APPROXIMATE STIFFNESS MATRIX

Downloaded from ascelibrary.org by Bangladesh University of Engineering and Technology on 12/28/19. Copyright ASCE. For personal use only; all rights reserved.

FOR TAPERED BEAMS

By-Christopher J. Brown1

INTRODUCTION

Beams of rectangular or I-cross section are frequently used as tapered

members in many engineering applications, and methods of analysis are
available for the explicit solution of the displacements and forces which
occur therein (1,2,3,4). The techniques used for the solution of expres-
sions to derive displacements and forces must involve an integration
process at some stage. One way in which this integration is achieved is,
e.g., the subdivision of a member of tapering section into several dif-
fering rigidly jointed prismatic sections. It can be shown that, even for
small tapers, a minimum of five subdivisions is necessary.
In regard to the methods involving integration of continuous functions
for a single member, Just (2) showed that it is possible to develop a
modified stiffness matrix, based on the finite element method, suitable
for use on a digital computer. His approach used a displacement func-
tion modified to account for any specified variation in section properties
along the member. The final stiffness matrix relating to such a member
can be found by the evaluation of five integrals, implying that the in-
tegrations are a pre-process to the main computer solution routine. In
some cases, these integrals may be less than straightforward, and cer-
tainly cumbersome for use in design office practice. Following is a method
for finding a modified bending stiffness matrix for a member of varying
section, again using the finite element method. The assumption made
here is that the displacement function for a uniform beam may be used
as an approximation to the correct displacement function, thus leading
to much greater simplicity in the computation, while providing sufficient
accuracy for most purposes. The examples shown are for one particular
(but commonly used) variation, sections with constant width, and lin-
early varying depth.

FORMULATION OF APPROXIMATE BENDING STIFFNESS MATRIX

If axial strains are neglected, the deflected shape for a uniform beam
(Fig. 1) caii be assumed to be given by a cubic
w = a! + a2X + a3x2 + a 4 x 3 (1)
in which a i , a 2 , a 3 and a 4 are constants. If this displacement function
is then assumed to be a valid approximation for members of non-uni-
J
Lect., Div. of Building Tech., Dept. of Mech. Engrg., Brunei Univ., Uxbridge,
Middlesex, United Kingdom.
Note.—Discussion open until May 1,1985. To extend the closing date one month,
a written request must be filed with the ASCE Manager of Technical and Profes-
sional Publications. The manuscript for this paper was submitted for review and
possible publication on October 17, 1983. This paper is part of the Journal of
Structural Engineering, Vol. 110, No. 12, December, 1984. ©ASCE, ISSN 0733-
9445/84/0012-3050/$01.00. Paper No. 19319.
3050

J. Struct. Eng., 1984, 110(12): 3050-3055

Downloaded from ascelibrary.org by Bangladesh University of Engineering and Technology on 12/28/19. Copyright ASCE. For personal use only; all rights reserved.

FIG. 1.—Coordinate System for Beam Element

form section, the nodal displacements can be given as

' Wj 1 0 0 0 ai

0 1 0 0 a2
(2)
w, 1 I I2 I3 a3
L0 1 21 3l2.
or {A} = [A]{a} (3)
or {a} = [A]'1^} (4)
If M(x) is the bending moment at position x, then it can be taken as

M(x) = EI(x)—^ = EI(x)[0 0 2 6 x ] [ a 1 , a 2 , a 3 , a 4 ] r (5)

dx
in which I(x) represents the section second moment of area at position x.

increasing
x

B
FIG. 2.—Representation of Tapered Member
3051

J. Struct. Eng., 1984, 110(12): 3050-3055

 Hence M(x) - E J(x)[B][A]"1{A} (6)
Downloaded from ascelibrary.org by Bangladesh University of Engineering and Technology on 12/28/19. Copyright ASCE. For personal use only; all rights reserved.

In the case of a nonuniform beam, Eq. 10 is of the form

[M] = [DPHArMA} , (7)
in which [D] represents the elasticity matrix. Further manipulation uti-
lizing the virtual work principle (1) gives the beam stiffness matrix as

[*] = ([A- 1 ]) 1 ! j [B]T[D][B] dx\[A]-1 (8)

TABLE 1.—Deflection, Shear Force and Bending Moment for Propped Cantilever
Example

Midspan Bending moment at Shear force at

deflection, built-in end, in built-in end, in
Solution in millimeters kilonewton-meters kilonewtons
(D (2) (3) (4)
a 42.74 280.9 77.69
b 42.36 276.0 77.60
c 42.58 278.2 77.82
Note: 1 in. = 25.4 mm; 1 Ibf = 4.45 N.

TABLE 2.—Deflection for Portal Frame Example

DEFLECTION, IN MILLIMETERS

VERTICAL DOWNWARD LOAD HORIZONTAL LOAD AT EAVES

Nodal Point Nodal Point
Solution 1 2 3 4 5 1 2 3 4 5
(1) (2) (3) (4) (5) (6) (7) (8) (9) (10) (11)
a 0 24.79 60.61 24.79 0 0 501.1 500 488.9 0
b 0 24.18 59.11 24.18 0 0 494.7 484.8 474 0
c 0 22.68 55.55 22.68 0 0 441.6 432.4 422.2 0
Note: 1 in. = 25.4 mm; 1 Ibf = 4.45 N; 1 tonf. ft = 3.037 kN/m.

TABLE 3.—Bending Moment for Portal Frame Example

BENDING MOMENT, IN KILONEWTON-METERS

VERTICAL DOWNWARD LOAD HORIZONTAL LOAD AT EAVES

- Nodal Point Nodal Point
Solution 1 2 3 4 5 1 2 3 4 5
(1) (2) (3) (4) (5) (6) (7) (8) (9) (10) (11)
a 78.1 -263.4 265.4 -263.5 78.1 -445.6 897 -110.4 -677.2 380.2
b 80.3 -265 263 -265 80.3 -447.3 896.9 -109.4 -675.8 380.1
c 107.6 -281.3 237.7 -281.3 107.6 -471.8 890.5 -98.8 -655.8 381.9
Note: 1 in. = 25,4 mm; 1 Ibf = 4.45 N; 1 tonf. ft = 3.037 kN/m.

•3052

J. Struct. Eng., 1984, 110(12): 3050-3055

 All dimensions in ram.
Young's Modulus = 200 kK/m;
Downloaded from ascelibrary.org by Bangladesh University of Engineering and Technology on 12/28/19. Copyright ASCE. For personal use only; all rights reserved.

varies
100 - 300

LJ
FIG. 3.—Propped Cantilever of Tapering l-Section

0 0 0 0 "
0 0 0 0
in which [B]T[D][B] = EI(x) (9)
0 0 4 12x
LO 0 12a: 36x2.
Eq. 9 includes the effect of a possible taper in the multiplier E I(x) based
on the displacement function assumed in Eq. 1. The integration proce-
dure must then take place on Eq. 9, but is more straightforward than
that of Just (2).
This brief formulation shows that [k] can be found by normal matrix
multiplication. The integrations are clearly of the most simple kind.

EXAMPLE OF APPLICATION

Fig. 2 shows a beam of linearly tapering depth and constant width.

The stiffness matrix [k] is symmetric and the terms can be obtained as
(l+fmn)K (10)
in which Kmn represents the terms (m,n) in the stiffness matrix [k] for a
uniform member, a n d / n = 1.5C + 1.2C2 + 0.35C 3 ;/ 12 = C + 0.7C2 +
0.2C 3 ;/ 1 3 = -1.5C - 1.2C2 - 0.35C 3 ; fu = 2C + 1.7C2 + 0.5C 3 ;/ 2 2 =
0.75C + 0.4C2.+ 0.1C 3 ;/ 2 3 = C + 0.7C2 + 0.2C 3 ;/ 2 4 = 1.5C + 1.3C2 +
0.4C 3 ;/ 3 3 = 1.5C + 1.2C2 + 0.35C3;/34 = - 2 C - 1.7C2 - 0.5C 3 ; and
fu = 2.25C + 1.9C2 + 0.55C 3 ; in which C = (hB - hA/hA).
Note that for a prismatic beam, C becomes zero, and the standard
stiffness matrix results. This is not necessarily so with some of the more
rigorous formulations, where the case of no taper can produce discon-
tinuities in the relevant expressions.

RESULTS

The results presented in Tables 1, 2 and 3 sTiow a comparison between

3053

J. Struct. Eng., 1984, 110(12): 3050-3055

Downloaded from ascelibrary.org by Bangladesh University of Engineering and Technology on 12/28/19. Copyright ASCE. For personal use only; all rights reserved.

All dimensions In mm. Young's Modulus = 100 kN/mm

FIG. 4.—Portal Frame

the approximate method developed above and the results given by Just
(2). Note that the following examples are for rnembers loaded at nodes
only. If member loads are to be considered, then the fixed-end moments
should be modified.
Example 1.—Fig. 3 shows a propped cantilever of tapering I-section
for which three solutions are shown. Solution (a) involves the use of
Just's full stiffness matrix, while solution (b), also from Just's work, al-
lows for further simplification by assuming that the section properties
for an I-section (or rectangular box-section) may be taken as varying with
depth only between two selected positions along the member. If more
positions are chosen for this solution, it approaches the values in so-
lution (a). Solution (c) uses the approximate bending stiffness matrix de-
veloped here, and is based on the same simplification as solution (b) for
this example. The results are shown in Table 1.
Example 2.—Fig. 4 shows a portal frame of tapering sections, and
comparative results are shown in Tables 2 and 3. In this example, so-
lution (a) is as above, but solutions (b) and (c) are based on member
properties taken at the ends of the member only, and considered to vary
only with depth in-between. Values are presented for two load cases:
(1) A vertical downward load of 100 kN at point 3; and (2) a lateral load
of 100 kN at eaves level. Values are given for deflection and bending
moment at each of the five "nodal" points.

CONCLUSION

It was shown that for two practical applications of the approximate

stiffness matrix presented here, economy of effort was achieved without
3054

J. Struct. Eng., 1984, 110(12): 3050-3055

 any great loss of accuracy. Even for the large tapers s h o w n here, the
accuracy of the approximate method w a s acceptable. Even greater ac-
Downloaded from ascelibrary.org by Bangladesh University of Engineering and Technology on 12/28/19. Copyright ASCE. For personal use only; all rights reserved.

curacy is to be expected for smaller tapers. This is a useful attribute for

design office situations.

APPENDIX.—REFERENCES

1. Jenkins, W. M., Matrix and Digital Computer Method in Structural Analysis,

McGraw-Hill Book Co., Inc., New York, N.Y., 1969.
2. Just, D. J., "Plane Frameworks of Tapering Box and I-Section," Journal of the
Structural Division, ASCE, Vol. 103, No. ST1, Jan., 1977, pp. 71-86.
3. Timoshenko, S., and Young, D. H., Theory of Structures, McGraw-Hill Book
Co., Inc., New York, N.Y., 1945.
4. Tuma, J. J., and Munshi, R. K., Theory and Problems of Advanced Structural Anal-
ysis, McGraw-Hill Book Co., Inc., New York, N.Y., 1971.

3055

J. Struct. Eng., 1984, 110(12): 3050-3055