Slopes & Deflections – Moment Area Method

4.2 Moment Area Method

4.2.1 Introduction
When a structure is subjected to the action of applied loads each member undergoes
deformation due to which the axis of structure is deflected from its original position. The
deflections also occur due to temperature variations and lack – of – fit of members. The
deflections of structures are important for ensuring that the designed structure is not excessively
flexible. The large deformations in the structures can cause damage or cracking of non-
structural elements. The deflection in beams is dependent on the acting bending moments and
its flexural stiffness. The computation of deflections in structures is also required for solving
the statically indeterminate structures. In this chapter, several methods for computing
deflection of structures are considered.

4.2.2 Moment Area Theorems

The moment-area method is one of the most effective methods for obtaining the bending
displacement in beams and frames. In this method, the area of the bending moment diagrams
is utilized for computing the slope and or deflections at particular points along the axis of the
beam or frame. Two theorems known as the moment area theorems are utilized for calculation
of the deflection. One theorem is used to calculate the change in the slope between two points
on the elastic curve. The other theorem is used to compute the vertical distance (called
tangential deviation) between a point on the elastic curve and a line tangent to the elastic curve
at a second point.

Consider Figure 4.8 showing the elastic curve of a loaded simple beam. On the elastic curve
tangents are drawn on points A and B. Total angle between the two tangents is denoted as  AB

. In order to find out  AB , consider the incremental change in angle d over an infinitesimal
segment dx located at a distance of x from point B . The radius of curvature and bending
moment for any section of the beam is given by the usual bending equation.

M E
 (2.1)
I R
where R is the radius of curvature; E is the modulus of elasticity; I is the moment of inertia;
and M denotes the bending moment.

The elementary length dx and the change in angle d are related as,

dx  d  R (2.2)

TCBE 2101: Structural Analysis I, by OLENG. - 73 -

wotamuko@gmail.com [+256703688747]
 Slopes & Deflections – Moment Area Method

A B
A
B
dx dt
Elastic curve x
t BA AB

(a) Beam B

xB
M B /EI

M A /EI
c.g.
dx
(b) M/EI diagram

Fig.4.8: Elastic Beam

Substituting R from Eq. (2.2) in Eq. (2.1)

M
d  dx (2.3)
EI
The total angle change  AB can be obtained by integrating Eq. (2.3) between points A and
B which is expressed as

B B
M
 AB  d   dx (2.4a)
A A
EI

or, B  A  Area of M / EI diagram between A and B (2.4b)

The difference of slope between any two points on a continuous elastic curve of a beam is
equal to the area under the M / EI curve between these points.

The distance dt along the vertical line through point B is nearly equal to.

dt  x  d (2.5)

TCBE 2101: Structural Analysis I, by OLENG. - 74 -

wotamuko@gmail.com [+256703688747]
 Slopes & Deflections – Moment Area Method

Integration of dt between points A and B yield the vertical distance t BA between the point B and
the tangent from point A on the elastic curve. Thus,

B B
Mx
t BA   xd   dx (2.6)
A A
EI

Since the quantity Mdx/ EI represents an infinitesimal area under the M /EI diagram and
distance x from that area to point B, the integral on right hand side of Eq. (2.6) can be interpreted
as moment of the area under the M/EI diagram between points A and B about point B . This is
the second moment area theorem.

If A and B are two points on the deflected shape of a beam, the vertical distance of point
B from the tangent drawn to the elastic curve at point A is equal to the moment of bending
moment diagram area between the points A and B about the vertical line from point B,
divided by EI.

Note: Sign convention used here can be remembered keeping the simply supported beam of
Figure 4.8 in mind. A sagging moment is the positive bending moment diagram and
has positive area. Slopes are positive if measured in the anti-clockwise direction.
Positive deviation t BA indicates that the point B lies above the tangent from the point A.

4.2.3 Worked Examples

Example 6.5: Determine the end slope and deflection of the mid-point C in the beam shown
below using moment area method.
W

A B
C
L/2 L/2

(a)
WL
4EI

(b)

A B
A C

t CA
t BA

(c)

Figure 4.9

TCBE 2101: Structural Analysis I, by OLENG. - 75 -

wotamuko@gmail.com [+256703688747]
 Slopes & Deflections – Moment Area Method

Solution:
The M / EI diagram of the beam is shown in Figure 6.9(a). The slope at A , A can be obtained
by computing the t BA using the second moment area theorem i.e.

A  L  t BA

1  1 WL L  WL2
A     L   (clockwise direction)
L  2 4 EI 2  16EI

The slope at B can be obtained by using the first moment area theorem between points A and
B i.e.

B  A  AB

1 WL WL2
B  A   L 
2 4 EI 8EI

WL2 WL2 WL2

B    (anti-clockwise direction)
8EI 16EI 16EI

WL2
(It is to be noted that the A  . The negative sign is because of the slope being in the
16EI
clockwise direction. As per sign convention a positive slope is in the anti-clockwise direction)

The deflection at the centre of the beam can be obtained with the help of the second moment
area theorem between points A and C i.e.

L
A    C  t CA
2

WL2 L  1 WL L L 
  C      
16EI 2  2 4 EI 2 6 

WL3
C  (downward direction)
48EI

Example 6.6: Using the moment area method, determine the slope at B and C and deflection
at C of the cantilever beam as shown in Figure 4.10(a). The beam is subjected to uniformly
distributed load over entire length and point load at the free end.

TCBE 2101: Structural Analysis I, by OLENG. - 76 -

wotamuko@gmail.com [+256703688747]
 Slopes & Deflections – Moment Area Method

w/unit length W

A C
B
L/2 L/2

(a)
2L/3
M
EI
WL (b)
---
EI

L/2
M
EI
2
2 WL
WL ---
--- 8EI
2EI 3L/4

(c)

tangrnt at A
A=0
B t CA = C
(d)
C

Figure 4.10

Solution:
The moment curves produced by the concentrated load, W and the uniformly distributed load,
w are plotted separately and divided by EI (refer Figures 4.10(b) and (c)). This results in the
simple geometric shapes in which the area and locations of their centroids are known.

Since the end A is fixed, therefore, A  0 . Applying the first moment-area theorem between
points A and C

C  A  AC

1 WL 1 wL2 
C  A    L    L  (negative sign is due to hogging moment)
2 EI 3 2 EI 

 WL2 wL3 
C     (clockwise direction)
 2 EI 6 EI 

TCBE 2101: Structural Analysis I, by OLENG. - 77 -

wotamuko@gmail.com [+256703688747]
 Slopes & Deflections – Moment Area Method

The slope at B can be obtained by applying the first moment area theorem between points B
and C i.e.

C  B  BC

B  C  BC

 WL 2
wL3   1 L WL 1 L wL2 
B            
 2 EI 6 EI   2 2 2 EI 3 2 82EI 

 3WL2 7 wL3 
    (clockwise direction)
48EI 
B
 8EI

The deflection at C is equal to the tangential deviation of point C from the tangent to the
elastic curve at A (see Figure 6.10(d)).

 C  t CA = moment of areas under M / EI curves between A and C in Figures 6.10(b) and (c)

about C
1 WL 2 L 1 wL2 3L WL3 wL4
  L    L    (downward direction)
2 EI 3 3 2 EI 4 3EI 8 EI

Example 4.7: Determine the end – slopes and deflection at the center of a non – prismatic
simply supported beam. The beam is subjected to a concentrated load at the center.

Solution:
The M/EI diagram of the beam is shown in Figure 4.11(b).
P

A B
I C 2I
L/2 L/2

(a)
PL
4EI
PL
8EI

(b)

A B
A C

t CA
t BA

(c)

Figure 4.11

TCBE 2101: Structural Analysis I, by OLENG. - 78 -

wotamuko@gmail.com [+256703688747]
 Slopes & Deflections – Moment Area Method

Applying second moment-area theorem between points A and B,

 L L  1 PL L  2 L 
1 L PL
t BA   
       
2 2 4 EI
 2 6  2 8 EI 2  3 2 
PL3 PL3 5 PL3
 AL   
24EI 96EI 96EI

5 PL2
A  (clockwise direction)
96EI

Applying first moment area theorem between A and C.

1 L PL
C  A   
2 2 4 EI

PL2 5PL2 PL2

C    (anti-clockwise direction)
16EI 96EI 96EI

Applying second moment area theorem between A and C.

PL2 L PL3
t CA   
16EI 6 96EI

5 PL2 L PL3 PL3

C     (downward direction)
96EI 2 96EI 64EI

Example 6.8: Determine the slope and deflection at the hinge of the beam shown in the Figure
4.12 (a).

W
B
A D
C

L L L

Figure 4.12(a)
Solution:
The bending moment diagram is shown in Figure 4.12(b).

WL
2

WL
2

Figure 4.12(b)

TCBE 2101: Structural Analysis I, by OLENG. - 79 -

wotamuko@gmail.com [+256703688747]
 Slopes & Deflections – Moment Area Method

Since the end A is fixed, therefore, A  0 . Applying the first moment-area theorem between
points A and B (refer Figure 4.12(c))
1 WL 1
BA  A    L B
2 2 EI A D
BA
t BA= B D
WL2
 (clockwise direction)
BA
4 EI t BD BD

Figure 4.12(c)
Applying second moment area theorem between points A and B,
1 WL 1 2 L WL3
 B  t BA    L   (downward direction)
2 2 EI 3 6 EI
Applying second moment area theorem between points B and D,

D  2L  t BA  t BD

1  WL3 1 WL 1 
D       2L   L 
2 L  6 EI 2 2 EI 

WL2
D  (anti-clockwise direction)
3EI

From the first moment area theorem between points B and D

1 WL 1
D  BD    2L 
2 2 EI
WL2 WL2
BD  
3EI 2 EI
WL2
BD  (clockwise direction)
6 EI

Exercise: Determine the vertical deflection and slope of point C of the rigid-jointed plane
frame shown in the Figure 4.13.
PL
2EI
C B PL C B B
2EI
C
P
B
C

L L

A PL A
2EI
L/2 L/2

Figure 4.13

TCBE 2101: Structural Analysis I, by OLENG. - 80 -

wotamuko@gmail.com [+256703688747]
 Slopes & Deflections – Moment Area Method

Geometric Properties of Area

h h1
C C h2

x
x b
b
Trapezoid
Triangle
1
A b(h1  h2 )
1 2
A bh b(2h2  h1 )
2 x
1 3(h1  h2 )
x b
3

h
h C
C
x
1
b A  bh
x Parabolic spandrel 3
1
b 2 x b
A bh 4
Semi Parabola 3
3
x b
8

TCBE 2101: Structural Analysis I, by OLENG. - 81 -

wotamuko@gmail.com [+256703688747]
Slopes & Deflections – Conjugate Beam Method

4.3 Conjugate Beam Method

4.3.1 Introduction
The conjugate beam method is an extremely versatile method for computation of deflections
in beams. The relationships between the loading, shear, and bending moments are given by
d 2 M dV
   w( x) (3.1)
dx 2 dx
where M is the bending moment; V is the shear; and w (x) is the intensity of distributed load.
Similarly, we have the following
d2 d M
2
  (3.2)
dx dx EI
A comparison of two set of equations indicates that if M / EI is the loading on an imaginary
beam, the resulting shear and moment in the beam are the slope and displacement of the real
beam, respectively. The imaginary beam is called as the “conjugate beam” and has the same
length as the original beam.

There are two major steps in the conjugate beam method. The first step is to set up an additional
beam, called "conjugate beam,” and the second step is to determine the “shearing forces” and
“bending moments” in the conjugate beam.
The loading diagram showing the elastic loads acting on the conjugate beam is simply the
bending-moment diagram of the actual beam divided by the flexural rigidity EI of the actual
beam. This elastic load is downward if the bending moment is sagging.
For each existing support condition of the actual beam, there is a corresponding support
condition for the conjugate beam. Table 4.1 shows the corresponding conjugate beam of
different types of actual beams. The actual beam as well as the conjugate beam are always in
static equilibrium condition.

The slope of (the centerline of) the actual beam at any cross-section is equal to the “shearing
force” at the corresponding cross-section of the conjugate beam. This slope is positive or anti-
clockwise if the “shearing force” is positive — to rotate the beam element anti-clockwise —
in beam convention. The deflection of (the centerline of) the actual beam at any point is equal
to the “bending moment” of the conjugate beam at the corresponding point. This deflection is
downward if the “bending moment” is positive — to cause top fiber in compression — in
beam convention. The positive shearing force and bending moment are shown below in Fig.
3.1.

TCBE 2101: Structural Analysis I, by OLENG. - 82 -

wotamuko@gmail.com [+256703688747]
 Slopes & Deflections – Conjugate Beam Method

+ ve + ve

Figure 3.1 Positive shearing force and bending moment

Table 4.1 Real and Conjugate beams for different structures

TCBE 2101: Structural Analysis I, by OLENG. - 83 -

wotamuko@gmail.com [+256703688747]
 Slopes & Deflections – Conjugate Beam Method

4.3.2 Worked Examples

Example 3.1: Determine the slope and deflection of point A of a cantilever beam AB of length
L and uniform flexural rigidity EI. A concentrated force P is applied at the free end of beam.
P

A B

(a) A cantilever beam (actual beam)

PL
EI
A B

(b) Conjugate beam (additional beam) corresponding to the actual beam

PL
MA EI
A B
L
VA

(c) Free-body diagram for the conjugate beam

P
A
B

(d) Deflections of the cantilever beam (actual beam)

Figure 3.2
Solution:
The conjugate beam of the actual beam is shown in Figure 3.2(b). A linearly varying distributed
upward elastic load with intensity equal to zero at A and equal to PL/EI at B. The free-body
diagram for the conjugate beam is shown in Figure 3.2(c). The reactions at A of the conjugate
beam are given by

TCBE 2101: Structural Analysis I, by OLENG. - 84 -

wotamuko@gmail.com [+256703688747]
 Slopes & Deflections – Conjugate Beam Method

1 PL PL2
VA   L  anti  clock wise
2 EI 2 EI
1 PL  2 L PL3
MA    L   
2 EI  3 3EI
The slope at A , A and the deflection  A at the free end A of the actual beam in Figure 3.2(d)

are respectively, equal to the “shearing force” V A and the “bending moment” M A at the fixed
end A of the conjugate beam in Figure 3.2(d).
PL2 PL3
A  anti  clock wise direction and  A  
2 EI 3EI
Note that  A points downward because M A causes tension in bottom fiber of the beam at A
(i.e. sagging moment) .

Example 3.2: Determine the deflection at the free end of the beam shown in Figure 3.4 using
conjugate beam method and verify by moment area method.
W
B
A C

L L/2

(a) Given beam

wL
2EI

A C
B
(b) Conjugate beam

Figure 3.4(a)-(b)
Solution:
(a) Conjugate beam method
The corresponding conjugate beam and loading are shown in Figure 3.3(b). The loading is
WL
upward linearly distributed load with maximum value of at B .
2 EI
Taking moment about point B, the vertical reaction at A in the conjugate beam is given by
1 WL L WL2
VA  L   L   0  VA 
2 2 EI 3 12EI
The bending moment at C (by taking moment about C) is given by

TCBE 2101: Structural Analysis I, by OLENG. - 85 -

wotamuko@gmail.com [+256703688747]
 Slopes & Deflections – Conjugate Beam Method

WL2  L  1 WL  L  L  L / 2  L / 2 
L       L     MC  0
12 EI  2  2 2 EI  2  3 
WL3
 MC  (sagging type)
8 EI
WL3
Hence, the deflection of point C will be equal to in the downward direction.
8EI
(b) Verification by moment-area method

t BA t CA
A
B C
A
C

(c) Deflectad shape of the beam

B C
A
wL
2EI

(d) Bending moment diagram

Figure 3.3(c)-(d)
Applying second moment area theorem between points A and B will give the slope at A i.e.
1 WL L
A  L  t BA   L 
2 2 EI 3
WL2
A 
12EI
Further, applying moment area theorem between point A and C
1  L  WL  L  L / 2  L / 2 
t CA  L    
2  2  2EI  3 
WL3
tCA  (clockwise direction)
4 EI

 L WL3 WL2  L WL3

Since t CA  A   L     C then    L     C and  C  (downward
 2 4 EI 12EI  2 8 EI
direction)

TCBE 2101: Structural Analysis I, by OLENG. - 86 -

wotamuko@gmail.com [+256703688747]
 Slopes & Deflections – Conjugate Beam Method

Exercise: Determine the slope at A and deflection of B of the beam shown in Figure 3.4(a)
using the conjugate beam method.
w/unit length
V=0
A M=0
B
L

(a) Beam
2
wL
2EI

A
B
x dx
(b) Conjugate Beam

Figure 3.4

TCBE 2101: Structural Analysis I, by OLENG. - 87 -

wotamuko@gmail.com [+256703688747]