Conjugate beam method

The conjugate beam method provides a means/way of finding slopes (rotations) and
deflections of determinate beams.
It takes advantage of the similar set of relationships that exist between load (w) -
shear (V) - moment (M) and curvature (ϕ) - slope (θ) - deflection (Δ).
Recall the relationships between load, shear and moment (equations (1) and (2)

Likewise, recall the relationships between curvature, slope and deflection from
equations (3) and (4):

Here the Shear V compares with the slope and the moment compares with
the deflection
Conjugate beam method….
• Therefore, the slope and deflections can be determined from
shear and bending moment.
• To make use of this comparison we will consider a beam
having the same length as the real beam having the same
length as the real beam but referred to here as “Conjugate
Beam”.
Properties of the conjugate beam
• The length of a conjugate beam is always equal to the length of the
actual beam.
• The load on the conjugate beam is the M/EI diagram of the loads on the
actual beam.
• A simple support for the real beam remains simple support for the
conjugate beam.
• A fixed end for the real beam becomes free end for the conjugate beam.
• The point of zero shear for the conjugate beam corresponds to a point
of zero slope for the real beam.
• The point of maximum moment for the conjugate beam corresponds to
a point of maximum deflection for the real beam.
Example
• For the loaded cantilever, determine the slope and deflection at point
B by using conjugate beam
Sign Convention
• If the positive ordinates of the M=EI diagram are applied to the conjugate beam as
upward loads (in the positive y direction) and vice versa, then a positive shear in
the conjugate beam denotes a positive (counterclockwise) slope of the real beam
with respect to the undeformed axis of the real beam;
• also, a positive bending moment in the conjugate beam denotes a positive (upward
or in the positive y direction) deflection of the real beam with respect to the
undeformed axis of the real beam and vice versa
• If the positive ordinates of the M/EI diagram are applied to the conjugate beam as
upward loads (in the positive y direction) and vice versa, then a positive shear in
the conjugate beam denotes a positive (counterclockwise) slope of the real beam
with respect to the undeformed axis of the real beam;
• also, a positive bending moment in the conjugate beam denotes a positive (upward
or in the positive y direction) deflection of the real beam with respect to the
undeformed axis of the real beam and vice versa
• But if positive M/EI diagram are applied to the conjugate beam as downward
loads, then a positive shear in the conjugate beam denotes clockwise direction
and positive bending moment denotes downward direction.
Example 2
Using the conjugate beam method, determine the slope at support A and the
deflection at point B under the concentrated load of 24 kN applied at point B of the
simply supported beam as shown in Figure below EI is constant.

Solution
Step 1. Draw BMD for the given beam and loading

• Step 2; Step 2; Draw the corresponding conjugate beam

Step 3 Load the conjugate beam with M/EI

Step 4; Calculate shear at point A and bending moment at point B.

Due to the symmetry. the reaction at supports of the conjugate beam can be
determined as follows:
Slope at A. The slope at A in the real beam is the shear force at A in the conjugate
beam.

Thus, the slope at support A of the real beam is as follows

• Assignment P1 and P4

• Problem 1
For the beam shown in Fig. P-1, find the value of EIθ at the point A
and B by using conjugate beam method.
Problem 2
Determine the slope and deflection at point B of the beam shown by
the conjugate beam method

Problem 3
Determine the slope and deflection at point B of the beam shown by
the conjugate beam method
Problem 4
Determine the slope and deflection at point B of the beam shown by
the conjugate beam method

Problem 5
Use conjugate beam method to determine the slopes and deflections at
points B and C of the beam shown