Search results for "discontinuous beam solution"

Simplified Formulation of Solution for Beams on Winkler Foundation allowing Discontinuities due to Loads and Constraints

2009

The paper discusses material for a course in Structural Mechanics addressed to second-Year Civil Engineering students. The response of beams on a Winkler foundation characterized by discontinuities in both the displacements (deflections and/or slopes) and forces (internal forces and/or loads) is studied. In particular, a simplified formulation for the solution of the discontinuous differential equation governing this problem is given. In some cases, the formulation is able to give the exact solution in a closed form. This is made possible through the use of the generalized functions, such as the well-known Unit Step Function and the Dirac delta function. The cases of discontinuities due to …