8 Civil Engineering Department

FLEX Course Material

To articulate the theorem
of Conjugate Beam
Method
To demonstrate
application of Conjugate
Beam Method in solving
slope and deflection of
determinate and
indeterminate beams Conjugate
Beam Method

Theory of Structures II

Richard G. Villamora
Faculty, Civil Engineering Department
College of Engineering
 Conjugate Beam
Method
A conjugate beam
corresponding is a fictitious
beam of the same length as Conjugate beam
the real beam, but it is loaded
with the M/EI diagram of the is “loaded” with
real beam. The shear and the M/EI diagram
bending moment at any point derived from the
on the conjugate beam are load w on the
equal, respectively, to the
slope and deflection at the real beam
corresponding point on the
real beam.

CBM - Concepts

Conjugate Beam Theorems

Theorem 1: The slope at a point in the real beam is numerically equal to the shear at the
corresponding point in the conjugate beam.

Theorem 2: The displacement of a point in the real beam is numerically equal to the
moment at the corresponding point in the conjugate beam.

Properties of Conjugate Beam

1. The length of a conjugate beam is always equal to the length of the actual beam.
2. The load on the conjugate beam is the M/EI diagram of the loads on the actual beam.

3. The point of zero shear for the conjugate beam corresponds to a point of zero slope for
the real beam.

4. The point of maximum moment for the conjugate beam corresponds to a point of
maximum deflection for the real beam.

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Supports of Conjugate Beam

Examples of Beam and its Conjugate

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Sign Convention
1. Positive M/EI diagram are applied to the conjugate beam as upward loads (in the
positive y direction) and vice versa.

2. Positive shear in the conjugate beam denotes a positive (counterclockwise) slope of the
real beam with respect to the undeformed axis of the real beam.

3. Positive bending moment in the conjugate beam denotes a positive (upward or in the
positive y direction) deflection of the real beam.

CBM - Concepts

Procedure for Analysis

Conjugate Beam
• Draw the conjugate beam for the real beam. The conjugate beam is loaded with the real beam’s
M/EI diagram.

• If the real support allows a slope, the conjugate support must develop a shear; and if the real
support allows a displacement, the conjugate support must develop a moment.

• This loading is assumed to be distributed over the conjugate beam and is directed upward when

M/EI is positive and downward when M/EI is negative. In other words, the loading always acts
away from the beam
Equilibrium
• Using the equations of equilibrium, determine the reactions at the conjugate beam’s supports.

• Section the conjugate beam at the point where the slope and displacement of the real beam are to
be determined. At the section show the unknown shear and moment acting in their positive sense.

• Determine the shear and moment using the equations of equilibrium. If these values are positive,
the slope is counterclockwise and the displacement is upward.

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CBM - Examples

1. Determine the slope and deflection 2. Determine the maximum deflection of the steel
beam shown. I = 60(106) mm4, E = 200 Gpa.
at point of the steel beam shown.
E = 29(103) ksi, I = 800 in4.

Solution
Conjugate Beam Solution
Conjugate Beam

Equilibrium
Equilibrium

The negative signs indicate the slope of the beam is

measured clockwise and the displacement is downward

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CBM - Examples

3. Determine the support reactions of the

propped cantilever beam as shown.

Solution

Conjugate Beam Equilibrium

The unknown R can be obtained
by taking moment about

Please change the M/EI load

direction to pointing away from
the beam

4. Determine the support reactions of the fixed

beam as shown. The beam carries a uniformly
distributed load, w over the left half span.

Solution
Conjugate Beam Equilibriun
Vertical equilibrium of all forces acting on Conjugate
beam

Please change the M/EI load

direction to pointing away from
the beam
Taking moment about A
Solving simultaneously
answers

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 ASSESSMENT TASK

Conjugate Beam Method

Problems for Practice.
Try solving the following problems for your practice and submit your
solutions as instructed by your instructor.

1. Determine the force F at the end of the beam C so that the displacement at C is zero. EI is
constant. Use the moment-area theorems.

2. For the simply supported beam ABCD, determine the vertical deflection at (a) point B; and
(b) point C.

3. Compute the maximum displacement for the wooden cantilever beam that has the cross
section shown. Use E = 10 GPa for wood.

4. Determine the reaction at the support A of the propped cantilever beam.

5. Determine the support reactions at A for the beam with built-in ends.

6. The beam ABC has three supports and carries two equal but opposite couples. Determine
all the support reactions.

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 REFERENCES

Hibbeler, R.C., 8th Ed., Structural Analysis, Pearson Prentice Hall,

Upper Saddle River, New Jersey, 2012.

Kassimali, A., 4th Ed., Structural Analysis, Shortt, C.M., Southern

Illinois University-Carbondale.

Pytel, A. and Kiusalaas J., 2nd Ed., Mechanics of Materials, Global

Engineering, 2013.