Area-Moment Method

Area-Moment Method
Area-Moment Method
A semi-graphical technique for determining the slope of the elastic
curve and its deflection due to bending.

Particularly advantageous when used to solve problems involving

beams, especially those subjected to
 a series of concentrated loads
 segments with different moments of inertia
Elastic Beam Theory

Loaded Beam

Segment of the Deflected Shape

Deflected Shape
The elastic curve is very flat and its slope at any point is very small.
Elastic Beam Theory (Conti.)

Loaded Beam

Segment of the Deflected Shape

Deflected Shape
𝑑𝑦
𝜃≈ (1a)
If the angle is too small, then tan 𝜃 ≈ 𝜃, the slope of the elastic curve can be written as: 𝑑𝑥
Elastic Beam Theory (Conti.)

Loaded Beam

Segment of the Deflected Shape

Deflected Shape

From the geometry of triangular segment AB, we can write: 𝜌𝑑𝜃 ≈ 𝑑𝑠 (1b)

𝜌 = 𝑟𝑎𝑑𝑖𝑢𝑠 𝑜𝑓 𝑐𝑢𝑟𝑣𝑎𝑡𝑢𝑟𝑒
𝑑𝑠 = 𝑎𝑟𝑐 𝑙𝑒𝑛𝑔𝑡ℎ
Elastic Beam Theory (Conti.)
𝑑𝑦
Recall that: 𝜃 ≈ (1a)
𝑑𝑥
𝑑𝜃 𝑑2 𝑦
Differentiation of both sides of the equation gives: ≈ (1c)
𝑑𝑥 𝑑𝑥 2
Recall that: 𝜌𝑑𝜃 ≈ 𝑑𝑠 (1b)

Because the elastic curve is very flat, 𝑑𝑠 is practically equivalent to 𝑑𝑥.

Hence,
1 𝑑𝜃 𝑑𝜃 1 𝑑2𝑦
≈ = or = (1d)
𝑝 𝑑𝑠 𝑑𝑥 𝑝 𝑑𝑥 2
Elastic Beam Theory (Conti.)

The change in length of the top fiber 𝑑𝑙 in terms of 𝑑𝜃 and the

distance 𝑐 from the neutral axis is:

𝑑𝑙 = 𝑐 ∙ 𝑑𝜃 (1e)
Elastic Beam Theory (Conti.)

By definition, the strain 𝜺 at the top fiber of the beam is

𝑑𝑙
𝜺=
𝑑𝑥 (1f)
Elastic Beam Theory (Conti.)
By substitution, the strain 𝜺 is given as:
𝑑𝜃
𝜀= ∙𝑐 (1g)
𝑑𝑥
Recall:
𝑑𝜃 𝑑2 𝑦
= 2 (1c)
𝑑𝑥 𝑑𝑥
Then,
𝑑2 𝑦 𝜀
2
=
𝑑𝑥 𝑐 (1h)
Elastic Beam Theory (Conti.)
If the behavior is elastic, the flexural stress 𝝈 can be related to the strain 𝜺 at
the top fibers by Hooke’s Law,
𝜎 = 𝐸𝜀
𝑑2 𝑦 𝜎
2
= (1i)
𝑑𝑥 𝐸𝑐

For elastic behavior, the relationship between flexural stress 𝝈 at the top of
the beam and the moment 𝑴 acting on the cross-section is:

𝑀𝑐
𝜎=
𝐼 (1j)
Elastic Beam Theory (Conti.)
Substituting the expression of 𝜎 in Eq’n (1j) to (1i) gives the basic
differential equation of the displacement of an elastic beam
𝑑2 𝑦 𝑀
=
𝑑𝑥 2 𝐸𝐼

𝑀
𝑦 = ඵ 𝑑𝑥𝑑𝑥
𝐸𝐼
The slope of an elastic beam is given as
𝑀
𝜃 = න 𝑑𝑥 These equations are used in the
𝐸𝐼 Double Integration Method.
Area-Moment Method: 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.
𝑀
𝜃 = න 𝑑𝑥
𝐸𝐼
Then,
𝑀
𝑑𝜃 = 𝑑𝑥
𝐸𝐼
Area-Moment Method: Theorem 1
Integrating from 𝑥 = 𝐴 to 𝑥 = 𝐵 yields to:
𝐵 𝐵
𝑀
න 𝑑𝜃 = න 𝑑𝑥
𝐴 𝐴 𝐸𝐼
Then,
𝐵
𝑀
𝜃𝐵 − 𝜃𝐴 = න 𝑑𝑥
𝐴 𝐸𝐼

The right side of the equation represents the

area under 𝑀/𝐸𝐼 diagram while the left side
represents the change in slope in the elastic
curve between points 𝐴 and 𝐵.
Area-Moment Method: Theorem 1
Let
𝜃𝐵/𝐴 = 𝜃𝐵 − 𝜃𝐴
Then,
𝐵
𝑀
𝜃𝐵/𝐴 =න 𝑑𝑥
𝐴 𝐸𝐼

(Theorem 1)
Area-Moment Method: Theorem 2
The vertical deviation of the tangent at
point (A) on the elastic curve with respect
to the tangent extended from another
point (B) equals the first moment area
under the M/EI diagram between the two
points (A and B).

Note: The first moment is computed about the point A (the point on the elastic
curve), where the deviation is to be determined.
Area-Moment Method: Derivation
From arc equation 𝑠 = 𝑟𝜃, we can say that:
𝑑𝑠 ′ = 𝑥𝑑𝜃

From theorem 1, we know that

𝑀
𝑑𝜃 = 𝑑𝑥
𝐸𝐼

Since 𝜃 is too small, we can assume that:

𝑑𝑠 ′ = 𝑑𝑡
Thus,
𝑀
𝑑𝑡 = 𝑥 𝑑𝑥
𝐸𝐼
Area-Moment Method: Derivation
Integrating from 𝒙 = 𝑨 to 𝒙 = 𝑩 yields
to:
𝐵
𝑀
𝑡𝐴/𝐵 = න 𝑥 𝑑𝑥
𝐴 𝐸𝐼

𝐵
𝑀
𝑡𝐴/𝐵 = 𝑥𝐴 න 𝑑𝑥
𝐴 𝐸𝐼
Area-Moment Method: Theorem 2
𝐵
𝑀
𝑡𝐴/𝐵 = 𝑥𝐴 න 𝑑𝑥
𝐴 𝐸𝐼

The right side of the equation represents

the first moment of the area under the
M/EI diagram between A and B taken
about point A.
(Theorem 2)
Simply, moment of area AB about A.
Area-Moment Method: Theorem 2
𝐵
𝑀
𝑡𝐵/𝐴 = 𝑥𝐵 න 𝑑𝑥 (Theorem 2)
𝐴 𝐸𝐼

The right side of the equation represents the first moment of the
area under the M/EI diagram between A and B taken about point B.

Simply, moment of area AB about B.

 Important Notes
Sign convention for both theorems:

Positive if the moment diagram area is positive, otherwise, negative.

Positive 𝜃𝐵/𝐴 means that 𝜃 is measured from A to B in counter

clockwise rotation.

Positive 𝑡𝐵/𝐴 means that point A in the elastic curve is above the
tangent at B.
 Moment-Area Method: Procedure
1) Determine the support reactions
2) Draw the M/EI diagram
3) Sketch the elastic curve
4) Indicate in the curve the unknowns
5) Apply area-moment theorems
Note that the theorems do not directly return unknown values
The unknowns should be calculated analytically using geometric
relations
 Example:
Based on the beam shown,

a) Draw the ME/I diagram.

b) Sketch the elastic curve.
c) Determine the slope at B and C.
d) Determine the deflection at B and C.
 Solution
Let’s solve first for the reactions at A.

෍ 𝐹𝑥 = 0:

𝐴𝑥 = 0
෍ 𝐹𝑦 = 0:

𝐴𝑦 − 𝐶𝑦 = 0
𝐴𝑦 = 2 𝑘
෍ 𝑀𝐴 = 0:

𝑀𝐴 − 2𝑘 30𝑓𝑡 = 0
𝑀𝐴 = 60 𝑘 ∙ 𝑓𝑡
 Solution

a) Draw the ME/I diagram

 Solution
b) Sketch the elastic curve.
The 2-k load causes the beam to deflect as shown in the figure.

The beam is deflected concave down, since M/EI is negative.

 Solution
c) Determine the slope at B and C.

Here the tangent at A (the support) is always horizontal. The tangents

at B and C are also indicated.
By the construction, the angle between tan A and tan B, that is,
𝜃𝐵 = 𝜃𝐵/𝐴
It also follows that:
𝜃𝑐 = 𝜃𝑐/𝐴
 Solution
c) Determine the slope at B and C.
Then,
30 𝑘 ∙ 𝑓𝑡 1 60 𝑘 ∙ 𝑓𝑡 30 𝑘 ∙ 𝑓𝑡
𝜃𝐵/𝐴 = − 15 𝑓𝑡 − − (15 𝑓𝑡)
𝐸𝐼 2 𝐸𝐼 𝐸𝐼
675 𝑘 ∙ 𝑓𝑡 2
𝜃𝐵/𝐴 = −
𝐸𝐼
Thus,
2
2 144 𝑖𝑛
675 𝑘 ∙ 𝑓𝑡 2 675 𝑘 ∙ 𝑓𝑡
𝑓𝑡 2
𝜃𝐵 = − =− 3 2 4
= −0.00559 𝑟𝑎𝑑
𝐸𝐼 29 10 𝑘/𝑖𝑛 600𝑖𝑛
 Solution
c) Determine the slope at B and C.
Then,
1 60 𝑘 ∙ 𝑓𝑡
𝜃𝐶/𝐴 = − (30 𝑓𝑡)
2 𝐸𝐼
900 𝑘 ∙ 𝑓𝑡 2
𝜃𝐶/𝐴 = −
𝐸𝐼
Thus,
2
2 144 𝑖𝑛
900 𝑘 ∙ 𝑓𝑡 2 900 𝑘 ∙ 𝑓𝑡
𝑓𝑡 2
𝜃𝐶 = − =− 3 2 4
= −0.00745 𝑟𝑎𝑑
𝐸𝐼 29 10 𝑘/𝑖𝑛 600𝑖𝑛
 Solution
d) Determine the deflection at B and C.
From the figure, we can say that:

∆𝐵 = 𝑡𝐴/𝐵
and

∆𝐶 = 𝑡𝐴/𝐶
 Solution
d) Determine the deflection at B and C.
Then,
30 𝑘 ∙ 𝑓𝑡 15 1 60 𝑘 ∙ 𝑓𝑡 30 𝑘 ∙ 𝑓𝑡
𝑡𝐴/𝐵 = − 15 𝑓𝑡 𝑓𝑡 − − (15 𝑓𝑡)(5 𝑓𝑡)
𝐸𝐼 2 2 𝐸𝐼 𝐸𝐼
4500 𝑘 ∙ 𝑓𝑡 3
𝑡𝐴/𝐵 = −
𝐸𝐼
Thus,
3 𝑖𝑛2
4500 𝑘 ∙ 𝑓𝑡 3 4500 𝑘 ∙ 𝑓𝑡 144 2
𝑓𝑡
∆𝑩 = − =− 3 2 4
= −𝟎. 𝟎𝟑𝟕𝟐 𝒊𝒏
𝐸𝐼 29 10 𝑘/𝑖𝑛 600𝑖𝑛
 Solution
d) Determine the deflection at B and C.
Then,
1 60 𝑘 ∙ 𝑓𝑡
𝑡𝐴/𝐶 = − (30 𝑓𝑡)(20 𝑓𝑡)
2 𝐸𝐼
18000 𝑘 ∙ 𝑓𝑡 3
𝑡𝐴/𝐶 = −
𝐸𝐼
Thus,
2
3 144 𝑖𝑛
18000 𝑘 ∙ 𝑓𝑡 3 18000 𝑘 ∙ 𝑓𝑡
𝑓𝑡 2
∆𝑪 = − =− 3 2 4
= −𝟎. 𝟏𝟒𝟗𝟎 𝒊𝒏
𝐸𝐼 29 10 𝑘/𝑖𝑛 600𝑖𝑛