3.

MOHR’S THEOREM AND COROLLARIES

3.1 Exercise n. 1

Given the following Gerber beam, via Mohr’s theorem and corollaries:

I. draw the fictitious system (included the fictitious load);

II. compute the vertical displacement ηC of the cross section in C (and identify its orientation).

Figure 3.1.a.

I.

In order to solve the structure, i.e. to find the constraint reactions and define the diagram of Bending
moment of the real structure, we use the Cardinal Equations of Statics and add to them 2 auxiliary
equations, given by the two hinges in E and C. The reference system is that reported in Figure
3.1.b:

∑ Xi = 0
XA = 0

∑ Yi = 0
YA – YB + YD + YF – qL = 0

∑ Mi,A = 0
YB·L – YD·3L +ql (3L+L/2) – YF 5L = 0

∑ Mi,E(RIGHT) = 0
- YF L = 0 (Aux. EF)

∑ Mi,C (RIGHT) = 0
- YD·L + 3qL2/2 = 0 (Aux. DEF)

hence:

XA = 0 YA = qL/2 YB = qL YD = 3qL/2 YF = 0

and they are oriented as reported in Figure 3.1.b.

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Notice that to a negative bending moment corresponds a fictitious load oriented upwards, by
convention, so that the fictitious system is that reported in Figure 3.1.c.

Figure 3.1.b.

Figure 3.1.c.

II.

From Mohr’s theorem and corollaries follows that the real transversal displacements η are equal to
the fictitious moments of the fictitious system M*, at the same cross section. Therefore the required
displacement component ηC is equal to MC*, which implies we know how much the fictitious
constraint reaction YA* is (it is not necessary to solve the structure, that is to compute all the
constraint reactions). The fictitious structure is still an isostatic structure, so the auxiliary equation
given by the presence of the hinge in B gives directly YA*:

∑ MB (LEFT) = 0
YA*·L – qL3/4EJ · L/3= 0 (Aux. AB)

hence:

YA* = qL3/12EJ

oriented as in Figure 3.1.c.

Therefore it is now possibile to compute MC* as:

MC* = YA*·2L – qL3/4EJ (L/3+L) – qL3/4EJ · 2L/3 = -qL4/3EJ

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Since MC* results to be negative (by convention of M, because it contracts the lower fibres), the real
ηC results to be negative as well (by convention of the differential equation of the elastic line),
which means it is a displacement upwards (cross section C rises up, due to the external load q):

ηC = qL4/3EJ UPWARDS.

3.2 Exercise n. 2

Given the following Gerber beam, via Mohr’s theorem and corollaries:

compute the vertical displacement ηC of the cross section in C (and identify its orientation).

I. draw the fictitious system (included the fictitious load);

II. compute the relative rotation ∆φB of the cross section in B (and identify its orientation).

Figure 3.2.a.

I.

The system made by the Cardinal Equations of Statics and 2 auxiliary equations, in addition, leads
to the following constraint reactions (their final orientation is reported in Figure 3.2.b, with the
diagram of Bending moment for the real structure).

XA = 0 YA = -M/L YD = M/L YF = 0 MA = M

Figure 3.2.b.

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The fictitious system is reported in Figure 3.2.c:

Figure 3.2.c.

II.

From Mohr’s theorem and corollaries follows that the relative rotation at cross section B ∆φB is
equal to the fictitious shear there, of the fictitious system TB* (with negative sign). It means it is
necessary to compute the fictitious constraint reaction in B, YB* , which represents the magnitude of
the fictitious shear in B itself. The fictitious structure is still an isostatic structure, so the auxiliary
equation given by the presence of the hinge in D gives directly YB*:

∑ Mi,D (LEFT) = 0
- ML/8EJ · 2/3(L/2) + ML/8EJ · (L/2+L/6) + YB*·L – ML/2EJ · (L+2L/3)= 0

hence:

YB* = 19ML/24EJ

oriented upwards. Since TB* = YB*, oriented this way, results to be positive (by convention of T,
because it makes clockwise rotation), the real ∆φB results to be negative (by convention of the
differential equation of the elastic line), which means it is clockwise, due to the specific M applied
on the structure:

∆φB = 19/24(ML/EJ) CLOCKWISE.

3.3 Exercise n. 3

Given the following Gerber beam, via Mohr’s theorem and corollaries:

I. draw the fictitious system (included the fictitious load);

II. compute the rotation φC of the cross section in C (and identify its orientation).

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 M
A B C D E F

L L L L 2L

Figure 3.3.a.

I.

The constraint reactions are arbitrarily released as reported in Figure 3.3.b (equilibrium to
horizontal translation shall give XF = 0); their magnitude follows from the following solving system
(YA and YD are negative, therefore oriented opposite than initially assumed):

∑ Y = YA + YC + YD = 0 ∑ MA = M – 2YCL – 3YDL + MF = 0

YAL + M = 0 (Aux. B)
YA = -M/L MF = 0 (Aux. E)

Da cui YD = -M/L e YC = 2M/L.

M
A B C D E F MF

YA YC YD

Figure 3.3.b.

The diagram of Bending moment for the real structure is reported in Figure 3.3.c (lower fibres are
supposed to stay below the centroidal axis).
M M

Figura 3.3.c.

The fictitious system is reported in Figure 3.3.d; the arbitrary orientation of the fictitious constraint
reactions is reported in Figure 3.3.e (again equilibrium to horizontal translation shall give X*F = 0).
M/EJ M/EJ

L L L L 2L

Figure 3.3.d.
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II.

M/EJ M/EJ M*F

Y*A Y*B Y*E

Figure 3.3.e.

In order to determine the fictitious shear in T*C we notice that we need only Y*A and Y*B, which
come from the 2 auxiliary equations about C and D:

2Y*AL + Y*BL + [ML/(2EJ)](L + L/3) + ML2/(6EJ) = 0 (Aux. C)

3Y*AL + 2Y*BL + [ML/(2EJ)](2L + L/3) + ML2/(EJ) = 0 (Aux. D)

hence:

Y*A = ML/(2EJ) Y*B = -(11/6)ML/(EJ)

That is Y*B is oriented opposite than what assumed in Figure 3.3.e. Now T*C is equal to:

T*C = ML/(2EJ) - (11/6)ML/(EJ) + ML/(2EJ) + ML/(2EJ)
T*C = -ML/(3EJ)

oriented downwards, which means it has a negative effect (by convention of T, because it makes
anticlockwise rotation of the left-hand section). Therefore the real φC results to be positive (by
convention of the differential equation of the elastic line), which means it is anticlockwise:

φC = ML/(3EJ) ANTICLOCKWISE.

3.4 Exercise n. 4

Given the following Gerber beam, via Mohr’s theorem and corollaries:

I. draw the fictitious system (included the fictitious load);

II. compute the vertical displacement ηS of the cross section in S (and identify its orientation).

Figure 3.4.a.
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I.

The constraint reactions are:

∑ Y = YA – P - YF + YD = 0

∑ MF = 4YAL – 7/2 PL + 2YD L - MF = 0

YF L - MF = 0 (Aux. E(RIGHT))
YF = MF /L

YA L – PL/2 = 0 (Aux. C(LEFT))
YA = P/2

Hence: YA = P/2, YD = P, YF = P/2, MF = PL/2 oriented as reported in Figure 3.4.b:

Figure 3.4.b.

From the constraint reactions one can plot the diagram of Bending moment of the real structure,
which is meant to become (divided by the flexural stiffness o the beam EJ) the fictitious distributed
load to be applied on the fictitious system, which is that reported in Figure 3.4.c.

Figure 3.4.c.

II.

To define MS* it is sufficient to determine the fictitious constraint reaction in E through the auxiliary
equation:

MD*(RIGHT) = -PL2/4EJ(2/3L + L) + YE*L + PL2/4EJ·1/3L = 0 (Aux D(RIGHT))

Which yields:

YE* = PL2/3EJ (oriented upwards).

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It follows:

MS* = - PL2/4EJ(2/3L + L + 1/2L) + PL2/3EJ(1/2L + L) + PL2/4EJ(1/3L + 1/2L) + PL/4EJ L/2 L/4

Since MS* results to be positive (by convention of M, because it expands the lower fibres), the real
ηS results to be positive as well (by convention of the differential equation of the elastic line), which
means it is a displacement downwards (cross section S goes down, due to the external load P):

ηS = 21/96 PL3/EJ DOWNWARDS.

3.5 Exercise n. 5

Given the following Gerber beam, via Mohr’s theorem and corollaries:

I. draw the fictitious system (included the fictitious load);

II. compute the rotation φS of the cross section in S (and identify its orientation)..

Figure 3.5.a.

I.

Check that the fictitious system is that reported in figure below:

Figure 3.5.b.

II.

Check that the rotation φS in S, given by the fictitious shear TS* in S (with negative sign, according
to Mohr’s theorem and corollaries) is:

φS = PL2/2EJ ANTICLOCKWISE.
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