1.

050 Engineering Mechanics I

Lecture 25:

Beam elasticity – problem solving technique

and examples

Handout
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1.050 – Content overview

I. Dimensional analysis
1. On monsters, mice and mushrooms Lectures 1-3
2. Similarity relations: Important engineering tools Sept.

II. Stresses and strength

3. Stresses and equilibrium Lectures 4-15
4. Strength models (how to design structures,
foundations.. against mechanical failure) Sept./Oct.

III. Deformation and strain

5. How strain gages work?
6. How to measure deformation in a 3D
Lectures 16-19
structure/material?
Oct.

IV. Elasticity
7. Elasticity model – link stresses and deformation Lectures 20-31
8. Variational methods in elasticity
Oct./Nov.
V. How things fail – and how to avoid it
9. Elastic instabilities
10. Plasticity (permanent deformation) Lectures 32-37
Dec. 2
11. Fracture mechanics

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 1.050 – Content overview

I. Dimensional analysis

II. Stresses and strength

III. Deformation and strain

IV. Elasticity
Lecture 20: Introduction to elasticity (thermodynamics)

Lecture 21: Generalization to 3D continuum elasticity

Lecture 22: Special case: isotropic elasticity

Lecture 23: Applications and examples

Lecture 24: Beam elasticity

Lecture 25: Applications and examples (beam elasticity)

Lecture 26: … cont’d and closure

V. How things fail – and how to avoid it

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Beam bending elasticity

Governed by this differential equation:

d 4ξ z fz
=
dx 4 EI
Integration provides solution for displacement
Solve integration constants by applying BCs

Note:
E = material parameter (Young’s modulus)
I = geometry parameter (property of cross-section)
fz = distributed shear force (force per unit length)

f z = pb0 where p0=pressure, b=thickness of beam in y-direction 4

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 4-step procedure to solve beam elasticity

problems

• Step 1: Write down BCs (stress BCs and displacement BCs),

analyze the problem to be solved (read carefully!)

• Step 2: Write governing equations for ξ z , ξ x ...

• Step 3: Solve governing equations (e.g. by integration),

results in expression with unknown integration constants

• Step 4: Apply BCs (determine integration constants)

Note: Very similar procedure as for 3D isotropic elasticity problems

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Difference in governing equations (simpler for beams)

Physical meaning of derivatives of ξ z

d 4ξ z fz d 4ξ z
= EI = f z Shear force density
dx 4 EI dx 4
d ξz
3
Q d 3ξ z
3
=− z − EI = Qz Shear force
dx EI dx 3
d 2ξ z M d 2ξ z
2
=− y − EI = M y
Bending moment
dx EI dx 2
dξ z dξ
= −ω y − z =ω y Rotation (angle)
dx dx
ξ z ξz Displacement

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 Step-by-step example
z p = force/length

l length

EI
Step 1: BCs
ξ z (0) = 0
x=0
ω y (0) = 0
ξ z (l) = 0
x=l
M y (0) = 0
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Step 2: Governing equation

d 4ξ z f d 4ξ z p
4
= z = −
dx EI dx 4 EI
p applied in
negative z-
direction

p
Step 3: Integration ξ z''' = − x + C1

EI
p x 2

ξ z'' = − + C1 x + C2

p EI 2

ξ z'''' = − p x3 x 2

EI ξ z' = − + C1 + C2 x + C3

EI 6 2

4
p x x3 x 2

ξz = − + C1 + C2 + C3 x + C
8
4

EI 24 6 2

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Step 4: Apply BCs

p Qz

ξ z''' = − x + C1 = −
EI EI

p x2 M
ξ z'' = − + C1 x + C2
= − y
EI 2
EI
3 2
p x x
ξ z' = − + C1 + C2 x + C3 = −ω y
EI 6 2
4
p x x3 x2
ξz = − + C1 + C2 + C3 x + C4
EI 24 6 2

Known quantities are marked 9

Step 4: Apply BCs (cont’d)

ξ z (0) = 0 → C4 = 0

ω y (0) = 0 → C3 = 0

p l4 l3 l2
ξ z (l) = 0 → − + C1 + C2 = 0
EI 24 6 2
p l2
M y (0) = 0 → − + C1l +C 2= 0
EI 2

⎛ l4 ⎞ p 5
⎛l 3
l ⎞⎛ C ⎞ p ⎜ ⎟
2
C1 = l

⎜ ⎟ 1
2 ⎟⎜⎜ C ⎟⎟ = EI ⎜ l 2 ⎟
24 EI 8

⎜⎜ 6 ⎜ ⎟
⎝l 1 ⎟⎠⎝ 2 ⎠ ⎜ ⎟ C2 = −
p 1 2

⎝ 2 ⎠ EI 8 10

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Solution:

⎛ 5 ⎞

Qz (x) = p⎜ x − l ⎟
⎝ 8 ⎠

⎛ 1 2 x2 5 ⎞
M y (x) = p⎜⎜ l + − lx ⎟⎟
⎝8 2 8 ⎠
p ⎛1 2 x3 5 ⎞
ω y (x) = ⎜⎜ l x + − lx 2 ⎟⎟
EI ⎝8 6 16 ⎠
p ⎛ 1 2 2 x4 5 3 ⎞
ξ z (x) = − ⎜⎜ l x + − lx ⎟⎟
EI ⎝ 16 24 48 ⎠

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