Multiple distributed loads on a beam

[sms22]

Hi all, my professor has hinted at proposing a question of this sort to us for a shear and bending moment diagram. Now while I am comfortable with having [either] a uniformly distributed load or a varying one, I'm not sure how to deal with both. I can't seem to find anything in my textbook to deal with this. Any help would be appreciated. Thanks.

 

[SteamKing]

You've never heard of the Principle of Superposition?

http://www.engineeringwiki.org/wiki/Principle_of_Superposition

Distributed loads can be combined algebraically point by point.

 

[sms22]

No we were never taught that and aren't expected to know how to apply that. Is there any other way to go about this problem?

 

[SteamKing]

No we were never taught that and aren't expected to know how to apply that. Is there any other way to go about this problem?

You can still add the two distributed loads together algebraically point by point.

You can do the same with the shear force and bending moment curves developed for each load: for example, calculate the shear force curve for the constant distribution and the shear force curve for the triangular distribution, then add each together algebraically point by point. Rinse and repeat for the bending moment curves.