Understanding how a beam responds to loading is fundamental for every civil or structural engineer. One of the most effective ways to analyze this behavior is through a shear force and bending moment diagram, which visually represents internal forces within a beam. This post introduces a free, browser-based tool designed to help users generate and interpret shear force and bending moment diagrams (SFD & BMD) for a simply supported beam subjected to a Variable Distributed Load (VDL), where the load intensity varies linearly along the span.
What is a Variable Distributed Load (VDL)?
A Variable Distributed Load (also known as a triangular or linearly varying load) changes its intensity along the length of the beam, starting from a minimum load at one end and increasing to a maximum load at the other.
This type of load occurs in real-world scenarios like wind pressure on sloped surfaces, soil pressure on retaining walls, or water pressure against dams.
Tool Features
This web-based tool allows users to input the beam’s parameters and instantly generate the following:
Input Parameters:
- Beam Length (in meters)
- Minimum load in kN/m
- Maximum load in kN/m
Output:
- Beam Loading Diagram (shows how the load is distributed)
- Shear Force Diagram (SFD) — how shear varies along the beam
- Bending Moment Diagram (BMD) — internal bending moments across the beam
- Calculated values:
- Total Load (W)
- Support Reactions (RA and RB)
- Maximum Shear Force and its position
- Maximum Bending Moment and its position
All diagrams are dynamically generated , no software installation or plugin required.
Who Should Use This Tool?
This interactive SFD & BMD generator is ideal for:
- Civil Engineering students learning structural analysis
- Structural engineers performing quick checks
- Educators and trainers explaining concepts
- Anyone needing a fast and visual approach to beam behavior
Try it now
Please use it and share your feedback with us;
Beam with Variable Distributed Load (VDL)
Visualizes a simply supported beam under a variable distributed load (from wmin to wmax). Shows the beam loading, shear force diagram (SFD), and bending moment diagram (BMD).
Beam Loading Diagram
Shear Force Diagram (SFD)
Bending Moment Diagram (BMD)
Related Posts
If you found this post on shear force and bending moment diagrams helpful, be sure to explore our other analyses covering different beam types and loading scenarios:
- https://knowledgesharingplatform.com/shear-force-and-bending-moment-diagrams-for-cantilever-beam-with-vdl/
- https://knowledgesharingplatform.com/shear-force-and-bending-moment-diagrams-of-simply-supported-beam-having-udl-point-load/
- https://knowledgesharingplatform.com/shear-force-and-bending-moment-diagrams-of-cantilevered-beam-having-udl-point-load/
These resources will help you better understand the behavior of beams under various loads and supports.
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