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Problem 1: Consider the clamped-clamped elastic beam loaded by a
uniformly distributed line load q.
q

x l EI

a) Formulate the boundary conditions.

b) Find the deflected shape of the beam using the direct integration
method.

c) Find the maximum deflection magnitude and location.

d) Determine the location and magnitude of the maximum stress in the

beam.

Problem 1 Solution:

(a) Boundary conditions w(0)  w(l)  0

w '(0)  w '(l)  0
(b) Find the deflected shape use direct integration

We use the 4th order differentiated equation:

EIwIV  q

Integrate 3 times
Use B.C.
  0
EIw ' l ql3  C l 2 C l  C
1 2 3
6 2
We get
w '(0)  w '(l ) 
0
Integrate equation
C30
EIw ' l   0  ql3  C l 2  C l (1)
6
1
2 2

We get 3 2
qx
EIw '   C1 2 x C2 x
6

EIw  qx4 C1 x3C2  xC2 4

24 6 2
Use B.C.
w(0)  w(l)  0
We get
C40

  0
EIw l ql4  C l 3 C l 2
1 2
24 6 (2)
2
 Combine equations (1) and (2) to solve for C1 and C2
C 1   ql
2
2
C2  12ql

Finally
2 2 2
qx x  2lx  l 
w(x) 
24EI or
4 4 3
w(l)     x      x   
24EI  l 
ql 2 x
  l l 

(c) The maximum deflection magnitude occurs at the mid-span

2 2 
w maxl x  l   l  2l
l 2
2
q
24EI 2  2 
  2  l 

ql 4
wmax x
l  384EI
2

(d) Determine location and magnitude of the maximum stress

Stress distribution in the beam is
 
Mz

The maximum stress locates where moment and z magnitude are the maximum:
 max 
M
m z I
max
ax
Recall
M  EIw
''
w x into the above equation
2 2
Substitute x lx
M  q 2   l  
 2 12  
Let’s consider moment at x  L 2 and x  0

  2  ql 2
 1  l  2 l l   l
M x 
l 2 q 
 2 2  2  2  12 24
M x0   ql
2

12
ql 2
M max  M 
x0
2
12
zmax
 max   ql
12 I

Problem 2: Calculate the second moment of inertia of the beam cross

section for:

a) Solid rectangular cross section of width b and height h.

b) Thin-walled square box section of width and height b.

c) Solid circular cross section of radius r.

Problem 2 Solution:

(a) Solid rectangular cross section of width b and height h.

 I x   y dA
A 2

  2 hy2bdy

h bh
I  2
3

x
12

(b) Thin-walled square box section of width and height b.

s 4 s  2t 
4
I square  
12 12
2 2 2 2
s  s  2t    s  s  2t  
1 

12   
 4ts  4t 2s  4ts  4t 2 
1 2 2

12

Eliminate higher order terms of t

I  1
 4ts  4t 2 2s 2  4ts  4t 2 
squ 112 3 2 2
are  2ts  4t s 
3
3
I squ  2 tb
3
are
(c) Thin-walled square box section of width and height b.

dA  rd
I x   y dA
2 A

  2  r sin rdrd

2
0r 0
  2 r 4 sin 2 drd
0 4 2
4
 r  1 sin 2  
4 2 4 0
3

r
4
  r3
J  Ix  I y 
2

 r3
Ix  I y 
4

Problem 3: In wood construction building codes the beam deflections

cannot exceed L/360 where L is the length of the beam. Where do you think
this requirement comes from? Choose a typical beam example and state
clearly the formulation and your assumptions on the boundary conditions and
loading. Using the deflection criteria estimate the fracture strain of the
plaster board which is nailed directly to the ceiling beams (joist) in single
home construction.
Problem 3 Solution:
The L/360 constraint is required to prevent the plaster board from cracking
We assume a simply supported beam with a distributed load

The deflected shape and subsequently curvature can be simplified as

 xx   xx 0 z 0  z
d
 L / 360   z / 180
dx  L/2 
The maximum strain will be at the outmost fiber

at z  h 2
 xx  h 360

Typically the wooden beams used in house construction are 2in×6in. Use those
values

62 1
 xx 
360 60

The strain seen by the extreme fiber of the wood is also seen by the plaster
board.

Problem 4: Given a beam with a “T” section subjected to pure bending shown
in Figure 1, calculate:

a) the location of the neutral axis

b) the second moment of inertia

c) Find the shear stress distribution in the “T” section.

 Figure 1

Problem 4 Solution:

a) The location of neutral axis is


 yi Ai

y 1 A 1  y 2 A2
A1  A 2
1
 Ai
2  L  t  L  t t   L  t   t  tL  
 2
 L  t t  Lt
3L2  3tL  t 2

4L  2t

If we assume L  t
3L

b) If we assume L  t ,and don’t4 consider stress variation over the
thickness in the flange, the second moment of inertia is
I   Ii  Ai d i 
 tL3
  L  Lt3 
2
  Lt 
2

12   Lt     L 
12   2  
 
 tL3   Lt   3L  L    2Lt
   L    3 L 
2

12  4   4 2 
3      
tL3 tL
 
12 8
5tL3
I
24

Shear stress distribution

First, let’s define two parts of the cross section: Part I the horizontal part and
Part II the vertical part

Part I

QI   z I dA

where zI is the moment are to the shaded region I

t
zI L 2   constant
dA  tdy
 L
 t 
QI   y L   2  tdy 
2

t L
Q I  t L 
 y 
  2  2  

Part II

QII  2QI y 0
  zII dA

where zII is the moment are to the shaded region II

Lt  zI  z dA  tdz
QI  2QI y 0  z ztdz
  t   L
Q II  t  L  t L  t    z 2 
 2  2 2 

check QII z  0, yes!

=
VQ
It

Finally, the shear stress distribution is showed as below picture

Problem 5: Continuity Condition

Solve the problem of a simply-simply supported beam loaded by a point

force acting at eh symmetry plane, but at a distance a from the left
support

In the notes of lecture 5 the solution of this problem was outlined, but not
completed,

(a) Complete the derivation by calculating all four integration

constants

(b)Proof that all continuity conditions are satisfied at x=a

(c) Show that in the limiting case of a=L/2 the solution is identical to
one that was derived in class and you were asked to memorize

Problem 5 Solution:

(a) The reaction force are calculated from moment equilibrium

b a
R A  P l P 1 
l 
(1)
a
R B P l
The corresponding bending moments and shear forces are

 R Ax  Pbx 0xa
M  x    l
 R B l  x  Pa l  x
axL

 Pb 0xa
l
(2)
 l
V  x 
Pa axL

 l

Integrating governing equation

EI d w2  M  x 
2

dx (3)
Combing with equation (2), we have

Pbx3
I
EIw 
6l
 C1 x  C2 0xa (4)
EIwII  Pa  lx2 x6    C x  C
3
2 4
axL
l  2 

Boundary conditions and continuity conditions

   w l   0
w 0
I II
w a   w a 
dw I II
dw
dx xa
 dx xa
(5)
Substitute (4) into (5) , we have

C 2  0 (6)
 33  C l 3 C 4 0
Pal
 3  C a 
 Pba
6l 1 Pa  la 2 a3 
  C3 a  C 4
 l  2 6 
 Pba 2  C1  Pa   la a 2   C 3
 2l l 2

Solve for (6), we get the four unknown integration constants

Pa
C 1 a  l 2l  a 
6l
C2  0
Pa 2 Pl l  a 2l  a  a C3
  2 6l
C4  Pa
3

6
(b) Check continuity condition

(i) Check continuity of moment M at x=a, referring equation (2)

  Pa l  a 
M   M M  
Pba
0
l l

(ii) Check continuity of shear force V at x=a, referring equation (2)

 V   V 
V  Pb   Pa 
l  
P
l
(iii) Check continuity of angle  at x=a

dw I 2
  Pba Pa
dx xa

2l  a  l 2l  a 
6l
dw
II
Pa  2 2
 

  la
dx l   2 6l
xa
2 
    
 0

(iv) Check continuity of deflection w

Pba3 Pa 2

a  l 2l  a 

w  
6l 6l
 Pa
3
w  Pa  la  a   Pa  P l  a 2l  a  a
3 3 2

l  2 6  2 6l 6
 
w   w w 0

All continuity conditions are satisfied.

(c) Referring to equation (4)

I 
w 
1  Pbx3  C1 x  C2 
EI  
6l 
L L
a ,b
2 2

wI  Px
48EI 3l 2  4x 2 
I
wo  w x L
48EI
PL 3
2

They are the same as was derived in lecture notes.

Problem 6:

Another problem to test your knowledge on continuity conditions.

A system of two identical beams shown in the figure below is a statically

determined problem. The beams are rigidly welded, so that the angle remains
90 degrees.

Determine

(a) The distribution of bending moment and shear forces in both segments.

(b) Find the deflected shape of both beams and make sketch.

(c) Find the relation between the tip---load and the vertical displacement
of the tip.(Hint: assume the rotations to be very small.)

(Note: Do not solve this problem using the Castigliano’s theorem, which is
much simpler, but has not been covered yet.)

Problem 6 Solution:

(a) Free body diagram as below, in which Rxa , Rxb and Rya are reaction
forces
 Moment equilibrium about point a

R xb

P Rxb  2L  PL  0
2
Horizontal and vertical forces balance

R xa  R xb P Rya  P

Beam 1 2

Let’s look at cross section O+

Where
P
V  2
P
M L2

Also, let’s look at cross section O-

 Where
P
V  2
P
M  L2
Distribution of shear force

Distribution of moment
Beam 2

At the left cross-section

VP M
 PL
Distribution of shear force

Distribution of moment
(b) Deflection is anti-symmetric for beam 1, at point O, w  0 , deflection
shapes are

(c) From moment distribution of beam 1, we know

M1  P Ly 0 yL
2
Governing equation
d 2w P
EI dy12  M1   Ly 0yL
2
Integrate twice
w1   P  Ly2 y
3

 C1 y  C2 0yL
2EI  2 6 

Apply boundary conditions

w1 y0
 w1 y L
0
PL 2

 C1  , C2  0
6EI
 w 
1  P  Ly 2  y 3   PL2 y 0 yL
2EI  2 6  6EI
At y=0
PL2

6EI

Vertical displacement of point O

o o
uo   x L
 dy   x L P
dy 
PL EA
EA
Integrate governing equation of beam 2
d 2w
EI dy2  M 2  P  L  x 
2

We have
EI dw x 2
 
dx
2
 P  Lx  C
2 1

EIw2  P   Lx2
 2
x3 C
 xC
6  1 2

Use angle continuity condition

EI dw2  1 x0 PL2
dx x0 6EI
PL 2

 C1
6
w2 u 0 PL
x0  EA
C 2 PIL
 A
Finally

  x
w 2 P  Lx2 x 3
 PL2 PL
EI  2 6 6EI
 EA
 At x=L, the tip deflection is

PL3
PL
wp  
2EI EA

3
Now, let’s compare the magnitude hof the two terms in wp , for a
square cross-section
II PL 2
wp 2I
 EA 12  1  h  2
pI   Lh 2 6 l 
w PL3 LA

2EI

For h L  1 20 , w II w I  0.25103 . w II , which is the

deflection caused by compression,
p p p
is three orders of magnitudes
smaller than w I , which is the
deflection caused by bending.
p