ABSTRACT
The units of bending moment are N mm, N m, kN m, etc. When a beam is subjected to the couples shown in Figure 7.1, the beam will suffer flexure due to the bending moment of magnitude M.
The members of the structures in the previous chapter withstood the externally applied loads in either tension or compression; this was because they were not subjected to bending. In practise many structures are subjected to bending action; such structures include beams and rigid-jointed frameworks (- a rigid-jointed framework is one which has its joints welded or riveted or bolted together; such structures are beyond the scope of this text - see reference [1], on page 86). In this chapter, bending moments and shearing forces are defined and calculated, before the plotting of bending moment and shearing force diagrams are explained.
