Structural Analysis II

Lesson 2

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Deflection of beam
B. Moment-Area Method
Moment-Area theorem 1
This method is based on the M/EI diagram shown and is
derived on the basis of the M/EI equation.

Recall, from integration theory:

Thus,

Integrating the M/EI equation (area under the

M/EI diagram) gives the angle θB/A as follows:

Theorem 1: The change in slope between any two points on the elastic
curve equals the area of the M/EI diagram between these two points 2
Deflection of beams
B. Moment area method

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B. Moment area method continued…
Moment-Area theorem 2
This theorem is based on the relative deviation of tangents to
the elastic curve- see the figure. The deviation is measured
along a vertical line passing through point A.

Assumptions:
• Very small slope of the elastic
curve
• Very
Thus,small deflection
ds ≈ dt; r≈x of the beam
and the arc length, ds = rdθ ↔ dt = xdθ

Substituting dθ with (M/EI) gives:

dt = x(M/EI)dx

Thus, ↔

Theorem 2: The vertical deviation of the tangent at a point (A) on the elastic curve with
respect to the tangent extended from another point (B) equals the “moment” of the area
under the M/EI diagram between the two points (A and B). This moment is computed
about point A (the point on the elastic curve), where the deviation is to be determined. 4
B. Moment area method continued…
Procedure for analysis
1. Draw M/EI diagram
 Determine reactions
 Draw bending moment diagram
 From BMD, draw M/EI diagram
2. Draw an elastic deflection curve indicating all important parameters:
 The displacement to be determined
 Slope to be determined
3. Apply the Moment-area theorem to solve the deflection problem:
 Slope under consideration
 Displacement under consideration

Note that this method may not give a direct value for the deflection parameters for the
beams and one may have to use the determined values in order to get the actual
displacements and slopes
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B. Moment area method continued…
Example

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B. Moment area method continued…

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C. Conjugate beam method

Thus,
integrating

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C. Conjugate beam method
Conjugate-Beam Supports

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C. Conjugate beam method
Real beams vs conjugate-beam – support illustrations

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C. Conjugate beam method

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C. Conjugate beam method
Example:
Determine the maximum deflection of the steel beam
shown below. Take E = 200 GPa, I =60 x 106 mm4

Solution
1. Draw a conjugate beam
• Determine reactions using equations of static equilibrium
→ RA = 2 kN; RB = 6 kN
• Establish the bending moment for the beam (BMD) and then M/EI (diagram)
→ Maximum bending moment occurs at the point load =18kNm
→ Maximum M/EI load = 18/EI
• Draw a conjugate beam, indicating the appropriate supports and the M/EI
load. Solve external reactions for the conjugate beam
External reactions for
Conjugate beam
the conjugate beam

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C. Conjugate beam method

Figure

Figure 8-26d: Internal reactions

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