Lecture Note : Beam Analysis by Stiffness Method

Example 1 (Adopt from hibbler Ex15-4, pg 578)

A two-span beam is loaded as shown in Figure B1. The concentrated load 48kN is acting on
the midspan of member BC. Given E = 200 GPa and I = 216x106 mm4.
a) Determine the unconstrained degree of freedom and all the support reactions
b) Determine the shear forces and bending moment at joint B, if support C settles 2mm

48 kN
32 kN/m

A B C

6m 2m

Figure B1

Solution
Step 1: Notation
4 5 6

3 2
1
A B C
1 2

1 2 3

Step 2: Member stiffness matrices

Beam structure
 12EI 6EI 12EI 6EI 
 + L3 +
L2
-
L3
+
L2 
 
 + 6EI +
4EI 6EI
- 2 +
2EI 
 2
L  and it is symmetrical.
k L L L
 - 12EI 6EI 12EI 6EI 
- 2 + 3 - 2 
 L3 L L L 
 6EI 2EI 6EI 4EI 
+ 2 + - 2 + 
 L L L L 
 Lecture Note : Beam Analysis by Stiffness Method 2011

Member 1.
12EI/L3 =12(200)(216)/63 = 2400;
6EI/L2 =6(200)(216)/62 = 7200;
4EI/L =4(200)(216)/6 = 28800;
2EI/L =2(200)(216)/6 = 14400;
4 3 5 2
 2400 7200 2400 7200
6 4
 7200 28800 7200 14400  3
k1   
 2400 7200 2400 7200 5
 
 7200 14400 7200 28800  2

Member 2.
5 2 6 1
 64800 64800 664800 64800  5
 64800 86400 64800 43200  2
k2  
 64800 64800 64800 64800  6
 
 64800 43200 64800 86400  1

Step 3: Structure stiffness matrix

K  k1  k 2
1 2 3 4 5 6
 86400 43200 0 0 64800 64800  1
 43200 115200 14400 7200 57600 64800  2
 
 0 14400 28800 7200 7200 0  3
K 
 0 7200 7200 2400 2400 0  4
 64800 57600 7200 2400 67200 64800  5
 
 64800 64800 0 0 64800 64800  6

Step 4: Load and displacement matrix

 0 1  D1  1
 0  2 Qknown D  Dunknown
   2 2
Q  3 0
Q   3 D 
3
Q 4  4 Qunknown 0 4D
Q5  5 0
known

   
5
Q 6  6 0 6
 Lecture Note : Beam Analysis by Stiffness Method 2011

Step 5: Fixed-end-reactions, Qo, due to intermediate loadings

Q40 32(6)/2 Q50 48/2= Q60

=96 kN 96 kN Q50 24 kN
32 kN/m 24 kN 48 kN

B
+ Q10
A 6m B 2m C
2
Q20 12 kNm
Q30 32(6 )/12 96 kNm Q20 48(2)/8
=96 kNm =12 kNm

 12kNm  1
 96  12  84kNm  2
 
 96kNm  3
Qo   
 96kN  4
 96  24  120kN  5
 
 24kN  6

Step 6: Global Stiffness Equation

Q  KD  Qo

0  86400 43200   D1   12 

0    43200 115200   D    84  1
    2  
Solving
12  86400 D1  43200 D2
84  43200 D1  115200 D2
D1  0.2778 103 rad
D2  0.8333 103 rad Ans.
Thus, the support reactions are:
Q3  M A  0  14400 D2  96  108kNm
Q4  VA  0  7200 D2  96  102kN
Q5  VB  64800 D1  57600 D2  120  150kN
Q6  VC  64800 D1  64800 D2  24  12kN Ans.

b) If support C settles vertically by 2mm,

Q  KD  Qo
1 2 6
 0   86400 43200 64800   D1   12 
 0   43200 115200 64800   D   84 
    2   
Q3   0 14400 0   0   96 
     1
Q
  
4 0 7200 0  0   96 
Q5   64800 57600 64800   0  120 
      
Q6   64800 64800 64800   0.002   24 
 Lecture Note : Beam Analysis by Stiffness Method 2011

12  86400 D1  43200 D2  64800( 0.002)

84  43200 D1  115200 D2  64800( 0.002)
D1  1.432 103 rad
D2  1.410 104 rad

Local stiffness equation

q = k’d + qo , in beam k’=k

Member 1,
 q4   2400 7200 2400 7200   0   96 
 q   7200 28800 7200 14400   0   96 
 3     +   2
 q5   2400 7200 2400 7200   0   96 
    4   
 q2   7200 14400 7200 28800  1.4110   96 

q5   7200 1.41104   96  94.98 kN

q2   28800 1.41104   96  91.94 kNm Ans.

Member 2,

 q5   64800 64800 64800 64800   0   24 

 q   64800 86400 64800 43200   1.41 104   12 
 2       2
 q6   64800 64800 64800 64800  0.002   24 
    3   
 q1   64800 43200 64800 86400   1.432  10   12
   
q5  64800 1.41104  64800(0.002)  64800 1.432  103   24  70 kN Ans.

   
q2  86400 1.41104  64800(0.002)  43200 1.432 103   12  91.92 kNm Ans.
 Lecture Note : Beam Analysis by Stiffness Method 2011

Example 2
A two-span beam is loaded as shown in Figure B2. The concentrated load 15kN is acting on
the midspan of member AB. Given EI is constant throughout the beam with E = 200 GPa and
I = 216x106 mm4.
a) Determine the magnitude and direction of rotation at B and C.
b) Calculate the internal member forces for member BC. Given support A settles
vertically by 2/EI.
15 kN
3 kN/m 50 kNm

A B C

6m 2m

Figure B2
Solution
Step 1: Notation
4 5 6

3 2
1
A B C
1 2

1 2 3

Step 2: Member stiffness matrices

Member 1.
4 3 5 2 Member 2.
 2400 7200 2400 7200
6 4 5 2 6 1
 7200 28800 7200 14400  3
 64800 64800  6 64800 64800  5
k1   
 64800 86400 64800 43200 
 2400 7200 2400 7200 5 2
  k2   
 7200 14400 7200 28800  2  64800 64800 64800 64800  6
 
 64800 43200 64800 86400  1
Step 3: Structure stiffness matrix
K  k1  k 2
1 2 3 4 5 6
86400 43200 0 0 64800 64800  1
 115200 14400 7200 57600 64800  2

 28800 7200 7200 0  3
K 
 2400 2400 0  4
 67200 64800  5
 
 64800  6
 Lecture Note : Beam Analysis by Stiffness Method 2011

Step 4: Load and displacement matrix

 0 1  D1  1
 50  2 Qknown D  Dunknown
   2 2
Q  3 0
Q   3 D 
3
Q 4  4 Qunknown 0 4D
Q5  5 0
known

   
5
Q 6  6 0 6

Step 5: Fixed-end-reactions, Qo, due to intermediate loadings

13wL/32+P/2 3wL/32+P/2
Q40 15 kN
=13(3)(6)/32+15/2 =3(3)(6)/32+15/2 Q50
=14.81kN 3 kN/m =9.19kN

A 6m B
2
Q30 11wL /192+PL/8 5wL2/192+PL/8
=11(3)(6)2/192+15(6)/8 =5(3)(6)2/192+15(6)/8 Q20
=17.44kNm =14.06kNm
 0 1
 14.06kNm  2
 
 17.44kNm  3
Qo   
 14.81kN  4
 9.19kN  5
 
 0kN 6
Step 6: Global Stiffness Equation
Q  KD  Qo

 0  86400 43200   D1   0 
50    43200 115200   D    14.06  1
    2  
Solving
0  86400 D1  43200 D2
50  14.06  43200 D1  115200 D2
D1  3.422 104 rad
D2  6.844 104 rad Ans.
Thus, the rotation at B is 6.844 x 10-4 rad (clockwise) and C is -3.422 x 10-4 rad
(anticlockwise).
 Lecture Note : Beam Analysis by Stiffness Method 2011

b) If support A settles vertically by 20/EI = 20/(200)(216) = 4.6296x10-4 m,

Q  KD  Qo
1 2 4
 0   86400 43200 0  D1   0 
 50   43200 115200 7200   D2   14.06 
      
 Q3   0 14400 7200   0   17.44 
     1
Q4   0 7200 2400  -4.6296x10-4   14.81 
Q5   64800 57600 2400   0   9.19 
      
Q6   64800 64800 0  0   0 
0  86400 D1  43200 D2
50  14.06  43200 D1  115200 D2  7200(-4.6296x10-4 )
D1  3.6 104 rad
D2  7.2 104 rad

Local stiffness equation

q = k’d + qo , in beam k’=k

Member 2,

 q5   64800 64800 64800 64800   0   9.19 

 q   64800 86400 64800 43200   7.2 104   14.06 
 2       2
 q6   64800 64800 64800 64800   0   0 
    4   
 q1   64800 43200 64800 86400   3.6 10   0 
  
q5  64800 7.2 104  64800 3.6 104   9.19  51.96 kN Ans.
  
q2  86400 7.2 104  43200 3.6 104   14.06  32.60 kNm Ans.
 Lecture Note : Beam Analysis by Stiffness Method 2011

Tutorial
A three-span beam is loaded as shown in Figure B3. The concentrated load 15kN is acting on
the midspan of member AB. Given EI is constant throughout the beam.

a) Determine the moments at B and C.

4 kN/m

A B C D

12 m @ 3
Solution
Step 1: Notation Figure B3

7
5 6 8

1 2 3
4
A B C D
1 2 3

1 2 3 4

Step 2: Member stiffness matrices

Member 1 Member 2
 Lecture Note : Beam Analysis by Stiffness Method 2011

Step 3: Structure stiffness matrix

K  k1  k 2

Step 4: Load and displacement matrix

Q= D=

Step 5: Fixed-end-reactions, Qo, due to intermediate loadings

Member 1

Member 2
 Lecture Note : Beam Analysis by Stiffness Method 2011

Member 3

Therefore;
Q0=

Step 6: Global Stiffness Equation

Q  KD  Qo
 Lecture Note : Beam Analysis by Stiffness Method 2011

To determine the moment at B and C find the internal moment at member 2;

Local stiffness equation

q = k’d + qo , in beam k’=k

Member 2,