5.2.

Castigliano’s method (Energy Approach):

This theorem states that the displacement at the point of
application of an external load, in the direction of this load, is
the partial derivative of the total strain energy U with respect to
this load.
If the external load is force P then the corresponding
displacement will linear displacement v, and for the moment M
its corresponding displacement is the rotation of the body q.
U U
vi  and qi 
Pi M i
Notice that the strain energy stored in a beam subjected to
bending moment M is given by:
2
1M
U  dx
2 EI
Example 5.4:
P
Determine the maximum transverse deflection
A B
and the maximum rotation of a cantilever of
length L subjected to load P at its free end using L
the energy approach. Also get the deflection at
x
the mid-span.
Solution: M(x)

First: Get the variation of the bending moment x

along the beam.
M(x)= -P.(L-x)
M(x)= -P.(L-x)
Second: Getting the strain energy stored in the beam:

  PL  x 2 
L
U    dx
0 
2 EI
Third: Integration over the beam legth and differentiating w.r.t. P :

 L
 PL  x  
2
vB   
P 0  2 EI
 dx


vB  
2

  P  L  x  

3
 L

P  2 EI 3 0

vB  

 2 P  L  x  

3
 L

 2 EI 3 0
3
PL
vB 
3EI
To get the rotation of the beam at point B:
P M0
First: Assume a bending moment M0 acting at B
A
this point
L

x
Second: Get the variation of the bending moment
along the beam. M(x)

M(x)= - M0 - P.(L-x) x
-M0

M(x)= -M0-P.(L-x)
Third: Getting the strain energy stored in the beam:

  M 0  PL  x 2 
L
U    dx
0
2 EI 
Fourth: Integration over the beam length and differentiating w.r.t. M0 :

 L
 M0  P L  x  
  2
qB   
M 0 0  2 EI
 dx


  2 M 0  PL  x 

L
qB     dx
0 
2 EI

 P L  x  
L
M 0 .x
qB    dx
0 
EI EI 

 M 0 .x  P L  x   2 L

qB    
 EI 2 EI 0

M 0 L PL2
qB  
EI 2 EI
 Fifth: Let M0 =0 , then:
PL2
qB 
2 EI
To get the deflection of the mid-span:
P0 P
First: Assume a force P0 acting at this point B
A
L/2
L
Second: Get the variation of the bending moment
along the beam: x
M(x)
M(x)= -P (L-x) L/2 ≤ x ≤ L
x
M(x)= -P0 (L/2 - x) -P (L-x) 0 ≤ x ≤ L/2
 Third: Getting the strain energy stored in the beam:

L/2
  P0 L / 2  x   PL  x 2 
U1  0

 2 EI
 dx

  PL  x 2 
L
U2     dx
L/2  
2 EI

Total strain energy U = U1 + U2

Fourth: Integration over the beam length and differentiating w.r.t. P0 :


vat L/2  (U1  U 2 )
P0

 

L/2
  P  L / 2  x   P  L  x 2
 L
  P  L  x 2
  
        
0
vat L/2 dx dx
P0 
0  2 EI  L/2 
2 EI   
   2L / 2  x  P0 L / 2  x   PL  x 
L/2
vat L/2     dx
0  
2 EI

 
L/2
  P0 L / 2  x   PL / 2  x L  x  dx
1
vat L/2  
2

EI 0

 P L / 2  x   PL / 2  3 / 2Lx  x dx

L/2
1

2 2 2
vat L/2 0
EI 0

  P0 L / 2  x 
L/2
 2 x 
3 3
1
vat L/2    P L x / 2  3 / 4 Lx  
2

EI  3  3  0
L/2
1  L L 2
2
( L / 2) 
3
 0  P  3 / 4 LL / 2   
2
vat L/2
EI   2 3  0
5 PL3
vat L/2 
48 EI
5.3. Statically Indeterminate Problems:
When beams have the number of the unknown reactions
exceeds the number of the equilibrium equations available for
the system, we call such a case a statically indeterminate problems.

In such a case it is necessary to supplement the equilibrium

equations with additional equations stemming from the
deformation of the beam.
Example 5.5:
Determine the external reactions at the supports P
of a beam of length L subjected to load P at its A B
mid-span and totally fixed from both ends. L

x
Solution:
From the equilibrium of forces one can get RA RB
that RA = RB = P/2 MA P MB
A B
The equilibrium of moments will lead to a
redundant equation.

To solve for MA and MB we need to use the

information about the deflection in the
beam.
 P

This can be achieved through dividing the A B

problem into three part. L

P
The first part consists of a cantilever subjected 1
to a load at its mid-span (point C). A C B
L

The second part consists of a cantilever of RB

2
subjected to a load at its free end (point B). A B
L

The third part consists of a cantilever subjected MB

3
to a load at its free end (point B). A B
L
 Concerning part (1): P

A C B
L

vC
qC

P L / 2 
2
PL2 L PL2 L PL3
qC   vB1  q C    
2 EI 8EI 2 8EI 2 16 EI
From example 5.4.
P L / 2 
3
PL3 PL3
vC   vB 2 
3EI 24 EI 24 EI

PL3 PL3
vBtotal  vB1  vB2  
16 EI 24 EI
5PL3
vBtotal 
48EI
Concerning part (2):
RB RB = P/2
A B
L

RB L3 PL3
From example 5.4. vB  
3EI 6 EI

Concerning part (3):

MB
A B
L

It can be seen that proven that (Problem 5.b.1) the vertical deflection at the
free end due to the application of bending moment MB takes the value:
2
MBL
vB 
2 EI
Since the beam is totally fixed at point B, the deflection at that point is zero.

Applying the principle of superposition at point B.

PL3 5PL3 M B L2
vB  0   
6 EI 48EI 2 EI

PL
Then: MB 
8