Free Beam Calculator: Shear & Moment Diagrams

How to Use This Beam Solver

Whether you are verifying your hand calculations for a Statics exam or designing a simply supported beam for a project, our calculator uses the direct stiffness method to provide exact analytical results.

1. Define Your Supports

Start by adding supports to your beam. We support Pin (resists X and Y translation), Roller (resists Y translation), and Fixed (resists translation and rotation) boundary conditions.

2. Apply Your Loads

You can apply multiple load types anywhere along the span:

• Point Loads (Force): Concentrated forces acting at a specific location.
• Distributed Loads: Uniform loads (e.g., dead weight or live loads) spread across a segment.
• Applied Moments: Concentrated rotational couples.

3. Analyze the Results

Once your beam is configured, the solver will automatically generate:

• Support Reactions: Exact values for vertical/horizontal forces and fixing moments.
• Shear Force Diagram (SFD): Visual representation of internal shear stresses. Remember, where the shear diagram crosses zero, the bending moment is at a local maximum or minimum!
• Bending Moment Diagram (BMD): Critical for sizing your beam section and determining reinforcement requirements in concrete.