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Internal forces in structural members2D

Axial-force diagram

Expose and verify normal force, shear force, and bending moment using independent isolated-body calculations.

Open the complete lesson
Interactive engineering simulation

Axial-Force Diagram Builder

Place an axial load and build a tension-positive normal-force diagram.

Tension-positive N · sagging-positive M
Sign convention: positive tension. On the left cut face, positive shear acts downward and positive moment counterclockwise; arrows reverse on the right face. Downward distributed load is positive, so dV/dx=w(x)dV/dx=-w(x) and dM/dx=V(x)dM/dx=V(x).
20.0 kN axial
Normal force N(x)0.00 kN
Horizontal support reaction: jump from 0.00 to 20.00 kNAxial point force: jump from 20.00 to 0.00 kN20.00.0x=4.50 m
Beam length
10 m
m
618

Drag for exploration or enter an exact value. Press Enter to apply; Escape restores the current value.

Axial load
20 kN
kN
260

Drag for exploration or enter an exact value. Press Enter to apply; Escape restores the current value.

Load position
4.00 m
m
0.509.50

Drag for exploration or enter an exact value. Press Enter to apply; Escape restores the current value.

Synchronized cursor x
4.5 m
m
0.010.0

Drag for exploration or enter an exact value. Press Enter to apply; Escape restores the current value.

Cursor shear
0.00 kN
Cursor moment
0.00 kN·m
Left reaction
0.00 kN
Right reaction
0.00 kN
Maximum moment
0.00 kN·m at 0.00 m
Zero-shear locations
0.04, 0.08, 0.13, 0.17, 0.21, 0.25, 0.29, 0.33, 0.38, 0.42, 0.46, 0.50, 0.54, 0.58, 0.63, 0.67, 0.71, 0.75, 0.79, 0.83, 0.88, 0.92, 0.96, 1.00, 1.04, 1.08, 1.13, 1.17, 1.21, 1.25, 1.29, 1.33, 1.38, 1.42, 1.46, 1.50, 1.54, 1.58, 1.63, 1.67, 1.71, 1.75, 1.79, 1.83, 1.88, 1.92, 1.96, 2.00, 2.04, 2.08, 2.13, 2.17, 2.21, 2.25, 2.29, 2.33, 2.38, 2.42, 2.46, 2.50, 2.54, 2.58, 2.63, 2.67, 2.71, 2.75, 2.79, 2.83, 2.88, 2.92, 2.96, 3.00, 3.04, 3.08, 3.13, 3.17, 3.21, 3.25, 3.29, 3.33, 3.38, 3.42, 3.46, 3.50, 3.54, 3.58, 3.63, 3.67, 3.71, 3.75, 3.79, 3.83, 3.88, 3.92, 3.96, 4.00, 4.04, 4.08, 4.13, 4.17, 4.21, 4.25, 4.29, 4.33, 4.38, 4.42, 4.46, 4.50, 4.54, 4.58, 4.63, 4.67, 4.71, 4.75, 4.79, 4.83, 4.88, 4.92, 4.96, 5.00, 5.04, 5.08, 5.13, 5.17, 5.21, 5.25, 5.29, 5.33, 5.38, 5.42, 5.46, 5.50, 5.54, 5.58, 5.63, 5.67, 5.71, 5.75, 5.79, 5.83, 5.88, 5.92, 5.96, 6.00, 6.04, 6.08, 6.13, 6.17, 6.21, 6.25, 6.29, 6.33, 6.38, 6.42, 6.46, 6.50, 6.54, 6.58, 6.63, 6.67, 6.71, 6.75, 6.79, 6.83, 6.88, 6.92, 6.96, 7.00, 7.04, 7.08, 7.13, 7.17, 7.21, 7.25, 7.29, 7.33, 7.38, 7.42, 7.46, 7.50, 7.54, 7.58, 7.63, 7.67, 7.71, 7.75, 7.79, 7.83, 7.88, 7.92, 7.96, 8.00, 8.04, 8.08, 8.13, 8.17, 8.21, 8.25, 8.29, 8.33, 8.38, 8.42, 8.46, 8.50, 8.54, 8.58, 8.63, 8.67, 8.71, 8.75, 8.79, 8.83, 8.88, 8.92, 8.96, 9.00, 9.04, 9.08, 9.13, 9.17, 9.21, 9.25, 9.29, 9.33, 9.38, 9.42, 9.46, 9.50, 9.54, 9.58, 9.63, 9.67, 9.71, 9.75, 9.79, 9.83, 9.88, 9.92, 9.96, 10.00
Piecewise shear equation
V(x)=0.000⟨x-0.00⟩⁰
Piecewise moment equation
M(x)=0.000⟨x-0.00⟩¹
dVdx=w(x)\frac{dV}{dx}=-w(x)
dMdx=V(x)\frac{dM}{dx}=V(x)
Model scope and verification

Use the displayed units and idealizations, then verify the governing balance or compatibility equation before interpreting the result.