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Beams: Introduction
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| Euler-Bernoulli Beam Equation |
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| The out-of-plane displacement w of a beam
is governed by the Euler-Bernoulli Beam
Equation,
 where p is the distributed loading (force per unit length) acting in the same direction as y (and w), E is the Young's modulus of the beam, and I is the area moment of inertia of the beam's cross section. If E and I do not vary with x along the length of the beam, then the beam equation simplifies to,
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| Origin of the Beam Equation |
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| The Euler beam equation arises from a
combination of four distinct subsets of beam theory: the kinematic,
constitutive, force
resultant, and equilibrium
definition equations.
The outcome of each of these segments is summarized here: |
| To relate the beam's out-of-plane displacement w to its pressure loading p, we combine the results of the four beam sub-categories in the order shown, |
| Kinematics | -> | Constitutive | -> | Resultants | -> | Equilibrium | = | Beam Equation |
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We'll demonstrate this hierarchy by working backwards. We first combine the 2 equilibrium equations to eliminate V,
 Next replace the moment resultant M with its definition in terms of the direct stress s,
 Use the constitutive relation to eliminate s in favor of the strain e, and then use kinematics to replace e in favor of the normal displacement w,
 As a final step, recognizing that the integral over y2 is the definition of the beam's area moment of inertia I,
 allows us to arrive at the Euler-Bernoulli beam equation,
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