Internal Force Diagrams

Internal force diagrams (shear force and bending moment diagrams) are graphical representations of the internal shear forces and bending moments along a beam. These diagrams help identify critical locations for design. Sign conventions are important: positive shear causes clockwise rotation, positive bending causes sagging (tension at bottom).

Governing FormulaV = dM/dx, dV/dx = -w

Knowledge Check

10 Questions

1.In a shear force diagram, a point load causes:

2.In a bending moment diagram, a uniformly distributed load causes:

3.What is the relationship between shear force and bending moment?

4.At a point of maximum bending moment, the shear force is:

5.A cantilever beam with a UDL has a bending moment diagram that is:

6.The bending moment diagram for a simply supported beam with a point load at midspan is:

7.What does the area under the shear force diagram represent?

8.In a bending moment diagram, a positive moment is drawn:

9.A beam has a point load at midspan. The shear force diagram will have:

10.What is the slope of the bending moment diagram at any point?