Exact solutions for anisotropic beams with arbitrary distributed loads

The general solution of elasticity for plane anisotropic beams with arbitrary constraints at ends and arbitrary normal and tangential distributed loads on surfaces is derived, which consists of internal forces (i.e., bending moment, shearing force, axial force) and their integrals and derivatives of different orders and load-independent polynomial function sequences of longitudinal coordinates. The method for determining the function sequences is established by resolving the governing equation and boundary conditions of the stress function method. For beams with an elastic symmetry plane, a method for directly determining explicit expressions for all terms of function sequences is provided. Particular solutions of examples are solved using general solution formulas, and the results align excellently with existing exact solutions. Finally, the errors in EBT and TBT when applied to beams made of different materials are analysed. © 2024 Elsevier Inc.