Continuous Beams - Flexibility Method

Qu.1 Sketch the BM diagram for the beam shown in Fig.1. Take E = 200kN/mm2. 50kN A = = 10kN/m B C 60kN-m D

3m I = 60

3m 50 Fig.1

3m 40 x 106 mm4
60.0

23.5

A
25.7

C
16.9 BM diagram in kN-m units

Qu.2 Sketch the BM diagram for the beam shown in Fig.2. Take EI = constant.

80kN A = = 15kN/m B C D 20kN 4m 8m Fig.2

83.6

2m

40.0

18.3

B
58.2 @ mid-span

BM diagram in kN-m units

Continuous Beams - Flexibility Method

Qu.3 Sketch the BM diagram for the beam shown in Fig.3. Also calculate the support reactions. Take EI const. [RA = -29.9 , RB = 236.8, RC = 381.1kN] 160kN A C B
3m 5m

40kN/m

8m

11m Fig.3
239.2 383.7

8m

B
293.6 @ mid-span

179.8

BM diagram in kN-m units

Qu.4 Sketch the BM diagram for the beam shown in Fig.4. Support B undergoes a settlement of 15mm. Take E = 200kN/mm2 and I = 1 x 10-4m4. 80kN A B
2m 6m

40kN 8m 8m Fig.4 4m

160.0

17.0

B
5.8 84.4

BM diagram in kN-m units

End rotations of simply supported beams Span = L Flexural rigidity = EI

f11

f12

f11 =

L 3EI

f12 =

L 6EI

f21

f22

f21 =

L 6EI

f22 =

L 3EI

UDL of intensity 1

==

L3 24EI

= a
L

= L2(1 - )(2 - )
6EI

= L2(1 - 2)
6EI

Flexibility method applied to continuous beams

Example 1.

Two-span continuous beam with the flexural rigidity EI = constant

P A X B Y

Q C

RA LAB

RB LBC

RC

Using statics Res. vertically: Taking mom. about C: RA + RB + RC = P + Q RA x (LAB + LBC) + RB x LBC = P x XC + Q x YC (1) (2)

The three reactions are the unknowns but only two equations are available. Therefore the problem is statically indeterminate. We must use compatibility of displacements to generate an additional equation in order to complete the solution. One procedure for doing this is illustrated in the figures below:

P A X B

Q C

Step 1

Remove prop and calculate the deflection

B
B 1

Step 2

Introduce unit force at B and calculate RB =

B
(3)

For compatibility

B / B

We use these three equations to solve for RA, RB and RC respectively. The bending moment at B is MB = RA x LAB - P x XB (4)

P MB A B

Q C

Bending Moment Diagram The major disadvantage of this method arises when EI varies from span to span. The deflections cannot be calculated from standard tables which assume that the flexural rigidity EI is constant. The free-body diagram for the individual spans are given below: P A B RA RBA RBC RC MB Q C

RB =RBA + RBC

P A

MB

RA

RBA

MB

Reactant BM P

Free BM

Final BM = Reactant BM + Free BM

A powerful method that does not suffer from this defect is now described. It uses displacement compatibility and leads to the Three Moment Theorem. The method breaks a continuous beam into a series of simply supported spans. The slopes are therefore discontinuous over the supports. Rotations are then introduced via the reactant moments to heal the cuts.

Three Moment Theorem Consider a continuous beam consisting of N spans.

A
(a)

B
(b)

I
(i)

J
(j)

tangent to curve

RI LIJ

RJ LJK

RK

MI I RIJ RJI

MJ J K RJK

MK

RKL

RJ =RJI + RJk

JI

JK

Stage A : End rotations due to applied loads

MI

MJ J

MK

Stage A : End rotations due to reactant moments

In order to restore continuity at joint J,

J = JI - = - JK

1
1

f11

f12
2 1

f21

f22
2

Flexibility Coefficients: End rotations due to unit couples

Making use of the flexibility coefts shown above we may write the compatibility condition as follows:

JI - MI fi12 - MJ fi22 = MJ fj11 - MK fj21 - JK

or MI fi12 + MJ (fj11 + fi22) + MK fj21 =

JI + JK

Note fi12 = (L/6EI)IJ , fi22 = (L/3EI)IJ , fj11 = (L/3EI)JK , fj21 = (L/6EI)JK This is the so-called Three Moment Theorem (due to Clapeyron). Settlement of supports The theorem can be easily extended to deal with settlement of supports. Let J be the settlement of support J. The rotations on each side of support J due to the differential settlement are (J - I)/LIJ and (J - K)/LJK respectively. We get

MI fi12 + MJ (fj11 + fi22) + MK fj21 =

(JI - (J -

I)/LIJ) +
(JK - (J -

K)/LJK)

Fixed end (zero rotation)

MA A RAB RBA

MB B

RBC

A fixed end, A in the figure above, does not rotate. The rotation therefore be balanced by the reactant rotations. We have

AB must

MA fa11 + MB fa21 =

AB - (A - B)/LAB

Worked examples

Example 1. Calculate the reactions at the supports of the beam shown in Fig.1. The flexural rigidity EI is the same for both spans. 10kN/m B A C

3m Fig.1

3m

Step 1 Remove prop

10kN/m B A C

Step 2 Apply unit load

B
1

B = 5 B = 1

x 10 x 64/(384EI) x 63/(48EI)

168.75/EI

4.5/EI

Let RB denote the reaction at the support B in Fig. 1 then RB B = B which yields

RB = 37.5kN Resolving vertically we get for the beam in Fig. 1, RA + RB + RC = 60 Also Therefore RA = RC by symmetry

RA = 11.25kN

Worked examples

Example 2. Calculate the rotations at the supports of the beam shown in Fig.2. The flexural rigidity is EI.

L Fig.2 1 B x

BM diagram

x/L

Deflection diagram

Apply

EI d2y/dx2

= -M = x/L = x2/(2L) + C , C is a constant [1]

Integrating Integrating again

EI dy/dx EI y

= x3/(6L) + Cx + D [2]

Applying b.cs : At x = 0 , y = 0 At x = L, y = 0 Substituting in Eq.{1] D = 0 C = -L/6 EIA = C = -L/6 EIB = L/2 + C or or A = B = -L/(6EI) L/(3EI) from Eq.[2]

Note: The difference in signs of the rotations is due to the direction of the rotation. A positive sign denotes an clockwise rotation whilst the negative sign denotes an anti-clockwise rotation.

Worked examples

Example 3. Draw the BM diagram for the beam shown in Fig. 3 below. The flexural rigidity EI is the same for both spans. 200kN B A 5kN/m C

2m 2m Fig.3 We note that MA = 0 and MC = 0 , simple supports. Applying the three-moment theorem at B we get 2 + 3EI 3EI = 815/(9EI) 3 MB = BA + BC 3m

= 54.33kN-m

27.2

54.3 18.1

Reactant BM (kN-m)

2.5 133.3

Free BM (kN-m)

24.7

Final BM (kN-m)
115.2

Worked examples

Example 4. Calculate the bending moments at the supports of the beam in Fig.4. The flexural rigidity EI is the same for all spans. 200kN B A 5kN/m C = 400kN = D

2m 2m 3m Fig.4 We note that MA = 0 and MD = 0 , simple supports. Applying the three-moment we get: Joint B Taking EI = 1, [2/3 + 3/3] MB + 3/6 MC = 5/3 + 800/9 2m

10 + 3 MC = 543.3 Joint C 3/6 MB +

[3/3 + 2/3] MC

[1] = 1000/9 + 100

3 MB + 10 MC = 1266.7

[2]

Solving Eqs.[1] and [2] we get

MB = 18.0kN-m

MC = 121.3kN-m

Worked examples

Example 5. Rework the problem of example 3 taking the support A as being fixed.

5kN/m

200kN B C

2m 2m Fig.3 We note that MC = 0 , simple support. Applying the three-moment theorem at B we get: Joint A Taking EI = 1, 2/3 MA + 2/6 MB = 5/3 [1] = 815/9 [2] 3m

4 MA + 2 MB = 10 Joint B 2/6 MA +
[2/3 + 3/3] MB

4 MA + 20 MB = 1086.7 Eqs.[1] and [2] MA = -27.4kN-m MB = 59.8kN-m

59.8 27.4

19.9

Reactant BM (kN-m)

2.5 133.3

Free BM (kN-m)

27.4 113.4

Final BM (kN-m)