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Rotation and deflection at free end, BMD

Short answer

Two beam elements with constant EI are used. The free-end deflection is 3112/EI m downward and rotation is 880.73/EI rad clockwise. The bending moment diagram shows +103.75 kNm at fixed end A, zero at x=1.77 m, -270 kNm at roller B, and -20 kNm at free end C.

Determine rotation and deflection at the free end of the given beam and hence draw BMD. Take EIEI to be constant.

[Figure: beam A-B-C, A fixed at the left end, span AB = 5 m with stiffness 2EI2EI and a uniformly distributed load (value not clear in scan [?]); B is a roller support; span BC = 5 m with stiffness EIEI, free end C carrying a 50 kN point load and a 20 kNm moment]

Assumptions (figure partly unclear): AB: L=5L=5 m, stiffness 2EI2EI, UDL taken as w=10w=10 kN/m; BC: L=5L=5 m, stiffness EIEI; A fixed, B roller; at the free end C a 50 kN downward load and a 20 kN m clockwise moment. Results are in terms of EIEI (kN m2^2). Nodes: 1 = A, 2 = B, 3 = C. Units: kN, m.

Element stiffness

[k]=EIL3[126L−126L6L4L2−6L2L2−12−6L12−6L6L2L2−6L4L2],{d}={vi,θi,vj,θj}T[k]=\frac{EI}{L^3}\begin{bmatrix}12&6L&-12&6L\\6L&4L^2&-6L&2L^2\\-12&-6L&12&-6L\\6L&2L^2&-6L&4L^2\end{bmatrix},\quad \{d\}=\{v_i,\theta_i,v_j,\theta_j\}^T

(Upward forces and displacements, and counter-clockwise moments and rotations, are positive.) with EI→2EIEI\to2EI for AB. Equivalent loads for AB: −25-25 and −20.833-20.833 at A; −25-25 and +20.833+20.833 at B. At C: Fv3=−50F_{v3}=-50 kN, Fθ3=−20F_{\theta3}=-20 kN m (clockwise).

Assembled equation

Boundary conditions: v1=θ1=0v_1=\theta_1=0, v2=0v_2=0. Free DOFs: θ2,v3,θ3\theta_2,v_3,\theta_3.

EI [2.4000−0.24000.4000−0.24000.0960−0.24000.4000−0.24000.8000]{θ2v3θ3}={20.833−50.000−20.000}EI\,\begin{bmatrix}2.4000 & -0.2400 & 0.4000 \\ -0.2400 & 0.0960 & -0.2400 \\ 0.4000 & -0.2400 & 0.8000\end{bmatrix}\begin{Bmatrix}\theta_2\\v_3\\\theta_3\end{Bmatrix}=\begin{Bmatrix}20.833 \\ -50.000 \\ -20.000\end{Bmatrix}

Solving:

θB=−155.73EI rad,vC=−3112.0EI m,θC=−880.73EI rad\theta_B=-\frac{155.73}{EI}\ \text{rad},\qquad v_C=-\frac{3112.0}{EI}\ \text{m},\qquad \theta_C=-\frac{880.73}{EI}\ \text{rad}

Free end C: deflection 3112.0/EI m downward; rotation 880.73/EI rad (clockwise).

End forces

ElementViV_iMiM_iVjV_jMjM_j
AB-49.75-103.7599.75-270.00
BC50.00270.00-50.00-20.00

Reactions: RA=−49.75R_A=-49.75 kN (downward, since the overhang hogs the beam), MA=−103.75M_A=-103.75 kN m (clockwise), RB=149.75R_B=149.75 kN. Check: −49.75+149.75=100-49.75+149.75=100 kN =50+10×5=50+10\times5.

Bending moment diagram (sagging +)

SectionMoment (kN m)
A (fixed end)+103.75
zero at x = 1.77 m from A0
B (support)-270.00 (hogging)
C (just left of the 20 kN m moment)-20.00

The moment at B is −(50×5+20)=−270-(50\times5+20)=-270 kN m. In BC the moment varies linearly from −270-270 to −20-20.

 A(fixed)                  B(roller)                C(free)
 |-------------------------|------------------------|
 BMD: +103.75 (x=1.77 m: 0)   -270                   -20   (kN m)

Answer: θC=−880.73/EI\theta_C=-880.73/EI rad, vC=−3112.0/EIv_C=-3112.0/EI m (downward).

✓ Answer checked by Claude Opus 5.5 (high effort)

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