Strength of Materials

4.3 TYPES OF LOADING

Beams are subjected to loading. There are four type of loads. They are discussed below.

4.3.1 Concentrated Load or Point Load

Concentrated or Point Load is a load acting on a small elemental area. In practice, a load cannot be assumed to act on a single point just like a contact made by a sharp needle. However, when a load is transferred through a roller or a sphere on to the beam the contact will be through a point. In all other cases, the load is presumed to act on a small restricted area of the beam. In general, the concentrated loads are vertical. In certain cases it can be inclined, horizontal and act below the beam (Figure 4.10).

 

 

Fig. 4.10 Concentrated loads acting on a beam.

4.3.2 Uniformly Distributed Load ...