small
element
of
length
Cl
c2
The small element in Figure
7.4
is subjected to a pair of forces
NI
and
NZ
which in
this instance tend to increase its length (i.e. the element is in tension). The axial force
IV
is said to be positive if it puts the element in tension, and ne
compression.
The element is subjected to
a
pair of forces
S,
and
Sz
which tend to cause
a
shearing
type of de~ormation* If the forces
SI
and
S,
are in the directions shown in Figure
7.4,
then the shear force
S
is said to be positve.
bending moment
M
is said to be positive if the element bends concavely upward (or
concavely towards a specified positive direction if the bar
is
not horizontal).
The element is subjected to a pair of couples
M,
and
M’
which tend to ben
These sign conventions are summarized in Figure
7.5.
+
ve
+
ve
+
ve
-
ve
-
ve
-
ve
AXIAL
FORCE
SHEAR
FORCE
The above definition of the sign conventions indicates the physical significance of
these signs. In many practical problems the signs may be determined bp i~a~ining the
nature of the deformation. For instance, a simply supported beam carrying downward
loads will bend
so
that it becomes concave on the top, Provided the
x
axis
is
taken from
left to right and the
y
axis upward, such bending will be denoted as positive.
In more general problems, the physical determination of signs is less simple and
analytical rules are more convenient. This
is
important also for computer calculations,
since the computer cannot imagine the deformed shape of the beam se
an
x
axis
as
running along the beam as in Figure
7.6.
Then,
if
the beam is cut at
a
section
C,
the
x
axis is directed outward on one cut face, the left-hand face in Figure
7.6,
and
we may call this the
face
o~~os~~~~e
~nc~~ence.
If the forces
N,
S
and
M
on this face
with the direction of the
x
and y axes, then they are defined as positive.
face, the
x
axis is directed inward as on the right-hand side of Figure
7.6.
This face
is
called
~~e~ce
o~ne~ative ~~ci~ence
and on this face
N,
S
and Mare positive if they
~~sa~ee
with the
x
and y axes,