For a beam that is 16 feet long with a concentrated load of 900 pounds at a distance of 4 from R2, what is the maximum shear in lbs?

To find the maximum shear on a beam subjected to a concentrated load, you typically start by considering the reactions at the supports and how they relate to the applied load. In this case, the beam is 16 feet long, and there is a concentrated load of 900 pounds applied 4 feet from one end, which we will refer to as support R2.

When a concentrated load is applied to a beam, the reactions at the supports can be calculated using static equilibrium equations, specifically the sum of the vertical forces and moments about a point. The maximum shear force typically occurs at the point of application of the concentrated load and can also be checked at the supports.

For this beam, when calculating the reactions:

1. Calculate Reaction Forces:

To find the reactions at the supports, we can take moments about one of the supports. This allows us to find the other reaction force. For simplicity, let's consider moments about R2. The distance from R2 to the load is 4 feet, while the distance to the other end of the beam is 16 feet.

The moment about R2 will be equal to the upward force at R1 multiplied by its distance from R2, minus the moment caused by the concentrated load