Absolute Maximum Bending Moment in Short Simply Supported Beams under Moving Point Loads

Abstract

This paper represents a theoretical investigation of the location of the absolutemaximum bending moment in short simply supported beams under the influence ofseveral moving point loads. However, for decades it was considered that the absolutemaximum bending moment is determined by positioning the beam center-line midwaybetween the resultant of the loads and the nearer heavy load. Obviously, otherpoint loads may also be required to be mirror imaged with the resultant to ensure thatthe obtained maximum bending moment is an absolute maximum. This method wasassumed to be working for all spans of simply supported beams without anylimitations.In this paper it is shown that this traditional method is not always valid. Examplesof short span beams subjected to moving point loads having distance between twoloads exceeding half the length of the beam indicate absolute maximum bendingmoments greater than those obtained by the traditional method.