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Structural Calculators

Shear Force Calculator

Shear force along a simply supported beam and the average shear stress in the web.

Enter values

Results update as you type.

Result

Shear at 1 m

24 kN

Maximum shear (at supports)
36 kN
Shear is zero at
3 m
Total load
72 kN
Average shear stress at supports
18 MPa

About the Shear Force Calculator

Shear force along a simply supported beam and the average shear stress in the web.

Also known as: shear diagram, shear force formula, beam shear calculator.

How to use this calculator

  1. Enter span, distributed load, additional central point load, distance from the left support and the other fields.
  2. The result updates instantly as you type — press Calculate (or Enter) at any time.
  3. Review the breakdown shown under the main result.
  4. Use Copy result or Share to save the answer or send a link with your inputs.

Formula

V(x) = R − wx · V_max = wL/2 + P/2

Worked example

Using the values pre-filled in the calculator above:

  • Span = 6 m
  • Distributed load = 12 kN/m
  • Additional central point load = 0 kN
  • Distance from the left support = 1 m
  • Shear area (optional) = 2,000 mm²

the calculator returns:

  • Shear at 1 m: 24 kN
  • Maximum shear (at supports): 36 kN
  • Shear is zero at: 3 m
  • Total load: 72 kN