Saudi Journal of Engineering and Technology (SJEAT)
Volume-3 | Issue-03 | 133-140
Original Research Article
Ritz Method for the Analysis of Statically Indeterminate Euler – Bernoulli Beam
Charles Chinwuba Ike, Edwin Uchechukwu Ikwueze
Published : March 30, 2018
Abstract
The Ritz method was used in this paper for the flexural analysis of a
statically indeterminate Euler – Bernoulli beam with a prismatic cross section. The
beam considered was a propped cantilever of length, l, fixed at x = 0, and simply
supported at x = l; and carrying a linearly distributed transverse load on the
longitudinal axis. Two cases of coordinate (basis) functions were studied. In the first
case, the basis functions were constructed to satisfy the deflection boundary
conditions, but not the force boundary conditions. In the second case, the basis
functions were constructed to satisfy all the boundary conditions. It was found that
the stiffness equations formed with the basis functions that satisfied all the boundary
conditions gave the exact solutions for deflection, bending moments and shear force
distributions along the beam’s longitudinal axis. The effectiveness of the Ritz method
for solving statically indeterminate Euler Bernoulli beam flexure problems was thus
highlighted.