CIVL 231: Solid Mechanics II

Assignment 3: Deflections of Beams

Due: Friday February 25, 2010
Nonprismatic Beams
Problem 1: A simple beam ACB is constructed with square cross
sections and a double taper (see figure). The depth of the beam at
the supports is d A and at the midpoint is d C = 2d A . Each half of
the beam has length L. Thus, the depth d and moment of inertia I
at distance x from the left-hand end are, respectively,
4
d d4 d I
d = A ( L + x) I= = A 4 ( L + x) 4 = A4 ( L + x) 4
L 12 12 L L
in which I A is the moment of inertia at end A of the beam. (These equations are valid for
x between 0 and L, that is, for the left-hand half of the beam.)
a) Obtain equations for the slope and deflection of the left-hand half of the beam due
to the uniform load.
b) From those equations obtain formulas for the angle of rotation θ A at support A and
the deflection δ C at the midpoint.
(Hint: use App. C for integrals formula)
Indeterminate Beams
Problem 2: A propped cantilever beam of length 2L is loaded
by a uniformly distributed load with intensity q. The beam is
supported at B by a linearly elastic rotational spring with
stiffness k R = E I / L , which provides a resisting moment
M B due to rotation.
a) Use the fourth-order differential equation of the
deflection curve to solve for all reactions.
b) Use the method of superposition to solve for all reactions.
c) Also draw shear-force and bending-moment diagrams, labelling all critical
ordinates.
Nonprismatic Indeterminate Beams
Problem 3: The nonprismatic cantilever beam ACB shown in the figure
has moments of inertia I 2 and I 1 in parts AC and CB, respectively.
a) Using the method of superposition, determine the deflection
δ B at the free end due to the load P at point B.
b) Using the method of superposition, determine the deflection Part (a) and (b)
δ B at the free end due to the uniform load q.
c) Using the result of part (a) and (b) determine all the
reactions of the propped cantilever beam AB with flexural
rigidity 2EI from A to C and EI from C to B due to
uniform load q.

Part (c)