DEFLECTION BY METHOD OF SINGULARITY FUNCTION

• In cases where a beam is subjected to a combination of distributed loads, concentrated loads,

and moments, using the method of double integration to determine the deflections of such
beams is really involving, since various segments of the beam are represented by several
moment functions, and much computational efforts are required to find the constants of
integration.
• Using the method of singularity function in such cases to determine deflections is
comparatively easier and relatively quick. This method of analysis was first introduced by
Macaulay in 1919, and it entails the use of one equation that contains a singularity or half-
range function to describe the entire beam deflection curve. A singularity or half-range
function is defined as follows:
0 𝑓𝑜𝑟 (𝑥 − 𝑎) < 0 𝑜𝑟 𝑥 > 𝑎
〈𝑥 − 𝑎〉𝑛 = {
(𝑥 − 𝑎)𝑛 𝑓𝑜𝑟 𝑥 − 𝑎 ≥ 0 𝑜𝑟 𝑥 ≥ 𝑎

where
x = coordinate position of a point along the beam.
a = any location along the beam where discontinuity due to bending occurs.
n = the exponential values of the functions; this must always be greater than or equal to zero for
the functions to be valid.

• The above outlined definition implies that the quantity (x – a) equals zero or vanishes if it is
negative, but it is equal to (x – a) if it is positive.

Procedure for Analysis by Singularity Function Method

✓ Sketch the free-body diagram of the beam and establish the x and y coordinates.
✓ Calculate the support reactions and write the moment equation as a function of
the x coordinate.
✓ Substitute the moment expression into the equation of the elastic curve and integrate once to
obtain the slope. Integrate again to obtain the deflection in the beam.
✓ Using the boundary conditions, determine the integration constants and substitute them into
the equations obtained in step 3 to obtain the slope and the deflection of the beam. A positive

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 slope is counterclockwise and a negative slope is clockwise, while a positive deflection is
upward and a negative deflection is downward.
✓ When computing the slope or deflection at any point on the beam, discard the quantity (x – a)
from the equation for slope or deflection if it is negative. If (x – a) is positive, it remains in
the equation.

Example 1
A simply supported beam is subjected to the combined loading shown in Fig. 1a. Using the method
of singularity function, determine the slope at support A and the deflection at B.

Fig. 1. Simply supported beam.

Solution

Support reactions. To determine the reaction at support A of the beam, apply the equations of
equilibrium, as follows:

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∑ 𝑀𝐷 = 0
4.5
26(4.5) (8 − ) + 10(2) − 8𝐴𝑦 = 0
2

𝐴𝑦 = 86.6 𝑘𝑁

Bending moment.
Replacing the given distributed load by two equivalent open-ended loadings, as shown in Fig. 1b,
the bending moment at a section located at a distance x from the left support A can be expressed
as follows:

26𝑥 2 26〈𝑥−4.5〉2
𝑀 = 86.6𝑥 − + − 10〈𝑥 − 6〉1 (1)
2 2

Hence:
𝑑2 𝑦 26𝑥 2 26〈𝑥−4.5〉2
𝐸𝐼 𝑑𝑥 2 = 𝑀 = 86.6𝑥 − + − 10〈𝑥 − 6〉1 (2)
2 2

Integrating eq. 2 twice suggests the following:

𝑑𝑦 86.6𝑥 2 26𝑥 3 26〈𝑥−4.5〉3 10〈𝑥−6〉2

𝐸𝐼 𝑑𝑥 = − + − + 𝐶1 (3)
2 6 6 2

86.6𝑥 3 26𝑥 4 26〈𝑥−4.5〉4 10〈𝑥−6〉3

𝐸𝐼𝑦 = − + − + 𝐶1 𝑥 + 𝐶2 (4)
6 24 24 6

Boundary conditions and computation of constants of integration. Applying the boundary

conditions [x = 0, y = 0] to eq. 4 and noting that each bracket contains a negative quantity and,
thus, is equal zero by the singularity definition suggests that C2 = 0.

0 = 0 – 0 + 0 – 0 + C2
C2 = 0
Again, applying the boundary conditions [x = 8, y = 0] to eq. 4 and noting that each bracket
contains a positive quantity suggests that the value of the constant C1 is as follows:

86.6(8)3 26(8)4 26(8−4.5)4 10(8−6)3

0= − + − + 8𝐶1
6 24 24 6

𝐶1 = −387.72

Substituting the values for C1 and C2 into eq. 4 suggest that the expression for the elastic curve of
the beam is as follows:

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 1 86.6𝑥 3 26𝑥 4 26〈𝑥−4.5〉4 10〈𝑥−6〉3
𝑦 = 𝐸𝐼 { − + − − 387.72𝑥} (5)
6 24 24 6

Similarly, substituting the values for C1 into eq. 3 suggests the expression for the slope is as
follows:
𝑑𝑦 1 86.6𝑥 2 26𝑥 3 26〈𝑥−4.5〉3 10〈𝑥−6〉2
= 𝐸𝐼 { − + − − 387.72} (6)
𝑑𝑥 2 6 6 2

𝑑𝑦
The slope at A i.e, 𝑑𝑥 at x = 0

𝑑𝑦 387.72
(𝑑𝑥 ) = 𝜃𝐴 = −
𝐴 𝐸𝐼

The deflection at x = 4.5 m from support A

1 86.6(4.5 )3 26(4.5 )4 26〈4.5 −4.5〉4 10〈4.5 −6〉3

𝑦𝑥=4.5 = 𝐸𝐼 { − + − − 387.72(4.5 )}
6 24 24 6

873.74
𝑦𝑥=4.5 = − 𝐸𝐼

Example 2

A cantilever beam is loaded with a uniformly distributed load of 4 kips/ft, as shown in Figure 2a.
Using the method of singularity function, determine the equation of the elastic curve of the beam,
the slope at the free end, and the deflection at the free end.

Fig. 2. Cantilever beam.

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Solution
Support reactions. To determine the reaction at support A of the beam, apply the equation of
equilibrium, as follows:
∑ 𝑀𝐴 = 0

𝑀𝐴 − 4(6)(9) = 0

𝑀𝐴 = 216 𝑘 − 𝑓𝑡
∑ 𝐹𝑦 = 0

𝐴𝑦 − 4(6) = 0

𝐴𝑦 = 24 𝑘

∑ 𝐹𝑥 = 0

𝐴𝑥 = 0

Bending moment. The bending moment at a section located at a distance x from the fixed end of
the beam, shown in Fig. 2b, can be expressed as follows:

4〈𝑥−6〉2
𝑀 = 24𝑥 − 216 − (1)
2

Hence:
𝑑2 𝑦 4〈𝑥−6〉2
𝐸𝐼 𝑑𝑥 2 = 𝑀 = 24𝑥 − 216 − (2)
2

Integrating eq. 2 twice:

𝑑𝑦 24𝑥 2 4〈𝑥−6〉3
𝐸𝐼 𝑑𝑥 = − 216𝑥 − + 𝐶1 (3)
2 6

24𝑥 3 216𝑥 2 4〈𝑥−6〉4

𝐸𝐼𝑦 = − − + 𝐶1 𝑥 + 𝐶2 (4)
6 2 24

Boundary conditions and computation of constants of integration. Applying the boundary

𝑑𝑦
conditions,[𝑑𝑥 = 0 𝑥 = 0], to eq. 3 and noting that the term with a bracket contains a negative

quantity and, thus, is equal to zero by the singularity function definition suggests that C1 = 0.

24(0)2 4〈0−6〉3
0= − 216(0) − + 𝐶1
2 6

𝐶1 = 0

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Applying the boundary conditions [x = 0, y = 0] to eq. 4 and noting that the term with a bracket
contains a negative quantity and, thus, is equal to zero by the singularity function definition
suggests that C2 = 0.

24(0)3 216(0)2 4〈0−6〉4

𝐸𝐼𝑦 = − − + 𝐶1 (0) + 𝐶2
6 2 24

𝐶2 = 0

To find the elastic curve of the beam, substitute the values for C1 and C2 into eq. 4, as follows:

1 24(𝑥)3 216(𝑥)2 4〈𝑥−6〉4

𝑦 = 𝐸𝐼 { − − } (5)
6 2 24

Similarly, to find the expression for the slope, substitute the values for C1 into eq. 3, as follows:

𝑑𝑦 1 24(𝑥)2 4〈𝑥−6〉3
= 𝐸𝐼 { − 216𝑥 − } (6)
𝑑𝑥 2 6

𝑑𝑦 1 24(12)2 4〈12−6〉3 1008

(𝑑𝑥 ) = 𝜃𝐶 = 𝐸𝐼 { − 216(12) − }=−
𝐶 2 6 𝐸𝐼

1 24(12)3 216(12)2 4〈12−6〉4 8856

𝑦𝐶 = 𝐸𝐼 { − − }=−
6 2 24 𝐸𝐼

Problem

A beam with an overhang is subjected to a combined loading, as shown in Fig. 3 a. Using the
method of the singularity function, determine the slope at support A and the deflection at B.

Fig. 3. Beam with overhang.

Solution

The slope at A
𝑑𝑦 956.67
(𝑑𝑥 ) = 𝜃𝐴 = −
𝐴 𝐸𝐼

The deflection at x = 2 m from support A

1785
𝑦𝑥 = 2 = − 𝐸𝐼

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