Beam Configuration

The beam configuration input data is to be in the following format:

Member Lengths (L)

A vector of the lengths of each member.

Dimension: N x 1, where N is the number of members.

Units: m

Flexural Rigidity (EI)

The flexural rigidity for each member. Currently, each member is considered as prismatic.

Dimension: N x 1

Units: kNm2

Restraints (R)

A vector of restraints for each node, as defined by the ends of each member. Each node has 2 degrees of freedom, vertical deflection and rotation, in that order, for each node. Restraint for a degree of freedom is indicated by a “-1” value. Unrestrained degrees of freedom are indicated by a “0” value. Supports with a stiffness (kN/m or kNm/rad) are indicated by a positive value of the stiffness, k: i.e. “+k”

Dimension: 2`N` x 1

Units: kN/m or kNm/rad or None

Load Matrix (LM)

A matrix representing the loads (i.e. a List of Lists). Each entry represents a single load and must be in the following format:

Span No. | Load Type | Load Value | Distance a | Load Cover c

Load Types are:

1 - Uniformly Distributed Loads, which only have a load value; set distance a to “0”.

2 - Point Loads, located at a from the left end of the span.

3 - Partial UDLs, starting at a for a distance of c (i.e. the cover) where $L >= a+c$.

4 - Moment Load, located at a.

Dimension: M x 5, where M is the number of loads applied.

Units: kN, kN/m, and metres.

Element Types (eleType)

Each member can be one of several element types, depending on the presence of hinges in the beam.

Note that at a hinge, only one of the members meeting at that node should have a pinned end.

The element types are given by an index:

1 - fixed-fixed

2 - fixed-pinned

3 - pinned-fixed

4 - pinned-pinned

Dimension: N x 1

Units: N/A