Expt No.
1 Dt:
DETERMINATION OF REACTIONS OF SIMPLY SUPPORTED BEAM
Aim: To write and execute python program for determination of reactions of simply supported
beam
Interactive Development Environment (IDE) Used : Jupyter NoteBook
Programming Language Used : Python
Basic theory :.
A simply supported beam is subjected to three concentrated point loads acting at different locations
along its span. Using the principles of static equilibrium, the reaction forces at the left and right
supports are calculated from the applied loads and their distances from the left support.
Notations :
A Left support (Pinned Support)
B Right support (Roller Support)
P1 First downward point load acting on the beam (kN)
P2 Second downward point load acting on the beam (kN)
P3 Third downward point load acting on the beam (kN)
a1 Distance from the left support (A) to the first load P1 (m)
a2 Distance from the left support (A) to the first load P2 (m)
a3 Distance from the left support (A) to the first load P3 (m)
L Total span (length) of the beam between supports A and B (m)
RA Upward reaction force at the left support A (kN)
RB Upward reaction force at the right support B (kN)
1
Worked Example:
Python Concepts used:
Python Concept Description Example(s)
Comments are used to explain the
purpose of the program or specific # Input beam span
Comments (#) statements. They improve the
# Calculate reactions
readability of the code and are
ignored during program execution.
Used to accept input from the user
name = input("Enter your name: ")
input() Function during program execution. The
value entered by the user is stored age = input("Enter your age: ")
in a variable.
Converts the input value from one
Type Conversion data type to another. It is age = int(input("Enter age: "))
commonly used to convert string
(int(), float()) salary = float(input("Enter salary: "))
input into numeric values for
calculations.
Used to display text, variable print("Welcome to Python")
print() Function values, and calculation results on
print("Sum =", a + b)
the screen.
2
Python Program:
# Program to calculate reactions of a simply supported beam
# carrying three point loads
# Input beam span
L = float(input("Enter the span of the beam (m): "))
# Input point loads
P1 = float(input("Enter First Point Load P1 (kN): "))
P2 = float(input("Enter Second Point Load P2 (kN): "))
P3 = float(input("Enter Third Point Load P3 (kN): "))
# Input distances from left support A
a1 = float(input("Enter distance of P1 from Left Support A (m): "))
a2 = float(input("Enter distance of P2 from Left Support A (m): "))
a3 = float(input("Enter distance of P3 from Left Support A (m): "))
# Calculate reactions
RB = (P1 * a1 + P2 * a2 + P3 * a3) / L
RA = P1 + P2 + P3 - RB
# Display results
print("\n------ REACTIONS AT SUPPORTS ------")
print("Reaction at Left Support (RA) = ", round(RA, 2), "kN")
print("Reaction at Right Support (RB) = ", round(RB, 2), "kN")
Sample Input :
L = 10m , P1 = 20KN , P2 = 30KN, P3 = 15KN , a1 = 2m, a2 = 5m , a3 = 8m
Sample Output:
Reaction at Left Support (RA) = 34.00 kN
Reaction at Right Support (RB) = 31.00 kN
Result :
Python program was written and executed to determine the support reactions of simply supported
beam.