CEE384_API

Theory and Background

The purpose of this exercise is to come up with a MATLAB code that will be able to analyze

loading conditions of a rigidly supported beam at both ends under uniform distributed load. The

program is theoretically written, using user-friendly graphics. In the method of analysis, the

differential equations for elastic beams are employed. All the equations used are provided in the

description part. The governing equations for bending of elastic beams are (Tian & Zhang,

2012).

𝑑4𝑦
𝐸𝐼 4 = 𝑤(𝑥)
𝑑𝑥

𝑑3𝑦
𝐸𝐼 3 = 𝑉(𝑥)
𝑑𝑥

𝑑2𝑦
𝐸𝐼 = 𝑀(𝑥)
𝑑𝑥 2

𝑑𝑢
= 𝜃(𝑥)
𝑑𝑥

𝑢 = 𝑢(𝑥)

Assumptions while using these equations are that the beam is perfectly elastic and that minimal

deflection occurs in the beam (Horsburgh, 1911).

 Description of Problem Solving Process

Distributed load;

The equations used are as follows;

𝑤𝑜
𝜃(𝑥) = (−5𝑥 4 + 6𝐿2 𝑥 2 − 𝐿4 )
120𝐸𝐼𝐿

𝑑𝜃 𝑤𝑜
= (−20𝑥 3 + 12𝐿2 𝑥)
𝑑𝑥 120𝐸𝐼𝐿

𝑑𝜃 𝑤𝑜 𝑀(𝑥)
= (−20𝑥 3 + 12𝐿2 𝑥) =
𝑑𝑥 120𝐸𝐼𝐿 𝐸𝐼

𝑤𝑜
𝑀(𝑥) = (−20𝑥 3 + 12𝐿2 𝑥)
120𝐿

𝑑𝑀 𝑤𝑜
= (−60𝑥 2 + 12𝐿2 )
𝑑𝑥 120𝐿

𝑑𝑀 𝑤𝑜
= (−60𝑥 2 + 12𝐿2 ) = 𝑉(𝑥)
𝑑𝑥 120𝐿

𝑑𝑉 𝑤𝑜
= (−120𝑥)
𝑑𝑥 120𝐿

𝑑𝑉 𝑤𝑜
= (−120𝑥) = −𝑤(𝑥)
𝑑𝑥 120𝐿

Slope an deflection equations are obtained by intergration

𝑑𝑦 𝑤𝑜
= (−5𝑥 4 + 6𝐿2 𝑥 2 + 𝐶1 )
𝑑𝑥 120𝐿
 𝑤𝑜
𝑦= (−𝑥 5 + 2𝐿2 𝑥 3 + 𝐶1 𝑥 + 𝐶2 )
120𝐿

Given the conditions that there is no slope at both ends,

We get,

𝑤𝑜
0= (−0 + 2𝐿2 (0) + 𝐶1 (0) + 𝐶)
120𝐿

𝐶2 = 0

At x=3m deflection is 0, hence

𝑤𝑜
0= (−35 + 33 2𝐿2 + 3𝐶1 )
120𝐿

𝐶1 = −81

Constants

I = 0.0003 m4

E = 200GPa

∆𝑥 = 0.125

w = 2500/0.01 N/m

L=3m

𝐶1 = −81

𝐶2 = 0

After obtaining all the necessary equations and constants, Taylor series was use to compute

Shear force, bending moment and bending deflection.A new value of the three outputs was
obtained each time x(index) was iterated to give different values over the length span of 3m in

increments of 0.125.

Results

From the Matlab program, the maximum deflection of the beam is -7.239262262980144e-03.

The various graphs plotted are; Shear force, bending moment and bending deflection are all

plotted against the beam length in the program output.

 Conclusion

In conclusion, the results perfectly demonstrate realistic of how the beam would look like if

loaded under the above conditions. The results match a bam that is rigidly fixed at both ends, as

observed under the deflection graph which is zero at both ends. This indicates the program’s

precision. Therefore, an engineer can use this program to evaluate loading condition in a beam

for example during building of a bridge and also determine the maximum deflection that can be

experienced and if it can cause failure and destruction.

 Work Cited

Tian, J., & Zhang, Z. (2012). Maximum Bending Moment and Maximum Additional Bending

Moment for High Vertical Vessels under Wind Pressure. Applied Mechanics And

Materials, 187, 173-176. http://dx.doi.org/10.4028/www.scientific.net/amm.187.173

Horsburgh, E. (1911). Proof of a Fundamental Relation in the Theory of Bending between the

Bending Moment and Load Curves, or between the Deflection and Bending Moment

Curves. Proceedings Of The Edinburgh Mathematical Society, 30, 64.

http://dx.doi.org/10.1017/s0013091500033976
 Appendix

clc
clear

I = 0.0003; % Moment of inertia in m^4

E = 200e9; % Elastic modulus, Pascals,
delta_x = .125; % Increment for discretization of x axis.
w = 2500/0.01; % distributed load in N/m
L = 3; % Beam length in meters
x = (0: delta_x: L)'; % Generate column array for x-axis.

N = size(x, 1); % Size of the x-axis discretization

V = zeros(N, 1); % Shear force function of x.

M = V; % Bending moment function of x.
y = V; % Coordinates of elastic curve.
C1 = -81; % Integration constant. (dy/dx) = 0 @ x = 3 m.

for index = 1: N; % For every discrete point along x.

% along the beam, 0 < x < 3 (m)
V(index) = (w/120 * L) * (-60 * x(index)^2 + 12 * L^2);
M(index) = (w/120 * L) * (-20 * x(index)^3 + 12 * L^2 * x(index));
y(index) = (w/120 * L) * (-x(index)^5 + 2 * L^2 * x(index)^3+ C1 * x(index));
end

y = y / (E*I); % E and I are constants, through the beam length.

% Shear force diagram

figure(1)
plot(x,V, 'k', 'linewidth', 2.5)
grid
xlabel('x, meters')
ylabel('Shear force, N')
title('Shear force diagram')
axis tight

% Bending moment diagram

figure(2)
plot(x,M, 'r', 'linewidth', 2.5)
grid
xlabel('x, inch')
ylabel('Bending moment, N-m')
title('Bending Moment diagram')
axis tight

% Beam deflection: elastic curve

figure(3)
plot(x,y, 'b', 'linewidth', 2.5)
grid
xlabel('x, meters')
ylabel('Elastic Curve, meters')
title('Bending Deflection')
axis tight

format long e
disp('Maximum deflection of beam is: ')
disp(min(y))