Equilibrium problem: Multiple forces acting on this hinged, supported beam

  • #1
Racoon5
6
4
Homework Statement
For Replace the loading acting on the beam by a single resultant force. Specify where the force acts, measured from end A.
Relevant Equations
N/A
Hi, apart from the interesting wording of this question, I'm struggling to understand the concept of what we need to do here.

I started by having three equations (summation Fx, summation Fy and Moment about Y). I also calculated the two reaction forces about A and the one rection force about B (in y direction)

I got Ax= 125 , Ay= 293 and By= 1589
Summed up with all other x and y forces I am getting 0. How do I calculate a resultant force form that?

2. What exactly is asked by the question "specify where the force acts"? I'm assuming its not the angle to the x-axis

Thank you

Screenshot 2024-11-09 at 11.25.08 AM.png
 
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  • #2
Racoon5 said:
Homework Statement: For Replace the loading acting on the beam by a single resultant force. Specify where the force acts, measured from end A.
Relevant Equations: N/A

Hi, apart from the interesting wording of this question, I'm struggling to understand the concept of what we need to do here.
They want you to replace the external loads with a single equivalent loading (as far as I can tell).
 
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  • #3
You are not being asked to find any reaction forces, though that may come later.

Given any collection of forces and moments acting on a body, and a specified axis, there is a resultant force and a resultant moment about that axis.

If there is no net force but there is a net moment, that moment is independent of the choice of axis.

If there is a net force, you can specify a line of action for it such that it has the same moment about the chosen axis as the resultant moment. In this way, you can completely represent the original collection of forces and moments by a single force applied at a certain point.
 
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  • #4
Racoon5 said:
I got Ax= 125 , Ay= 293 and By= 1589
Summed up with all other x and y forces I am getting 0. How do I calculate a resultant force form that?
Evidently, the system is in equilibrium regarding net forces and moments.
The isolated beam is under stress caused by external forces and moments.

Like a common spring, it is getting slightly deformed up to the point of inducing internal forces that compensate the external disturbance.
Could those external forces and moments be replaced with a single force acting along certain line?
 
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