EXAMPLE 4.3.6. BEAM SUPPORT REACTIONS FOR UNIFORMLY DISTRIBUTED LOADS

Determine the reaction for the beam with the uniform load as shown.

Distributed loads are loads applied per unit length of the beam. By converting the distributed load into point loads, it would be simple to determine the reactions at the supports.

Convert the distributed loads into point loads by identifying the are of the distributed load. The area is the magnitude of the point load. 

                              

Next is to identify where load P is located which is the centroid. With the distributed load being rectangular in shape, the centroid is located half of the length.

Due to symmetry where load is applied midway of both reactions, we can easily conclude that the load P is just divided among the two reactions.








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4.0. SHEAR AND MOMENT IN BEAMS