Support force
A support force is the force that is exerted by the environment on a component or a structure via a bearing (a support ) if this bearing prevents the component from shifting at the bearing point.
For supports that prevent displacement in one direction only ( floating bearing ), the support force acts in the opposite direction to the displacement prevented.
If the support also prevents the component from twisting at the bearing point ( clamping ), a clamping torque is added. The generic term for support force and restraint moment is support reaction .
The support reactions on a component are determined using the equilibrium conditions .