MECH2413

Engineering Mechanics
Chapter 06: Deflection of Beams

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 Content

• In this chapter, we will discuss the geometric result of a

beam being stressed: Deflection.
• First of all, a summary of important equations are given
for the ordinary bending theory.
• Then the deflection in different cases are discussed.
1) Single region calculation (single equation)
2) Multiple region calculation (multiple equation)
3) Superposition

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 Ordinary Bending Theory
• Consider an ordinary (uniaxial) bending,

• Under equilibrium conditions, we have

𝑑𝑉 𝑑𝑀
= −𝑞, =𝑉
𝑑𝑥 𝑑𝑥
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 Ordinary Bending Theory
• The bending moment M and the shear force V are
the resultants of the normal stresses σ (acting in the
x-direction) and the shear stresses  (acting in the z-
direction), respectively

𝑀 = න 𝑧𝜎𝑑𝐴 ; 𝑉 = න 𝜏𝑑𝐴 ; 𝑁 = න 𝜎𝑑𝐴

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 Ordinary Bending Theory
• The strain ε and the shear strain
γ describe the deformation of an
arbitrary element of the beam
with length dx and height dz.
𝜕𝑢
𝜀=
𝜕𝑥
𝜕𝑤 𝜕𝑢
𝛾= +
𝜕𝑥 𝜕𝑧
𝜕𝑢
𝜎 = 𝐸𝜀 = 𝐸
𝜕𝑥
𝜕𝑤 𝜕𝑢
𝜏 = 𝐺𝛾 = 𝐺( + )
𝜕𝑥 𝜕𝑧
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 Ordinary Bending Theory

• The neutral axis is an axis in the cross section of a

beam along which there are no longitudinal stresses
or strains.

• If the section is symmetric, isotropic and is not

curved before a bend occurs, then the neutral axis is
at the geometric centroid.

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Deflection curve
for normal stress

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 Deflection curve
• To determine the beam deflection, we have the
following assumption.

w’

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 Assumptions
• Every point of a cross section undergoes the same
deflection in the z-direction. This implies that the
height of the beam does not change due to bending:
𝑤=𝑤 𝑥
𝜕𝑤
𝜀𝑧 = =0
𝜕𝑧
• Plane cross sections of the beam remain plane during
the bending. In addition to the displacement w, a
cross section undergoes a rotation. The angle of
rotation ψ = ψ(x) is a small angle

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 Assumptions
The displacement u of a point P
which is located at a distance z
from the x-axis is given by
𝑢 𝑥, 𝑧 = 𝜓 𝑥 𝑧
𝜕𝑢 𝑥, 𝑧 z
=𝜓 𝑥
𝜕𝑧
• These two assumptions are
sufficiently accurate in the case
of a slender beam with a
constant cross section or with a
slight taper.

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 Deflection curve
𝜕𝑢 𝜕𝜓 𝑥 𝑧
𝜎 = 𝐸𝜀 = 𝐸 =𝐸 = 𝐸𝑧𝜓 ′
𝜕𝑥 𝜕𝑥
𝜕𝑤 𝜕𝑢
𝜏 = 𝐺( + ) = 𝐺(𝑤 ′ + 𝜓)
𝜕𝑥 𝜕𝑧
𝑁 = න 𝜎𝑑𝐴 = 𝐸𝜓 ′ න 𝑧𝑑𝐴

∴ 𝑀 = න 𝑧𝜎𝑑𝐴 = 𝐸𝜓 ′ න 𝑧 2 𝑑𝐴 = 𝐸𝐼𝜓 ′

This equation is called constitutive equation for the

bending moment. The quantity EI is referred to as
flexural rigidity or bending stiffness.
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 Deflection curve
• Provided the bending moment M and the flexural
rigidity EI are known, we can obtain the slope w’(x)
and the deflection w(x), also called the elastic line,
by integration. Since w’=𝜓 whose direction is
started from the neutral axis.

𝐸𝐼𝑤 ′′ 𝑥 = 𝑀
𝑥
𝐸𝐼𝑤 ′ (𝑥) = න 𝑀𝑑𝑥 + 𝐶1 W’
0
𝑥 𝑥
𝐸𝐼𝑤 𝑥 = න 𝑑𝑥 න 𝑀𝑑𝑥 + 𝐶1 𝑥 + 𝐶2
0 0

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 Boundary conditions
• To determine the deflection, we need to make use
of the derived equations together with boundary
conditions.
• We can distinguish two types of boundary
conditions.
1) Geometrical boundary conditions are
statements concerning the geometrical
(kinematic) quantities w or w’.
2) Statical boundary conditions are statements
referring to the stress resultants V or M.

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Boundary conditions

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 Single region example #1
• Consider a cantilever beam (flexural rigidity EI)
subjected to a concentrated force F. The system is
statically determinate as the bending moment can
be calculated from the equilibrium conditions

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 𝑀 = −𝐹(𝑙 − 𝑥)

𝐸𝐼𝑤 ′′ = 𝐹(𝑥 − 𝑙)
2
𝑥
𝐸𝐼𝑤 ′ = 𝐹 − 𝑙𝑥 + 𝐶1
2
𝑥 3 𝑙𝑥 2
𝐸𝐼𝑤 = 𝐹 − + 𝐶1 𝑥 + 𝐶2
6 2
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 Single region example #1
• The geometrical boundary conditions

lead to the constants of integration:

Hence, the slope and the deflection are obtained

as 2
′
𝐹 𝑥
𝑤 (𝑥) = − 𝑙𝑥
𝐸𝐼 2
𝐹 𝑥 3 𝑙𝑥 2
𝑤(𝑥) = −
𝐸𝐼 6 2
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 Single region example #1
• The maximum slope and the maximum deflection
(at x = l) are

′
−𝐹𝑙2 −𝐹𝑙3
𝑤𝑚𝑎𝑥 = 𝑤𝑚𝑎𝑥 =
2𝐸𝐼 3𝐸𝐼

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 Multiple region example #1
• A simply supported beam is subjected to a
concentrated force F at x = a

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 Multiple region example #1
• Solution:
The shear force V has a jump (discontinuity) at x =
a and the bending moment is given by

Two regions are separated: the regions I (0 ≤ x ≤ a)

and II (a ≤ x ≤ l).

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Multiple region example #1

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 Multiple region example #1
There are two boundary conditions:

There are two matching conditions. Since there are

no jumps in the deflection or the slope, these quantities
are continuous at x = a:

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 Method of Superposition
Consider the beam below. It is subjected to a line load
q1 and a force F2. The deflection can be obtained
through a superposition method.

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Method of Superposition

𝑤 = 𝑤1 + 𝑤2
′ ′ ′
𝑤 = 𝑤1 + 𝑤2
𝑀 = 𝑀1 + 𝑀2
𝑉 = 𝑉1 + 𝑉2

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