Unit III Deflection in Beams

4. Conjugate beam method:

If the flexural rigidity is not uniform throughout the length
of the beam, the methods discussed earlier are very
laborious.

The conjugate beam method presents a very easy

approach and its application is very interesting.
Conjugate beam: An imaginary beam for which the load

diagram is the diagram is called the conjugate beam.

Dr.P.Venkateswara Rao, Associate Professor,

Dept. of Civil Engg., SVCE

Unit III Deflection in Beams

4. Conjugate beam method:
Observations:
(i). The slope at any section of the given beam is equal to
the shear force at the corresponding section of the
conjugate beam.
(ii) The deflection at any section for the given beam is equal
to the bending moment at the corresponding section of the
conjugate beam.

Dr.P.Venkateswara Rao, Associate Professor,

Dept. of Civil Engg., SVCE

Unit III Deflection in Beams

4. Conjugate beam method:
Relation between the given beam and cojugate beam:
Given Beam
1. Slope at any section
2. Deflection at any section
3. Given system of loading

Conjugate beam
1. S.F. at the corresponding section.
2. B.M. at the corresponding section.
3. The loading diagram becomes

4. Roller support
Slope exists & deflection=0

4. Hinged support
S.F. exists & B.M.=0

5. Hinged support
Slope exists & Deflection=0

5. Hinged support
S.F. exists & B.M.=0

Dr.P.Venkateswara Rao, Associate Professor,

Dept. of Civil Engg., SVCE

Unit III Deflection in Beams

4. Conjugate beam method:
Relation between the given beam and cojugate beam:
Given Beam
Conjugate beam
6. Free end
6. Fixed end
Slope exists & deflection exists
Slope =0 & deflection =0
7. Fixed end
Slope=0, Deflection=0

7. Free end
S.F.=0, B.M.=0

8. (a). B.M. Diagram

(+ve), Sagging

8. (a).

8. (b). B.M. Diagram

(-ve), hogging

8. (b).

Diagram
(+ve) i.e. loading downwards

Diagram
(-ve) i.e. loading upwards

Dr.P.Venkateswara Rao, Associate Professor,

Dept. of Civil Engg., SVCE

Unit III Deflection in Beams

4. Conjugate beam method:
Problem:
Find the slope and deflection at the free end of a cantilever beam of
constant EI and length L carrying a concentrated load W at the free
end by conjugate beam method.

Dr.P.Venkateswara Rao, Associate Professor,

Dept. of Civil Engg., SVCE

Unit III Deflection in Beams

4. Conjugate beam method:
Solution:
The deflection at the free end of a real beam YB = Bending moment at
the corresponding section of Conjugate beam, MB.
W
A
1

2
B
B = S.F.B =
=
L m
2

2
EI is constant
1

2
3

YB = MB =

=
3

WL/EI
Conjugate beam
Dr.P.Venkateswara Rao, Associate Professor,
Dept. of Civil Engg., SVCE

Unit III Deflection in Beams

4. Conjugate beam method:
Problem:
Find the slope at supports and deflection at the centre of a simply
supported beam of constant EI and length L carrying central
concentrated load W.

Dr.P.Venkateswara Rao, Associate Professor,

Dept. of Civil Engg., SVCE

Unit III Deflection in Beams

4. Conjugate beam method:
Solution:

= = S.F. At

YC = MC =
+

2
2
4
2
16

YC =

1
2

1
3 2

2
16

W
C
L m
Real beam

WL/4EI

2
16

Conjugate beam

Dr.P.Venkateswara Rao, Associate Professor,

Dept. of Civil Engg., SVCE

Unit III Deflection in Beams

4. Conjugate beam method:
Problem:
Draw conjugate beam for a cantilever carrying uniformly distributed
load throughout its length L and find slope and deflection at the free
end.

Dr.P.Venkateswara Rao, Associate Professor,

Dept. of Civil Engg., SVCE

Unit III Deflection in Beams

4. Conjugate beam method:
Solution:

w kN/m
A

1
3

B = S.F.B =
B = MB =

1
3

2
2

2
2

3
6

L m
Real Beam

B
B

wL2/2EI

Conjugate Beam

Dr.P.Venkateswara Rao, Associate Professor,

Dept. of Civil Engg., SVCE

10

Unit III Deflection in Beams

4. Conjugate beam method:
Problem:
A beam of span L is simply supported and carries a u.d.l. w per unit
length over the entire span. What is the slope at support and
deflection at mid span?

Dr.P.Venkateswara Rao, Associate Professor,

Dept. of Civil Engg., SVCE

11

Unit III Deflection in Beams

4. Conjugate beam method:
Solution:

= = S.F. At

=
=

3
2
3
24

2
8

w kN/m
C
B
A
L/2 m L m
wL/2
wL2/8EI wL/2
3

24

YC = =
=

3 2

8 8 2

3
24

5
8 2

Conjugate beam

54
384
Dr.P.Venkateswara Rao, Associate Professor,
Dept. of Civil Engg., SVCE

12

Unit III Deflection in Beams

Problem 1:
A 6m cantilever beam of rectangular cross section is of constant
breadth 200 mm throughout its length and constant depth 500 mm
for 3m length from its fixed end. The depth for the other 3m length is
200 mm. Calculate the deflection at the free end due to point load of
10 kN at the free end. E=2 105 Mpa.

Dr.P.Venkateswara Rao, Associate Professor,

Dept. of Civil Engg., SVCE

13

Unit III Deflection in Beams

200 mm
250 mm

For 0 to 3 m from the fixed end,

0.2 0.53
1 =
= 2.08 103 4
12
For 3m to 6m from the fixed end,
0.2 0.253
2 =
= 0.26 103 4
12

500 mm

Solution:
E=2 105 Mpa=2 105 106 N/2 =2 108 kN/2

200 mm

1 =2 108 2.08 103 = 4.16 105 2

2 =2 108 0.26 103 = 0.52 105 2
Dr.P.Venkateswara Rao, Associate Professor,
Dept. of Civil Engg., SVCE

14

Unit III Deflection in Beams

Solution:
By using conjugate beam method, =
1
2
5
3 57.69 10 3
2
3
3
5
+ 3 7.21 10
3+
2

=
1
3 14.42 7.21 105
2
+
2
3 + (3)
3
= 324.48 105 = 3.25

E1
3m

E2

10 kN
B

3m

30 kNm
60 kNm

M-diagram

14.42 105

= 3.25
Dr.P.Venkateswara Rao, Associate Professor,
Dept. of Civil Engg., SVCE

7.21 105

57.69 105
Conjugate beam
15

Unit III Deflection in Beams

Problem 2:
A simply supported beam of span 9 m carries a central concentrated
load of 300 kN. The moment of inertia of the beam cross section is
2 105 4 for the central 3 m length and half this value for the
remaining portion of the span. Find the deflection of the beam at the
centre. E=210 kN/2 .

Dr.P.Venkateswara Rao, Associate Professor,

Dept. of Civil Engg., SVCE

16

Unit III Deflection in Beams

Solution:
E = 4.2 105 kN2
Calculation of reaction, :
Taking moments about
1
900 2

9 = 3
3
2

3
1
2
1
2

450
3
3
3+
+

2
675
450
3
3

3+

2
900
2
1
3
6 + (3)

3
3

2193.75
=

300 kN
C

A
2

3m

3m

3m

675

450

450

M-diagram

900

450

900
675

450

Conjugate beam
Dr.P.Venkateswara Rao, Associate Professor,
Dept. of Civil Engg., SVCE

17

Unit III Deflection in Beams

300 kN
C

Solution: By using conjugate beam method:

Deflection at C=B.M. at C of conjugate
beam
1
900
3

2193.75
2

=
4.5

1.5 + 3
3

450 1.5
1.5

2
675
450
1.5

3m

3m

2
3m

675

450

450

M-diagram

900

1.5

5906.25
5906.25
=
=
= 0.01406
5

4.2 10
=14.06 mm

Dr.P.Venkateswara Rao, Associate Professor,

Dept. of Civil Engg., SVCE

450

900
675

450

Conjugate beam
18