2/16/2020 Beam Deflection Tables | MechaniCalc

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Beam Deflection Tables

The tables below give equations for the deflection, slope, shear, and moment along straight beams for
different end conditions and loadings. You can find comprehensive tables in references such as Gere,
Lindeburg, and Shigley. However, the tables below cover most of the common cases.

For information on beam deflection, see our reference on stresses and deflections in beams.

Related Pages:
• Beam Analysis (Full Reference)
• Strength of Materials
• Beam Calculator

Cantilever Beams
Cantilever, End Deflection:
Load

@x=L

Slope:

@x=L

Shear:

V = +F
Moment:
M = −F (L − x)
Mmax = −FL @ x = 0

Cantilever, Deflection:
Intermediate
Load (0≤x≤a)

(a≤x≤L)

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@x=L
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Slope:

(0≤x≤a)

(a≤x≤L)

Shear:

V = +F ( 0 ≤ x ≤ a )
V=0 (a≤x≤L)
Moment:
M = −F (a − x) ( 0 ≤ x ≤ a )
M=0 (a≤x≤L)

Cantilever, Deflection:
Uniform
Distributed Load

@x=L

Slope:

@x=L

Shear:

V = +w (L − x)
Vmax = +wL @ x = 0
Moment:

M = −w (L − x) 2 / 2
Mmax = −wL 2 / 2 @x=0

Cantilever, Deflection:
Triangular
Distributed Load

@x=L

Slope:

@x=L

Shear:

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Vmax = +w1L / 2 @x=0

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Moment:

Mmax = −w1L 2 / 6 @x=0

Cantilever, End Deflection:

Moment

@x=L

Slope:

@x=L

Shear:

V=0
Moment:
M = −M0

Simply Supported Beams

Simply Deflection:
Supported,
Intermediate (0≤x≤a)

Load
For a ≥ b :

Slope:

(0≤x≤a)

@x=0

@x=L

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Shear:
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V1 = +Fb / L ( 0 ≤ x ≤ a )
V2 = −Fa / L ( a ≤ x ≤ L )
Moment:

Mmax = +Fab / L @x=a

Simply Deflection:
Supported,
Center Load ( 0 ≤ x ≤ L/2 )

@ x = L/2

Slope:

( 0 ≤ x ≤ L/2 )

@x=0

@x=L

Shear:

V1 = +F / 2 ( 0 ≤ x ≤ L/2 )
V2 = −F / 2 ( L/2 ≤ x ≤ L )
Moment:

Mmax = FL / 4 @ x = L/2

Simply Deflection:
Supported, 2
Loads at Equal (0≤x≤a)

Distances from
(a≤x≤L−a)
Supports
@ x = L/2

Slope:

(0≤x≤a)

(a≤x≤L−a)

@x=0

@x=L

Shear:

V1 = +F ( 0 ≤ x ≤ a )
V2 = −F ( L − a ≤ x ≤ L )
Moment:

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Mmax = Fa ( a ≤ x ≤ L − a )
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Simply Deflection:
Supported,
Uniform
Distributed Load
@ x = L/2

Slope:

@x=0

@x=L

Shear:

V = w (L/2 − x)
V1 = +wL / 2 @ x = 0
V2 = −wL / 2 @x=L

Moment:

Mmax = wL 2 / 8 @ x = L/2

Simply Deflection:
Supported,
Moment at Each
Support

@ x = L/2

Slope:

@x=0

@x=L

Shear:

V=0
Moment:

M = M0

Simply Deflection:
Supported,
Moment at One
Support

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@ x = L (1 − √3/3)
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Slope:

@x=0

@x=L

Shear:

V = −M0 / L
Moment:

Mmax = M0 @x=0

Simply Deflection:
Supported,
Center Moment ( 0 ≤ x ≤ L/2 )

Slope:

( 0 ≤ x ≤ L/2 )

@x=0

@x=L

Shear:

V = +M0 / L
Moment:

M = M0 x / L ( 0 ≤ x ≤ L/2 )
Mmax = M0 / 2 @ x = L/2

Fixed-Fixed Beams
Fixed-Fixed, Deflection:
Center Load
( 0 ≤ x ≤ L/2 )

@ x = L/2

Shear:

V1 = +F / 2 ( 0 ≤ x ≤ L/2 )
V2 = −F / 2 ( L/2 ≤ x ≤ L )
Moment:

M = F (4x − L) / 8 ( 0 ≤ x ≤ L/2 )

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M1 = M3 = −FL / 8 @ x = 0 and x = L
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M2 = +FL / 8 @ x = L/2

Fixed-Fixed, Deflection:
Uniform
Distributed Load

@ x = L/2

Shear:

V = w (L/2 − x)
V1 = +wL / 2 @ x = 0
V2 = −wL / 2 @x=L

Moment:

M = w (6Lx − 6x 2 − L 2) / 12
M1 = M3 = −wL 2 / 12 @ x = 0 and x = L

M2 = −wL 2 / 24 @ x = L/2

Need a Beam Calculator?

Check out our beam calculator based on the methodology described here.

Calculates stresses and deflections in straight beams

Builds shear and moment diagrams
Can specify any configuration of constraints, concentrated forces, and distributed forces

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References
1. Budynas-Nisbett, "Shigley's Mechanical Engineering Design," 8th Ed.
2. Gere, James M., "Mechanics of Materials," 6th Ed.
3. Lindeburg, Michael R., "Mechanical Engineering Reference Manual for the PE Exam," 13th Ed.

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