'~t

1
582 STRENGTH OF MATERIALS CONJUGATE SEAM METHOD, PROPPED CANTILEVERS AND BEAMS 583

W.b (1 W.a.b) (a)

= 6EIL (L
2 2
-b ).a- Z-xax ElL x"3
FN
=
= W .a.b (L' _ b') _ W.a b
6EIL
~E~i. b (L' - b - a']. 2
6EIL
3

Problem 14.1. A simply supported beam of7ength 5 m carries a point load of 5 kN at a

distance of 3 m from the left end. If E = 2 x 10 5 Nlmm2 and I = 1[J8 mm4, determine the slope at
(aJ At
A,
3m
Sm
~

o
A,
r
~B
the left support and deflection under the point load using conjugate beam method.
Sol. Given: (bl
Length, L=5m
A B.M. Diagram C
Point load, W=5kN
Distance AC, a=3 m
Distance Be,

~
b=5-3=2m
Value of E = 2 X 10 5 N/mm 2 = 2 x 10 5 x 1Q6-N/m2
= 2 x 10 5 X 10 3 kN/m2 = 2 x 108 kN/m 2 W I ~
Value of 1= 1 x 1Q8 mm 4= 1O-4 m4 A· S*

and
Let R A = Reaction at A
RB = Reaction at B.
Taking moments about A, we get
~ R\ Conjugate Beam A" B

RB x 5 = 5 x 3 Fig. 14.3
5x3 RA* = Total load (i.e., load A*B*D*) - R8*
R B = -5- =3kN
and
The B.M. atA = 0
RA = Total load- RB =5-3 = 2 kN ~(ix5x;J :1
B.M. atE = 0 15 8 7
B.M. at C = RA x 3 = 2 x 3 = 6 kNm. EI-EI~EI
Now B.M. diagram is drawn as shown in Fig. 14.3 (b).
Let 8A = Slope at A for the given beam i.e., ( : ) at A
Now construct the conjugate beam as shown in Fig. 14.3 (c). The vertical load at C* on
conjugate beam Yc = Deflection at C for the given beam
B.M.atC 6kNm Then according to conjugate beam method,
EI EI
1 eA = Shear force at A * for conjugate beam =R A *
Now calculate the reaction at A* and B* for conjugate beam
Let RA * = Reaction at A* for conjugate beam
R8 * = Reaction at B* for conjugate beam.
I 7 7
= -EI = 2 x 108 x 10-4- ('.' E = 2 x 108 kN/m' and I = 10-' m')
Taking moments about A*, we get
RE * x 5 = Load on A*C*D* x distance ofC.G. of A*C*D* from A*
I = 0.00035 radians. Ans.
Yc = B.M. at C* for conjugate beam
=RA* x 3 - LoadA*C*D* x Distance ofC.G. ofA*C*D* from C*
+ Load on B*C*D* x Distance ofC.G. of B*C*D* from A*
= ~X3-(~X3X~)X(~X3)
=(iX3X ;Jx(~x3H~X2X ;J(3+~X2) r EI 2 EI 3
21 9 12
18 6
=-+-x-=-+-~-
11 8 22 40 I.
=EI-EI-EI
EIEl3EIEIEI
12 6 6x1000
R *= 40 x.!=~ = 2 x 10 8 x 10-4- 104 m = 10000 mm = 0.6 mm. Ans.
I
=
B EI 5 EI

i
 STRENGTH OF MATERIALS CONJUGATE BEAM METHOD, PROPPED CANTILEVERS AND BEAMS 581
580

=RA* (-: S.F. atA for conjugate beam:= R A *) Construct now the conjugate beam. The load at any point on the conjugate beam will be
WL' equal to B.M. at that point divided by EI. Fig. 14.2 (c) shows the conjugate beam with the
16El * '11b M
loads. The verticallpari on conjugate beam at C WI e El =
W.a.b
L x El =
W.a.b
EI. L .
and Yc = B.M. at C for the conjugate beam [See Fig. 14.1 (c)]
L . Let R A * = Reaction at A for conjugate beam
= RA * x "2 - Load correspondmg to AC*D*
RB * = Reaction at B for conjugate beam
x Distance of C.G. of AC*D* from C Taking moments about A of the conjugate beam, we get
RB *. L = Load AC*D* x Distance ofC.G., of AC*D* from A + Load BC*D*
= WL' .~-(.!:x~x WL)\(.!:x~)
16El 2 2 2 4El 3 2 x Distance of C.G. of BC*D* from A
WL3 WL'
= 32El - 96El ~
3WL3 _ WL3
96El
= Gx AC* xC* D*H~ xAc*H~·BC*.C* D*H ix AC*+ BC*)

WL'
= 48El = ('21
xax w.a.b)
ElL x
(2'3 xa) (1
+ '2x
b w.a.b) (
x El.L x axS
b)

(a·+~)
3 2
14.4. SIMPLY SUPPORTED BEAM CARRYING AN ECCENTRIC POINT LOAD = W .a .b + Wab
3ElL 2ElL 3
Fig. 14.2 (a) shows a beam AB oflength L, simply supported at A and B and carrying a 3 2 2
point load of W at a distance 'a' from the end A. The reactions at A and B are given by Wa b Wa b W.a.b 3
=--+-~-+
3ElL 2ElL 6ElL
R = W.b and R B = ~~ Wa.b 2 ,
A
L L =--[2a +3ab+b]
Wxb W b a W.a.b 6ElL
TheB.M. will be zero atA andB. Ate, theB.M. willbeRA xa =-L- x a"", ~ = --L-' = Wa.b (a 2 +b 2 +2ab+a 2 +ab)
Now the B.M. diagram can be drawn as shown in Fig. 14.2 (b). 6EIL

r
= W.a.b [(a+b)'+a(a+b)]
6ElL
= Wab [L' + a . L] (.: a + b = L)

(a)l L £ b3" a
6EIL
= Wa. (L - a)L(L + a) ~ Wa [L'- a2]
6ElL 6El

'" J~:~~~~:::~J.
R *=
W.a (L'-a')
B6ElL
Similarly the reaction at A can be obtained as
R *= Wb (L' _ b2) (Substitute b for a)
A 6ElL
B.M. Diagram C' Let aA = Slope at A for the given beam i.e., (:;) at A

Y c = Deflection at C for the given beam.

Then according to conjugate beam method,
(e) a A = Shear force at A for the conjugate- beam
AI
... =r::r + r..tf'--..IS
. = RA* (.: S.F. atA for conjugate beam =RA*)
I.
R',
conjUg;e-:-b-ea-m------I.~I~.-- .. b ~We
= W.b (L'_b 2)
6ElL
and Yc = B.M. at C for conjugate beam [See Fig. 14.2 (c)]
Fig. 14.2 = R *. a - Load AC*D* x Distance ofC.G. of AC*D* from C*
A
 CONJUGATE BEAM METHOD, PROPPED CANTILEVERS AND BEAMS 579'

dividing the B.M. at that point by EI. The shape of the loading on the conjugate beam will be 'I
same as of B.M. diagram. The ordinate of loading on conjugate beam will be equal to )

14 -
E
(
MI ~ --1-
4
W.L)
W-
~-
E,4E1
x L. H ence ord'mate at t h e centre will be -
W.L
- as shown in F'19. 14. 1 (c.
4EI
) The

load diagram for conjugate beam is shown in Fig. 14.1 (c).

Conjugate Beam Method, Propped
Cantilevers and Beams
A cl: B
14.1. INTRODUCTION
The slopes and deflections of beams and cantilevers may be obtained from various meth-
(a)_wt U2 ~ 1,=~

"~~,
ods like do~ble integration method, moment area method, Macaulay's method," etc. But these
methods become laborious, when applied to beams whose flexural rigidity (i.e., the product of
·of
E and I is known as flexural rigidity) is not uniform throughout the length the beam. The
slopes and deflections of such beams can be easily obtained by conjugate beam method. (b)

14.2. CONJUGATE BEAM METHOD A' C' B.M. Diagram

Before describing the conjugate beam method, let us first define conjugate beam. D'
Conjugate beam is an imaginary beam of length equal to that of the original beam but

for which the load diagram is the ~ diagram* (i.e., the load at any point on the conjugate
beam is equal to B.M. at that point divided by E1).

by:
The slopes and deflection at any section of a beam by conjugate beam method is given
(0)
.
~.<J Itl J=--.....B
~

L The slope at any section of the given beam is equal to the shear force at the corre~
Fig. 14.1
sponding section of the conjugate beam.
2. The deflection at any section for thegivt?n beam is equal to the bending moment at the Let R/ = Reaction at A for conjugate beam
corresponding section of the conjugate beam. RB * : : Reaction at B for conjugate beam
Hence before applying the conjugate beam method, conjugate beam is constructed. The Total load on the conjugate beam (See Fig. 14.1 (c))
load on the conjugate beam at any point is equal to the B.M. at that point divided by E1. Hence :::: Area of the load diagram
the loading on the conjugate beam is known. Then the shear force at any point on the conju-
1 ,1 WL
gate beam gives the slope at the corresponding point of actual beam. And the RM. at any point X AB x C""D* = - x Lx--
:::: -
on the conjugate beam gives the deflection at the corresponding point of the actual beam. 2 2 4EI
:--
WL'
14.3. DEFLECTION AND SLOPE OF A SIMPLY SUPPORTED BEAM WITH A POINT 8EI
LOAD AT THE CENTRE Reaction at each support for the conjugate beam will be half of the total load
Fig. 14.1 (a) shows a simply supported beam AB of length L carrying a point load Wat 1 WL' WL'
RA"'=RBI<= -x--~--
the centre C. The B.M. at A and B is zero and at the centre RM. will be W. LI4 . The B.M. 2 8EI 16EI
varies according to straight line law. The B.M. diagram is shown in Fig. 14.1 (b). Now the
conjugate beam AB can be constructed. The load on the conjugate beam will be obtained by Let 8.4 = Slope at A f~r the given beam i.e., ( : ) at A
y c = deflection at C for the given beam.
*MIEI diagram is a diagram which shows the variation of MIEI over the length of the beam.
Then according to conjugate beam method,
578
eA == Shear force at A for the conjugate beam
576 STRENGTH OF MATERIALS DEFLECTION OF CANTILEVERS 577

YB
"" wL
4
BEl
_r WCL - a )4 + w(L_a)3
BEl 6EI
x 1
a
when it carries a unifonnly distributed
load over a length' a' from the free end
2. A cantilever of length 3 m carries a point load of 60 kN at a distance of 2 m from the fixed end. If
E= 2 x lOs andl= 10 8, find:
(i) slope at the free end and (ii) deflection at the free end.

wL4 when it carries a gradually varying load from zero at the free end to [Ans. 0.006 rad., 14 mm]
YB = 30EI wlm run at the "fixed end. 3. A cantilever of length 30 m carries a uniformly distributed load of 24 kN/m length over the entire
length. If moment of inertia of the beam = 10 8 mm 3 and value of E == 2 X 10 5 Nlmm 2 , determine
3. For a cantilever, at the fixed end slope and deflections are zero. Hence moment area method can the slope and deflection at the free end. [Ans. 0.0054 rad. ; 12.15 mm]
be easily applied for finding slope and deflections of cantilevers. The slope (OB) and deflection
4. A cantilever oflength 3 m carries a uniff)l'mly distributed load over the entire length. lfthe slope
(yn) at the free end is given by,
at the free end is 0.01777 radians, tbd the -deflection at the free end. [Ans. 39.99 mm]
Area of B. M. diagram between free end and fixed end
5. Determine the slope and deflection at the free end of a cantilever of length 4 m which is carrying
"8 EI a uniformly distributed load of 12 kN/m over a length of 3 m from the fixed end. Take El "" 2 x
AX 10 13 N/mm 2 • . [Ans. 0.0027 rad., 8.775 mm]
and Yn = EI 6. A cantilever of length 3 m carries a uniformly distributed load of 15 kN/m over a length of 2 m
where A = Area of B.M. Diagram and from the free end. If I == 10 8 mm 4 and E = 2 X 105 N/mm 2 , find:
x = Distance of C.G. of B.M. diagram from free end. (i) slope at the free end and (ii) deflection at the free end.
4. Area of B.M. diagram sometimes is found easily by splitting the combined areas into triangles [Ans. 0.00326 rad., 7.25 mm]
and rectangles. 7. A cantilever of length 2 m carries a load of20 kN at the free end and 30 kN at a distance 1 m
from the end. Find the slope and deflection at the free end. Take E = 2.0 .x 10 5 N/mm 2 and
1= 1.5 x 108 mm4. [Ans. 0.00183 rad., 2.6 mm]
EXERCISE 13 8. Determine the deflection at the free end of a cantilever which is 2 m long and carries a point load
of 9 kN at the free end and a uniformly distributed load of 8 kN/m over a length of 1 ill from the
(A) Theoretical Questions fixed end.
1. What is a cantilever? What are the different methods of finding of slope and deflection of a Take I = 2.25 X 107 mm 3 and E == 2.2 X 10 5 N/mm 2 • [Ans. 6.54 mmJ
cantilever? 9. A cantilever of length 2 m carries a uniformly varying load of zero intensity at the free end, and
2. Derive an expression for the slope and deflection of a cantilever of length L, carrying a point load 45 kN/m at the fIxed end. If E = 2 x 10 5 N/mm 2 and I = 10 8 mm\ find the slope and deflection of
W at the free end by double integration method. the free end. [Ans. 0.00075 rad., ; 1.2 mm]
3. Solve question 2, by moment area method. 10. A cantilever of length 2 m curries a point load of 30 kN at the free end and another lO::lrl of ~O kN
at its centre. If EI = 10 13 N/mm 2 for the cantilever then determine by moment area method, the
4. Prove that the slope and deflection of a cantilever carrying uniformly distributed load over the
slope and deflection at the free end of cantilever. [Ans. 0.0075 rad. ; 10.50 mml
whole length are given by,
wL3
and
wL' 11. A cantilever of length 'L' carries a U.D.L. of w per unit for a length of ~ from the fixed end.
8B =; 6EI YB '" BEl
Determine the slope and deflection at the free end using area moment method.
where w '" Uniformly distributed load and
(Bangalore University, 1990)
El", Flexural rigidity.
5. Find the expression for the slop"l and deflection of a cantilever of length L which carries a uni- [ Hint. See Article 13.8.3 on page 572. Here a = ~ . Hence slope at free end,
formly distributed load over a length 'a' from the fixed end by
(i) Double integration method and (ii) Moment area method. (L)3
6. Prove that the slope and deflection of a cantilever length L, which carries a gradually varying w x a3 w x lz
w x L3
load from zero at the free end to wlm run at the fixed end are given by : 8 ~ 6El
n 6El 48El
wL3 wL' wxa 3 wxa 4
and YB::O 3aEl and deflection at free end, YB= 6EI (L-a)+ 8El
On '" 24EI

wx(H (L-~l+ wx(%J'

where El::o Flexural rigidity.
wxL3 L wxL4
~---x-+---
(B) Numerical Problems 48El 2 128EI
1. A cantilever of length 2 m carries a point load of 30 kN at the free end. If moment of inertia
l'" 10 8 mm 4 and value of E = 2 x 10 5 N/mm 2, then find:
w x L4 wL
4
W x L4 ( 1
= 96EI + 128EI = ~ 96 + 128
1 1 EI
=
wL' ( 4 + 3
128x3
1
(n slope of the cantilever at the free end and
(iil deflection at the free end. [Ans. (i) 0.003 rad., (ii) 4 mm]
==
WL
4
Er x 384
7 7
= 384
w x L4
~ Ans.
1

l
 i84 STRENGTH OF MATERIALS CONJUGATE BEAM METHOD, PROPPED CANTILEVERS AND BEAMS
585

Problem 14.2. A simply supported beam of length 4 m carries a point load of 3 kN at a The loading on the conjugate beam is symmetrical
distance of 1 m from each end. If E =2 X 105 Nlmm 2 and I = lOS mm 4 for the beam, then using RA * = RB* = Half of total load on conjugate beam
_conjugate beam method determine:
(i) slope at each end and under each load =
1
'2 [Area of trapezoidal A*B*F*E*]
(ii) deflection under each load and at the centre.
=-
l[(E*F*+A*B*) xE""C*
. ]
Sol. Given: 2 2
Length, L=4m
= .!: [(2 + 4) x ~] = 4.5
Value of E = 2 X 105 N/mm 2 = 2 x 10 5 X 106 N/m2
>
2 2 EI EI
= 2 x 10 5 X 10 3 kN/m2 = 2 x 10 8 kN/m 2 (i) Slope at each end and under each load

Value of 1= 108 mm4 = __ 10 8 m 4 = 10-4 m4.

Let BA = Slope atA for the given beam i.e., (:) atA
10 12
As the load on the beam is symmetrical as shown in Fig. 14.4 (a), the reactions RA and BE = Slope at B for the given beam
RB will be equal to 3 kN.
Be = Slope at C for the given beam and
Now B.M. at A and B are zero.
BD = Slope at D for the given beam

r: N
Then according to conjugate beam method,
3kN
BA = Shear force at A * for conjugate beam = RA *
A 0 4.5 4.5'
B
EI 2 x 10 8 x 10-4 = Q.000225 rad. Ans.
(a) 1<--1 m 2m ~I f 1 m--+
-1- R'"
RA =3kN
4m
Re =3kN
8. ~ .' = 4.5
EI = 0.000225 rad. Ans.
Be = Shear force at C* for conjugate beam
=RA* - TotalloadA*C*D*

A~::::::::::::::::::::3~
4.5 1 3 3
(b)
=---x1x-=-
El2 EIEI
A B 3
C 0 = -2-x-1-0'8:::'x-1-0~-4 = 0.00015 rad. Ans.
Similarly, aD = 0.00015 rad. Ans. (By symmetry)
E' J' (ii) Deflection under each load
Due to symmetry, the deflection under each load will be equal
(e)
Let Ye = Deflection at C for the given beam and
A' B YD = Deflection at D for the given beam.
C· W o·
Now according to conjugate beam method,
1m ~I f 1 m----+l
R' A
Conjugate beam
R' , Ye = B.M. at C* for conjugate beam
= RA* x 1.0 - (Load A*C*E''') x Distance ofC.G. of A*C*E* from C*

B.M. at C = RA X 1 = 3 x 1 = 3 kNm
Fig. 14.4
= ~;X1-(~X1X :l)x~
B.M. atD =R B xl = 3 x 1 = 3 kNm 4.5 0.5 4.0
=---=-
Now B.M. diagram can be drawn as shown in Fig. 14.4 (6). EI EI EI
4 4 x 1000
Now by dividing the B.M. at any section by El, we can construct the conjugate beam as = m mm
shown in Fig. 14.4 (c). The loading are shown on the conjugate beam. 2 x 10 8 x 10- 4
Let RA * = Reaction at A* for the conjugate beam and = 0.2 mm. Ans.
RB * = Reaction at B* for conjugate beam Also YD = 0.2 mm.