Analysis of a Cantilever Beam

by Christopher Tiedge

Submitted : Fall 2015

Structural engineers need a method in which to analyze beams to ensure they will support the loading imposed on them safely and within allowable stress and deflection limits. For this project a “cantilevering” beam will be reviewed. A “cantilever” beam is a beam with a fixed support at one end and no support at the opposite end.

The shear forces, bending moment, and deflection in the beam will vary depending on the location along the beam length the analysis is performed at. Typically a cantilever beam has the largest bending moment at the fixed support and the largest deflection at the free end of the beam. The shear force along the length of the beam will vary depending on the type of loading applied to the beam. Integration helps us to determine the shear forces, bending moment, and deflections at any point along the length of the beam.

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