Final answer:
A cantilever beam AB loaded with a uniform load experiences compressive stress at the top and tensile stress at the bottom; a concentrated load causes additional deflection and complex stress distribution. The behavior is influenced by the load intensity, beam length, cross-section, and material properties.
Step-by-step explanation:
The behavior of a cantilever beam AB loaded by a uniform load and a concentrated load can be understood in terms of stresses and deformations. When a beam is subjected to a uniform load, it experiences both compressive stress on the top surface and tensile stress on the bottom surface due to bending.
This bending is similar to how a shelf sags when loaded with heavy books. Additionally, if a concentrated load is applied to the beam, it will cause a deflection at the point of the load, which can also result in tension and compression in the beam.
The top fibers of the cantilever beam will experience compressive stress, leading to a shortening of those fibers. Conversely, the bottom fibers will undergo tensile stress, leading to an elongation. The magnitude of these stresses and the resulting deflection of the beam depend on factors including the load's intensity, the length of the cantilever, the beam's cross-sectional area, and material properties like the modulus of elasticity.
Contrary to the uniform bending moment created by a distributed load, a concentrated load will introduce a point of maximum bending moment at the location of the load, which can lead to more complex stress distributions and deflections.
Advanced analysis using principles of solid mechanics is required to accurately predict the behavior of cantilever beams under such conditions.