Philippine E-Journals

Beam Deflections Using MathCad

Romeo Q. Tolentino

Discipline: Mathematics

 

Abstract:

MathCad, a computer algebra software, can greatly simplify the traditional computation of beam deflections in such engineering subjects as Mechanics of Materials and Structural Analysis. A general moment equation can be written for a beam utilizing the software. Three (3) solution methods using the MathCad software are presented. For the first two methods, deflection functions for a simply supported beam are derived using the conjugate beam and the unit load method, respectively. These functions are then used to plot the deflection curves using MathCad and to compute the maximum deflection. The third method uses the double integration method where the differential equation EI(d2δ/dx2)=M(x) is solved using the said software. A loaded beam is solved using all the three methods, and the results are all the same, thereby validating the correctness of the methods used.