CHAPTER 7

Beams and Bending—Shear Force and Bending Moment

7.1 Classification of Beams

A beam is any bar or structural member which is subjected to loads applied transverse to long dimension, causing the member to bend. Although this definition is very broad, the preliminary discussion will be confined to beams that are initially straight and of uniform symmetrical cross-section with loads applied in the plane of a symmetry.

Beams are classified according to the nature of their supports. A simply supported beam rests on two supports at ends. These supports do not offer any restrain to rotation but develop reactions normal to the axis of the beam. These supports may be pins, rollers or smooth surfaces. If either or both ends of the beam project ...

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