Prepared by: Engr. Jan Nathan A.

Anastacio
▪ The conjugate beam method was developed by Heinrich Müller-Breslau in 1865.
▪ The basis for the method comes from the similarity of the following equations.
dV d2 M
=w =w
dx dx2
dθ M d2 y M
= =
dx EI dx2 EI
▪ Integrating those equations:
V = ‫׬‬w dx M = ‫׭‬w dx
M M
θ=‫׬‬ dx y=‫׭‬ dx
EI EI
▪ 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.
▪ The angles are always measured from the horizontal.
▪ If V’ is positive, the slope is counterclockwise from the
horizontal.
▪ If M’ is positive, the displacement is upward.
▪ Sample conversion from real beam to conjugate beam:
▪ Each simply supported floor joist shown in the photo is subjected to a uniform design
loading of 4kN/m. Determine the maximum deflection of the joist. Assume EI is constant.
▪ Solution:

50kNm
EI
 50kNm
EI
▪ Solution:
σ Fy = 0 10m
2 50
10 − 2R′ = 0
3 EI
50kNm
500kNm2
R′ = EI
3EI

500kNm 500kNm
3EI 3EI
 50kNm
EI
▪ Solution:
σ Fy = 0 10m
2 50
10 − 2R′ = 0
3 EI
50kNm
500kNm2
R′ = EI
3EI
M5 ′
σ M5 = 0
500 2 50 3
M5 ′ + (5) − 5 5 =0 500kNm 500kNm
3EI 3 EI 8
3EI V5 ′ 3EI
520.83333kNm2
M5 ′ = −
EI
ymax = M5 ′
520.83333kNm2
ymax = − (Ans. )
EI
▪ Determine the slope at points B and C of the beam, and the deflection of point C. Assume
E = 29000ksi and I = 600in4 .
▪ Solution:
▪ Solution:

60kft
EI
▪ Solution:
σ Fy = 0
1 60 30
− + 15 − VB ′ = 0
2 EI EI
675kft2
VB ′ = −
EI MB ′
675kft2
θB = −
EI
675kft2 1000lb 12in 2
θB = − VB ′
29x106 psi 600in4 kip ft 30kft
θB = −5.5862x10−3 rad 60kft EI
EI
θB = −0.00559rad (Ans.)
▪ Solution:
σ Fy = 0
1 60
− (30) − VC ′ = 0
2 EI
900kft2
VC ′ = −
EI MC ′
900kft2
θC = −
EI
900kft2 1000lb 12in 2
θC = − VC ′
29x106 psi 600in4 kip ft

θC = −7.4483x10−3 rad 60kft

EI
θC = −0.00745rad (Ans. )
▪ Solution:
σ MC = 0
1 60 2
MC ′ + 30 30 =0
2 EI 3
18000
MC ′ = −
EI MC ′
18000kft3
yC = −
EI
18000kft3 1000lb 12in 3
yC = − VC ′
29x106 psi 600in4 kip ft

yC = −1.788in (Ans. ) 60kft

EI
▪ Determine the slope at the point C of the beam. Assume E = 200GPa and I = 6x106 mm4 .
▪ Solution:
▪ Solution:
σ Fy = 0
1 60
12 − 2R′ = 0
2 EI
180kNm2 60
R′ =
EI
EI

180 180
EI EI
▪ Solution:
σ Fy = 0
1 60
12 − 2R′ = 0
2 EI
180kNm2 60
R′ =
EI
EI
1 30 180 30
3 − − VC ′ = 0 MC ′
2 EI EI
EI
135kNm2
VC ′ = −
EI

180 VC ′ 180
EI EI
▪ Solution:
135kNm2
θC = −
EI
135kNm2 1000N 1000mm 2
θC = −
(200x103 )(6x106 ) kN m
60
θC = −0.1125rad (Ans. ) EI
30
MC ′
EI

180 VC ′ 180
EI EI