Continuous Beams - Flexibility Method

Qu.1

Sketch the BM diagram for the beam shown in Fig.1. Take E = 200kN/mm2.

60kN-m
50kN
10kN/m
A = = B ∩∩∩∩∩∩∩∩∩∩∩∩∩∩∩∩∩∩ C D

3m 3m 3m

I = 60 50 40 x 106 mm4
Fig.1
60.0

23.5

A B C D

25.7 16.9

BM diagram in kN-m units

Qu.2

Sketch the BM diagram for the beam shown in Fig.2. Take EI = constant.

80kN
15kN/m
A = = B ∩∩∩∩∩∩∩∩∩∩∩∩∩∩∩∩∩∩∩∩∩∩∩∩∩∩∩∩∩∩∩∩C D

20kN

4m 8m 2m
Fig.2
83.6

40.0

18.3

A B C D

58.2 @ mid-span

BM diagram in kN-m units

 Continuous Beams - Flexibility Method

Qu.3

Sketch the BM diagram for the beam shown in Fig.3. Also calculate the
support reactions. Take EI const. [RA = -29.9 , RB = 236.8, RC = 381.1kN]

160kN
40kN/m
A C
B ∩∩∩∩∩∩∩∩∩∩∩∩∩∩∩∩∩∩∩∩∩∩∩ D
3m 5m

8m 11m 8m

Fig.3

239.2

383.7

A B C D
293.6
@ mid-span
179.8

BM diagram in kN-m units

Qu.4

Sketch the BM diagram for the beam shown in Fig.4. Support B undergoes a
settlement of 15mm. Take E = 200kN/mm2 and I = 1 x 10-4m4.

80kN

A B C D
2m 6m

40kN

8m 8m 4m
Fig.4

160.0

17.0 B
A 5.8 C D
84.4

BM diagram in kN-m units

 End rotations of simply supported beams

Span = L Flexural rigidity = EI

1 1 f11 f12 2

L L
f11 = f12 =
3EI 6EI

1 f21 f22 1
2

L L
f21 = f22 =
6EI 3EI

UDL of intensity 1

θ φ

θ=φ= L3
24EI

θ φ

a
α= a
L

θ = L2(1 - α)(2 - α)α φ = L2(1 - α2)α

6EI 6EI
 Flexibility method applied to continuous beams

Example 1. Two-span continuous beam with the flexural rigidity EI = constant

P Q

A B C
X Y

RA RB RC

LAB LBC

Using statics

Res. vertically: RA + RB + RC = P + Q (1)

Taking mom. about C: RA x (LAB + LBC) + RB x LBC = P x XC + Q x YC (2)

The three reactions are the unknowns but only two equations are available.
Therefore the problem is statically indeterminate. We must use compatibility
of displacements to generate an additional equation in order to complete the
solution.

One procedure for doing this is illustrated in the figures below:

P Q

A B C
X Y
ΔB

Step 1 Remove prop and calculate the deflection ΔB

A δB C
B

Step 2 Introduce unit force at B and calculate δB

For compatibility RB = ΔB / δB (3)

We use these three equations to solve for RA, RB and RC respectively.

The bending moment at B is MB = RA x LAB - P x XB (4)

 P Q
MB
A C
B

Bending Moment Diagram

The major disadvantage of this method arises when EI varies from span to span.
The deflections cannot be calculated from standard tables which assume that
the flexural rigidity EI is constant.

The free-body diagram for the individual spans are given below:

P Q
MB
A C
B

RA RBA RBC RC

RB =RBA + RBC

P
MB
A

RA RBA

MB

Reactant BM

Free BM

Final BM = Reactant BM + Free BM

A powerful method that does not suffer from this defect is now described. It
uses displacement compatibility and leads to the Three Moment Theorem. The
method breaks a continuous beam into a series of simply supported spans. The
slopes are therefore discontinuous over the supports. Rotations are then
introduced via the reactant moments to ‘heal the cuts’.
Three Moment Theorem

Consider a continuous beam consisting of N spans.

A B I J K M
(a) (b) (i) (j)

tangent to curve

I J φJ K

RI RJ RK

LIJ LJK

MI MJ MK
J
I K

RIJ RJI RJK RKL

RJ =RJI + RJk

I J K
θJI θJK

Stage A : End rotations due to applied loads

MI MJ MK
α J β
I K

Stage A : End rotations due to reactant moments

In order to restore continuity at joint J,

φJ = θJI - α = β - θJK
 1 f11 f12 f21 f22 1
1 2 1 2

Flexibility Coefficients: End rotations due to unit couples

Making use of the flexibility coef’ts shown above we may write the
compatibility condition as follows:

θJI - MI fi12 - MJ fi22 = MJ fj11 - MK fj21 - θJK

or

MI fi12 + MJ (fj11 + fi22) + MK fj21 = θJI + θJK

Note fi12 = (L/6EI)IJ , fi22 = (L/3EI)IJ , fj11 = (L/3EI)JK , fj21 = (L/6EI)JK

This is the so-called Three Moment Theorem (due to Clapeyron).

Settlement of supports

The theorem can be easily extended to deal with settlement of supports. Let ΔJ
be the settlement of support J. The rotations on each side of support J due to
the differential settlement are (ΔJ - ΔI)/LIJ and (ΔJ - ΔK)/LJK respectively.
We get

MI fi12 + MJ (fj11 + fi22) + MK fj21 = (θJI - (ΔJ - ΔI)/LIJ) +

(θJK - (ΔJ - ΔK)/LJK)

Fixed end (zero rotation)

MA MB
B
A

RAB RBA RBC

A fixed end, A in the figure above, does not rotate. The rotation θAB must
therefore be balanced by the reactant rotations. We have

MA fa11 + MB fa21 = θAB - (ΔA - ΔB)/LAB

 Worked examples

Example 1.

Calculate the reactions at the supports of the beam shown in Fig.1. The
flexural rigidity EI is the same for both spans.

10kN/m
B C
A ∩∩∩∩∩∩∩∩∩∩∩∩∩∩∩∩∩∩∩∩∩∩∩∩∩∩∩∩∩∩∩∩∩∩∩∩∩

3m 3m

Fig.1

10kN/m
B
Step 1 A ∩∩∩∩∩∩∩∩∩∩∩∩∩∩∩∩∩∩∩∩∩∩∩∩∩∩∩∩∩∩∩∩∩∩∩∩∩ C
Remove prop ΔB

Step 2 δB
Apply unit
load 1

ΔB = 5 x 10 x 64/(384EI) = 168.75/EI

δB = 1 x 63/(48EI) = 4.5/EI

Let RB denote the reaction at the support B in Fig. 1 then

RB δB = ΔB which yields

RB = 37.5kN

Resolving vertically we get for the beam in Fig. 1,

RA + RB + RC = 60

Also RA = RC by symmetry

Therefore RA = 11.25kN
 Worked examples

Example 2.

Calculate the rotations at the supports of the beam shown in Fig.2. The flexural
rigidity is EI.

A B 1

Fig.2

1
A x/L
BM diagram B

θA θB
Deflection
diagram

Apply EI d2y/dx2 = -M
= x/L

Integrating EI dy/dx = x2/(2L) + C , C is a constant

[1]
Integrating again EI y = x3/(6L) + Cx + D
[2]

Applying b.c’s :

At x = 0 , y = 0 D = 0 from Eq.[2]

At x = L, y = 0 C = -L/6

Substituting in Eq.{1] EIθA = C = -L/6 or θA = -L/(6EI)

EIθB = L/2 + C or θB = L/(3EI)

Note: The difference in signs of the rotations is due to the direction of the
rotation. A positive sign denotes an clockwise rotation whilst the negative
sign denotes an anti-clockwise rotation.
 Worked examples

Example 3.

Draw the BM diagram for the beam shown in Fig. 3 below. The flexural rigidity EI
is the same for both spans.

200kN
5kN/m B C
A ∩∩∩∩∩∩∩∩∩∩∩∩∩∩∩∩∩

2m

2m 3m

Fig.3

We note that MA = 0 and MC = 0 , simple supports. Applying the three-moment

theorem at B we get

2 3
+ MB = θBA + θBC
3EI 3EI

= 815/(9EI)

ΜΒ = 54.33kN-m

54.3
27.2 18.1 Reactant BM
(kN-m)

2.5

133.3 Free BM
(kN-m)

24.7
Final BM
(kN-m)
115.2
 Worked examples

Example 4.

Calculate the bending moments at the supports of the beam in Fig.4. The flexural
rigidity EI is the same for all spans.

200kN 400kN
5kN/m B
A ∩∩∩∩∩∩∩∩∩∩∩∩∩∩∩∩∩ C = = D

2m

2m 3m 2m

Fig.4

We note that MA = 0 and MD = 0 , simple supports. Applying the three-moment we

get:

Joint B Taking EI = 1, [2/3 + 3/3] MB + 3/6 MC = 5/3 + 800/9

10 ΜΒ + 3 MC = 543.3 [1]

Joint C 3/6 MB + [3/3 + 2/3] MC = 1000/9 + 100

3 MB + 10 MC = 1266.7 [2]

Solving Eqs.[1] and [2] we get

MB = 18.0kN-m MC = 121.3kN-m
 Worked examples

Example 5.

Rework the problem of example 3 taking the support A as being fixed.

200kN
5kN/m B
A ∩∩∩∩∩∩∩∩∩∩∩∩∩∩∩∩∩ C

2m

2m 3m

Fig.3

We note that MC = 0 , simple support. Applying the three-moment theorem at B we

get:

Joint A Taking EI = 1, 2/3 MA + 2/6 MB = 5/3

4 MA + 2 MB = 10 [1]

Joint B 2/6 MA + [2/3 + 3/3] MB = 815/9

4 MA + 20 MB = 1086.7 [2]

Eqs.[1] and [2] MA = -27.4kN-m MB = 59.8kN-m

59.8
19.9 Reactant BM
27.4 (kN-m)

2.5

133.3 Free BM
(kN-m)

Final BM
27.4 (kN-m)
113.4