CIE 322

Conjugate Beam Method

The methods used to determine the deflection and slope of beams include methods of double
integration, moment-area theorems, Castigliano’s theorem (strain energy and virtual work) and
superposition. However, to analyze and solve problems they all require that the boundary
conditions of the beams be known or specified. A major advantage of the conjugate beam
method is the ability to solve deflection problems of a balanced beam with a single simple
support like the one shown in Figure 5.14, and beams in neutral equilibrium.

A C B M=WL

L L

Figure 5.14

At the ends A and B of the beam in Figure 5.14, the support conditions (i.e., free ends) are
known but the boundary conditions are not known. They are only known at point C (simple
support). This is not enough in solving the problem with the aforementioned methods. On the
other hand, the support conditions at A, B, and C are enough to allow the use of the conjugate
beam method in solving for the deflections of the beam.
The conjugate beam method utilizes “support conditions” while the other methods utilize
“boundary conditions” in problem solving.

Conjugate beam is defined as the imaginary beam with the same length as that of the original
beam. The load at any point on the conjugate beam is considered equal to the bending moment at
that point divided by EI.
The conjugate beam method is based on the similarity between the relationships for loading and
shear force on one hand, and shear force and bending moment on the other hand.

Let M = Moment, Q = Shear force, w = load per unit length, x of beam, θ = Slope and
y = deflection
The following expressions relate the internal shear force and bending moment to the applied
load;
2
dQ dM d M
=w (x), =Q, =w
dx dx dx
2

Or

1
 2
d M dQ
2
= =w (5.53)
dx dx

i.e., Q=∫ w ( x ) dx and M =∬ w ( x ) dxdx

On the other hand, the slope and deflection of the elastic curve are related to the internal moment
by the following expressions;
2
dθ M d y M
= , =
dx EI dx
2
EI

Or
2
d y dθ M
2
= = (5.54)
dx dx EI

M M
i.e., θ=∫ dx and y=∬ dxdx
EI EI

M
If the two set of equations are compared and indicating that is the loading on an imaginary
EI
beam, the resulting shear force and bending moment in the beam are the slope and deflection of
the real (actual) beam, respectively. The imaginary beam is referred to as “conjugate beam”.
Comparing the expressions for shear, Q, and the slope, ;

dQ dθ M
=x =
dx dx EI

M
If w is replaced with the term the expressions for shear force and slope are identical.
EI
Also comparing the expressions for bending moment, M, and the deflection, y,
2 2
d M d y M
2
=w 2
=
dx dx EI
M
In the same way, if you replace w with the term the expressions for bending moment and
EI
deflection are identical.

The loading diagram showing the elastic loads acting on the conjugate beam is simply the
bending moment diagram of the actual beam divided by the flexural rigidity EI of the actual
beam.

5.5.1 Guidelines and rules for solving problems in conjugate beam method
1. The length of the conjugate beam is the same as the length of the actual beam.

2
2. The loading diagram showing the elastic loads acting on the conjugate beam is simply the
bending moment diagram of the actual beam divided by the flexural rigidity EI of the actual
beam. (This elastic load is upward if the bending moment is positive to cause top fiber in
compression) 3. For each existing support condition of the actual beam, there is a corresponding
support condition for the conjugate beam. These are listed in Table 5.2.
4. The actual beam, conjugate beam, and even conjugate beam of a conjugate beam are all in
static equilibrium.
5. The slope of (the centerline of) the actual beam at any cross section is equal to the “shear
force” at the corresponding cross section of the conjugate beam. (This slope is positive or
counterclockwise if the “shear force” is positive — to rotate the beam element clockwise)
6. The deflection of (the centerline of) the actual beam at any point is equal to the “bending
moment” of the conjugate beam at the corresponding point. (This deflection is upward if the
“bending moment” is positive — to cause top fiber in compression).

5.5.2 Theorems of conjugate beam method

The two theorems used in determining slopes and deflections in the conjugate beam method are
as stated thus;
Theorem 1: The slope at a point in the real beam is equal to the shear at the corresponding point
in the conjugate beam.
Theorem 2: The deflection or displacement of a point in the real beam is equal to the moment at
the corresponding point in the conjugate beam.

Real or actual beam with applied loading Conjugate beam

The applied loading is ratio of bending moment
w M from the real beam to the flexural rigidity EI
M
w/x EI
x

Determine the bending moment (draw the

bending moment diagram)
Note the sign of loading w and the M/EI on the
conjugate beam

Table 5.2: Real (actual) and Conjugate beams for different beam structures

3
 Real (actual) Beam and Supports Conjugate Beam and Supports

Q≠0 Q≠0 Q≠0 Q≠0

M=0 M=0 M=0 M=0

Q≠0 Q=0 θ≠0 θ=0

M≠0 M=0 y≠0 y=0

Q≠0 Q≠0 Q=0 θ≠0 θ≠0 θ=0

M=0 M≠0 M=0 y=0 y≠0 y=0

Q≠0 Q≠0 Q=0 Q=0 θ≠0 θ≠0 θ≠0 θ≠0

M≠0 M≠0 M=0 M=0 y≠0 y≠0 y=0 y=0

Q≠0 θ≠0 θ≠0

Q≠0
y≠0 y≠0
M≠0 M≠0

4
5.5.3 Procedure for analysis
M M
1. Construct the conjugate beam with the loading. Remember when the diagram is
EI EI
M
positive the loading is upward and when the diagram is negative the loading is downward.
EI
2. Use the equations of equilibrium to solve for the reactions of the conjugate beam.
3. Solve for the shear and moment at the point or points where the slope and displacement are
desired. If the values are positive, the slope is counterclockwise and the displacement is upward.

Example 5.7
Determine the slope and deflection at the free end of a cantilever beam of length L and uniform
flexural rigidity EI when a concentrated force F is applied at that free end.

Solution
Shown is the actual cantilever beam with the loading and according to the guidelines 1 through
3, the conjugate beam is first drawn corresponding to the actual beam.

Actual cantilever beam Conjugate cantilever beam

F FL
EI

A B
L
B A
L
the maximum bending moment M max =PL
The bending moment diagram as shown is
FL
represented as an elastic loading on the
EI
conjugate beam

The free body diagram is next drawn as shown for the purpose of computing the reactions at A.

FL
EI

R Ay

MA
B
A L
5
According to the 4th guideline, the free body of the conjugate beam is in equilibrium. Thus, the
reaction “force” (i.e., the “shear force” at A of the conjugate beam) and the reaction “moment”
(i.e., the “bending moment” at A of the conjugate beam) are computed.
Take the force or loading to be the area of the elastic loading diagram, the reactions at A are
given as;

( )
2
FL −FL
+ ∑ F y =0; ½ ( L) + R Ay=0; R Ay = KN m
2
[ ]
EI 2 EI

( )
3
FL FL
+ ∑ M A =0 ; −½ ( L )
EI
( ⅔ L ) + M A =0; M A=
3 EI
KN m
2
[ ]

By guidelines 5 and 6, the slope and the deflection at the free end A of the actual beam are equal
to the “shear force” R Ay and the “bending moment” M A at the fixed end A of the conjugate beam
respectively. Thus;

2
−FL
θA= [ ] and
2 EI

3
FL
y A= [ ]
3 EI

Note that deflection, y A points downward because M A causes tension in bottom fiber of the
beam at A (i.e. sagging moment)

Example 5.8
A 6m long simply supported beam with a 5KN load at the centre is expected to undergo
deformation along the span. Determine the slope and the deflection at the centre of the beam.
Take E = 208GN/m2 and I = 1.56 x 10-4m4.

Solution
The beam diagram is as shown below. From equation (4.6), the maximum moment and the
bending moment diagram are as shown also;
5 (6)
M max = =7.5 KNm
4

5KN
M
EI 7.5
KNm
A B EI

6
 C
3m 3m

M
Next is to construct the conjugate beam and apply the diagram as loading. Remember
EI
positive (+) bending moment is a positive (+) loading on the conjugate beam.

7.5
KNm
EI

A
B
C
3m 3m

The value of the concentrated force F, at the centre is the area of the bending moment diagram
that has now become the loading diagram in the conjugate beam, i.e.; F=¿½( 6 )
EI( )
7.5 22.5
=
EI
KN

22.5 2
F= KN m
EI

A
B
C
3m 3m R By
R Ay

Next is to use the equations of statical equilibrium to compute the reactions;

22.5 −11.25
+ ∑ M B=0 ; −R Ay ( 6 ) −
EI
( 3 )=0; R Ay =
EI
KN m
2

7
 −11.25 22.5 −11.25
+ ∑ F y =0; EI
+
EI
+ R By =0 ; R By=
EI
KN m
2

3m

3
23.25 KN m
¿−
208 ¿ ¿

Therefore, the deflection of the real beam at point C is equal to the moment at point C on the
conjugate beam, i.e.;
y = – 0.7165mm
Also;
+ ∑ F y =0; ( )
Q C =½ (3 )
7.5 11.25
EI
−
EI
=0

The slope is equal to the shear force in the conjugate beam. Since the shear force QC =0, the
slope is zero. i.e.;
θ=0

4. Determine the deflection at the free end, C of the beam shown using conjugate beam method.
Take E = 210GN/m2, I = 9 x 10-5m4

3KN

A B
C

4m 2m

8
Solution:
y C =0.00031746 m∨0.31746 mm

5. Determine the slope and deflection at B of the cantilever beam shown below. Take E =
208GN/m2, I = 7.2 x 10-5m4

6KN
A

B
3m C 3m

6. Shown is an 8m long simply supported beam AB with a concentrated 10KN load, 6m from the
A end. Find the deflection at the midspan. Take E = 210GN/m2, I = 3.2 x 10-4m4

10KN

A C B

6m 2m

7. A 12m long beam ABCD is simply supported at B (hinged) and C (roller). It has free ends at
A and D with 5KN concentrated loads each at the free ends. Spans AB, BC and CD are 3m, 6m
and 3m respectively. Determine the slope at point B and the midspan deflection of the beam.
Take E = 205GN/m2, IAB = ICD = 3.6 x 10-5m4, IBC = 7.2 x10-5m4

8. A beam AB carrying a uniformly distributed load of 4KN/m is hinged at A and has a roller at
B. If it is 8m long, compute the slope at A and the deflection at the midspan. Take E =
208GN/m2, I = 1.5 x 10-4m4

9
10