ABSTRACT
Figure 4.1(a) shows a car crossing a bridge. The purpose of the bridge deck is to transfer the weight of the car to the two supports. Figure 4.1(b) is an equivalent illustration of Figure 4.1(a), showing the transversely applied load (the car), the structure (the deck) and the supports at the ends. In fact, in many engineering applications, structural members resist forces (loads) applied laterally or transversely to their axis. This type of member is termed a beam. The deformation of a beam is characterized as follows:
• The external load is applied transversely and causes the beam to flex as shown in Figure 4.1(c).
