Application of Maxwell's Theorem of Reciprocal

displacements; Betti's law

The two span continuous beam is shown below:

To find out V , remove

B VB , and obtain deflection at B due to
external Load

Next external loads are removed. Apply unit load at the

support point and obtain deflection at that point

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Now the total reaction is replaced and it supplies the force
necessary to push the support back to its original position.

Therefore, the compatibility equation at coordinate B is

 B  ('B )  0
  B  fbbVB   B  bbVB  0
B B
VB  
bb fbb
Finally

B B
VB  
bb fbb
The problem of preparing the Influence line diagrams can be
done by applying Maxwell’s law of reciprocal deflections.
The preparation of an influence line for the interior reaction
of the two-span beam is considered.

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The procedure for calculating has been to remove it from

the beam and then compute  B  bx due to unit load X and
then due to unit load at B and substitute their
values in the usual formula. The same procedure may be used

in drawing an influence line for .

A unit load (external load) is placed at some point x causing
 B  bx ,

A unit load at B causes a deflection at B equal to . An

upward reaction at B of will push B up an amount
. The total deflection at B due to the external loads and
the reaction is zero and may be expressed as follows:

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from which the following expression is written:

The minus sign in this expression indicates is in the

opposite direction from the downward unit load.

At first glance it appears that the unit load will have to be

placed at numerous points on the beam and the value of
(bx ) laboriously computed for each. A study of the
deflections caused by a unit load at point x, however, proves
these computations to be unnecessary. By Maxwell’s law, the

deflection at B due to a unit load at X (bx ) is identical with

the deflection at X due to a unit load at B ( xb ) . The

expression for becomes

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It is now evident that the unit load need only be placed at B,
and the deflections at various points across the beam
computed. Dividing each of these values by (bb ) gives the
ordinates for the influence line. If a deflection curve is plotted
for the beam for a unit load at B (support B being removed),
an influence line for may be obtained by dividing each of
the deflection ordinates by (bb ) .

Another way of expressing this principle is as follows:

If a unit deflection is caused at a support for which the
influence line is desired, the beam will draw its own influence
line because the deflection at any point in the beam is the
ordinate of the influence line at that point for the reaction in
question. This is what we have already applied as Muller-
Breslau’s principle.
The next problem is to draw the influence lines for beams
continuous over three spans, which have two redundants.

and the reactions and VC are assumed to be the

redundants. It will be necessary to remove the redundants and
compute the deflections at various sections in the beam for a
unit load at B and also for a unit load at C.
By Maxwell’s law a unit load at any point X causes a deflection
at B (bx ) equal to the deflection at x due to a unit load at B
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( xb ) . Similarly, (cx   xc ) . After computing ( xb ) and
( xc ) at the several sections, their values at each section may
be substituted into the following compatibility conditions
which results in two simultaneous equations, whose solution
will yield the values of VB and VC .

 xb  (bbVB  bcVC )  0
 xc  cbVB   ccVC  0

The minus sign in this expression indicates and are in

the opposite direction from the downward unit load.
The simultaneous equations are solved quickly, even though a
large number of ordinates are being computed, because the
only variables in the equations are ( xb ) and ( xc ) .
After the influence lines are prepared for the redundant
reactions of a beam, the ordinates for any other function
(moment, shear, and so on) can be determined by statics.

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Draw ILD for Vb and Vc

Sect
ion ∆xb ∆xc Vb Vc VD M7 SF6
-
1 4.02 4.746 0.646 0.074 0.008
7.26 9.03=
2 =fbb fbc 1 0 0
12.46 -
3 9.1 1 0.855 0.32 0.0344
9.62 -
4 1 14.56 0.432 0.72 0.0513
9.03 14.83
5 =fcb =fcc 0 1 0
6 7.55 13.04 -0.227 1.02 0.1504
5.40
7 4 9.62 -0.257 0.805 0.388
2.81
8 3 5.088 -0.159 0.44 0.688

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To find out M , remove
B MB , and obtain rotation at B due to
external Load P=1 at X:
Next external loads are removed. Apply unit couple moment
at the support point and obtain rotation at that point
Now the total moment M B is replaced and it supplies the
moment necessary to push the members back to its original
position.

Therefore, the compatibility equation at coordinate B results

after considering Maxwell’s reciprocal theorem

 xB  fbb M B  0
 xB
MB 
fbb
Vertical deflection at X due to unit moment couple at B is
equal to rotation at B due unit vertical force at X.

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Determination of the ordinates of the Influence lines for the
reaction at a support
A unit force is applied at the point of released action and the
moment diagram is drawn.

The corresponding conjugate beam loaded with M / EI diagram

acting towards the compression side of the real beam is
shown.
The reaction and moment at supports on the conjugate beam
are computed by the equations of static equilibrium.

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The moment values at specified interval of conjugate beam will
represent deflection ordinates of the real beam.
M 1  1 2 0 / E I  f AA
1
M 2  1 2 0  2 6 x 1 .5  1 2 x 1 .5 x 1 .5 x 0 .5   8 1 .5 6 / E I
EI
1
M 3  1 2 0  2 6 x 3  1 2 x 3 x 3 x 1   4 6 .5 / E I
EI
1
M 4  1 2 0  2 6 x 4 .5  1 2 x 4 .5 x 4 .5 x 1 .5   1 8 .1 8 7 5 / E I
EI
M B  0
1
M 5   4 x 2  1 2 x3x 2 x2 / 3  6 / EI
EI

Finally, the ordinates of the influence lines curve for the

reaction at point under consideration is obtained by dividing
the above moment values by the flexibility coefficient f xx at the
coordinate of released action (displacement due to unit force).

Determination of the ordinates of the Influence lines for the

positive Moment at a section
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Two equal and opposite moments (unit moment) are applied
on either side of the hinge at the section x and the moment
diagram is drawn.

The corresponding conjugate beam loaded with M / EI diagram

acting towards the compression side of the real beam is
shown.
The reaction at supports on the conjugate beam are computed
by the equations of static equilibrium.

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M B  0 yields
RC  2 / EI
M A  0 yields
RX  30/ EI
V  0 yields
RA  17 / EI
The moment ordinates at specified points of the conjugate
beam are
M1  0
1  1 
M2  17 x1.5  x0.75 x1.5x1.5/ 3   25.78/ EI
EI  2 
M x  34.67 / EI
M 3  23.25/ EI
M 4  9.09 / EI
MB  0
M 5  3/ EI
MC  0

The relative rotation f xx at the section x (displacement due to

unit moment) between the tangents to the curve on either
side of the hinge represents the difference in shear force on
either side of the specified section of the conjugate beam and
is equal to the reaction Rx '  30 / EI at this section of conjugate
beam.
Finally, the ordinates of the influence lines curve for the
positive moment at a section under consideration is obtained
by dividing the above moment values by the flexibility

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coefficient f xx  Rx '  30 / EI at the section of released action.
(Displacement due to unit force).

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Determination of the ordinates of the Influence lines for the
positive Shear force at a section
Two equal and opposite unit forces (unit shear) are applied at
the cut section and the moment diagram is drawn.
The corresponding conjugate beam loaded with M / EI diagram
acting towards the compression side of the real beam is
shown.
The deflection ordinates on either side of the cut section X of
the real beam are normally different.
Hence, the corresponding internal moments just to the left of
and just to the right of section X ' of conjugate beam are also
different.

Therefore, an external couple moment M x ' must be applied

at the section X ' in order to cause these internal moments
just to the left of and just to the right of section X ' of
conjugate beam.

The reactions at supports and the external moment M x ' on

the conjugate beam are computed by the equations of static
equilibrium.

M B 0
M x '  1/ EI (26 x6  1/ 2 x6 x6 x1/ 3x6)  120 / EI

The moment values at specified interval of conjugate beam will

represent deflection ordinates of the real beam.

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M1  0
1  1 
M2   26 x1.5  x1.5 x1.5x1.5/ 3   38.44 / EI
EI  2 
M x'L 
M x'R 
M4 
MB  0
M5 
MC  0
fxx  M x ' L  M x ' R 

L R
The internal moments M x ' and M x ' just to the left of and just
to the right of section X ' of conjugate beam are also evaluated,
Obviously,

M x '  M xL'  M xR' which is nothing but f xx .

Finally, the ordinates of the influence lines curve for the shear
force at a section under consideration is obtained by dividing
the above moment values by the flexibility coefficient f xx at the
section of released action. (Displacement due to unit force).

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