CIVL 7/8117 Chapter 4 - Development of Beam Equations - Part 1 1/33

Development of Beam Equations

In this section, we will develop the stiffness matrix for a beam
element, the most common of all structural elements.

The beam element is considered to be straight and to have

constant cross-sectional area.

Development of Beam Equations

We will derive the beam element stiffness matrix by using the
principles of simple beam theory.

The degrees of freedom associated with a node of a beam

element are a transverse displacement and a rotation.
CIVL 7/8117 Chapter 4 - Development of Beam Equations - Part 1 2/33

Development of Beam Equations

We will discuss procedures for handling distributed loading
and concentrated nodal loading.

We will include the nodal shear forces and bending moments

and the resulting shear force and bending moment diagrams
as part of the total solution.

Development of Beam Equations

We will develop the beam bending element equations using
the potential energy approach.

Finally, the Galerkin residual method is applied to derive the

beam element equations
CIVL 7/8117 Chapter 4 - Development of Beam Equations - Part 1 3/33

Beam Stiffness
Consider the beam element shown below.

The beam is of length L with axial local coordinate x and

transverse local coordinate y.
The local transverse nodal displacements are given by vi and
the rotations by i. The local nodal forces are given by fiy and
the bending moments by mi.

Beam Stiffness
At all nodes, the following sign conventions are used:

1. Moments are positive in the counterclockwise direction.

2. Rotations are positive in the counterclockwise direction.
3. Forces are positive in the positive y direction.
4. Displacements are positive in the positive y direction.
CIVL 7/8117 Chapter 4 - Development of Beam Equations - Part 1 4/33

Beam Stiffness
The differential equation governing simple linear-elastic beam
behavior can be derived as follows. Consider the beam
shown below.

Beam Stiffness
The differential equation governing simple linear-elastic beam
behavior can be derived as follows. Consider the beam
shown below.
w ( x )dx dx
2

Write the equations of equilibrium for the differential element:

dx
M right side 0 (M dM ) M Vdx w ( x )dx
2
dx 2 0

F y 0 V (V dV ) w ( x )dx
CIVL 7/8117 Chapter 4 - Development of Beam Equations - Part 1 5/33

Beam Stiffness
From force and moment equilibrium of a differential beam
element, we get:
dM
M right side 0 Vdx dM 0 or V
dx
dV
F y 0 wdx dV 0 or w
dx

d dM
w
dx dx

Beam Stiffness
The curvature of the beam is related to the moment by:
1 M

EI
where is the radius of the deflected curve, v is the
transverse displacement function in the y direction, E is the
modulus of elasticity, and I is the principle moment of inertia
about y direction, as shown below.
CIVL 7/8117 Chapter 4 - Development of Beam Equations - Part 1 6/33

Beam Stiffness
dv
The curvature, for small slopes is given as:
dx
d 2v

dx 2

Therefore: d 2v M d 2v
M EI
dx 2 EI dx 2

Substituting the moment expression into the moment-load

equations gives:
d 2 d 2v
EI w x
dx 2 dx 2
For constant values of EI, the above equation reduces to:
d 4v
EI 4 w x
dx

Beam Stiffness
Step 1 - Select Element Type

We will consider the linear-elastic beam element shown below.

CIVL 7/8117 Chapter 4 - Development of Beam Equations - Part 1 7/33

Beam Stiffness
Step 2 - Select a Displacement Function

Assume the transverse displacement function v is:

v a1x 3 a2 x 2 a3 x a4
The number of coefficients in the displacement function ai is
equal to the total number of degrees of freedom associated
with the element (displacement and rotation at each node).
The boundary conditions are:

v ( x 0) v1 v ( x L) v 2

dv dv
1 2
dx x 0 dx x L

Beam Stiffness
Step 2 - Select a Displacement Function

Applying the boundary conditions and solving for the unknown

coefficients gives:
v (0) v1 a4 v (L ) v 2 a1L3 a2L2 a3L a4

dv (0) dv (L )
1 a3 2 3a1L2 2a2L a3
dx dx
Solving these equations for a1, a2, a3, and a4 gives:
2 1
v 3 v1 v 2 2 1 2 x 3
L L
3 1
2 v1 v 2 21 2 x 2 1x v1
L L
CIVL 7/8117 Chapter 4 - Development of Beam Equations - Part 1 8/33

Beam Stiffness
Step 2 - Select a Displacement Function

In matrix form the above equations are: v [N ] d

v1

d 1 [N ] N1 N2 N3 N4
v 2
2
where

N1
1
L3

2 x 3 3 x 2L L3 N2
L3

1 3
x L 2 x 2L2 xL3

N3
1
L3
2 x 3 3 x 2 L N4
L3
1 3
x L x 2L2

Beam Stiffness
Step 2 - Select a Displacement Function

N1, N2, N3, and N4 are called the interpolation functions for a
beam element.
1.000 N1 1.000 N2
0.800 0.800

0.600 0.600

0.400 0.400

0.200 0.200

0.000 0.000
0.00 1.00 0.00 1.00
-0.200 -0.200

1.000 N3 1.000 N4
0.800 0.800

0.600 0.600

0.400 0.400

0.200 0.200

0.000 0.000
0.00 1.00 0.00 1.00
-0.200 -0.200
CIVL 7/8117 Chapter 4 - Development of Beam Equations - Part 1 9/33

Beam Stiffness
Step 3 - Define the Strain/Displacement
and Stress/Strain Relationships
du
The stress-displacement relationship is: x x, y
dx
where u is the axial displacement function.

We can relate the axial displacement to the transverse

displacement by considering the beam element shown
below:

Beam Stiffness
Step 3 - Define the Strain/Displacement
and Stress/Strain Relationships

dv
u y
dx
CIVL 7/8117 Chapter 4 - Development of Beam Equations - Part 1 10/33

Beam Stiffness
Step 3 - Define the Strain/Displacement
and Stress/Strain Relationships
One of the basic assumptions in simple beam theory is that
planes remain planar after deformation, therefore:

du d 2v
x x, y y 2
dx dx
Moments and shears are related to the transverse
displacement as:

d 2v d 3v
m x EI 2 V x EI 3
dx dx

Beam Stiffness
Step 4 - Derive the Element Stiffness Matrix
and Equations
Use beam theory sign convention for shear force and bending
moment.

m+
m+

V+ V+
CIVL 7/8117 Chapter 4 - Development of Beam Equations - Part 1 11/33

Beam Stiffness
Step 4 - Derive the Element Stiffness Matrix
and Equations
Using beam theory sign convention for shear force and
bending moment we obtain the following equations:
d 3v EI
f1y V EI 3 12v1 6L1 12v 2 6L2
dx x 0
L3
d 3v EI
f2 y V EI 12v1 6L1 12v 2 6L2
dx 3 x L
L3
d v
2
EI
m1 m EI
dx 2

L3
6Lv1 4L21 6Lv 2 2L22
x 0

d 2v EI
m2 m EI
dx 2

L3
6Lv1 2L21 6Lv 2 4L22
x L

Beam Stiffness
Step 4 - Derive the Element Stiffness Matrix
and Equations
In matrix form the above equations are:

f1y 12 6L 12 6L v1 f1y v1
m 6L 2L2 1 m
1 EI 6L 4L2
1 1
3 k
f2 y L 12 6L 12 6L v 2 f2 y v 2

m2 6L 2L2 6L 4L2 2 m2 2

where the stiffness matrix is:

12 6L 12 6L
6L 2L2
EI 6L 4L 2

k 3
L 12 6L 12 6L

6L 2L2 6L 4L2
CIVL 7/8117 Chapter 4 - Development of Beam Equations - Part 1 12/33

Beam Stiffness
Step 4 - Derive the Element Stiffness Matrix
and Equations
Beam stiffness based on Timoshenko Beam Theory

The total deflection of the beam at a point x consists of two

parts, one caused by bending and one by shear force. The
slope of the deflected curve at a point x is:
dv
x x
dx

Beam Stiffness
Step 4 - Derive the Element Stiffness Matrix
and Equations
Beam stiffness based on Timoshenko Beam Theory

The relationship between bending moment and bending

deformation is:
d x
M x EI
dx
CIVL 7/8117 Chapter 4 - Development of Beam Equations - Part 1 13/33

Beam Stiffness
Step 4 - Derive the Element Stiffness Matrix
and Equations
Beam stiffness based on Timoshenko Beam Theory

The relationship between shear force and shear deformation is:

V x ks AG x

where ksA is the shear area.

Beam Stiffness
Step 4 - Derive the Element Stiffness Matrix
and Equations
Beam stiffness based on Timoshenko Beam Theory

You can review the details in your book, but by including the
effects of shear deformations into the relationship between
forces and nodal displacements a modified elemental
stiffness can be developed.
CIVL 7/8117 Chapter 4 - Development of Beam Equations - Part 1 14/33

Beam Stiffness
Step 4 - Derive the Element Stiffness Matrix
and Equations
Beam stiffness based on Timoshenko Beam Theory

12 6L 12 6L

EI 6L 4 L2 6L 2 L2
12EI
k 3
L 1 12 6L 12 6L ks AGL2

6L 2 L2 6L 4 L2

Beam Stiffness
Step 5 - Assemble the Element Equations
and Introduce Boundary Conditions
Consider a beam modeled by two beam elements (do not
include shear deformations):

Assume the EI to be constant throughout the beam. A force of

1,000 lb and moment of 1,000 lb-ft are applied to the mid-
point of the beam.
CIVL 7/8117 Chapter 4 - Development of Beam Equations - Part 1 15/33

Beam Stiffness
Step 5 - Assemble the Element Equations
and Introduce Boundary Conditions
The beam element stiffness matrices are:
v1 1 v2 2

12 6L 12 6L
6L 2L2
EI 6L 4L 2

k (1) 3
L 12 6L 12 6L

6L 2L2 6L 4L2
v v
2 2 3 3

12 6L 12 6L
6L 2L2
EI 6L 4L2
k (2) 3
L 12 6L 12 6L

6L 2L2 6L 4L2

Beam Stiffness
Step 5 - Assemble the Element Equations
and Introduce Boundary Conditions
In this example, the local coordinates coincide with the global
coordinates of the whole beam (therefore there is no
transformation required for this problem).
The total stiffness matrix can be assembled as:
F1y 12 6L 12 6L v1
0 0
M 6L 4L2
1 6L 2L2 0 0
1
F2 y EI 12 6L 12 12 6L 6L v 2
12 6L
M 3
2 L 6L 2L 6L 6L 4L 4L
2 2 2
2L2 2
6L
F3 y 0 0 12 6L 12 6L v 3

M3 0 0 6L 2L2 6L 4L2 3
Element 1 Element 2
CIVL 7/8117 Chapter 4 - Development of Beam Equations - Part 1 16/33

Beam Stiffness
Step 5 - Assemble the Element Equations
and Introduce Boundary Conditions
The boundary conditions are: v1 1 v 3 0

F1y 12 6L 12 6L 0 0 v01
M 6L 4L2
1 6L 2L2 0 0 01

F2 y EI 12 6L 12 12 6L 6L 12 6L v 2
M 3
2 L 6L 2L 6L 6L 4L 4L
2 2 2
6L 2L2 2
F3 y 0 0 12 6L 12 6L v03

M3 0 0 6L 2L2 6L 4L2 3

Beam Stiffness
Step 5 - Assemble the Element Equations
and Introduce Boundary Conditions

By applying the boundary conditions the beam equations

reduce to:
1,000 lb 24 0 6L v 2
EI 2
1,000 lb ft 3 0 8L 2L 2
2

L 6L 2L2 4L2
0 3
CIVL 7/8117 Chapter 4 - Development of Beam Equations - Part 1 17/33

Beam Stiffness
Step 6 - Solve for the Unknown Degrees of Freedom

Solving the above equations gives:

875L3 375L2 125L2 625L 125L2 125L

v2 lb 2 rad 3 rad
12EI 4EI EI

Step 7 - Solve for the Element Strains and Stresses

v1

d v
2
d N
2
m x EI 2 EI 2 1
dx dx v 2
2
The second derivative of N is linear; therefore m(x) is linear.

Beam Stiffness
Step 6 - Solve for the Unknown Degrees of Freedom

Solving the above equations gives:

875L3 375L2 125L2 625L 125L2 125L

v2 lb 2 rad 3 rad
12EI 4EI EI

Step 7 - Solve for the Element Strains and Stresses

v1

d 3v d 3N
V x EI 3 EI 2 1
dx dx v 2
2
The third derivative of N is a constant; therefore V(x) is
constant.
CIVL 7/8117 Chapter 4 - Development of Beam Equations - Part 1 18/33

Beam Stiffness
Example 1 - Beam Problem
Consider the beam shown below. Assume that EI is constant
and the length is 2L (no shear deformation).

The beam element stiffness matrices are:

v
1
1 v
2
2 v
2
2 v
3
3

12 6L 12 6L 12 6L 12 6L
6L 2L2 6L 2L2
EI 6L 4L2 EI 6L 4L 2

k (1) 3 k (2) 3
L 12 6L 12 6L L 12 6L 12 6L

6L 2L2 6L 4L2 6L 2L2 6L 4L2

Beam Stiffness
Example 1 - Beam Problem
The local coordinates coincide with the global coordinates of
the whole beam (therefore there is no transformation required
for this problem).
The total stiffness matrix can be assembled as:

F1y 12 6L 12 6L 0 0 v1
M 6L 4L2 6L 2L2
1 0 0 1

F2 y EI 12 6L 24 0 12 6L v 2
M 3
2 L 6L 2L
2
0 8L 6L 2L2 2
2

F3 y 0 0 12 6L 12 6L v 3

M3 0 0 6L 2L2 6L 4L2 3
Element 1 Element 2
CIVL 7/8117 Chapter 4 - Development of Beam Equations - Part 1 19/33

Beam Stiffness
Example 1 - Beam Problem
The boundary conditions are: v 2 v 3 3 0

F1y 12 6L 12 6L 0 0 v1
M 6L 4L2 6L 2L2
1 0 0 1

F2 y EI 12 6L 24 0 12 6L v02
M 3
2 L 6L 2L
2
0 8L2 6L 2L2 2
F3 y 0 0 12 6L 12 6L v03

M3 0 0 6L 2L2 6L 4L2 03

Beam Stiffness

By applying the boundary conditions the beam equations

reduce to:
P 12 6L 6L v1
EI 2
0 3 6L 4L 2L 1
2

0 L 6L 2L2 8L2
2

7L
Solving the above equations gives: 3
v1
PL2
1 3
4EI
2
1
CIVL 7/8117 Chapter 4 - Development of Beam Equations - Part 1 20/33

Beam Stiffness
Example 1 - Beam Problem
The positive signs for the rotations indicate that both are in the
counterclockwise direction.
The negative sign on the displacement indicates a deformation
in the -y direction.

F1y 12 6L 12 6L 0 0 7 L 3
M 6L 4L2 6L 2L2
1 0 0 3

F2 y P 12 6L 24 0 12 6L 0
M
2 4L 6L 2L
2
0 8L2 6L 2L2 1
F3 y 0 0 12 6L 12 6L 0

M3 0 0 6L 2L2 6L 4L2 0

Beam Stiffness
Example 1 - Beam Problem
The local nodal forces for element 1:
f1y 12 6L 12 6L 7L 3 P
2
m1 P 6L 4L 6L 2L 3 0
2

f2 y 4L 12 6L 12 6L 0 P
m2 2
6L 2L 6L 4L 1 PL
2

The local nodal forces for element 2:

f2 y 12 6L 12 6L 0 1.5P
m 6L 4L2 6L 2L2 1 PL
2 P

f3 y 4L 12 6L 12 6L 0 1.5P
m3 2
6L 2L 6L 4L 0 0.5PL
2
CIVL 7/8117 Chapter 4 - Development of Beam Equations - Part 1 21/33

Beam Stiffness
Example 1 - Beam Problem
The free-body diagrams for the each element are shown
below.

Combining the elements gives the forces and moments for the
original beam.

Beam Stiffness
Example 1 - Beam Problem
Therefore, the shear force and bending moment diagrams are:
CIVL 7/8117 Chapter 4 - Development of Beam Equations - Part 1 22/33

Beam Stiffness
Example 2 - Beam Problem
Consider the beam shown below. Assume E = 30 x 106 psi and
I = 500 in4 are constant throughout the beam. Use four
elements of equal length to model the beam.

The beam element stiffness matrices are:

vi i v ( i 1) ( i 1)

12 6L 12 6L
6L 2L2
EI 6L 4L2

k( i ) 3
L 12 6L 12 6L

6L 2L2 6L 4L2

Beam Stiffness
Example 2 - Beam Problem
Using the direct stiffness method, the four beam element
stiffness matrices are superimposed to produce the global
stiffness matrix.
Element 1 Element 2

Element 3

Element 4
CIVL 7/8117 Chapter 4 - Development of Beam Equations - Part 1 23/33

Beam Stiffness
Example 2 - Beam Problem
The boundary conditions for this problem are:
v1 1 v 3 v 5 5 0

Beam Stiffness
Example 2 - Beam Problem
The boundary conditions for this problem are:
v1 1 v 3 v 5 5 0

After applying the boundary conditions the global beam

equations reduce to:

24 0 6L 00 v 2 10,000 lb
0 8L2 2L2 00 2 0

EI
6L 2L2 8L2 6L 2L2 3 0
L
3
v 10,000 lb
0 0 6L 24 0 4

0 0 2L2
0 8L2 4 0
CIVL 7/8117 Chapter 4 - Development of Beam Equations - Part 1 24/33

Beam Stiffness
Example 2 - Beam Problem
Substituting L = 120 in, E = 30 x 106 psi, and I = 500 in4 into
the above equations and solving for the unknowns gives:

v 2 v 4 0.048 in 2 3 4 0

The global forces and moments can be determined as:

F1y 5 kips M1 25 kipsft

F2 y 10 kips M2 0
F3 y 10 kips M3 0
F4 y 10 kips M4 0
F5 y 5 kips M5 25 kipsft

Beam Stiffness
Example 2 - Beam Problem
The local nodal forces for element 1:
f1y 12 6L 12 6L 0 5 kips
m 6L 2L2 0 25 kft
1 EI 6L 4L2


f2 y L 12 6L 6L 0.048 5 kips
3
12

m2 6L 2L2 6L 4L2 0 25 kft

The local nodal forces for element 2:

f2 y 12 6L 12 6L 0.048 5 kips
m 6L 2L2 0 25 kft
2 EI 6L 4L 2

f3 y L 12 6L 6L 0 5 kips
3
12

m3 6L 2L2 6L 4L2 0 25 kft
CIVL 7/8117 Chapter 4 - Development of Beam Equations - Part 1 25/33

Beam Stiffness
Example 2 - Beam Problem
The local nodal forces for element 3:
f3 y 12 6L 12 6L 0 5 kips
m 6L 2L2 0 25 kft
3 EI 6L 4L2

3
f4 y L 12 6L 12 6L 0.048 5 kips

m4 6L 2L2 6L 4L2 0 25 kft

The local nodal forces for element 4:

f4 y 12 6L 12 6L 0.048 5 kips
m 6L 2L2 0 25 kft
4 EI 6L 4L2

3
f5 y L 12 6L 12 6L 0 5 kips

m5 6L 2L2 6L 4L2 0 25 kft

Beam Stiffness
Example 2 - Beam Problem

Note: Due to symmetry about the vertical plane at node 3, we

could have worked just half the beam, as shown below.

Line of symmetry
CIVL 7/8117 Chapter 4 - Development of Beam Equations - Part 1 26/33

Beam Stiffness
Example 3 - Beam Problem
Consider the beam shown below. Assume E = 210 GPa and
I = 2 x 10-4 m4 are constant throughout the beam and the
spring constant k = 200 kN/m. Use two beam elements of
equal length and one spring element to model the structure.

Beam Stiffness
Example 3 - Beam Problem
The beam element stiffness matrices are:
v1 1 v2 2 v2 2 v3 3

12 6L 12 6L 12 6L 12 6L
6L 2L2 6L 2L2
EI 6L 4L2 EI 6L 4L2
k (1) 3 k (2) 3
L 12 6L 12 6L L 12 6L 12 6L

6L 2L2 6L 4L2 6L 2L2 6L 4L2

The spring element stiffness matrix is:

v3 3 v4
v3 v4
k 0 k
k k
k (3)
k (3)
0 0 0
k k
k 0 k
CIVL 7/8117 Chapter 4 - Development of Beam Equations - Part 1 27/33

Beam Stiffness
Example 3 - Beam Problem
Using the direct stiffness method and superposition gives the
global beam equations.
Element 2
Element 1
F1y 12 6L 12 6L 0 0 0 v1
M
1
6L 4L2 6L 2L2 0 0 0 1

F2 y 12 6L 24 0 12 6L 0 v 2
EI kL3
M2 3 6L 2L
2
0 8L2 6L 2L2 0 2 k'
F L EI
0 0 12 6L 12 k ' 6L k ' v 3
3y
M3 L L L L 3
2 2
0 0 6 2 6 4 0
F k ' k ' v 4
4y 0 0 0 0 0
Element 3

Beam Stiffness
Example 3 - Beam Problem
The boundary conditions for this problem are: v1 1 v 2 v 4 0

F1y 12 6L 12 6L 0 0 0 v01
M
1
6L 4L2 6L 2L2 0 0 0 01

F2 y 12 6L 24 0 12 6L 0 v02
EI kL3
M2 3 6L 2L
2
0 8L2 6L 2L2 0 2 k'
L EI
F 0 0 12 6L 12 k ' 6L k ' v 3
3y
M3 L L L L 3
2 2
0 0 6 2 6 4 0
F
4y
0 0 0 0 k ' 0 k ' v04
CIVL 7/8117 Chapter 4 - Development of Beam Equations - Part 1 28/33

Beam Stiffness
Example 3 - Beam Problem

After applying the boundary conditions the global beam

equations reduce to:
M2 8L2 6L 2L2 2 0
EI
F3 y 3 6L 12 k ' 6L v 3 P
M L 2L2 6L 4L2 3 0
3
Solving the above 3PL2 1

equations gives: EI 12 7k '

2
7PL kL3
3
1
v 3 k'
EI 12 7k ' EI
3
9PL2 1

EI 12 7k '

Beam Stiffness
Example 3 - Beam Problem
Substituting L = 3 m, E = 210 GPa, I = 2 x 10-4 m4, and
k = 200 kN/m in the above equations gives:
v 3 0.0174 m
2 0.00249 rad
3 0.00747 rad
Substituting the solution back into the global equations gives:
F1y 69.9 kN
M
1 69.7 kN m
F2 y 116.4 kN

M2 0
F 50 kN
3y
M3 0
F 3.5 kN
4y
CIVL 7/8117 Chapter 4 - Development of Beam Equations - Part 1 29/33

Beam Stiffness
Distributed Loadings
Beam members can support distributed loading as well as
concentrated nodal loading.
Therefore, we must be able to account for distributed loading.
Consider the fixed-fixed beam subjected to a uniformly
distributed loading w shown the figure below.

The reactions, determined from structural analysis theory, are

called fixed-end reactions.

Beam Stiffness
Distributed Loadings
In general, fixed-end reactions are those reactions at the ends
of an element if the ends of the element are assumed to be
fixed (displacements and rotations are zero).

Therefore, guided by the results from structural analysis for the

case of a uniformly distributed load, we replace the load by
concentrated nodal forces and moments tending to have the
same effect on the beam as the actual distributed load.
CIVL 7/8117 Chapter 4 - Development of Beam Equations - Part 1 30/33

Beam Stiffness
Distributed Loadings
The figures below illustrates the idea of equivalent nodal loads
for a general beam. We can replace the effects of a uniform
load by a set of nodal forces and moments.

Beam Stiffness
Work Equivalence Method
This method is based on the concept that the work done by
the distributed load is equal to the work done by the discrete
nodal loads. The work done by the distributed load is:
L

Wdistributed w x v x dx
0

where v(x) is the transverse displacement. The work done by

the discrete nodal forces is:

Wnodes m11 m22 f1y v1 f2 y v 2

The nodal forces can be determined by setting

Wdistributed = Wnodes for arbitrary displacements and rotations.
CIVL 7/8117 Chapter 4 - Development of Beam Equations - Part 1 31/33

Beam Stiffness
Example 4 - Load Replacement
Consider the beam, shown below, and determine the
equivalent nodal forces for the given distributed load.

Using the work equivalence method or: Wdistributed Wnodes

L

w x v x dx m
0
1 1 m22 f1y v1 f2 y v 2

Beam Stiffness
Example 4 - Load Replacement
Evaluating the left-hand-side of the above expression with:
w x w
2 1
v ( x ) 3 v1 v 2 2 1 2 x 3
L L
3 1
2 v1 v 2 21 2 x 2 1x v1
L L
gives:
L
Lw L2w
w v x dx
0
2
v1 v 2
4
1 2 Lw v 2 v1
L2w L2w
21 2 1 wLv1
3 2
CIVL 7/8117 Chapter 4 - Development of Beam Equations - Part 1 32/33

Beam Stiffness
Example 4 - Load Replacement
Using a set of arbitrary nodal displacements, such as:
v1 v 2 2 0 1 1

The resulting nodal equivalent force or moment is:

L

m11 m22 f1y v1 f2 y v 2 w x v x dx

0

wL2 2 2 L2 wL2
m1 Lw w
4 3 2 12

Beam Stiffness
Example 4 - Load Replacement
Using a set of arbitrary nodal displacements, such as:
v1 v 2 1 0 2 1

The resulting nodal equivalent force or moment is:

L

m11 m22 f1y v1 f2 y v 2 w x v x dx

0

wL2 wL2 wL2

m2
4 3 12
CIVL 7/8117 Chapter 4 - Development of Beam Equations - Part 1 33/33

Beam Stiffness
Example 4 - Load Replacement
Setting the nodal rotations equal zero except for the nodal
displacements gives:
LW Lw
f1y Lw Lw
2 2
LW Lw
f2 y Lw
2 2
Summarizing, the equivalent nodal forces and moments are:

End of Chapter 4a