Sign convention of shear force and moment on beam

AI Thread Summary
The discussion centers on the sign convention for shear forces and moments in beams, specifically questioning why clockwise moments on the left are considered positive while anticlockwise moments on the right are also positive. It is clarified that this is an arbitrary convention chosen for consistency in calculations. Participants emphasize that different conventions can be used as long as they are applied consistently throughout the analysis. The importance of understanding the effects of sagging and hogging moments is highlighted, rather than focusing solely on the direction of rotation. Overall, the choice of sign convention should align with the desired outcomes in structural analysis.
chetzread
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Homework Statement


I don't understand why the sign of moment of beam at left (clockwise) and moment at the right of beam (anticlockwise) are considered as positive...
Why we can't assume the clockwise moment as positive and anticlockwise moment as negative?
yS8bRDE.png

Homework Equations

The Attempt at a Solution

 
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chetzread said:

Homework Statement


I don't understand why the sign of moment of beam at left (clockwise) and moment at the right of beam (anticlockwise) are considered as positive...
Why we can't assume the clockwise moment as positive and anticlockwise moment as negative?
yS8bRDE.png

Homework Equations

The Attempt at a Solution

It's just an arbitrary convention assumed by the author to keep calculations consistent.

You can assume a different convention for shear forces and bending moments, as long as you maintain consistency.
 
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SteamKing said:
It's just an arbitrary convention assumed by the author to keep calculations consistent.

You can assume a different convention for shear forces and bending moments, as long as you maintain consistency.
look at the diagram carefully, can i assume moment of beam at left (clockwise) as positive and moment at the right of beam (anticlockwise) are considered as neagtive..?
in OP, the author assume moment of beam at left (clockwise) and moment at the right of beam (anticlockwise) are considered as positive..,which different orientation of moment has same sign...
 
This is similar to another post of yours, to which I replied: What definition of Moment are you using? There are two possible definitions, each of which can be derived from the other. The one I prefer is that the bending moment at a section is the algebraic sum of the moments on ONE SIDE of the section. You have to have a sign convention that should yield the same moment, whether you take it to the left of the section, or to the right.The significant drawings for sign are shown in the lowest line of the table you quote. Sagging moments are positive and are produced by a combination of a clockwise and an anticlockwise moment. Although in some situations it can help to ascribe a sign to a clockwise or anticlockwise moment (determining the overall equilibrium of a body - for example), when drawing bending moment diagrams, you need to consider whther the cause of the bending moment is having a sagging (+) or a hogging (-) effect. Nothing to do with CW or ACW .
 
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