Continuous Beams - Moment and Reaction Support Forces
Continuous Beam with Distributed Load
For a continuous beam with 3, 4 or 5 supports and distributed load the reaction support forces can be calculated as
R = cr q L (1)
where
R = reaction support force (N, lbf)
cr = reaction support force coefficient from the figure above
q = distributed load (N/m, lbf/ft)
L = span length (m, ft)
The moments can be calculated as
M = cm q L2 (2)
where
M = beam moment (Nm, lbf ft)
cm = moment coefficient from the figure above
Example - Continuous Beam with Distributed Load
The reaction forces in the end supports for a continuous beam with 3 supports and distributed load 1000 N/m can be calculated as
Rend = (0.375) (1000 N/m)
= 375 N
= 0.38 kN
The reaction force in the center support can be calculated as
Rcenter = (1.250) (1000 N/m)
= 1250 N
= 1.25 kN
The beam moments at the middle of spans with span length 1m can be calculated as
Mend = (0.070) (1000 N/m) (1 m)2
= 70 Nm
The beam moment at the center support can be calculated as
Mcenter = (0.125) (1000 N/m) (1 m)2
= 125 Nm
Continuous Beam with Point Loads
For a continuous beam with 3, 4 or 5 supports and point loads the reaction support forces can be calculated as
R = cr F (3)
where
cr = reaction support force coefficient from the figure above
F = point load (N, lbf)
The moments can be calculated as
M = cm F L (4)
where
cm = moment coefficient from the figure above
Example - Continuous Beam with Point Loads
The reaction forces in the end supports for a continuous beam with 3 supports and 2 point loads 1000 N can be calculated as
Rend = (0.313) (1000 N)
= 313 N
= 0.31 kN
The reaction force in the center support can be calculated as
Rcenter = (1.375) (1000 N)
= 1375 N
= 1.4 kN
The beam moments at point loads with span length 1m can be calculated as
Mend = (0.156) (1000 N) (1 m)
= 156 Nm
The beam moment at the center support can be calculated as
Mcenter = (0.188) (1000 N) (1 m)
= 188 Nm
Related Topics
• Beams and Columns
Deflection and stress, moment of inertia, section modulus and technical information of beams and columns.
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