Question

A simply supported beam is subjected to a linearly varying load from one end to the other end. The nature of variation of shear force in the beam is ............

• A. parabolic
• B. elliptic
• C. third order curve
• D. linear

Hint:

For beams under linearly varying loads, always remember that the shear force distribution is parabolic, not linear, as the load distribution is non-uniform.

Answer 1

The Correct Option is A

For a simply supported beam subjected to a linearly varying load, the shear force varies in a parabolic manner along the length of the beam. This is due to the fact that the shear force is related to the integration of the load distribution along the beam.
The relationship between the shear force and the applied load causes the variation of shear force to follow a parabolic curve, where the maximum shear occurs near the supports and the shear force gradually decreases towards the mid-span of the beam.