Cantilever

A cantilever is a beam which has one end fixed and the other end free.
The method of drawing shearing force and bending moment diagrams for a loaded cantilever
is the same as that used for simply supported beams. The loading diagram should be drawn
with the fixed end at the left -hand side and the shearing force and the bending moment at any
section of the loaded cantilever should be calculated by considering the forces acting on the
free end side of the section.

Illustrative examples
EXAMPLE 2
A cantilever beam ABCDE 8 m long is horizontally fixed at A. It carries vertical load
of 2 Kn , 4 KN and 6KN at B,C and D respectively and an upward vertical load of 5KN
at the free endE. AB=BC= CD=DE =2m. Draw to scale the shearing force diagram and
the bending moment diagram and insert the principal values.

SOLUTION
SF diagram
The SF diagram shown in fig is drawn to scale by using the method described in the
previous example but this time we have started at the right hand side .ie at the free end E and
followed the loads.
SF between D and F = +5 kN
SF between D and C = +5 – 6 = – 1 kN
SF between C and B = +5 – 6 − 4 = −5 kN
SF between B and A = +5– 6 − 4 − 2 = −7 kN
BM diagram
Considering the forces on the free end side of the sections of the cantilever, we get:
BM at E = + (5× 0) =0
BM at D = + (5× 2) = +10 kNm
BM at C = + (5 ×4) − (6× 2) =+20 −12 = +8 kNm
BM at B = + (5 ×6) − (6× 4) − (4× 2) =+30 −24 −8 = − 2 𝑘Nm
BM at A =+(5 ×8)− (6× 6) −(4× 4) − (2× 2) =+40 −16 −4 = − 16 𝑘Nm
These values are plotted in fig and the BM diagram completed by joining the resulting points
by straight lines. From inspection of fig…..it will be observed that there is no bending
moment on the cantilever at a point 5.6 m from the free end E.

Check:
BM at 5.6m from E = + (5 ×5.6) − (6× 3.6) − (4× 1.6) =+28 −21.6 −6.4 = 0
From fig the shearing force value at the point where the bending moment on the cantilever is
zero is -5 KN
Tutorial Problems
TP –[1]: A beam ABCDEF ,20 m long is simply supported at B and F. it carries
uniformly distributed loads. It carries concentrated loads of 600N, 800N and 400N
at C, D, and E respectively. If AB=BC=CD=DE=EF = 4m, draw to scale the shearing
force and bending moment diagrams for the beam.

SOLUTION

Beam reactions
The reactions 𝑹_𝑩 and 𝑹_𝑭 of the supports at B and F respectively are first calculated.
Taking moments about F and working in N and m units, we get
𝑅_𝐵 ×16 = (600 ×12) + (800× 8) +
(4400× 4)
= 7200 + 6400 + 1600
= 15200/16
∴ 𝑹_ = 950 N
Also for equilibrium, the sum of the reactions must be equal to the total downward force, i.e
to the sum of the loads,
𝑅_𝐵+𝑅_(𝐹 )= 600+ 800 +400
950 +𝑅_𝐹 = 1800
𝑅_𝐹 = 1800 −950
𝑹_𝑭 = 850N
Shear Forces
Referring to Fig.5 for our sign convention and considering the forces to the left of the section
only, the SF values at points between the various sections of the beam can be determined as
follows;
SF between A and B
= 0N
SF between B and C
= 0 +950 = +950 N
SF between C and D
= 0 +950 −600 = −350 N
SF between D and E
= 0 +950 – 600 − 800 = −450 N
SF between E and F
= 0 +950 – 600 − 800 − 400 = −850 N
Bending moments
BM at A
= 0 Nm
BM at B
= 0 Nm
BM at C
= + (950 ×4) = +3800 Nm
BM at D
= + (950 ×8) − (600× 4) = +5200 Nm
BM at E
= + (950 × 12) − (600 × 8) − (800× 4)
= +3400 Nm
BM at F
= + (950 × 16) − (600 × 12) − (800× 8) − (400× 4)
= 0 Nm
The above values of the bending moment at A, B, C, D, E and F are plotted to a suitable scale
in Figure and the bending moment diagrams completed by joining the resulting points by
straight lines.

​
TP-[2]: A beam AB, 5 m long, is simply-supported at the end B and at a point C, 1 m
from A. It carries vertical loads of 5 kN at A and 20kN at D, the centre of the span BC.
Draw S.F. and B.M. diagrams for the beam inserting principal values.

SOLUTION

The reactions 𝑅𝐶 and 𝑅𝐵 of the supports at C and B respectively are first calculated

Taking moments about B and working in kN and m units, we get

𝑅𝐶 ×4 = (5 ×5) + (20× 2)

𝑅𝐶 ×4 = 25 + 40

65
= 4

∴ 𝑅𝐶 = 16.25 kN

Also for equilibrium, the sum of the force, i.e to the sum of the loads, reactions must be equal
to the total downward

𝑅𝐶 + 𝑅𝐵 = 5+ 20

16.25 + 𝑅𝐵 = 25

𝑅𝐵 = 28 −16.25

𝑅𝐵 = 8.75 kN

Shear Forces

Referring to Fig.5.3 for our sign convention and considering the forces to the left of the
section only, the SF values at points between the various sections of the beam can be
determined as follows.

SF between A and C

= −5 kN

SF between C and D

= −5 +16.25 = +11.25 kN
SF between D and B

= −5 +16.25 − 20 = − 8. 25 𝑘N

❖​ The above values of SF are then plotted to a suitable scale immediately underneath

the loading diagram as shown in figure 5.

Bending moments

BM at A = − (5× 0) = 0

BM at C = − (5× 1) = − 5 kNm

BM at D = − (5× 3) + ( 16.25 ×2)

= +17.5 kNm

BM at B = − (5× 5) + ( 16.25 ×4) − (20× 2)

= 0 kNm

The above values of the bending moment at A, B, C, and D are plotted to a suitable scale in
Figure and the bending moment diagrams completed by joining the resulting points by
straight lines.

Loading Diagram
 Shear Force Diagram

Bending Moment Diagram

ASSIGNMENT

1)​ Define the terms shearing force and bending moment of beams
 2)​ A Beam ABCDE 12 m long is simply supported at A and E It carries: concentrated
loads of 2kN 4kN, and 6 kN at B, C, and D, respectively). AB=BC=CD=DE=3m.
Calculate the value of the reactions at A and E and draw the shearing force and
bending moment diagrams for the loaded beam using the following scales: Length, 1
cm to 1 m; shearing force, 1 cm to 2 kN; bending moment, l m: to 5 kNm. Insert the
main values in both diagrams.

3)​ A beam ABC, 20 m long is simply supported at one end A and at E 15 m portion BC
overhangs 5 m The beam carries three loads: 4 kN, 5m from A and4 kN at C. Draw
the shearing force and bending moment diagrams using the following scales: Length,
1 cm to 2 m: shearing form, l cm to 2 kN; bending moment 1 cm to 5Kn. Insert the
principal values in both diagrams.

4)​ A beam 20 m Span, simply supported at its ends carries a load 4kN at one end, 6 kN
at 4 m from one end and a third load of 2 kN at 6 m from the other end.
(a)​ Draw to scale the shearing force and bending moment diagrams lot the inserting
thereon the principal values.
(b)​ Find from the bending moment diagram the value and position of the maximum
bending moment.

5)​ A cantilever 8 m long carries a load of 500 N at its free end and also a load of 1500N
at mid span-Draw or sketch the diagrams of shearing force: and bending moment for
this beam. 1f drawn to scale. the scale must be clearly stated. The diagrams must be
carefully stated. The diagrams should be carefully dimensioned.

TRY QUESTIONS

1)​ The beam of 'a car lift is 3.5 m long and can be assumed to be simply supported at its
ends. It supports a vehicle which has its front wheel placed 0.5m from one end and
has a wheelbase of 2 m. The wheel loads are front 3 kN, rear 5 kN. Calculate the
value of the reactions at the supports of the lift beam and also the value of 'the
 bending moments at the position of each wheel. Draw the bending moment and
shearing force diagrams, marking on the chief values.

2)​ A cantilever projects 8m from a wall and carries a load of 8 kN at 2 m from the free
end and another load of 6 kN at 2 m from the wall. Draw the diagrams of bending
moment and shearing force, and state the values of the bending moment and shearing
force:
(a)​ At the wall.
(b)​ 3 m from the wall.

3)​ A beam AD, 25 m long, is simply supported at B, 4 m from A and at C, 5 m from D.

4)​ A beam ABCDEF. 20 m long is simply supported at points A and D, and carries
concentrated loads of 8 kN, 6 kN and 8 kN at B, C, and E respectively. AB=3m ,BC=
4m CD =8m, DE= 3m, and EF=2m .Neglecting the weight of the beam determine the
reactions RA and RD. Draw to scale the shearing force and bending moment diagrams
for the beam using the following scales: Length. 1 cm to 2 m: shearing force diagram,
1 cm to 4 kN; bending moment diagram, 1 cm-to 6 kNm. What is the maximum
additional load that can be placed at F before the beam would lift at A?

5)​ The rear axle of a car has the seats for the laminated Springs 1 m apart and the rear
wheels are 1.4m apart. Each wheel carries a load of 3.5 kN. Draw to scale the
shearing force and bending moment diagrams for the rear axle.