Draw FBD and Find Reactions at Supports

The first step in any beam problem is to calculate the reaction forces at the supports. To do this we must consider that
the beam is in static equilibrium. This means that we balance or resolve the forces acting on the beam.

After finding all the forces acting on the beam we can draw a free body diagram (FBD) and then balance these forces for
static equilibrium.

DL Forces from 0m to 4m

5 kN/m 20 kN 5 kN/m 6 kN

5
x (m)
0 2 4 6 8 14

Start by finding the equivalent loads caused by the distributed loads (DLs).

Remember that the equivalent load of a DL has a magnitude equal to its area, acting through the area's centroid.

Equivalent load(s) of the DL from x = 0m to x = 4m:

Rectangular Load Magnitude: (4m − 0m) × (−5kN/m) = −20kN

4m − 0m
Rectangular Load Position: 0m + = +2m
2

DL Forces from 6m to 8m

20 kN 3 kN/m6 kN3 kN/m

5
x (m)
0 2 4 6 8 14

Equivalent load(s) of the DL from x = 6m to x = 8m:

Rectangular Load Magnitude: (8m − 6m) × (−3kN/m) = −6kN

8m − 6m
Rectangular Load Position: 6m + = +7m
2

SkyCiv Beam - Hand Calculations

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 Horizontal Reactions

15 kN

15 kN 10.607 kN

5 kN/m 5 kN/m 7 kN
20 kN 6 kN
3 kN/m 3 kN/m 10 kN-m
10.607 kN

Rx

5 7
x (m)
0 2 4 6 8 11 14

Sum of forces along the x-axis is equal to zero for static equilibrium:

+ → ΣFx = 0
∘
Rx − 15 cos(135 ) = 0

Rx + 10.607 = 0

Rx = −10.607kN

Statically Indeterminate
Sorry but the full hand calculations of the reaction forces cannot be generated when there are hinges involved. The
solution shown on this page is correct though.

Click 'Help' in the top menu to let us know that you'd like to see this feature added in future!

Find Shear Forces (V) and Draw SFD

The 'Method of Sections' or 'Method of Cuts' is used to determine the shear force value at locations along the beam.

You should aim to 'cut' the beam between loads, supports and along distributed loads. After taking a cut you simply
consider equilibirium in the y-axis (i.e. let the sum of the forces in the y-axis equal zero and solve for the unknown shear
force V).

If you follow this procedure for every cut/section then you will Find the equation of shear force for every segment of the
beam and therefore you can create the shear force diagram (SFD).

SkyCiv Beam - Hand Calculations

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 Shear for 0 ≤ x ≤ 2

kN
5 kN/m
5x 5 kN/m

V1

(x)

24.318 kN

x x
x (m)
0 /2 4 6 14

Take a cut for 0 ≤ x ≤ 2 :

Find the forces due to the DL from x = 0 to x = 4 :

x
The rectangular DL acts at distance of from the cut with a force of:
2

b × h = −5x = −5x

+ ↑ ΣFy = 0

+24.318 + [−5x] − V1 (x) = 0

V1 (x) = +24.318 − 5x

∴ V1 (x) = +24.318 − 5x for 0 ≤ x ≤ 2

SkyCiv Beam - Hand Calculations

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 Shear for 2 ≤ x ≤ 4

15 kN

5 kN/m 5x kN 5 kN/m

V2

(x)

24.318 kN

x 2 4
x (m)
0 /2 x 6 14

Take a cut for 2 ≤ x ≤ 4 :

Find the forces due to the DL from x = 0 to x = 4 :

x
The rectangular DL acts at distance of from the cut with a force of:
2

b × h = −5x = −5x

+ ↑ ΣFy = 0

+24.318 − 15 + [−5x] − V2 (x) = 0

V2 (x) = +9.318 − 5x

∴ V2 (x) = +9.318 − 5x for 2 ≤ x ≤ 4

Shear for 4 ≤ x ≤ 5

15 kN

5 kN/m −20 kN 5 kN/m

V3

(x)

24.318 kN -16.592 kN

x
x (m)
0 2 4 6 14

Take a cut for 4 ≤ x ≤ 5 :

+ ↑ ΣFy = 0

+24.318 − 16.592 − 15 − 20 − V3 (x) = 0

V3 (x) = −27.274

∴ V3 (x) = −27.274 for 4 ≤ x ≤ 5

SkyCiv Beam - Hand Calculations

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 Shear for 5 ≤ x ≤ 6

15 kN

5 kN/m −20 kN 5 kN/m

V4

(x)

24.318 kN -16.592 kN

5 6
x (m)
0 2 4 x 14

Take a cut for 5 ≤ x ≤ 6 :

+ ↑ ΣFy = 0

+24.318 − 16.592 − 15 − 20 − V4 (x) = 0

V4 (x) = −27.274

∴ V4 (x) = −27.274 for 5 ≤ x ≤ 6

Shear for 6 ≤ x ≤ 8

15 kN

5 kN/m −20 kN 5 kN/m 3(x kN

3 kN/m
3 kN/m
− 6)

V5

(x)

24.318 kN -16.592 kN 43.91 kN

5
(x − 6 x (m)
0 2 4 6 x 14
)/2

Take a cut for 6 ≤ x ≤ 8 :

Find the forces due to the DL from x = 6 to x = 8 :

x −6
The rectangular DL acts at distance of from the cut with a force of:
2

b × h = −3(x − 6) = +18 − 3x

+ ↑ ΣFy = 0

+24.318 − 16.592 + 43.91 − 15 − 20 + [+18 − 3x] − V5 (x) = 0

V5 (x) = +34.636 − 3x

∴ V5 (x) = +34.636 − 3x for 6 ≤ x ≤ 8

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 Shear for 8 ≤ x ≤ 11

15 kN

5 kN/m 5 kN/m 7 kN
−20 kN −6 kN
3 kN/m 3 kN/m

V6

(x)

24.318 kN -16.592 kN 43.91 kN

5 x
x (m)
0 2 4 6 − 7 8 x 14

Take a cut for 8 ≤ x ≤ 11 :

+ ↑ ΣFy = 0

+24.318 − 16.592 + 43.91 − 15 − 7 − 20 − 6 − V6 (x) = 0

V6 (x) = +3.636

∴ V6 (x) = +3.636 for 8 ≤ x ≤ 11

Shear for 11 ≤ x ≤ 14

15 kN

10.607 kN

5 kN/m 5 kN/m 7 kN
−20 kN −6 kN
3 kN/m 3 kN/m

V7

(x)

24.318 kN -16.592 kN 43.91 kN

5 x
x (m)
0 2 4 6 − 7 8 11 x 14

Take a cut for 11 ≤ x ≤ 14 :

+ ↑ ΣFy = 0

+24.318 − 16.592 + 43.91 − 15 − 10.607 − 7 − 20 − 6 − V7 (x) = 0

V7 (x) = −6.971

∴ V7 (x) = −6.971 for 11 ≤ x ≤ 14

Find Bending Moments (M) and Draw BMD

The 'Method of Sections' or 'Method of Cuts' is used to determine the bending moment value at locations along the
beam.

You should aim to 'cut' the beam between loads, supports and along distributed loads. After taking a cut you simply
consider equilibirium about the point of the cut (i.e. let the sum of the moment about the cut equal zero and solve for the
unknown bending moment M).

If you follow this procedure for every cut/section then you will find the equation of bending moment for every segment of
the beam and therefore you can create the bending moment diagram (BMD).

SkyCiv Beam - Hand Calculations

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 Moment for 0 ≤ x ≤ 2

kN
5 kN/m
5x 5 kN/m

M1

(x)

24.318 kN

x x
x (m)
0 /2 4 6 14

Take a cut for 0 ≤ x ≤ 2 :

Find the moments due to the DL from x = 0 to x = 4 :

x
The rectangular DL acts at distance of from the cut with a force of:
2

b × h = −5x = −5x
x
2
So the moment force is: (−5x) ( ) = −2.5x
2

+ ↻ ΣMx = 0
2
+ (24.318) (x − 0) + [−2.5x ] − M1 (x) = 0

2
M1 (x) = +24.318x − 2.5x

2
∴ M1 (x) = +24.318x − 2.5x for 0 ≤ x ≤ 2

SkyCiv Beam - Hand Calculations

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 Moment for 2 ≤ x ≤ 4

15 kN

5 kN/m 5x kN 5 kN/m
M2

(x)

24.318 kN

x 2 4
x (m)
0 /2 x 6 14

Take a cut for 2 ≤ x ≤ 4 :

Find the moments due to the DL from x = 0 to x = 4 :

x
The rectangular DL acts at distance of from the cut with a force of:
2

b × h = −5x = −5x
x
2
So the moment force is: (−5x) ( ) = −2.5x
2

+ ↻ ΣMx = 0
2
+ (24.318) (x − 0) + (−15) (x − 2) + [−2.5x ] − M2 (x) = 0

2
M2 (x) = +30 + 9.318x − 2.5x

2
∴ M2 (x) = +30 + 9.318x − 2.5x for 2 ≤ x ≤ 4

Moment for 4 ≤ x ≤ 5

15 kN

5 kN/m −20 kN 5 kN/m

M3

(x)

24.318 kN -16.592 kN

x
x (m)
0 2 4 6 14

Take a cut for 4 ≤ x ≤ 5 :

+ ↻ ΣMx = 0

+ (24.318) (x − 0) + (−16.592) (x − 4) + (−15) (x − 2) + [+40 − 20x] − M3 (x) = 0

M3 (x) = +136.368 − 27.274x

∴ M3 (x) = +136.368 − 27.274x for 4 ≤ x ≤ 5

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 Moment for 5 ≤ x ≤ 6

15 kN

5 kN/m −20 kN 5 kN/m

M4

(x)

24.318 kN -16.592 kN

5 6
x (m)
0 2 4 x 14

Take a cut for 5 ≤ x ≤ 6 :

+ ↻ ΣMx = 0

+ (24.318) (x − 0) + (−16.592) (x − 4) + (−15) (x − 2) + [+40 − 20x] − M4 (x) = 0

M4 (x) = +136.368 − 27.274x

∴ M4 (x) = +136.368 − 27.274x for 5 ≤ x ≤ 6

Moment for 6 ≤ x ≤ 8

15 kN

5 kN/m −20 kN 5 kN/m 3(x kN

3 kN/m
3 kN/m
M5
− 6)
(x)

24.318 kN -16.592 kN 43.91 kN

5
(x − 6 x (m)
0 2 4 6 x 14
)/2

Take a cut for 6 ≤ x ≤ 8 :

Find the moments due to the DL from x = 6 to x = 8 :

x −6
The rectangular DL acts at distance of from the cut with a force of:
2

b × h = −3(x − 6) = +18 − 3x

x −6
2
So the moment force is: (+18 − 3x) ( ) = −54 + 18x − 1.5x
2

+ ↻ ΣMx = 0

+ (24.318) (x − 0) + (−16.592) (x − 4) + (43.91) (x − 6) + (−15) (x − 2) + [+40 − 20x]

2
+ [−54 + 18x − 1.5x ] − M5 (x) = 0

2
M5 (x) = −181.092 + 34.636x − 1.5x

2
∴ M5 (x) = −181.092 + 34.636x − 1.5x for 6 ≤ x ≤ 8

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 Moment for 8 ≤ x ≤ 11

15 kN

5 kN/m 5 kN/m 7 kN
−20 kN −6 kN
3 kN/m 3 kN/m
M6

(x)

24.318 kN -16.592 kN 43.91 kN

5 x
x (m)
0 2 4 6 − 7 8 x 14

Take a cut for 8 ≤ x ≤ 11 :

+ ↻ ΣMx = 0

+ (24.318) (x − 0) + (−16.592) (x − 4) + (43.91) (x − 6) + (−15) (x − 2) + (−7) (x − 8)

+ [+40 − 20x] + [+42 − 6x] − M6 (x) = 0

M6 (x) = −29.092 + 3.636x

∴ M6 (x) = −29.092 + 3.636x for 8 ≤ x ≤ 11

Moment for 11 ≤ x ≤ 14

15 kN

10.607 kN

5 kN/m 5 kN/m 7 kN
−20 kN −6 kN
3 kN/m 3 kN/m
M7

(x)

24.318 kN -16.592 kN 43.91 kN

5 x
x (m)
0 2 4 6 − 7 8 11 x 14

Take a cut for 11 ≤ x ≤ 14 :

+ ↻ ΣMx = 0

+ (24.318) (x − 0) + (−16.592) (x − 4) + (43.91) (x − 6) + (−15) (x − 2)

+ (−10.606601717798213) (x − 11) + (−7) (x − 8) + [+40 − 20x] + [+42 − 6x] − M7 (x) = 0

M7 (x) = +87.581 − 6.971x

∴ M7 (x) = +87.581 − 6.971x for 11 ≤ x ≤ 14

SkyCiv Beam - Hand Calculations

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