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Circular arch: BM, thrust, shear at D, BM diagram

Short answer

Bending moment at D is 67.71 kN m, normal thrust is 69.89 kN, and radial shear is 6.48 kN.

Determine B.M, normal thrust, radial shear at point D of circular arch as shown in figure below. Also draw bending moment diagram. [Figure: three hinged circular arch, A and B hinge supports; crown hinge C with a rise of 5 m; AD = 4 m, D to C horizontally 4 m, C to B 8 m as dimensioned; 20 kN/m UDL on the left part; 10 kN horizontal load at 3 m from the crown. Details partly unclear.]

Assumptions (details partly unclear in the figure): three-hinged circular arch, AA and BB hinged, crown hinge CC at x=8x = 8 m with rise f=5f = 5 m; AD=4AD = 4 m, DC=4DC = 4 m, CB=8CB = 8 m, so the span is L=16L = 16 m and DD is at x=4x = 4 m. UDL 20 kN/m on the left part ACAC (x=0x = 0 to 8 m). The 10 kN horizontal load acts to the right at the arch point 3 m (horizontally) to the right of the crown (x=11x = 11 m).

Radius: R=L2/4+f22f=64+2510=8.9R = \dfrac{L^2/4+f^2}{2f} = \dfrac{64+25}{10} = 8.9 m. Equation: y=8.92−(x−8)2−3.9y = \sqrt{8.9^2-(x-8)^2} - 3.9. At DD: yD=4.05y_D = 4.05 m, tan⁡θ=8−48.92−16=0.5031\tan\theta = \dfrac{8-4}{\sqrt{8.9^2-16}} = 0.5031, θ=26.71∘\theta = 26.71^\circ. At the 10 kN load, y(11)=4.479y(11) = 4.479 m.

Reactions

Let HAH_A act to the right at AA and HBH_B to the left at BB.

Horizontal equilibrium: HA−HB+10=0⇒HB=HA+10H_A - H_B + 10 = 0 \Rightarrow H_B = H_A + 10.

Moments about AA:

VB×16=(20×8)×4+10×4.479⇒VB=684.7916=42.8 kN,VA=160−42.8=117.2 kNV_B\times 16 = (20\times 8)\times 4 + 10\times 4.479 \Rightarrow V_B = \frac{684.79}{16} = 42.8\ \text{kN}, \qquad V_A = 160 - 42.8 = 117.2\ \text{kN}

Hinge condition (left part, moments about CC; the 10 kN load is on the right part):

VA×8−HA×5−160×4=0⇒HA=117.2×8−6405=59.52 kN,HB=69.52 kNV_A\times 8 - H_A\times 5 - 160\times 4 = 0 \Rightarrow H_A = \frac{117.2\times 8 - 640}{5} = 59.52\ \text{kN}, \qquad H_B = 69.52\ \text{kN}

Forces at D

M=VA×4−20×4×2−HA yD=468.8−160−59.52×4.05=67.71 kN mVb=VA−20×4=37.2 kNV=Vbcos⁡θ−HAsin⁡θ=6.48 kNN=Vbsin⁡θ+HAcos⁡θ=69.89 kN\begin{aligned} M &= V_A\times 4 - 20\times 4\times 2 - H_A\,y_D = 468.8 - 160 - 59.52\times 4.05 = 67.71\ \text{kN m}\\ V_b &= V_A - 20\times 4 = 37.2\ \text{kN}\\ V &= V_b\cos\theta - H_A\sin\theta = 6.48\ \text{kN}\\ N &= V_b\sin\theta + H_A\cos\theta = 69.89\ \text{kN} \end{aligned}

Bending moment diagram

M=VA x−HA y−(moments of the loads)M = V_A\,x - H_A\,y - \text{(moments of the loads)} at various sections:

x (m)y (m)M (kN m)
000
22.67335.28
44.0567.71
64.77259.15
850
104.772-72.05
114.479-97.4
124.05-110.39
142.673-100.26
1600

The bending moment is continuous at the 10 kN load (the load has no moment arm about its own point); only the slope of the curve changes there. M=0M = 0 at AA, CC and BB (hinges). The largest sagging moment is about +70.1+70.1 kN m at x≈4.6x \approx 4.6 m (under the UDL), and the largest hogging moment is about −113.1-113.1 kN m at x≈12.7x \approx 12.7 m (in the right half).

 BMD (positive = sagging, scale approx.)
 x (m)   0    4     8   11    12.7    16
 M       0   67.7  0  -97.4  -113.1   0

Answer: at DD: bending moment =67.71= 67.71 kN m, normal thrust =69.89= 69.89 kN, radial shear =6.48= 6.48 kN.

✓ Answer checked by Claude Opus 5.5 (high effort)

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