THEORY OF STRUCTURES 2

CHAPTER 3.2 - CONJUGATE BEAM METHOD

The conjugate – beam method was developed by H. Miller – Breslau in 1865. Essentially, it requires the same amount of
computation as the moment – area theorems to determine a beam’s slope or deflection; however, this method relies
only on the principles of statics, and hence its application will be more familiar.

From formulas:

𝑑𝑉
= −𝑤
𝑑𝑥
𝑑𝜃 𝑀
=
𝑑𝑥 𝐸𝐼

𝑑2 𝑀 𝑀
=
𝑑𝑥 2 𝐸𝐼

𝑑2 𝑣 𝑀
=
𝑑𝑥 2 𝐸𝐼

Or integrating,

𝑉 = − ∫ 𝑤𝑑𝑥

𝑀
𝜃=∫ 𝑑𝑥
𝐸𝐼

𝑀 = ∫ (− ∫ 𝑤𝑑𝑥) 𝑑𝑥

𝑀
𝑣 = ∫ (∫ 𝑑𝑥) 𝑑𝑥
𝐸𝐼

Here the shear V compares with the slope ϴ, the moment M compares with the displacement v, and the external load w
compares with the M/EI diagram. To make use of this comparison, we will now consider a beam having the same length
as the real beam, but referred to here as the “conjugate beam” as shown in figure:

The conjugate beam is “loaded” with the M/EI diagram derived from the load w on the real beam. From the above
comparisons, we can state two theorems related to the conjugate beam, namely:
THEOREM 1

The slope at a point in the real beam is numerically equal to the shear at the corresponding point in the conjugate beam.

THEOREM 2

The displacement of a point in the real beam is numerically equal to the moment at the corresponding point in the
conjugate beam.

CONJUGATE – BEAM SUPPORTS

When drawing the conjugate beam it is important that the shear and moment developed at the supports of the
conjugate beam accounts for the corresponding slope and displacement of the real beam at its supports, a consequence
of Theorem 1 and 2. For example, as shown in table:

A pin or roller support at the end of the real beam provides zero displacement, but the beam has a non zero slope.
Consequently, from Theorems 1 and 2, the conjugate beam must be supported by a pin or roller, since this support has
zero moment but has a shear or end reaction. When the real beam is fixed supported, both the slope and displacement
at the support are zero. Here the conjugate beam has a free end, since at this end there is zero shear and zero moment.
Corresponding real and conjugate beams are shown in figure:

Note that, as a rule, neglecting axial force, statically indeterminate real beams have statically determinate conjugate
beams; and statically indeterminate real beams, as in the last case in the figure, become unstable conjugate beams.
Although this occurs, the M/EI loading will provide the necessary “equilibrium” to hold the conjugate beam stable.
EXAMPLES

1. Determine the slope and deflection at point B of the steel beam shown in figure. E = 29(103) ksi, I = 800 in4.

𝑺𝑶𝑳𝑼𝑻𝑰𝑶𝑵:

∑ 𝑭𝒚 = 𝟎

562.5 𝑘 − 𝑓𝑡 2
− − 𝑉𝐵′ = 0
𝐸𝐼

562.5 𝑘 − 𝑓𝑡 2
𝑉𝐵′ = 𝜃𝐵 = −
𝐸𝐼

−562.5 𝑘 − 𝑓𝑡 2
𝜃𝐵 = = −𝟎. 𝟎𝟎𝟑𝟒𝟗 𝒓𝒂𝒅
𝑘 𝑖𝑛2 1 𝑓𝑡 4
29(10)3 2 (144 2 ) 800𝑖𝑛4 (12 𝑖𝑛)
𝑖𝑛 𝑓𝑡

∑ 𝑀𝐵′ = 0

562.5 𝑘 − 𝑓𝑡 2
− (25𝑓𝑡) − 𝑀𝐵′ = 0
𝐸𝐼

14062.5 𝑘 − 𝑓𝑡 3
𝑀𝐵′ = ∆𝐵 = −
𝐸𝐼

14062.5 𝑘 − 𝑓𝑡 3
∆𝐵 = −
𝑘 800
29(10)3 (144) 2 ( 4 ) 𝑓𝑡 4
𝑓𝑡 12

∆𝑩 = −𝟎. 𝟎𝟖𝟕𝟑 𝒇𝒕
2. Determine the maximum deflection of the steel beam shown in figure. E = 200 GPa, I = 60(10) 6 mm4.

𝑺𝑶𝑳𝑼𝑻𝑰𝑶𝑵:

∑ 𝐹𝑦 = 0

45 1 2𝑥
− + ( )𝑥 = 0
𝐸𝐼 2 𝐸𝐼

𝒙 = 𝟔. 𝟕𝟏 𝒎

(0 ≤ 𝑥 ≤ 9 𝑚) 𝑂𝐾

∑𝑀 = 0

45 1 2(6.71) 1
(6.71) − ( ( ) 6.71) (6.71) + 𝑀′ = 0
𝐸𝐼 2 𝐸𝐼 3
 201.2 𝑘𝑁 − 𝑚3
∆𝑀𝐴𝑋 = 𝑀′ = −
𝐸𝐼

201.2 𝑘𝑁 − 𝑚3
∆𝑀𝐴𝑋 = − = −0.016𝑚 = −𝟏𝟔. 𝟖𝒎𝒎
𝑘𝑁 1𝑚
(200(10)6 2 (60(10)6 𝑚𝑚4 (1000 𝑚𝑚)4
𝑚

3. Determine the displacement of the pin at B and the slope of each beam segment connected to the pin for the
compound beam shown in figure.

𝑺𝑶𝑳𝑼𝑻𝑰𝑶𝑵:
 ∑ 𝐹𝑦 = 0

225 450 3.6

(𝑉𝐵′ )𝑅 + − − =0
𝐸𝐼 𝐸𝐼 𝐸𝐼

228.6 𝑘 − 𝑓𝑡 2 228.6 𝑘 − 𝑓𝑡 2
(𝜃𝐵 )𝑅 = (𝑉𝐵′ )𝑅 = = = 𝟎. 𝟎𝟑𝟕𝟖 𝒓𝒂𝒅
𝐸𝐼 𝑘 30
(29(10)3 (144) 2 ( 4 )𝑖𝑛4
𝑓𝑡 12

∑ 𝑀𝐵′ = 0

225 450 3.6

𝑀𝐵′ − (5) + (7.5) + (15) = 0
𝐸𝐼 𝐸𝐼 𝐸𝐼

2304 𝑘 − 𝑓𝑡 3 2304 𝑘 − 𝑓𝑡 3
𝑀𝐵′ = ∆𝐵 = − =− = −𝟎. 𝟑𝟖𝟏 𝒇𝒕
𝐸𝐼 𝑘 30
(29(103 )(144 2 )( 4 )𝑓𝑡 4
𝑓𝑡 12

∑ 𝐹𝑦 = 0

228.6 225 450 3.6

(𝑉𝐵′ )𝐿 + + − − =0
𝐸𝐼 𝐸𝐼 𝐸𝐼 𝐸𝐼

(𝜽𝑩 )𝑳 = (𝑽𝑩′ )𝑳 = 𝟎

4. The girder in figure is made from a continuous beam and reinforced at its center with cover plates where its moment
of inertia is larger. The 12-ft end segments have a moment of inertia of I = 450 in4, and at its center portion has a
moment of inertia of I’ = 900 in4. Determine the deflection at the center. Take E = 29(10)3 ksi.
 ∑ 𝑀𝐶′ = 0

1116 720 360 36

− (18) + (10) + (3) + (2) − 𝑀𝐶 ′ = 0
𝐸𝐼 𝐸𝐼 𝐸𝐼 𝐸𝐼

𝑖𝑛3
11736 𝑘 − 𝑓𝑡3 11736 𝑘 − 𝑓𝑡 2 (1728 )
𝑓𝑡 3
𝑀𝐶′ = − =− = −𝟏. 𝟓𝟓 𝒊𝒏
𝐸𝐼 𝑘
29(103 ) (450𝑖𝑛4 )
𝑖𝑛2

5. A cantilever beam carries a vertical downward load of 150 kN at point B and a uniform load of 30 kN/m from C to D.
Assume EI to be constant. Determine slope at B and D, and deflection at B and D.
 𝑺𝑶𝑳𝑼𝑻𝑰𝑶𝑵:

𝑉𝐵 = 𝜃𝐵

3015 + 1575 𝟗𝟖𝟏𝟎

𝜃𝐵 = − ( ) (4) = − 𝒌𝑵 − 𝒎𝟐
2𝐸𝐼 𝑬𝑰

𝑀𝐵 = ∆𝐵

1 1440(4) 2 𝟐𝟎𝟐𝟖𝟎
∆𝐵 = − (1575(4)(2) + ( ) (4)) = − 𝒌𝑵 − 𝒎𝟑
𝐸𝐼 2 3 𝑬𝑰

1 (3015 + 1575) (1575 + 735) 735(7) 𝟏𝟓𝟓𝟏𝟓

𝜃𝐷 = − ( (4) + (4) + )=− 𝒌𝑵 − 𝒎𝟐
𝐸𝐼 2 2 3 𝑬𝑰

1 1440(4) 840(4) 735(7) 𝟏𝟕𝟐𝟗𝟕𝟗

∆𝐷 = − (1575(4)(13) + (13.67) + 735(4)(9) + (9.67) + (5.25)) = − 𝒌𝑵 − 𝒎𝟑
𝐸𝐼 2 2 3 𝑬𝑰