[Physics] Beam attached to a wall

equilibriumstatics

Suppose I have a rigid beam attached to a wall, how can the reaction force on the point the beam is attached to generate a static equilibrium on the beam?

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In particular, how can a force on the point of contact generate a moment that can cancel the moment due to the weight of the beam (that I imagine acting on the center of mass of the beam). If I sum the moments about that point any force there will have zero moment…

Best Answer

There is no "point" of contact. It is not possible for a horizontal beam with non-zero mass to be supported by a wall at a single point. The beam must have finite thickness and/or extend inside the wall. In both cases contact is made over an area. This enables forces to be exerted on the beam in opposite directions a finite distance apart, thus creating an anti-clockwise turning moment to balance the clockwise moment provided by the weight of the beam.

For example :

  1. If the beam does not penetrate into the wall but is attached to it by a bracket at the top then this bracket must pull the beam towards the wall while the wall pushes the beam away at the bottom.

  2. If the beam is embedded in the wall then on the underside more upward force is provided close to the face of the wall while on the upperside more downward force is provided far from the face of the wall.

  3. The beam is supported like a shelf from below, on a bracket which is fixed to the wall in more than one place and extends some distance from the wall. The bracket provides a downward force close to the wall and an upward force far from the wall.

  4. The beam is supported from above by a wire or rope attached to some point further up the wall, as in Horizontal rod attached to a wall. The wire provides a force upwards and inwards towards the wall, while the wall provides reaction on the beam away from the wall.

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