Skip to main content
Log in

Minimum-weight beams with shear strain energy

  • Structural Engineering
  • Published:
KSCE Journal of Civil Engineering Aims and scope

Abstract

This paper deals with minimum-weight beams built with the minimum volume of beam material that can sustain the subjected load. In order to build a minimum-weight beam, the geometry of the strongest beam is analyzed, for which the values of the maximum beam behaviors are minimized at the given volume of material. For the structural analysis of such a beam, the theorem of least work is employed, considering strain energies of both bending and shear. Further, deflection curves are obtained using the successive integration method. The strongest section ratios, as determined by both the maxi-mini stress and deflection, are obtained from the results of the structural analysis. The beam geometry of the minimum-weight beam, which is described by the taper type, side number, volume, and cross sectional depth, is determined from the given allowable stress and deflection. In numerical examples, three kinds of end constraint are considered: hinged-hinged, hinged-clamped, and clamped-clamped beams.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Carnahan, B., Luther, H. A., and Wilkes, J. O. (1969). Applied numerical methods, John Wiley & Sons, NY, USA.

    MATH  Google Scholar 

  • Cox, S. J. and Overton, M. I. (1992). “On the optimal design of columns against buckling.” SIAM Journal on Mathematical Analysis, Vol. 23, pp. 287–325.

    Article  MATH  MathSciNet  Google Scholar 

  • Elwany, M. H. S. and Barr, A. D. S. (1979). “Minimum-weight design of beams in torsional vibration with several frequency constraints.” Journal of Sound and Vibration, Vol. 62,Issue 3, pp. 411–425.

    Article  MATH  Google Scholar 

  • Gere, J. M. and Timoshenko, S. P. (1997). Mechanics of materials, PWS Publishing Company, USA.

    Google Scholar 

  • Gjelsvik, A. (1971). “Minimum-weight design of continuous beams.” International Journal of Solids and Structures, Vol. 7,Issue 10, pp. 1411–1425.

    Article  MATH  Google Scholar 

  • Haftka, R. T., Grüdal, Z., and Kamat, M. P. (1990). Elements of structural optimization, Klüwer Academic Publisher, Dordrecht, Netherlands.

    MATH  Google Scholar 

  • Keller, J. B. (1960). “The shape of the strongest column.” Archive for Rational Mechanics and Analysis, Vol. 5, No. 1, pp. 275–285.

    Article  MathSciNet  Google Scholar 

  • Keller, J. B. and Niordson, F. I. (1966). “The tallest column.” Journal of Mathematics and Mechanics, Vol. 16, pp. 433–446.

    MATH  MathSciNet  Google Scholar 

  • Lee, B. K., Carr, A. J., Lee, T. E., and Kim, I. J. (2006). “Buckling loads of columns with constant volume.” Journal of Sound and Vibrations, Vol. 294,Issues 1–2, pp. 381–387.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Lee, B. K., Lee, T. E., and Jung, Y. S. (2012) “Numerical methods for determining strongest cantilever beam with constant volume.” KSCE Journal of Civil Engineering, Vol. 16, No. 1, 169–178.

    Google Scholar 

  • Lee, B. K., Lee, T. E., and Kim, Y, L. (2009a). “Strongest simple beams with constant volume.” Journal of the Korean Society of Civil Engineers, Vol. 29, No. 2A, pp. 155–162.

    Google Scholar 

  • Lee, B. K. and Oh, S. J. (2000). “Elastica and buckling loads of simple tapered columns with constant volume.” International Journal of Solids and Structures, Vol. 37,Issue 18, pp. 2507–2518.

    Article  MATH  Google Scholar 

  • Lee, B. K., Oh, S. J., and Lee, T. E. (2009b). “Strongest static arches with constant volume.” Journal of the Korean Society of Civil Engineers, Vol. 29, No. 5A, pp. 477–486.

    Google Scholar 

  • Meidell, A. (2009). “Minimum-weight design of sandwich beams with honeycomb core of arbitrary density.” Composite Part B: Engineering, Vol. 40,Issue 4, pp. 284–291.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Save, M. and Prager, W. (1963). “Minimum-weight design of beams subjected to fixed and moving loads.” Journal of Mechanic and Physics of Solids, Vol. 11,Issue 4, pp. 255–267.

    Article  MATH  Google Scholar 

  • Srithongchai, S., Demircubuk, M., and Dewhurst, P. (2003). “A theoretical and experimental investigation of a family of minimumweight simply-supported beams.” International Journal of Mechanical Science, Vol. 45,Issue 1, pp. 37–55.

    Article  MATH  Google Scholar 

  • Taylor, J. E. (1967). “The strongest column: An energy approach.” Journal of Applied Mechanics, ASME, Vol. 34, No. 2, pp. 486–487.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Wilson, J. F., Holloway, D. M., and Biggers, S. B. (1971). “Stability experiments on the strongest columns and circular arches.” Experimental Mechanics, Vol. 11, No. 4, pp. 303–308.

    Article  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Tae Eun Lee.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Lee, B.K., Oh, S.J., Lee, T.E. et al. Minimum-weight beams with shear strain energy. KSCE J Civ Eng 16, 145–154 (2012). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12205-012-1251-z

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Revised:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12205-012-1251-z

Keywords

Navigation