Relationship between Point Loads and Running Loads in Cantilevered Beams

  • Thread starter Thread starter Ignea_unda
  • Start date Start date
  • Tags Tags
    Point Running
Click For Summary
SUMMARY

The relationship between point loads and running loads in cantilevered beams is clarified through the analysis of force distribution. A point load applied at the centroidal axis of a prismatic cantilevered beam does not create a running load along the beam's length. Instead, a Free Body Diagram demonstrates that the force remains constant between the fixed end and the point load. In contrast, a vertical beam under its own weight would exhibit a linear force distribution along its length.

PREREQUISITES
  • Understanding of cantilevered beam mechanics
  • Familiarity with Free Body Diagrams
  • Knowledge of point loads and distributed loads
  • Basic principles of structural analysis
NEXT STEPS
  • Study the principles of cantilever beam design
  • Learn about the effects of distributed loads on beams
  • Explore advanced topics in structural analysis
  • Review examples of Free Body Diagrams in engineering
USEFUL FOR

Engineering students, structural engineers, and professionals involved in beam design and analysis will benefit from this discussion.

Ignea_unda
Messages
131
Reaction score
0
I've been working in class and I'm having trouble clarifying how these two (if at all) are related. Say we have a cantalivered (sp?) beam, prismatic cross section, with a point force acting at the centroidal axis of the cross section in the direction of the longitudinal axis. Will this create a running load along the length of the member?

I want to say it doesn't because the surface integral doesn't make sense to me at this point, but maybe I'm just not looking at it correctly. Any help would be appreciated.
 
Engineering news on Phys.org
If you mean by "running" load a linearly distributed force per unit length along the longitudinal axis of the beam, then, yes, you are correct, the answer is "No". A Free Body Diagram will show that the force is constant at any section between the fixed end and the applied point load. If the beam was vertical under its own weight only, with no applied point load, then in that case the force distribution along the length would be linear.
 
Thank you very much for your help. I was struggling with figuring it out, but was finally able to come to the same conclusion. It made perfect sense and I'm not sure why it took me so much to discover.

In any matter, Thank you.
 

Similar threads

Replies
3
Views
2K
  • · Replies 4 ·
Replies
4
Views
6K
  • · Replies 1 ·
Replies
1
Views
2K
Replies
6
Views
2K
Replies
3
Views
3K
  • · Replies 2 ·
Replies
2
Views
7K
Replies
13
Views
3K
Replies
2
Views
2K
  • · Replies 7 ·
Replies
7
Views
3K
Replies
5
Views
11K