Shallow Foundations

1.3.2. Beams on Elastic Foundation

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1 Beams on Elastic foundation (Refer: Beam on Elastic Foundation - by Hetenyi, 1995)

1.1. Beams

The bais for all structural calculations for beam and rafts are either yhe method of modlus of
subgrade reaction or the method of compressibility modulus. Here the method of modlus of
subgrade reaction will be discussed.

In the method of subgrade reaction, one assumes the existance of proportionality between contact
pressure (p) and elastic line of the foundation.

= (1)

where k is modulus of subgrade reaction obtained from plate loading tes in kN/m3 and y is
vertical deflection.

P1 P2

contact pressure distribution, p

beam defelection trough, y

Fig. 1

K is not a pure soil parameter. It depends on soil type as well as on the dimension of the
foundation. One may assume k to be constant (approximate method) or variable (relatevyly
accurate).

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1.1.1 General Solutions Beams on Elastic Foundation

Consider a beam on an elastic foundation as shown

x
P q

y
p = ky

Fig. 2

Eqn. (1) implies that the supprts medium is elastic and thus it follows Hook’s Law. One may
replace the elastic medium with sets of springs as shown in Fig. 3.

q
P1 P2
x

y
p = ky

Fig.3

The differential equation for the deflection curve (elastic line) of a beam supported by an elastic
foundationis given by:

=− + (2)

It is sufficient to consider the case where q = 0, i.e

=− (2a)

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The general solutionof the above equatiom is given by:

= ( + )+ ( + ) (3)

where

l is the function of structural (flexural) regidity of the beam and the elasticity of the soil. It is
called the characteristics of the system and has a dimension of L-1. 1/l is the characteristic length
of the system. lx is thus an absolute number.

where b = width of beam, E = modulus of elasticity, I = moment of inertia, k = modulus of subgrade

reaction

Diffrentiation Eqn (3) one successively can obtain, the slope , the shear force Q and the moment at a
given secti, i.e

= tanθ = θ

or

= ( )

= ( ℎ )

The constants of integration should be determined from the boundary and loading conditions.
Various conditions shall be discussed.

1.1.2 Beams of Unlimited Length

(i) Concentrated Load

Consider a beam of unlimited length subjected to a single concentrated load:

P
x

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In order to get the deflection, slope and moment and shear equations, one uses the general equation of eqn
(3), however with assumption that at x  , y  0. This assumption would be met of the coefficients
connected with the term become zero. Hence, for C1 = C2 = 0. Eqn. (3) may be written as:

= ( + ) (4)

From condition of symettry, ½ =0

Hence from Eqn. (4) it will be formed out that -(C3 – C4 ) = 0, from which C3 = C4 = C

One may write Eqn. (4)

= ( + ) (5)

The magnitude of C may be obtained from the equilibrium condition that

= ∫ (6)

Hence Eqn. (6) becomes

= 2 ∫ ( + ) (7)

Eqn. (7) may be solved by using the following approach

From Table,

∫ sin ( ) =

If a = m, then = = =

Similarly from Table,

∫ cos ( ) =

If a = m, then = = =

Hence ∫ (sinmx + cos ) = + =

Hence =2 , Since =

=2

=
2

Eqn. (5) may then be written as

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= ( + ) (8)

x
P

3/4 /l =
2

/l
= −
2

1/2/l

=
4l
/l

1/2/l
= −
2

(ii) Concentrated Moment

Consider a beam of unlimited length subjected to a single moment load Mo:

M0
x

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Similar to the equations obtained from concentrated load, one may derive equations for deflection, slope,
moment and shear as a result of concentrated moment (clockwise).

= (9)

3
= θ= (10)

= = (11)

= =- (12)

The corresponding curves are indicated below.

M0
x

/l
=

1/2/l
3
θ=
/l

1/2/l
=
2

3/4 /l = −
2

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(iii) Uniformly Distributed Load

The deflection, slope, bending moment and shear have been derived. These different cases are considered.

a) Point under the loaded area

x
A C B
a b
y

= (2 − − ) (13)

θ = ( − ) (14)
2

= ( − ) (15)

= ( − ) (16)

where

= ( + )

= ( + )

= ( )

= ( )

= ( − )

= ( − )

= ( )

= ( )

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b) Point to the right of the loaded area

x
A B C
b
a y

= − ( − ) (17)

θ = ( − ) (18)
2

= ( − ) (19)

= ( − ) (20)

c) Point to the left of the loaded area

x
C A B
a
b
y

= ( − ) (21)

θ = ( − ) (22)
2

= − ( − ) (23)

= ( − ) (24)

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(iii) Triangular Load

Similar to the case of uniformly distributed loading, three cases are considered for triangular
loading.

a) Point under the loading

qo
x
A C B
a b
l

= ( − −2 +4 ) (25)

1
θ =− ( + + − 2) (26)
2

= − ( − −2 ) (27)

= ( + − ) (28)

b) Point to the left of the loaded area

qo
x
C A B
a l
b

= ( − −2 ) (29)

1
θ = ( − − ) (30)
2

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= − ( − −2 ) (31)

=− ( − + ) (32)

c) Point to the left of the loaded area

qo
x
A B C
l b
a

= ( − +2 ) (33)

1
θ =− ( − + ) (34)
2

= − ( − +2 ) (35)

= ( − − ) (36)

Values for trapezoidal loadings may be obtained by superposing two reversed triangules of different
heights.

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1.1.2 Beams of Finite Length: Beams with free-ends

For a beam of finite length the correct solution is the one that satisfies the differential equation of the elastic
line and also satisfies the required conditions at both ends of the beam.

The expression derived for beams of infinite length are applied to beams of finite length.

Consider an infinite beam subjected to the given loading as shown below:

P q
a) MA, QA MB, QB x
A B
l
P q
MoA, PoA
MoB, PoA
b) x
A B
l

P q
c)
A B
l

In beam (a) there are bending moments and shear forces produced at A and B. Point in (c) M = 0, Q = 0.
Moments and shear forces can be vanished by inserting end-conditioning moments (MoA, QoA), where these
end-condition forces shall produce - MA, -QA and – MB, -QB.

By using these axpressions derived earlier, the conditions for free ends can be written as follows.

+ + + + (37a)

− + − + (37b)

+ + + + (37c)

− + − + (37d)

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By solving Eqn, (37) one may determine the unknowns. However, an explicit form for the unknown would
lead to complicated expressions. Such problems are solved at best by resolving the original loading into
symmetrical and anti-symmetrical parts. For simplicity, consider a case of concentrated load as shown
below.

P MB, QB
c
a) MA, QA x
A B
l

P/2 P/2 M’B, Q’B

c c
b) M’A, Q’A x
A B
l

P/2 P/2
M’’A, Q’’A c c M’’B, Q’’B
c) x
A B
l

MA, QA and MB, QB denote the moments and shear forces at A and B due to the original loading.

M’A and Q’A represent the moment and shear at point A due to the symmetrical loading. At point B, we
have the same M’A and -Q’A, only with the shear changing sign due to the symmetrical loading.

M’’A and Q’’A represent the moment and shear at point A due to the antisymmetrical loading. At point B,
we have -M’’A and Q’’A, only with the moment changing sign.

Then

= ′ + ′′ (38a)

= ′ − ′′ (38b)

= ′ + ′′ (38c)

= − ′ + ′′ (38d)

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From the above it follows

′ = ( + ) (39a)

′′ = ( − ) (39b)

′ = ( − ) (39c)

′′ = ( + ) (39d)

After havin determined the values of MA, QA and MB, QB interms of the known quantities, the next step
would be to remove moments and shears at points A and B by applying at these points P’o, M’o in the
symmetrical case, and P”o, M”o in the antisymmetrical case as shown below.

PoA PoB
P
c
a) MoA MoB x
A B
l

P’o P/2 P/2 P’o

c c
b) M’o M’o x
A B
l

P”o P/2 P/2 P”o

M”o c c
c) M”o x
A B
l

Sign convention, A: Positive B: Positive

By supperposing the symmetrical and antisymmetrical components one obtains the end-conditioning
forces for the original case.

Noting the signs of the moment and shear

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= ′ + ′′ (40a)

= ′ − ′′ (40b)

= ′ + ′′ (40c)

= ′ − ′′ (40d)

In order to remove the moments and shear at A and B on the infinite beam, it would be required that MoA,
PoA , MoB, PoB should produce together -MA, -QA, -MB, and -QB. This happens if P’o and M’o produce -M’A,
-Q’A at A and -M’A, +Q’A at B, and also if P”o and M”o produce -M”A, -Q”A at A and +M”A, -Q”A at B.

From the above conditions one determines the value of the end conditioning from the symmetrical and
antisymmetrical cases.

Using an already derived expressions and the adopted sign convension one may write for the symmetrical
case:

(1 + )= − ′
(1 + ) + (41a)

(1 − )= − ′
(1 − ) − (41b)

From the above we have:

=4 [ ′ (1 + ) + (1 − ) (42a)

=− [ ′ (1 + ) + 2 (1 − ) (42b)

where

= ( )( ) ( )( )

or =
( ℎ )

For antisymmetrical case:

(1 − ) + (1 − ) = − ′′ (43a)

(1 + )= − ′′
(1 + ) − (43b)

From which

=4 [ ′′ (1 − ) + (1 + ) (44a)

′ =− [ " (1 − ) + 2 (1 + ) (44b)

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where = ( )( ) (
or =
)( ) ( ℎ )

Such equations may be derived for various boundary conditions v.s

Refer Hetenyi (1995) for details.

1.1.3 Classification of Beams According to Stiffness

Uisng the relative stiffness ll, one may classify beams into three catagories.

(i) Short beams ll < /4

(ii) Medium length beams /4 < ll < 
(iii) Long beams ll > 

For beams of catagory (i), one may neglect the deformation of the beam since in comparison to the
deformation of ground it would be negligible.

For catagory (ii), one needs to calculate the deformation and no simplification is allowed.

For category (iii), when considering one end of the beam, one may assume that the other end is infinitly far
away. Forces applied at one end will have negligible effect at the other end. For such cases one may assume
Ale = Ble = Cle = Dle = 0.

Typical average values of modulus of subgrade reaction (k).

Soil type Range of k

kN/m3

Loose sand 4800 - 16000

Medium sand 9600 - 80000

Dense sand 64000 - 128000

Clayey sand (medium) 32000 - 80000

Silty sand (medium) 23500 - 47100

Clayey soil, qu < 200 kPa 12000 - 24000

200 < qu < 800 kPa 2400 - 48000

qu > 800 > 48000

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