An explicit solution of the large deformation of a cantilever beam under point load at the free tip

Abstract

The large deformation of a cantilever beam under point load at the free tip is investigated by an analytic method, namely the homotopy analysis method (HAM). The explicit analytic formulas for the rotation angle at the free tip are given, which provide a convenient and straightforward approach to calculate the vertical and horizontal displacements of a cantilever beam with large deformation. These explicit formulas are valid for most practical problems, thus providing a useful reference for engineering applications. The corresponding Mathematica code is given in the Appendix.