Slope & Deflection -

Discontinuity Functions
The method of integration, used to find the equation of the
elastic curve for a beam, is convenient if the load or internal
moment can be expressed as a continuous function
throughout the beam’s entire length. Some of the examples
of such beams are shown below.

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Slope & Deflection -

Discontinuity Functions

• If several different loadings act on the beam, the integration

method becomes more tedious to apply, because separate
loading or moment functions must be written for each
region of the beam.

• Furthermore, integration of these functions requires the

evaluation of integration constants using both boundary
and continuity conditions.

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Slope & Deflection -
Discontinuity Functions

• For example, the beam shown in Figure requires four

moment functions to be written. They describe the moment
in regions AB , BC , CD , and DE.

3 Civil Engineering | Spring 2017 | Mechanics of Solids-I

Slope & Deflection -

Discontinuity Functions
Macaulay Functions
For purposes of beam deflection, Macaulay functions, named
after the mathematician W. H. Macaulay, can be used to
describe distributed loadings . These functions can be written
in general form as

𝑛 0 𝑓𝑜𝑟 𝑥 < 𝑎
𝑥−𝑎 = 𝑛
𝑥−𝑎 𝑓𝑜𝑟 𝑥 ≥ 𝑎
where n ≥ 0

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Slope & Deflection -
Discontinuity Functions
Macaulay Functions

𝑛 0 𝑓𝑜𝑟 𝑥 < 𝑎
𝑥−𝑎 = 𝑛
𝑥−𝑎 𝑓𝑜𝑟 𝑥 ≥ 𝑎
where n ≥ 0

In the above Equation x represents the coordinate position of

a point along the beam, and a is the location on the beam
where a “discontinuity” occurs, namely the point where a
distributed loading begins .
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Slope & Deflection -

Discontinuity Functions
Macaulay Functions for different types of loadings

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Slope & Deflection -
Discontinuity Functions
Important notes
Integration of Macaulay functions follows the same rules as
for ordinary functions, i.e.,

𝑛
𝑥 − 𝑎 𝑛+1
න 𝑥−𝑎 𝑑𝑥 = +𝐶
𝑛+1

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Slope & Deflection -

Discontinuity Functions
Singularity Functions

𝑛 0 𝑓𝑜𝑟 𝑥 < 𝑎
𝑥−𝑎 = 𝑛
𝑥−𝑎 𝑓𝑜𝑟 𝑥 ≥ 𝑎
where n ≥ 0

In the above Equation x represents the coordinate position of

a point along the beam, and a is the location on the beam
where a “discontinuity” occurs, namely the point where a
distributed loading begins .
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Slope & Deflection -
Discontinuity Functions
Singularity Functions
These functions are only used to describe the point location
of concentrated forces or couple moments acting on a beam.
These functions can be written in general form as

−1 0 𝑓𝑜𝑟 𝑥 ≠ 𝑎
w=P 𝑥−𝑎 =
𝑃 𝑓𝑜𝑟 𝑥 = 𝑎
This expression is referred to as a singularity function since it
takes on the value P only at the point x = a where the load
acts, otherwise it is zero.
9 Civil Engineering | Spring 2017 | Mechanics of Solids-I

Slope & Deflection -

Discontinuity Functions
Singularity Functions
A couple moment, 𝑀𝑜 , can be written in general form as

−2 0 𝑓𝑜𝑟 𝑥 ≠ 𝑎
w = 𝑀𝑜 𝑥 − 𝑎 =
𝑀𝑜 𝑓𝑜𝑟 𝑥 = 𝑎

This expression is referred to as a singularity function since it

takes on the value P only at the point x = a where the load
acts, otherwise it is zero.
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Slope & Deflection -
Discontinuity Functions
Important notes
• Integration of the above two singularity functions (i.e. for
concentrated and internal moment) follow the rules of
operational calculus and yields results that are different
from those of Macaulay functions. Specifically,

න 𝑥−𝑎 𝑛 𝑑𝑥 = 𝑥 − 𝑎 𝑛+1 , 𝑛 = −1, −2

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Slope & Deflection -

Discontinuity Functions
Important notes
• Concentrated forces and distributed loads are positive
upward, and couple moments are positive clockwise.

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Slope & Deflection -
Discontinuity Functions
Problem 1
Apply discontinuity functions to describe the loading or
internal moment for the beam shown in Figure.

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Slope & Deflection -

Discontinuity Functions
Problem 2
Determine the Equation of the elastic curve for the
cantilevered beam shown in Figure. EI is constant.

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