NOTE ON THE DEFLECTION OF BEAMS. By W. H. Macaulay, M.A. In the problem of a loaded beam, supported in any manner, it is assumed that the bending moment at any point 2 of it is or where « is the coordinate of the point measured from one end of the beam, y is the deflection, Z is Young’s modulus, and J depends on the section of the beam and may be either constant or a function of « ‘The equation to be solved is that given by equating the bending moment at the point a to the sum of the moments of the forces acting on the beam between this point and the origin, The beam is divided into segments by the pomts at which a support or a clamp or a single load occurs, or at which a continuous loading, whether uniform or a function of «, begins or ends. Each of these segments has its own differential equation, and each of these equations, if solved separately, introduces two constants of integration. ‘The usual way of avoiding this complication is by means of the theorem of three moments, which has various forms applicable to different cases, and by employing devices depending on the superposition of loads. It should however be noticed that by the use of a suitable notation the equations can be greatly simplified; for it becomes possible, in all cases, to write down a single differential equation for the whole length of the beam, and to obtain a single solution of it, introducing only two constants of integration. ‘This seems to be generally the simplest, and sometimes the most ex- peditious procedure for dealing with the problem. Let us denote by {/(x)}, a function of 2 which is zero when @ is less than a, and equal to f(«) when @ is equal to or greater than a. ‘Vhen, to take a simple example, the equation for the deflection of a beam, with. uniform loading w per unit length, and with isolated loads or supports at successive points whose coordinates are a, 0, ... is a da’ VOL. XLVIII. K doa +{P(e—a)}, + (Q (w—8)}s te130 Ml. Macaulay, Note on the deflection of beams. and, if J is constant, the integrals of this may be written BLY mtu? + [Pa +L Oe—Wh tnt A, Ely = Apwat + (EP (e@—a)}, + (kQ (@— 8), ++ AB t B. Here the first term is integrated between the limits 0 and a, the second between the limits @ and a, the third between the limits 6 and a, and so on, The beam is divided into segments by the points a, 6, ..., and when w reaches any one ot these values a new term, in each of the three equations, comes in with the value zero. Accordingly the constants of inte- gration, A and B, are the same for all oe for this is what is required to secure the continuity of @ Bo Y andy jem aa eaie) the length of the beam wlt+t P+ Q+t...=0, ul +aP+bQ+..= also if, for example, #=0 is a point at which there is a support and the deflection is zero, gly we! +1P(b- a) + Ab+ B=0, accordingly there are enough equations to determine 4A and Band the pressure at each ‘support, If the beam is clamped at some point an unknown couple is introduced, and the given slope at that point provides an additional equation to determine it. If w and J are functions of 2 the same procedure is applicable, the term involving P in the first integral being ie ; é 5 if : = ga) dx. If a continuous loading w is confined to fs . a a limited portion of the beam, say between a =a and «=, the terms representing this are ie 7 ° (w—2) al - LS (x—2) ach in the differential equation, and if i 5 (8 (« — 2) de ah - Wt 72) dz a in the first integral.