BEAMS TUTORIAL 3 SAE 1

1. A cantilever beam is 6 m long and has a point load of 20 kN at the free end. The flexural stiffness is
110 MNm2. Calculate the slope and deflection at the free end.
y = FL3/3EI = - (20 000 x 63)/ (3 x 110 x 106) = - 0.013 m or 13 mm down.
dy/dx = FL2/2EI = (20 000 x 62)/(2 x 110 x 106) = 0.00327

2. A cantilever beam is 5 m long and has a point load of 50 kN at the free end. The deflection at the free
end is 3 mm downwards. The modulus of elasticity is 205 GPa. The beam has a solid rectangular
section with a depth 3 times the width. (D= 3B). Determine
i. the flexural stiffness.
ii. the dimensions of the section.
y = -FL3/3EI = -0.003 = - (50 000 x 53)/ (3 EI)
EI = (0.003 x 3)/ (50 000 x 53) = 694.4 x 106 Nm2
I = 694.4 x 106 /E = 694.4 x 106 /205 x 109 = 0.003387 m4
I = BD3/12 and substitute D = 3B
I = 0.003387 = 27B4/12
B4 = 0.001505
B = 0.197 m D = 0.591 m
BEAMS TUTORIAL 3 SAE 2

1. A cantilever is 6 m long with a u.d.l. of 1 kN/m. The flexural stiffness is 100 MNm2. Calculate the
slope and deflection at the free end.
y = -wL4/8EI = (-1000 x 64)/(8 x 100 x 106) = -0.00162 m or 1.62 mm down
dy/dx = wL3/6EI = (20 000 x 63)/(6 x 110 x 106) = 360 x 10-6

2. A cantilever beam is 5 m long and carries a u.d.l. of 8 kN/m. The modulus of elasticity is 205 GPa and
beam is a solid circular section. Calculate
i. the flexural stiffness which limits the deflection to 3 mm at the free end.
ii. the diameter of the beam. (379 mm).
EI = wL4/8y = 8000 x 54/(8 x 0.003) = 208.3 x 106 Nm2
I = 208.3 x 106/ 205 x 109 = 0.0010161 m4
I = 0.0010161 = D4/64
D4 = (0.0010161x 64)/ = 0.0207

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D = 0.379 m

BEAMS TUTORIAL 3 SAE 3

1. A simply supported beam is 4 m long and has a load of 200 kN at the middle. The flexural stiffness is
300 MNm2. Calculate the slope at the ends and the deflection at the middle.
y = -FL3/48EI = - (200 x 103 x 43)/ (48 x 300 x 106) = -0.00089 m or 0.89 mm down
dy/dx = FL2/16EI = (200 x 103 x 42)/(16 x 300 x 106) = 0.000667
2. A simply supported beam is made from a hollow tube 80 mm outer diameter and 40 mm inner
diameter. It is simply supported over a span of 6 m. A point load of 900 N is placed at the middle.
Find the deflection at the middle if E=200 GPa.
I = (0.084 0.044) /64 = 1.885 x 10-6 m4
y = -FL3/48EI = - (900 x 63)/ (48 x 200 x 109 x 1.885 x 10-6) = -0.0107 m or 10.7 mm down
3. Find the flexural stiffness of a simply supported beam which limits the deflection to 1 mm at the
middle. The span is 2 m and the point load is 200 kN at the middle.
EI = FL3/48y = (200x 103 x 23)/(48 x 0.001) = 33.3 x 106 Nm2
BEAMS TUTORIAL 3 SAE 4
1. A simply supported beam is 4 m long with a u.d.l. of 200 N/m. The flexural stiffness is 100 MNm2.
Calculate the slope at the ends and the deflection at the middle.
y = -5wL4/384 EI = -(5 x 200 x 44)/(384 x 100 x 106) = -6.67 x 10-6 m
dy/dx = wL3/24 EI =(200 x 43)/(24 x 100 x 106) = 5.33 x 10-6

2. A simply supported beam is made from a hollow tube 80 mm outer diameter and 40 mm inner
diameter. It is simply supported over a span of 6 m. The density of the metal is 7300 kg/m3. E=200
GPa. Calculate the deflection at the middle due to the weight of the beam.
I = (0.084 0.044) /64 = 1.885 x 10-6 m4
A = (0.082 0.042) /4 = 3.77 x 10-3 m2
Volume/length = 3.77 x 10-3 m3/m
Mass/length = 3.77 x 10-3 x 7300 = 27.52 kg/m
w = 27.52x 9.81 = 269.97 N/m
y = -5wL4/384EI = - (5 x 269.97 x 64)/ (384 x 200 x 109 x 1.885 x 10-6) = -0.012 m or 12 mm down

3. Find the flexural stiffness of a simply supported beam which limits the deflection to 1 mm at the
middle. The span is 2 m and the u.d.l. is 400 N/m.
EI = -5wL4/384 y = (5x 400x 24)/(384 x 0.001) = 83300 Nm2

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BEAMS TUTORIAL 3 SAE 5

1. Find the deflection at the centre of the beam shown. The flexural stiffness is 20 MNm2.

This is a symmetrical load so R1 = R2 = (100 + 100 + 6x6)/2 = 118 N

Measure x from the left.
Mx = EI d2y/dx2 = R1(x) 100[x 2] 100[x-5] wx2/2
Mx = EI d2y/dx2 = 118(x) 100[x 2] 100[x-5] 6x2/2
Integrate
EI dy/dx = 118(x2)/2 100[x 2]2/2 100[x-5] 2/2 6x3/6 + A
Integrate
EI y = 118(x3)/6 100[x 2]3/6 100[x - 5] 3/6 6x4/24 + Ax + B
Boundary Conditions are x =0, y = 0 and x = 7, y = 0
EI(0)y = 118(03)/6 100[0 2]3/6 100[0 - 5] 3/6 6 (04)/24 + A0 + B
Ignore negative results for square brackets so B = 0
EI (0) = 118(73)/6 100[7 2]3/6 100[7 - 5] 3/6 6(74)/24 + 7A + 0
0 = 6745.7 2083.3 133.3 600.25 + 7A
0 = 6745.7 2083.3 133.3 600.25 + 7A
-3928.75 = 7A
A = -561.25
EI y = 118(x3)/6 100[x 2]3/6 100[x - 5] 3/6 6x4/24 -561.25x
Put x = 3.5
EI y = 118(3.53)/6 100[3.5 2]3/6 100[3.5 5] 3/6 6(3.5)4/24 -561.25(3.5)
EI y = 118(3.53)/6 100[1.5]3/6 0 6(3.5)4/24 - 561.25(3.5)
EI y = 843.2 56.25 0 37.51 1963.5 = -1214
y = -1214/20 x 106 = -60.7 x 10-6 or 0.0607 mm down

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2. Find the deflection of the beam shown at the centre position. The flexural stiffness is 18 MNm2.

Moments about the left end.

5R1 = 2000 x 3.5 + 5000 x 2.5 + 1500 x 52/2 = 38250 N
R1 = 7650 N
5R2 = 2000 x 1.5 + 5000 x 2.5 + 1500 x 52/2 = 34250 N
R2 = 6850 N
Check R1 + R2 = 145000
2000 + 5000 + 5(1500) = 145000 so it is correct
Measure x from the left.
Mx = EI d2y/dx2 = R1(x) 2000[x 1.5] 5000[x - 2.5] 1500x2/2
Mx = EI d2y/dx2 = 7650(x) 2000[x 1.5] 5000[x - 2.5] 1500x2/2
Integrate
EI dy/dx = 7650( (x2)/2 2000[x 1.5]2/2 5000[x 2.5] 2/2 1500x3/6 + A
Integrate
EI y = 7650( (x3)/6 2000[x 1.5]3/6 5000[x 2.5] 3/6 1500x4/24 + Ax + B
Boundary Conditions are x =0, y = 0 and x = 5, y = 0
As in the last question B = 0
Put x = 5
EI y = 7650(53)/6 2000[5 1.5]3/6 5000[5 2.5] 3/6 1500(5)4/24 + 5A
0 = 159375 14291.7 13020.8 39062.5 + 5A
0 = 93000 + 5A
A = -18600
Put x = 2.5
EI dy/dx = 7650 (2.53)/6 2000[2.5 1.5]3/6 5000[2.5 2.5] 3/6 1500(2.5)4/24 - 2.5(18600)
EI dy/dx = 19921.87 333.3 0 2441.4 46500 = - 29352.8
y = -29352.8/18 x 106 = -0.0016 or 1.6 mm down

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3. Find value of E I which limits the deflection of the beam shown at the end to 2 mm.

Measure x from the left end.

Mx = EI d2y/dx2 = 1200 [x 1.8] 400x2/2
Integrate
EI dy/dx= 1200 [x 1.8]2/2 400x3/6 + A
Integrate
EI y = 1200 [x 1.8]3/6 400x4/24 + Ax + B
Boundary conditions are x = 3, y = 0 and dy/dx = 0 (at the wall)
EI dy/dx = 0 = 1200 [3 1.8]2/2 400(3)3/6 + A
0 = 864 1800 + A
A = 936
EI y = 0 = 1200 [3 1.8]3/6 400(3)4/24 + 936(3) + B
0 = 345.6 1350 + 2808 + B
B = -1803.6
At the end x = 0, y = - 0.002
EI (-0.002) = 1200 [0 1.8]3/6 400(0)4/24 + 936(0) -1803.6
EI (-0.002) = 0 0 + 0 -1803.6
EI =1803.6 /0.002 = 901800 Nm2

4. A cantilever is 5m long and has a flexural stiffness of 25 MNm2. It carries a point load of 1.5 kN at
the free end and a u.d.l. of 500 N/m along its entire length. Calculate the deflection and slope at the
free end.
This may be solved using standard equations.
y = -FL3/3EI wL4/8EI = -1500(5)3/ (3 x 25 x 106) 500(5)4/(8 x 25 x 106) = - 0.0040625 m
dy/dx = FL2/2EI + wL3/6EI = 1500(5)2/(2 x 25 x 106) + 500(5)3/(6 x 25 x 106) = 1.1667 x 10-3
5. A cantilever beam is 6 m long and has a point load of 800 N at the free end and a u.d.l. of 400 N/m
along its entire length. Calculate the flexural stiffness if the deflection is 1.5 mm downwards at the
free end.
This may be solved using standard equations.
y = - 0.0015 = -FL3/3EI wL4/8EI = -(1/EI)[800(6)3/ 3 + 400(6)4/8
y = - 0.0015 = -122.4 x 103/EI
EI = 122.4 x 103/0.0015 = 81.6 x 106 Nm2

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6. A simply supported beam is 6 m long and has a flexural stiffness of 3 MNm2. It carries a point load of
800 N at the middle and a u.d.l. of 400 N/m along its entire length. Calculate the slope at the ends and
the deflection at the middle.
y = -FL3/48EI 5wL4/384EI = -800(6)3/ (48 x 3 x 106) 5(400)(6)4/(384 x 3 x 106) = - 0.00345 m
dy/dx = FL2/16EI + wL3/24EI = 800(6)2/(16 x 3 x 106) + 400(6)3/(24 x 3 x 106) = 1.8 x 10-3

7. Calculate the flexural stiffness of a simply supported beam which will limit the deflection to 2 mm at
the middle. The beam is 5 m long and has a point load of 1.2 kN at the middle and a u.d.l. of 600 N/m
along its entire length.
The beam has a solid rectangular section twice as deep as it is wide. Given the modulus of elasticity is
120 GPa, calculate the dimensions of the section.
y = -FL3/48EI 5wL4/384EI = -1200(5)3/ (48EI) 5(600)(5)4/(384EI) = - 0.002 m
EI = 8000/0.002 = 4 x 106 Nm2
I = BD3/12 = B(2B)3/12 = 8B4/12
B = 0.085 m D = 0.168 m

B4 = (12/8)( 4 x 106) = 50 x 10-6

BEAMS TUTORIAL 3 SAE 6

1.

d2y
x2
[
]
=
=

+ MA
M
R
x
80
x
4
5
x
A
2
dx 2
Integrate
EI

[x 4] 2
dy
x2
x3
= RA
80
5
+ MAx + A
dx
2
2
6
From the boundary condition x = 0, dy/dx = 0 it follows that A = 0
Put in the other boundary condition x = 6, dy/dx = 0
Integrate
[x 4 ] 3
x3
x4
x2
EIy = R A
80
5
+ MA
+ B
6
6
24
2
From the boundary condition x=0, y = 0 it follows that B = 0
Put in the other boundary condition x = 6, dy/dx = 0 and y = 0
[6 4] 2
63
62
dy
= 0 = RA
80
5
+ MA 6
EI
6
2
2
dx
0 = 18R A 160 180 + 6M A
EI

0 = 18R A 340 + 6M A ................(1)

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[6 4] 3
63
64
62
80
5
+ MA
6
6
24
2
106.7 270 + 18M A

EIy = 0 = R A
0 = 36R A

0 = 36R A 376.7 + 18M A

Divide by 2
0 = 18RA 188.33 + 9MA (2)
Subtract (2) (1)
Hence MA = -50.55 kNm (since working in kN throughout)
0 = 0 - 151.7 3 MA
Substitute into (2)
0 = 18RA 188.33 + 9(-50.55)
0 = 18RA 643.33 Hence RA = 35.74 kN
Now solve at x = 4, y = -0.005 x 10-3 m
[4 4] 3
43
EI(-50 x 10 - 6 ) = R A
80
5
6
6
43
EI(-50 x 10 - 6 ) = 35.74 x 103 x
5x103 x
6
EI(-50 x 10 - 6 ) = 381.22 x 103 53.33 x 103

44
42
+ MA
24
2
4
4
42
50.55x10 3 x
24
2
3
404.4 x 10 = 76.51 x 103

EI = -76.51 x 103/(-50 x 106) = 1.53 GNm2

2.

d2y
x2
EI 2 = M x = R A x 5[x 1] 6[x 2] - 5
+ MA
2
dx
Integrate

[x 1] 2
[x 2 ] 2
dy
x2
x3
EI
= RA
5
6
5
+ MAx + A
dx
2
2
2
6
From the boundary condition x=0, dy/dx = 0 it follows that A = 0
Put in the other boundary condition x = 6, dy/dx = 0
Integrate
[x 1] 3
[x 2 ] 3
x3
x4
x2
EIy = R A
5
6
5
+ MA
+ B
6
6
6
24
2
From the boundary condition x = 0, y = 0 it follows that B = 0
Put in the other boundary condition x = 3, dy/dx = 0 and y = 0
[3 1] 2
[3 2] 2
33
32
dy
= 0 = RA
5
6
5
+ 3M A
EI
6
2
2
2
dx
0 = 4.5R A 10 3 - 22.5 + 3M A
0 = 4.5R A 35.5 + 3M A ................(1)

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[3 1] 3
[3 2] 3
32
34
33
5
6
5
+ MA
2
24
6
6
6
6.67 1 - 16.875 + 4.5M A

EIy = 0 = R A
0 = 4.5R A

0 = 4.5R A 24.545 + 4.5M A ...............(2)

Subtract (2) (1)

Hence MA = -7.305 kNm (since working in kN throughout)
0 = 0 10.96 1.5 MA
Substitute into (2)
0 = 4.5RA 24.542 + 4.5(-7.305)
0 = 4.5RA 57.414 Hence RA = 12.76 kN
Now solve at x = 1.5 , y = -0.2 x 10-3 m
3
3
1.53
1.5 4
1.5 2
-6
3 [1.5 1]
3 [1.5 2]
EI(-200 x 10 ) = R A
5 x 10 x
6x10 x
5
+ MA
6
6
6
24
2
3
4
3
3
[0]
[.5]
1.5
1.5
1.5 2
EI(-200 x 10 - 6 ) = 12.76 x 103 x
5 x 103 x
6x103 x
5
7.305 x 103
6
6
6
24
2
-6
3
3
3
3
3
EI(-200 x 10 ) = 7.1775 x 10 0.10417 x 10 1.0547 x 10 8.218 x 10 = 2.199 x 10
EI = -2.199 x 103/(-200 x 106) = 11 MNm2

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