Chapter 15

Beam Analysis
Using The Stiffness Method
 Preliminary Definitions & Concepts
• Member and node identifications
 Each element must be free from load & have a prismatic cross
section.
 The node of each element are located at a support or at point where
member are connected together, where an external force is applied,
where the cross-sectional area suddenly change, or where the
vertical or rotational displacement at a point is to be determined.
 Preliminary Definitions & Concepts
• Global & member coordinates.
 Similar to truss global system will be identified using x, y axes and local
or member coordinate will be identified using x’,y’ axes used
 In each beam element the x & x’ will be parallel.
 Therefore unlike the case of trusses, here we will not need to develop
transformation matrices between these coordinate systems.
 Preliminary Definitions & Concepts
 Degree of freedom
If we consider the effect of both bending & shear, then each
node on a beam can have two degree of freedom, namely, a
vertical displacement & a rotation.
Lowest code numbers will be used to identify
the unknown displacements.
 Stiffness Matrix
• Positive Sign Convention
 Preliminary Definitions & Concepts
 Internal hinge
 Preliminary Definitions & Concepts
 Slider joint
 Stiffness Matrix
• Member stiffness matrix
 Stiffness Matrix
• Member stiffness matrix
N y' Nz' Fy ' Fz '
 12 6 12 6 N
 L3 
L2 
y'
L2 L3
 
 6 4
 2
6 2 
Nz'
 L2 L L L 
k  EI 
12 6 12 6
 3  2  2  Fy '
 L L L3 L 
 6 2 6 4 
 2  2  Fz '
 L L L L 

• Beam stiffness matrix

K  k
 Application for Beam Analysis
The beam can be related to the displacements using the structure stiffness
equation.

Q  KD
Q k   K 11 K 12   D u 
Q  =  K K  D 
 u   21 22   k 

Q k  K 11Du  K 12 D k
Qu  K 21Du  K 22 D k
 Application for Beam Analysis
• Member Force

q  k d  q0
'

Where: q0 is the fixed end reactions if the beam subjected to intermediate loading.

 12 6 12 6 
 L3 
L2 
 d  q Ny 0 
L2 L3
q Ny  
 6 4 6 2  Ny  
q   2 d  q  
 Nz   L2 L L L   Nz   Nz 0 
   EI    
q Fy  12 6 12 6  d Fy   q Fy  
 3  2  2 0
q Fz   L L L3 L   d Fz   
 6 2 6 4 
 
 Fz 0 
q
 2  2 
 L L L L 
 Application for Beam Analysis
• Intermediate Loading
 Example 1
• Determine the reactions at the supports of the beam
shown. EI is constant.
 Example 1
Member stiffness matrix
Member 1

6 4 5 3
 1.5 1.5 1.5 1.5  6
 1.5 2 1.5 1  4
k 1  EI  
 1.5 1.5 1.5 1.5 5
  N y' Nz' Fy ' Fz '
 1.5 1 1.5 2  3
 12 6 12 6  N y'
 L3 
Member 2 L2 L3 L2 
 
5 3 2 1  6 4
 2
6 2  Nz'
 L2 L L L 
 1.5 1.5 1.5 1.5  5 k  EI 
 1.5 6
1 
12 6 12
2 1.5 3  3  2  2 Fy '
k 2  EI    L L L3 L 
 1.5 1.5 1.5 1.5 2
 6
  2 6 4 
 1  2  2  Fz '
 1.5 1 1.5 2   L L L L 
 Example 1
Beam stiffness matrix
K  k1  k 2

1 2 3 4 5 6
 2 1.5 1 0 1.5 0  1
 1.5 1.5 1.5 0 1.5 0  2
 
 1 1.5 4 1 0 1.5  3
K  EI  
 0 0 1 2 1.5 1.5 
4
 1.5 1.5 0 1.5 3 1.5 5
 
 0 0 1.5 1.5 1.5 1.5  6
 Example 1
Displacements & loads
Q  KD

1 2 3 4 5 6
0  2 1.5 1 0 1.5 0   D1 
 5   1.5 1.5 1.5 0 1.5 0  D 2 
    
0  1 1.5 4 1 0 1.5   D 3 
   EI   
0
   0 0 1 2 1.5 1.5  D 4 
Q 5   1.5 1.5 0 1.5 3 1.5  0 
    
 6
Q  0 0 1.5 1.5 1.5 1.5  0 
26.67
0  2D1  1.5D 2  D3  0 16.67 D2  
D1   EI
5 EI
  1.5D1  1.5D 2  1.5D 3  0
EI
0  D1  1.5D 2  4D3  D 4 6.67 3.33
D3   D4 
EI EI
0  0  0  D 3  2D 4
 Example 1
1 2 3 4 5 6 16.67
D1  
0  2 1.5 1 0 1.5 0   D1  EI
 5   1.5 1.5 1.5 0 1.5 0  D 2 
     26.67
0  1 1.5 4 1 0 1.5   D 3  D2  
 EI
  EI   
0
   0 0 1 2 1.5 1.5  D 4  6.67
D3  
Q 5   1.5 1.5 0 1.5 3 1.5  0  EI
    
 6
Q  0 0 1.5 1.5 1.5 1.5  0  3.33
D4 
EI

The reaction can be calculated by

 16.67   26.67   3.33 
Q 5  1.5EI     1.5EI     0  1.5EI    10 kN
 EI   EI   EI 
 16.67   3.33 
Q 6  0  0  1.5EI     1.5EI    5 kN
 EI   EI 
 Example 2
• Determine the internal shear and moment in member q of
the beam shown, EI is constant.
Example 2
Example 2
Example 2
Example 2
 Example 3
• Determine the reactions at the supports of the beam which subjected
to two couple moments and a settlement of 1.5mm at support 2. E =
200 GPa and I = 22(10-6)m4.
 Example 3

Member Stiffness Matrices:

Example 3
Example 3
 Example 4
• Determine the developed at support A of the beam shown.
E = 29(103) ksi, I = 510 in4.
 Example 4

Member Stiffness Matrices:

Member 1
 Example 4
Member Stiffness Matrices:
Member 2
Example 4
Example 4
 Example 5
Determine the deflection at support 1and the reactions on the
beam, EI is constant
 Example 4
Member Stiffness Matrices:
 Example 4
Displacements and Loads:
Example 4
 Example 5b
Solve the previous example using only one element

P/2
1 3 P/2
P/2 P/2
2 4
 Example 5b
Solve the previous example using only one element

P/2
P/2
P/2 3 P/2
1

2 4