106

Mechanics of Materials

45.5

5.5. Macaulay's method for beams with u.d.1. applied over part of the beam
Consider the beam loading case shown in Fig. 5.13a.
X
A

Fig. 5.13.

The B.M. at the section SS is given by the previously introduced procedure as B.M.ss= R A x ' - W , [ ( x ' - a ) ] - W

['"'
a)2

Having introduced the last (u.d.1.) term, however, it will apply for all values of x' greater than a, i.e. across the rest of the span to the end of the beam. (Remember, Macaulay terms are only neglected when they are negative, e.g. with x' < a.) The above equation is NOT therefore the correct equation for the load condition shown. The Macaulay method requires that this continuation of the u.d.1. be shown on the loading diagram and the required loading condition can therefore only be achieved by introducing an equal and opposite u.d.1. over the last part of the beam to cancel the unwanted continuation of the initial distributed load. This procedure is shown in Fig. 5.13b. The correct B.M. equation for any general section XX is then given by d2Y B.M.xx= EZ7 dx
= RAx-

W,[(x-a)]-w

This type of approach can be adopted for any beam loading cases in which u.d.1.s are stopped or added to. A number of examples are shown in Figs. 5.14-17. In each case the required loading system is shown first, followed by the continuation and compensating load system and the resulting B.M. equation.

5.6. Macaulay's method for couple applied at a point

Consider the beam A B shown in Fig. 5.18 with a moment or couple M applied at some point C. Considering the equilibrium of moments about each end in turn produces reactions of M M R A = x upwards, and R B = L downwards These equal and opposite forces then automatically produce the required equilibrium of vertical forces.