Closed-form solutions for Euler–Bernoulli arbitrary discontinuous beams

Abstract

Euler–Bernoulli arbitrary discontinuous beams acted upon by static loads are addressed. Based on appropriate Green’s functions here derived in a closed form, the response variables are obtained: (a) for stepped beams with internal springs, as closed-form functions of the beam discontinuity parameters, without enforcing neither internal nor boundary conditions; (b) for stepped beams with internal springs and along-axis supports, as closed-form functions of the unknown reactions of the along-axis supports only, to be computed by enforcing pertinent conditions. A remarkable reduction in computational effort is achieved, in this manner, compared to competing methods in the literature.