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Bending Moment
STRUCTURE & PHYSICSadvanced
Definition
A measure of the internal forces within a structural member caused by an applied load, expressed as a force multiplied by a distance. Bending moment causes a beam to sag or bow. Engineers use bending moment diagrams to determine the maximum stress in beams and cantilevers.
Example
In a simply supported beam with a central point load, the maximum bending moment occurs at midspan — this is the most critical location for beam design.