Shear Force Calculator Formula
Understand the math behind the shear force calculator. Each variable explained with a worked example.
Formulas Used
Each Reaction
reaction = total_load / 2Max Shear Force
max_shear = total_load / 2Total Load
total_load_out = total_loadVariables
| Variable | Description | Default |
|---|---|---|
span | Beam Span(ft) | 16 |
load_plf | Uniform Load(lb/ft) | 300 |
total_load | Derived value= span * load_plf | calculated |
How It Works
Shear Force (Simply Supported Beam)
V_max = wL / 2
For a simply supported beam with uniform load, the maximum shear force occurs at the supports and equals half the total load. The shear force decreases linearly to zero at mid-span.
Worked Example
16 ft beam with 300 lb/ft uniform load.
span = 16load_plf = 300
- 01Total load = 16 x 300 = 4,800 lbs
- 02Reaction at each support = 4800 / 2 = 2,400 lbs
- 03Max shear = 2,400 lbs (at each support)
Ready to run the numbers?
Open Shear Force Calculator