ELASTIC CURVE

• The deflection diagram of the longitudinal axis that

passes through the centroid of each cross-sectional
area of the beam is called the elastic curve, which is
characterized by the deflection and slope along the
curve
ELASTIC CURVE (cont)

• Moment-curvature relationship:
– Sign convention:
ELASTIC CURVE (cont)

• Consider a segment of width dx, the strain in are ds,

located at a position y from the neutral axis is ε = (ds’ –
ds)/ds. However, ds = dx = ρdθ and ds’ = (ρ-y) dθ, and
so ε = [(ρ – y) dθ – ρdθ ] / (ρdθ), or

1 

 y

• Comparing with the Hooke’s Law

ε = σ / E and the flexure formula
σ = -My/I
1 M 1 
 or 
 EI  Ey
SLOPE AND DISPLACEMENT BY INTEGRATION

• Kinematic relationship between radius of curvature ρ

and location x:
1 d 2 v dv 2

 
1   dv dx 
2
 32

• Then using the moment curvature equation, we have

M 1 d 2v dx 2 d 2v
   2

EI  1   dv dx  2  3/ 2
dx
SLOPE AND DISPLACEMENT BY INTEGRATION
(cont)
• Sign convention:
SLOPE AND DISPLACEMENT BY INTEGRATION
(cont)
• Boundary Conditions:

– The integration constants can be

determined by imposing the boundary
conditions, or

– Continuity condition at specific locations

EXAMPLE 1
The cantilevered beam shown in Fig. 12–10a is subjected to a
vertical load P at its end. Determine the equation of the elastic
curve. EI is constant.
EXAMPLE 1 (cont)
Solutions
• From the free-body diagram, with M acting in the positive direction, Fig.
12–10b, we have
M   Px
• Applying Eq. 12–10 and integrating twice yields

d 2v
EI 2   Px (1)
dx
dv Px 2
EI   C1 (2)
dx 2
Px 3
EIv    C1 x  C2 (1)
6
EXAMPLE 1 (cont)
Solutions
• Using the boundary conditions dv/dx = 0 at x = L and v = 0 at x = L,
equations 2 and 3 become
PL2
0  C1
2
PL3
0  C1 L  C2
6
PL2 PL3
 C1  and C2  
2 3

• Substituting these results, we get


P 2
2 EI

L  x2 
v
P
6 EI

 x 3  3L2 x  2 L3  (Ans)
EXAMPLE 1 (cont)
Solutions
• Maximum slope and displacement occur at for which A(x =0),

PL2
A  (4)
2 EI
PL3
vA   (5)
3EI
• If this beam was designed without a factor of safety by assuming the
allowable normal stress is equal to the yield stress is 250 MPa; then a
W310 x 39 would be found to be adequate (I = 84.4(106)mm4)

30 5 1000
2 2
A   0.0222 rad

2 200 84.4 10 
6

30 5 1000
2 2
vA    74.1 mm
  
3 200 84.4 10 6
EXAMPLE 2
The simply supported beam shown in Fig. 12–11a supports the
triangular distributed loading. Determine its maximum
deflection. EI is constant.
EXAMPLE 2 (cont)
Solutions
• Due to symmetry only one x coordinate is needed for the solution,

0 x  L/2
2 w0
• The equation for the distributed loading is w  x.
L
• Hence

w0 x 2  x  w0 L
  M NA  0; M    x  0
L 3 4
w0 x 2 w0 L
M   x
3L 4
EXAMPLE 2 (cont)
Solutions
• Integrating twice, we have
d 2v w wL
EI 2  M   0 x 3  0 x
dx 3L 4
dv w wL
EI   0 x 4  0 x 2  C1
dx 12 L 8
w wL
EIv   0 x 5  0 x 3  C1 x  C2
60 L 24

• For boundary condition, v  0, x  0 and dv dx  0, x  L 2

5w0 L3
C1   , C2  0
192
EXAMPLE 2 (cont)
Solutions
• Hence

w0 5 w0 L 3 5w0 L3
EIv   x  x  x
60 L 24 192

• For maximum deflection at x = L/2,

w0 L4
vmax  (Ans)
120 EI
USE OF CONTINUOUS FUNCTIONS

• Macaulay functions
EXAMPLE 3
Determine the maximum deflection of the beam shown in Fig.
12–18a. EI is constant.
EXAMPLE 3 (cont)
Solutions
• The beam deflects as shown in Fig. 12–18a. The boundary conditions
require zero displacement at A and B.

• The loading function for the beam can be written as

1 1
w  8 x  0  6 x  10
EXAMPLE 3 (cont)
Solutions
• Integrating, we have
0 0
V  8 x  0  6 x  10
• In a similar manner,
1 1
M  8 x  0  6 x  10

  8 x  6 x  10
1
 kN  m
• Integrating twice yields
d 2v 1
EI 2  8 x  x  10
dx
dv 2
EI  4 x  3 x  10  C1
2

dx
4 3 3
EIv   x  x  10  C1 x  C2 (1)
3
EXAMPLE 3 (cont)
Solutions
• From Eq. 1, the boundary condition v = 0 at x = 10 m and at x = 30 m
gives
0  1333  10  10  C1 10  C2
3

0  36000   30  10  C1  30  C2

3

 C1  1333 and C2  12000

• Thus,

dv 2
EI  4 x  3 x  10  1333 (2)
2

dx
4 3 3
EIv   x  x  10  1333x  12000 (3)
3
EXAMPLE 3 (cont)
Solutions
• To obtain the displacement of C, set x = 0 in Eq. 3.

12000
vC   kN  m 3 (Ans)
EI
• The negative sign indicates that the displacement is downward as shown
in Fig. 12–18a

• To locate point D, use Eq. 2 with x > 10 and dv/dx = 0,

2
0   x  3 xD  10  1333
2
D

xD2  60 xD  1633  0
Solving for the positive root, xD  20.3 m
EXAMPLE 3 (cont)
Solutions
• Hence, from Eq. 3,

4
EIv D    20.3   20.3  10   1333 20.3  12000
3 3

3
5006
vD  kN  m 3
EI

• Comparing this value with vC, we see that vmax = vC.

EXAMPLE 4
Determine the equation of the elastic curve for the cantilevered
beam shown in Fig. 12–19a. EI is constant.
EXAMPLE 4 (cont)
Solutions
• The boundary conditions require zero slope and displacement at A.

• The support diagram reactions at A have been calculated by statics and

are shown on the free-body,

1 2 0 2 0
w  52 x  0  258 x  0  x0  50 x  5 8 x 5
EXAMPLE 4 (cont)
Solutions
• Since dV dx   w x  and dM dx  V
0 1 1 1 1
V  52 x  0  258 x  0  8 x  0  50 x  5  8 x  5
1
0
M  258 x  0  52 x  0 
1
 8 x  0 2  50 x  5 0  1  8 x  5 2
2 2
 0
 2
  258  52 x  4 x 2  50 x  5  4 x  5 kN  m

• Integrating twice, we have

d 2v 0 2
EI 2  258  52 x  4 x 2  50 x  5  4 x  5
dx
dv 4 1 4 3
EI  258x  26 x 2  x 3  50 x  5  x  5  C1
dx 3 3
26 3 1 4 2 1 4
EIv  129 x 2  x  x  25 x  5  x  5  C1 x  C2
3 3 3
EXAMPLE 4 (cont)
Solutions
• Since dv/dx = 0, x = 0, C1 = 0; and v = 0, C2 = 0. Thus

1  26 3 1 4 2 1 4
v   129 x  x  x  25 x  5  x  5  m (Ans)
2

EI  3 3 3 
PRINCIPLE OF SUPERPOSITION
• It can be used to simply problems having complicated
loadings. This is done by dividing the loading into
components, then algebraically adding the results.

• It is applicable provided the material obeys Hooke’s Law

and the deformation is small.

• If P = P1 + P2 and d ≈ d1 ≈ d2, then the deflection at

location x is sum of two cases, δx = δx1 + δx2
METHOD OF SUPERPOSITION

• Necessary conditions to be satisfied:

1. The load w(x) is linearly related to the deflection
v(x),
2. The load is assumed not to change significantly the
original geometry of the beam of shaft.

• Then, it is possible to find the slope and displacement

at a point on a beam subjected to several different
loadings by algebraically adding the effects of its
various component parts.
MOMENT AREA METHOD

Theorem 1:
• The angle between the tangents at any two points on
the elastic curve equals the area under the M/EI
diagram between these two points.
d 2v d  dy 
EI 2  EI    M
dx dx  dx 

M 
• Since θ ≈ dv/dx, so d   dx
 EI 
• Therefore, B
M
B/ A   dx
A
EI
MOMENT AREA METHOD (cont)

Theorem 1 (cont):
• This equation forms the basis for the first moment-area
theorem
B
M
B/ A   dx
A
EI
MOMENT AREA METHOD (cont)

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 these two points (A
and B). This moment is computed about point (A)
where the vertical deviation (tA/B) is to be determined.
MOMENT AREA METHOD (cont)

Theorem 2 (cont):
• The vertical deviation of the tangent at A with respect
to the tangent at B is
B
M
t A/ B   x dx
A
EI
• Then,
B
M
t A/ B  x  dx
A
EI

• Where x is the location of the centroid of the shaded

area ∫(M/EI) dx between A and B.
EXAMPLE 5
Determine the slope of the beam shown in Fig. 12–22a at point
B. EI is constant.
EXAMPLE 5 (cont)
Solutions
• M/EI diagram will be drawn first.

• The force P causes the beam to deflect

as shown.

• By the construction, the angle between tan A and tan B is equivalent to

θB/A, where
B  B / A

• Using moment-area theorem,

1  PL  PL2
B  B / A   L   (Ans)
2  EI  2 EI
EXAMPLE 6
Determine the displacement of points B and C of the beam
shown in Fig. 12–23a. EI is constant.
EXAMPLE 6 (cont)
Solutions
• The required displacements can be related directly to the vertical
distance between the tangents at B and A and C and A.
 B  tB / A  C  tC / A

• Applying Theorem 2,

 L   M 0  L  M 0 L2
 B  tB / A          (Ans)
4
   EI 2
  8 EI

• We must determine the moment of the area under the entire M EI

diagram from A to C about point C (the point on the elastic curve).

 L   M 0   M 0 L2
 C  tC / A       L     (Ans)
2
   EI   2 EI
EXAMPLE 6 (cont)
Solutions
• Since both answers are negative, they indicate that points B
and C lie below the tangent at A.