Beams and Compound Beams

Types of Beams

(1)Simply supported beam, (2)Overhanging beam
(3)Cantilever beam, (4)A beam with hinge and roller supports
(5)A fixed beam, (6)A continuous beam
(7)Prop Cantilever

Types of loads on the beam

(1)Point load or Concentrated load

Always represented in Newton or kN

(2)Uniformly Distributed Load (UDL)


Always represented in N/m or kN/m
Converted in point load by taking product of intensity of udl and spreading distance. This acts on centre of udl

(3)Uniformly Varying Load (UVL)

$\table Shape,\text"Point load",\text"Point of action (From left & Right)";\text"Right triangle", 1/2 wl,{2l}/3 \text" &" l/3;\text"Trapezoidal",w_1l \text" & " (w_2 – w_1)l/2,l/2 \text"&" 2/3 l;\text"Pyramidal Triangle",{wl}/2, l/2 \text"&" l/2;\text"Irregular triangle",{wl}/2,{a+l}/3 \text" & " {b+l}/3$

(4)Varying Load (VL)

To convert VL into a point load first find area of the given loading by using integration method discussed in centroid and centre of gravity. Also find x-coordinate of centroid which represents point of application of concentration load.