A beam on a wieghardt-type elastic foundation

Abstract It is assumed that the differential equation of the deflexion curve of the beam (6), in which the effect of shear on the curvature of the beam has been taken into account, is valid for a beam on an elastic foundation. According to Wieghardt, the relationship (4) with kernel function (5) is assumed between the deflexion and the foundation pressure. On the basis of these assumptions, the differential equation of deflexion curve (14) is then obtained. This differential equation has been employed in examination of two cases of loading a beam of finite length. The corresponding results for an infinitely long beam are also derived.