Marisha Bhatti

19AE30010
AE29004

Maxwell’s Reciprocal Theorem

Aim: To verify Maxwell’s Reciprocal theorem.

Apparatus required:
● Maxwell’s reciprocal theorem apparatus
● Tire weight
● Dial gauge
● Weight Hangers
● Scale
● Vernier caliper
Maxwell’s reciprocal theorem apparatus consists of a rigid frame and a light
beam. The beam is provided with simple end supports over the rigid frame in
the form of a hinge at one end and a roller at the other end. There is a tire rod
assembly to load the beam using tire- weights (Weight of this assembly is made
equal to that of one tire —weight). There is also a traveling pedestal to support
the dial gauge for measuring deflections.

Theory:
Maxwell theorem in its simplest form states that deflection of any point A of any
elastic structure due to load P at any point B is the same as the deflection of beam due
to the same load applied at A. It is, therefore, easily derived that the deflection curve
for a point in a structure is the same as the deflected curve of the structure when unit
load is applied at the point for which the influence curve was obtained.
In the figure,

When WB is applied it will produce a deflection b at B and an additional deflection

σabab at A (the latter occurring in the presence of a ‘now’ constant load WA).
Similarly, if the loads were applied in reverse order and the load WA at A produced an
additional deflection Σbaba at B, then

It should be clear that, regardless of the order in which the loads are applied, the total
work done must be the same. Inspection of the above equations thus shows that

If the two loads are now made equal, then

i.e., the deflection at A produced by a load at B equals the deflection at B produced

by the same load at A. This is Maxwell's theorem of reciprocal displacements.

Procedure:
i) Apply a load either at the centre of the simply supported span or at the free end of
the beam, the deflected form can be obtained.
ii) Measure the height of the beam at a certain distance by means of a dial gauge
before and after loading and determine the deflection before and after at each point
separately.
iii) Now move a load along the beam at a certain distance and for each position of the
load, the deflection of the point was noted where the load was applied in step 1. This
deflection should be measured at each such point before and after the loading,
separately. Repeat the process after interchanging the positions of the dial gauge and
the tire rod assembly.
iv) Plot the graph between deflection as ordinate and position of point on abscissa the
plot for graph drawn in step (ii) and (iii). These are the influence line ordinates for
deflection of the beam.
v) Compare the deflection under different loads in case (1) with those in case (2).
They will be found to be the same, thus verifying the theorem.
vi) Superpose the plot of load Vs deflection or case (I) with that of case (2). They will
coincide, thereby, verifying the theorem again.

Observation and Results:

● Load applied at point 1:

Table 1
Loa Deflectio Deflectio Deflectio Deflectio Deflectio
d n at 1 n at 2 n at 3 n at 4 n at 5
(N) (mm) (mm) (mm) (mm) (mm)
10 0.12 0.19 0.19 0.15 0.09
20 0.28 0.40 0.42 0.33 0.20
30 0.45 0.62 0.63 0.52 0.32

● Load applied at point 2:

Table 2
Loa Deflectio Deflectio Deflectio Deflectio Deflectio
d n at 1 n at 2 n at 3 n at 4 n at 5
(N) (mm) (mm) (mm) (mm) (mm)
10 0.17 0.27 0.3 0.24 0.14
20 0.39 0.56 0.61 0.52 0.33
30 0.61 0.88 0.94 0.80 0.51

● Load applied at point 3:

Table 3
Loa Deflectio Deflectio Deflectio Deflectio Deflectio
d n at 1 n at 2 n at 3 n at 4 n at 5
(N) (mm) (mm) (mm) (mm) (mm)
10 0.18 0.29 0.34 0.30 0.18
20 0.41 0.62 0.70 0.62 0.41
30 0.64 0.95 1.09 0.96 0.63
 ● Load applied at point 4:
Table 4
Loa Deflectio Deflectio Deflectio Deflectio Deflectio
d n at 1 n at 2 n at 3 n at 4 n at 5
(N) (mm) (mm) (mm) (mm) (mm)
10 0.15 0.25 0.31 0.29 0.19
20 0.35 0.54 0.64 0.61 0.42
30 0.54 0.83 1.00 0.94 0.64

● Load applied at point 5:

Table 5
Loa Deflectio Deflectio Deflectio Deflectio Deflectio
d n at 1 n at 2 n at 3 n at 4 n at 5
(N) (mm) (mm) (mm) (mm) (mm)
10 0.09 0.16 0.20 0.19 0.14
20 0.21 0.34 0.42 0.42 0.31
30 0.33 0.52 0.64 0.63 0.48

● Load applied at multiple points:

Table 6
Point Load (N) Deflection(mm)
P1 15 1.48
P2 0 2.14
P3 25 2.44
P4 35 2.23
P5 0 1.48

● The corresponding aij’s (influence factors) can be calculated by using the

formula
Aij = (displacement at Pi due to load at Pj)/(load applied at Pj)
Matrix of influence coefficients:
0.0136 0.0198 0.0203 0.0162 0.0098

[
0.0189
A= 0.0199
0.0168
0.0101
0.0281
0.0305
0.0265
0.0167
0.0306
0.0351
0.0321
0.0207
0.0255
0.0310
0.0302
0.0203
0.0158
0.0198
0.0204
0.0151
]
Making the matrix symmetric by A = (A+AT)/2
0.0136 0.0194 0.0201 0.0165 0.0100

[0.0194
A= 0.0201
0.0165
0.0100
0.0281
0.0305
0.0260
0.0163
0.0305
0.0351
0.0315
0.0203
0.0260
0.0315
0.0302
0.0203
0.0163
0.0203
0.0203
0.0151
]
Discussion:
● Apply the loads without any jerk.
● Perform the experiment at a location, which is away from any
● Avoid external disturbance.
● Ensure that the supports are rigid.
● Backlash error shall be minimised while operating the knob of vernier scale.
● Specimens might not have had a uniform thickness or cross-sectional area
throughout its span length; and this would have affected the strength of the test
specimens.
● While taking measurements of the specimens’ dimensions or of the deflection
of the beams, a random error could have occurred while reading the load off
the scale.
● The oldness of the apparatus might slightly affect the results.