Technical University Gheorghe Asachi of Iasi

Faculty of Civil Engineering, Department of Structural Mechanics

Solved example for Numerical Methods Combined Shear and Bending

Consider the following stepped beam:

a) Determine the free nodal displacements;
b) Determine the reactive forces;
c) Determine the bending moments and the shear forces at the nodes;
d) Plot the shear force and bending moment diagrams.

kN
q 10
m
L 4 m

Given data:

kN
E 2.1108 2
m
I 1.29 103 m 4
y

q L2
M
8

D1 = v1

D2 = 1
1

qL
2

EIy

D3 = v2 D5 = v3
D4 = 2 D6 = 3
2
3
2EIy

R1

0.5L

Step 1:
Input data (units are kN and m):
ORIGIN 1
q 10
8

E 2.110

I 1.2910

Page 1 of 10

R2

R3

Technical University Gheorghe Asachi of Iasi

Faculty of Civil Engineering, Department of Structural Mechanics
Solved example for Numerical Methods Combined Shear and Bending

E I

2 E I

EIy

q L

12

q L
M

Step 2:
Write the finite element force-displacement relations:
Element 1:
1

F1 0
M 0 EI
1
1
1
F fn k1 d n 1 3y
L1
F2 0

M 2
0

6L1
12
6L
4L21
1

12 6L1

2
6L1 2L1

i 1

12 6 Li

6 L 4 L 2
i
i
EIy
i 12 6 L
i

6 L 2 L 2
i i
k1

2
6 L 2 L
i
i
12 6 L
i

2
6 L 4 L
i
i
12

6 L

Li3

5.079 104

5
1.016 10

k1

4
5.079 10
1.016 105

0

0
fn1
0
0

5
5
5
2.709 10 1.016 10 1.355 10
5
4
5
1.016 10 5.079 10 1.016 10

5
5
5
1.355 10 1.016 10 2.709 10
5

1.016 10

5.079 10

1.016 10

Page 2 of 10

12
6L1
12
6L1

6L1 v1
2L21 1

6L1 v 2

4L21 2

Technical University Gheorghe Asachi of Iasi

Faculty of Civil Engineering, Department of Structural Mechanics
Solved example for Numerical Methods Combined Shear and Bending

Element 2:

qL
4
2

F2 q L2
M
2
48 2EI y
k2 d n 2
3
F
q

L
L2
3

M 3 4

2
q L
48
2

F fn
2

6L 2
12
6L
4L22
2
12 6L 2

2
6L 2 2L 2

i 2

12 6 Li

6 L 4 L 2
i
i
EIy
i 12 6 L
i

6 L 2 L 2
i i
k2

2
6 L 2 L
i
i
12 6 L
i

2
6 L 4 L
i
i
12

6 L

Li3

8.127 105

5
8.127 10

k2

5
8.127 10
8.127 105

q L2

2
q L 2
2
12
fn2

q L2
2

q L 2
2

12

6
5
5
1.084 10 8.127 10 5.418 10
5
5
5
8.127 10 8.127 10 8.127 10

5
5
6
5.418 10 8.127 10 1.084 10
5

8.127 10

8.127 10

8.127 10

10

3.333

fn2
10
3.333

Page 3 of 10

12
6L 2
12
6L 2

6L 2 v 2
2L22 2

6L 2 v3

4L22 3

Technical University Gheorghe Asachi of Iasi

Faculty of Civil Engineering, Department of Structural Mechanics
Solved example for Numerical Methods Combined Shear and Bending

Step 3:
Determine the assembled structural stiffness matrix and write the structural force-displacement relation:

0
0

R1
v1 R1 q L
D1
qL
0 0

1 0 4
2
1
2
2
2
Q
v v Q
D
F f n K D 0 q L K 12 22 q L K 3
48
M
2 2 M 48
D4
R2 q L
v3 R 2 q L
D5

R 3
3 R 3 4
D6
q L2
q L2

48

48
ii 1 6

jj 1 6

i 1 4

iijj

iijj

j 1 4

5.079 104

1.016 105

4
k1exp 5.079 10

1.016 105

k2exp

k1exp

0
0

0
k2exp
0

0
0
0
0
0
0

k1exp

i j

1.016 10

2.709 10

1.016 10

k1

i j

5.079 10

1.016 10

5.079 10

1.016 10

1.355 10

1.016 10

0 0
0
0

1.355 10

1.016 10

2.709 10

k2exp

i 2 j 2

k2

i j

5
5
5
5
8.127 10
8.127 10 8.127 10 8.127 10

5
6
5
5
8.127 10
1.084 10 8.127 10 5.418 10

5
5
5
5
8.127 10 8.127 10 8.127 10 8.127 10
5
5
5
6
8.127 10
5.418 10 8.127 10 1.084 10
0

K k1exp k2exp

Page 4 of 10

Technical University Gheorghe Asachi of Iasi

Faculty of Civil Engineering, Department of Structural Mechanics
Solved example for Numerical Methods Combined Shear and Bending

5.079 104

1.016 105

5.079 104
K
1.016 105

5
5
5

2.709 10 1.016 10 1.355 10

0
0

5
5
5
5
5
1.016 10 8.635 10
7.111 10 8.127 10 8.127 10

5
5
6
5
5
1.355 10
7.111 10
1.355 10 8.127 10 5.418 10

5
5
5
5
0
8.127 10 8.127 10 8.127 10 8.127 10
5
5
5
6
0
8.127 10
5.418 10 8.127 10 1.084 10
5

1.016 10

5.079 10

1.016 10

fn1exp stack (fn1 00)

0
0

0
fn1exp
0
0

0
fn2exp stack (00fn2 )

0
0

10

fn2exp
3.333
10

3.333
fnexp fn1exp fn2exp

0
0

10

fnexp
3.333
10

3.333

Step 4:
Rearrange and perform the partition of the structural force-displacement relation.

Page 5 of 10

Technical University Gheorghe Asachi of Iasi

Faculty of Civil Engineering, Department of Structural Mechanics
Solved example for Numerical Methods Combined Shear and Bending

0
qL

D1
R1 4
D
R
2
5
2 q L
R 3 48
D6 Fr f r K rr

K2

0 0
D 2 Fn f n K nr
Q q L
D3

D 4
M 4
q L2

48

K rn Dr
K nn Dn

K1 stack (submatrix(K1116) submatrix(K5616) submatrix(K2416))

K2 augment (submatrix(K11611) submatrix(K11656) submatrix(K11624))

5.079 104

0
K2
1.016 105

4
5.079 10

5
1.016 10

5
5
5
5
8.127 10 8.127 10
0
8.127 10 8.127 10

5
6
5
5
8.127 10 1.084 10
0
8.127 10
5.418 10

5
5
5
0
0
2.709 10 1.016 10 1.355 10

5
5
5
5
5
8.127 10 8.127 10 1.016 10 8.635 10
7.111 10
5
5
5
5
6
8.127 10 5.418 10
1.355 10
7.111 10
1.355 10
0

1.016 10

5.079 10

Krr submatrix(K21313)

5.079 104

0
0

5
5
Krr
0
8.127 10 8.127 10

5
6
0
8.127 10 1.084 10

Krn submatrix(K21346)

1.016 105 5.079 104 1.016 105

5
5
Krn
0
8.127 10 8.127 10

5
5
0
8.127 10
5.418 10

Knr submatrix(K24613)

Page 6 of 10

1.016 10

Technical University Gheorghe Asachi of Iasi

Faculty of Civil Engineering, Department of Structural Mechanics
Solved example for Numerical Methods Combined Shear and Bending

1.016 105

0
0

4
5
5
Knr 5.079 10 8.127 10 8.127 10

5
5
5
1.016 10 8.127 10 5.418 10
Knn submatrix(K24646)

2.709 105 1.016 105 1.355 105

5
5
5
Knn 1.016 10 8.635 10 7.111 10

5
5
6
1.355 10 7.111 10 1.355 10
fn submatrix(fnexp 2411)

0
fn 10

3.333
fr stack (submatrix(fnexp 1111) submatrix(fnexp 5611))

0
fr 10

3.333
0
Fn Q

M

0
Fn 20

20

Step 5:
Determine the free nodal displacements and the reactive forces according to the support conditions:

Fr

f r
K rr

Fn

f n
K nr

K rn Dr Fr f r K rr Dr K rn Dn
K nn Dn Fn f n K nr Dr K nn Dn

0
Fr K rn K nn 1 Fn f n f r

Fr f r K rn Dn

Since D r 0
1
Dn K nn Fn f n

Fn f n K nn Dn

Page 7 of 10

Technical University Gheorghe Asachi of Iasi

Faculty of Civil Engineering, Department of Structural Mechanics
Solved example for Numerical Methods Combined Shear and Bending

Dn lsolve(Knn Fn fn )

1.995 10 5

5
Dn 4.324 10

6
7.471 10
or:
Dn Knn

(Fn fn )

1.995 10 5

5
Dn 4.324 10

6
7.471 10
Fr fr Krn Dn

0.929
Fr 39.071

34.429

qL
2

q L2
M
8

EIy

R3 = 34.429 kNm
x
2

3
2EIy

R1 = 0.929 kN

0.5L

Checking up the support reactions:

Page 8 of 10

R2 = 39.071 kN

Technical University Gheorghe Asachi of Iasi

Faculty of Civil Engineering, Department of Structural Mechanics
Solved example for Numerical Methods Combined Shear and Bending

15

Fr Q q L Fr 7.105 10
1

Fr L L
1

2
Fr 0
2 2
3

M Q L q L
2

Step 6:
Determine the bending moments and the shear forces at the nodes:
Node 1:
Vz1 0.929

Vz1 Fr

My1 0

Node 2:
Vz2left 0.929

Vz2left Fr

My2left 3.714

My2left Fr L

1 1

Vz2right 19.071

Vz2right Fr Q
1

My2right Fr L M
1 1

My2right 23.714

Node 3:
Vz3 Fr

Vz3 39.071

My3 Fr

My3 34.429

IN SUMMARY:

1.995 105 D2

a) D n 4.324 105 D3
7.471106 D

R1 0.929

b) Fr R 2 39.071
R 34.429
3

Page 9 of 10

Technical University Gheorghe Asachi of Iasi

Faculty of Civil Engineering, Department of Structural Mechanics
Solved example for Numerical Methods Combined Shear and Bending

d)
y

qL
2

q L2
M
8

EIy

R3 = 34.429 kNm
x
2

3
R2 = 39.071 kN

2EIy
R1 = 0.929 kN

0.5L

0.929 kN

Vz

+
-

19.071 kN

39.071 kN

34.429 kNm

My

3.714 kNm
+
23.714 kNm

Page 10 of 10