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ILD: moment at support B, fixed-propped beam

Short answer

Using moment distribution, M_B is hogging throughout. At mid-AB (x=L) ordinate is -0.15L; at mid-BC (x=2.5L) ordinate is -0.075L. Zero at supports.

Draw Influence Line diagram for the moment at support B of a propped cantilever beam as shown. Plot ordinates at 0.50 times span length. [Figure: two-span beam ABC; A fixed, B interior support, C roller; AB = 2L, BC = L, EI constant.]

Sign convention: sagging moment (+), hogging moment (-); shear positive when the left part tends to go up; reaction positive upward. Ordinates are for a unit load moving along the beam.

Method

Beam ABC: A fixed, B and C supports, AB=2LAB = 2L, BC=LBC = L, constant EIEI. Use the moment-distribution (stiffness) form: rotational stiffness at B of AB is 4EI/2L=2EI/L4EI/2L = 2EI/L (far end fixed) and of BC is 3EI/L3EI/L (far end C is a roller, moment zero). So the distribution factors at B are DFBA=2/5=0.4DF_{BA} = 2/5 = 0.4 and DFBC=3/5=0.6DF_{BC} = 3/5 = 0.6.

Unit load in AB at xx from A: MBAF=x2(2L−x)(2L)2M_{BA}^F = \dfrac{x^2(2L-x)}{(2L)^2}; support moment MB=(1−0.4)MBAFM_B = (1 - 0.4)M_{BA}^F:

MB=−0.6 x2(2L−x)4L2M_B = -0.6\,\frac{x^2(2L-x)}{4L^2}

Unit load in BC at yy from B: the fixed-end moment at B with C released is y(L−y)(2L−y)2L2\dfrac{y(L-y)(2L-y)}{2L^2}, and MB=(1−0.6)M_B = (1-0.6) of it:

MB=−0.4 y(L−y)(2L−y)2L2M_B = -0.4\,\frac{y(L-y)(2L-y)}{2L^2}

Sample: x=Lx = L: MB=−0.6×L2⋅L4L2=−0.15LM_B = -0.6\times\dfrac{L^2\cdot L}{4L^2} = -0.15L. y=0.5Ly = 0.5L: MB=−0.4×0.5⋅0.5⋅1.52L=−0.075LM_B = -0.4\times\dfrac{0.5\cdot0.5\cdot1.5}{2}L = -0.075L.

Ordinates (at 0.25 and 0.5 times each span length)

PositionLoad atOrdinate of MBM_B
A0L0L0L
0.25 AB0.5L−0.0563L-0.0563L
0.5 AB (L from A)1L−0.15L-0.15L
0.75 AB1.5L−0.1687L-0.1687L
B2L0L0L
0.25 BC2.25L−0.0656L-0.0656L
0.5 BC2.5L−0.075L-0.075L
0.75 BC2.75L−0.0469L-0.0469L
C3L0L0L

ILD shape





*****---------------------------*--------------**
     ****                     ** ****     *****
         ****                *       *****
             ****         ***
                 *********
^                               ^               ^

The ILD is hogging throughout; the largest ordinate in AB is about −0.178L-0.178L near x=1.33Lx = 1.33L, and in BC about −0.077L-0.077L near 0.42L0.42L from B (mid-span value −0.075L-0.075L).

✓ Answer checked by Claude Opus 5.5 (high effort)

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