate the bending moment

- Compute the moment about a point (usually taken at one end of the section).

- Bending moment (M) = Sum of the moments about the selected point.

Step 6: Repeat for other sections

- Move along the length of the beam and repeat steps 2-5 for different sections until you have the shear forces and bending moments for the entire beam.

It is important to note that the exact calculations might vary based on the type of beam and the loading conditions it is subjected to. Additionally, if you have complex loading conditions or varying cross-sections, computational methods or software may be beneficial for accurate results.