Deflection of beams

Structural Analysis Assumptions

1. The beam is prismatic, initially straight and has
an axial plane of symmetry which is taken as the
x-y plane.
Deflection 2. The material is homogeneous and obeys
Hooke’s Law.
3. Plane sections before bending remain plane after
bending.

1
2

d d
R Compression R Compression

M M z M M z
dx dx
y dA y dA
y Tension y Tension
Beam segment under Beam section Bending stress Beam segment under Beam section Bending stress
pure bending pure bending
Beam under pure bending Beam under pure bending
As a result of deformation, fibres on the concave side
Consider two adjacent cross-sections at a small
are shortened slightly (compression), while those on
the convex side are elongated slightly (tension). distance dx apart. After bending they intersect at o
Somewhere in between, the section remains and the angle between them is denoted by d .
unchanged in length, i.e. neutral surface. Let R = radius of curvature of the neutral surface
its intersection with any cross-section is the Then d = dx / R
neutral axis
3 4
 d d
R Compression R Compression

M M z M M z
dx dx
y dA y dA
y Tension y Tension
Beam segment under Beam section Bending stress Beam segment under Beam section Bending stress
pure bending pure bending
Beam under pure bending Beam under pure bending
At a depth y from the neutral axis, Since there must be no resultant normal force on the
the strain is = (y d ) / dx = y / R section under pure bending,
the stress is = E = E y / R dA = (E/R) y dA = 0 Ay = 0
the force on a small area dA is dA = (E/R) y dA Therefore y must be equal to 0. In other words, the
neutral axis of a section in pure bending passes
through the centroid.
5 6

d d
R Compression R Compression

M M z M M z
dx dx
y dA y dA
y Tension y Tension
Beam segment under Beam section Bending stress Beam segment under Beam section Bending stress
pure bending pure bending
Beam under pure bending Beam under pure bending
The moment of the elemental force about the neutral The integral y2 dA is the second moment of area
axis of the section is of the section and is denoted by I.
dM = ( dA) y Therefore
The total moment on the section is therefore M = (E/R) I or 1/R = M / (EI) = d /dx
M = y dA = (E/R) y2 dA = (E/R) y2 dA Hence = (M y) / I Note = E y / R

7 8
 d
R Compression

M M z
dx
y dA y Tension
For a symmetrical prismatic beam bent by transverse
Beam segment under Beam section Bending stress
loads acting in a plane of symmetry, it can be shown
pure bending
that the curvature of the neutral surface is given by
Beam under pure bending
1 / R = M / EI
Consider any segment ds of the deflection curve (or
at each cross-section. Thus, the curvature 1/R is seen elastic line). One has d
to vary along the beam as the bending moment varies. 1
ds =R d or ds R

If the deflection is relatively small, ds dx

dy 1 d2y
dx R dx 2
9 10

w w
V V
M + dM M + dM
x x

M M
dx dx
y V + dV d2y y V + dV
EI 2 M
An element of a beam dx An element of a beam
Taking the sign convention and the direction of the By integrating once, we get dy/dx along the beam, i.e.
coordinate axes into consideration, we get the the slope of the deflection curve. By integrating twice,
we get y along the beam, i.e. the shape of the deflection
differential equation of the elastic line as
curve.
1 d2y M x x
By differentiating the above equation with respect to x,
R dx 2 EI
EI (d3y/dx3) = – dM/dx = – V (shear)
M>0 M<0
d2y 4 4
EI (d y/dx ) = – dV/dx = w (load/unit length)
EI M y
2
d y y d2y
dx 2 dx 2
0
dx 2
0
11 12
 Common methods for calculating
deflections

• Double integration method / Macaulay’s method

Double Integration Method
• Moment-area method
• Strain energy method
• Dummy unit-load method (principle of virtual work)
• Castigliano’s theorem
• Conjugate-beam method

14
13

L L
x P x P
Example 1
y Beam and loading
y Beam and loading -PL

-PL M
Bending moment
Cantilever under point load at tip
M
Bending moment Integrating again, EI y = PLx2/2 – Px3/6 + c2
At x, Mx = – P (L – x) Cantilever under point load at tip
2 2
From the boundary condition at clamped end,
EI (d y/dx ) = – Mx = P (L – x)
i.e. x = 0, y = 0,
Integrating, EI (dy/dx) = PLx – Px2 / 2 + c1
c2 = 0
From the boundary condition at the clamped end,
The equations for the curve and its slope are
i.e. x = 0, dy/dx = 0,
y = (Px2 / 2EI) (L – x/3)
c1 = 0
= dy/dx = (Px / EI) (L – x/2)
15 16
 L
x P

y Beam and loading

-PL

M
Bending moment
Cantilever under point load at tip Macaulay’s Method
Therefore
y = (Px2 / 2EI) (L – x/3)
= (Px / EI) (L – x/2)

At the free end x = L,

y = PL3/3EI and = PL2 / 2EI
18
17

In Macaulay’s method, an expression within square

brackets will be omitted if it is evaluated to be negative

In Double Integration Method, Macaulay’s bracket function

Separate expression required for bending
0 if x a
moment in each segment of beam between x a
n
n
adjacent concentrated loads or reactions x a if x a
Each expression has its own arbitrary Integrating gives
constant(s) of integration
In Macaulay’s Method n x a
n 1

ONE expression for bending moment to be x a dx C

n 1
obtained
Constants of integration are the SAME for all where n is a non-negative integer.
segments of the beam
19 20
 Commonly encountered loading: Commonly encountered loading:
0
M M0 x a M P x a

M P x a Two different scenarios:

If x < a, M = 0

q 2
M x a
2

If x a, M = -P (x - a)
m 3
M x a
6 21 22

4 kN 10 kN 4 kN 10 kN
8m 8m
Example 2 4m 4m
A B x A B x
20 m 20 m
y y
A simply supported beam under A simply supported beam under
two point loads two point loads
A simply supported beam of span 20 m carries two Reaction at A = (4 12 + 10 8) / 20 = 6.4 kN
point loads of 4 kN at 8 m and 10 kN at 12 m from –EI (d2y/dx2) = Mx
the left end. = 6.4 x – 4 [x – 8] – 10 [x – 12]
Integrating
Calculate the deflection under each point load. – EI (dy/dx) = 3.2 x2 – 2 [x – 8]2 – 5 [x –12]2 + A
Take E = 200000 N/mm2 and I = 109 mm4. Integrating again
– EI y = (3.2/3) x3 – (2/3) [x – 8]3 – (5/3) [x –12]3 +
Ax + B
23 24
 4 kN 10 kN 4 kN 10 kN
8m 8m
4m 4m
A B x A B x
20 m 20 m
y y
A simply supported beam under A simply supported beam under
two point loads two point loads
When x = 0 m, y = 0 m,
Deflection under the 4 kN point load (x = 8 m):
B = 0 kNm3
When x = 20 m, – EI y = (3.2/3) (8)3 + (– 326.4) (8) = – 2065 kNm3
y = (3.2/3) (20)3 – (2/3) (12)3 – (5/3) (8)3 + A (20)
=0 y = (2065 103 109) / (200000 109)
giving = 10.3 mm (downwards)
A = – (3.2/3) (20)2 + (2/3) (12)3 / 20 + (5/3) (8)3 /20
= – 326.4 kNm2

25 26

4 kN 10 kN
8m
4m
A B x
20 m
y
A simply supported beam under
two point loads
Moment-area Method
Deflection under the 10 kN point load (x = 12 m):
– EI y = (3.2/3) (12)3 – (2/3) (4)3 + (– 326.4) (12)
= – 2116 kNm3
y = (2116 103 109) / (200000 109)
= 10.6 mm (downwards)

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 Bending moment Bending moment
M M
A
x x
x x
O O
P Q P Q
Deflected beam Deflected beam
R R
S S
z z z z

Relationship between bending moment Relationship between bending moment

y diagram and deflected shape
The above shows the bending moment diagram and
the shape of the deflected beam between two arbitrary
points P and Q.
29
y diagram and deflected shape
The area of the bending moment diagram between P
and Q is A, and its centroid is at a distance x from
line Oy.
30

Bending moment
M
Bending moment
M x
x
O
P Q
x Deflected beam
R
S
x z z
O 2
P Q d y M Relationship between bending moment
Deflected beam 2 y diagram and deflected shape

R dx EI
S Integrating between P and Q,
z z Q Therefore the angle made
dy Mdx by the tangents to two
dx P EI points on a beam is equal
Relationship between bending moment
If EI is constant, to the net area of the
y diagram and deflected shape
bending moment diagram
The tangents at P and Q to the elastic line cut off an dy dy A between those points
intercept z on Oy. dx dx EI divided by EI.
P Q

31 32
 Bending moment Bending moment
M M

x x

x x
O O
P Q P Q
Deflected beam Deflected beam
R R
S S
z z z z

Integrating between P and Q, Relationship between bending moment

Relationship between bending moment
y diagram and deflected shape y diagram and deflected shape
Mx dx Ax
At an arbitrary point S between P and Q, z
EI EI
radius of curvature of the deflected beam is R
if EI is constant
angle between the tangents at the ends of a short
length x is , where x = R Therefore the intercept on a given line between the
intercept of these tangents on Oy is z, and tangents to the beam at any points P and Q is equal to
because the slope is everywhere small the net moment about that line of the bending
moment diagram between P and Q divided by EI.
z x x x R Mx x EI
33 34

Example 3
L/2 P L/2
Moment-area Method
w
It is convenient to break down the bending P/2 L wL/2 L
moment diagram into a number of simple figures (a) A simply supported beam (b) A simply supported beam
so that the moment is obtained from Ax under a central point load under uniformly distributed load
.Account should be taken of positive and negative
areas. b Obtain expressions for the maximum slope and
A2 = 2bd/3 deflection of a simply supported beam of span L
G2 a) with a concentrated load P at mid-span
d x2 3b/8

A1 = bd/3 b) with a uniformly distributed load w over the

G1
x1 3b/4 whole span.
Take the flexural rigidity EI as constant
Properties of common shapes
35 36
Concentrated load P at mid-span Uniformly distributed load w over the whole span
A = (1/2) (PL/4) (L/2) = PL2/16 A = (2/3) (wL2/8) (L/2) = wL3/24
Slope at support = A/EI = PL2/16EI Slope at support = A/EI = wL3/24EI

w
Deflection at mid-span L/2 P L/2 Deflection at mid-span
wL/2 L
= deflection of support = deflection of support
relative to tangent to centre P/2 L relative to tangent to M (5/8)(L/2)
M (2/3)(L/2) centre wL2/8
= Ax EI
= (PL2/16) (L/3) / EI PL/4 = Ax EI L/2
L/2 3
= (wL /24) (5L/16) / EI A simply supported beam under
= PL3/48EI A simply supported beam under
= 5wL4/384EI uniformly distributed load
a central point load

Deflection Deflection
exaggerated exaggerated
37 38

Strain Energy Method

39 40
 P

L
Strain Energy Method
- -
P EA o
EA -
When an elastic body is deformed by external P - Po
L
o
U
L
d
- EA 0
forces, these forces move through small distances P
L EA 2
- o
and hence do some work 2L 0
The energy of the elastic system has been Po22 L
increased by the work done. This work is - - 2 EA
d
recoverable Consider a prismatic bar of length L and cross-
stored in the elastic body in the form of elastic sectional area A under a gradually applied axial load P
potential energy or strain energy It will elongate by = PL/EA
The energy concept can be used to find the The work done by P is P ( ) = P2L / 2EA, which is
deflections of a structure the strain energy stored in the bar
41 42

- L
M P
M = EI / L Example 4 x
M
- -
M M M = EI / L y
Cantilever under point load at tip
U = M 2L / 2EI
For a small segment dx at x from the free end,
Mx = Px. The strain energy is
- -
d (Px) 2 dx
Consider a prismatic beam of length L and second U
2EI
L
moment of area I under the action of gradually 2 2
L P x P2 x3 P 2 L3
applied pure bending moment M U dx
0 2EI 2EI 3 0 6EI
It will be bent such that the two ends form an The work done by the load P in deflecting a distance
angle of given by = ML / EI
is P /2, which must be equal to the energy stored
The work done by M is M ( /2) = M2L/2EI,
which is the strain energy in the beam P2L3 / 6EI. Therefore = PL3 / 3EI
43 44
 Dummy unit-load method
The principle of virtual work states that when a
Dummy Unit-load Method complete system of forces, which is in equilibrium,
undergoes a pattern of geometrically consistent
displacements such that the magnitudes and directions
of all of the forces are unchanged, the total virtual
work done is zero
Fn
Virtual work = F =0 Fn
y 0
y=0 x F1 F1 Fi
45
x Fi
46

A deformed elastic structure under

gradually applied loads
Dummy unit-load method Gradually applied loads

Virtual work is established in one of the following

ways
1. By considering the movements of the actual
force system through some fictitious pattern of Typical
displacements (virtual displacements) deformed
element
2. By considering the movements of some
fictitious system of forces (virtual forces) Point of interest
through the actual displacement pattern
One component of the deflection or rotation at a point
can be found in each application of the unit load method ½ P1 + ½ P2 =½ S dL (1)
1 2
47 48
 A deformed elastic structure under virtual Imagine this …
unit load Step 1 Step 2

Typical
deformed
element

p' = 1

Virtual / dummy
Equating total work done and total strain energy,
p' = 1
unit load ½ p' + ½ P1 1 + ½ P2 2 + p'
= ½ u dL1+ ½ S dL + u dL (3)
½ p' = ½ u dL1 (2)
49 50

Imagine this … Analogy of a bar

Step 1 Step 2 Virtual unit load Actual load(s)

All loads

p' = 1

Subtracting the sum of (1) and (2) from (3) gives

p' = u dL or 1 = u dL
virtual actual
For calculation of rotation, apply unit moment Virtual work = Virtual internal energy
1 = u dL 51 1 = u dL 52
 1
m
Example 5 P M
1 m
D
Find the deflection D at D of the simply
supported beam AB
a P b 1. Place a dummy (virtual) unit-load at D, and
consequently bending moment m is induced
A x z B throughout the structure.
D Note that the displacement caused by this unit
L load is insignificant.
A simply supported beam with flexural
2. Impose the applied loading system P (actual), and
rigidity EI under a point load P at D
let M be the bending moment in the structure
53 54

dx 1 1
m m
M M
P M P M
1 m 1 m
d = (M/EI) dx D D

3. Due to the actual loading system P, the

deflection at D is D and the relative rotation of The external work done (virtual) by the dummy load
any two sections dx apart is d = (M/EI) dx is: 1 D
4. Considering the bending energy only, the Since external work done = internal energy stored
virtual work stored due to moment m through (all virtual),
an angle d = dU = m (M/EI) dx (Mm/EI) dx or
1 D= D = (Mm/EI) dx
5. The total virtual internal energy is
U (Mm/EI) dx
55 56
Member M m Limits a P b

AD (Pb/L)x (b/L)x 0-a A x z B

L
D Example 6
BD (Pa/L)z (a/L)z 0-b A simply supported beam with flexural
rigidity EI under a point load P at D Find the horizontal 6m 10kN
deflection at the free B x
(I0) C
D (Mm/EI)dx end of a cantilever bent
a b
ABC
(1/EI) (Pb/L) x (b/L) x dx (1/EI) (Pa/L) z (a/L) z dz
0 0
Young's modulus = E
1 b2 a3 1 a2 b3 10m (2I0)
P 2 P 2
EI L 3 EI L 3

P(a 2 b 2 )(a b) Pa 2 b 2 y
An “L”-frame under
3EIL2 3EIL A a point load
57 58

6m
B x
10kN 60
C
(I0) 60
x x 1
Deflection of Trusses
Young's modulus = E M m
10m (2I0)
1. Analyze the truss by the method of joints /
y y sections. Find the actual force F in each member
y
An “L”-frame under 60 10
A
a point load 2. Apply a virtual force of one unit at the node and
in the direction of the displacement required to
Apply a dummy unit-load horizontally at C
be determined. Calculate the internal virtual
10 (60)(10 y) 1500
AB: (Mm/EI) dy 0 dy forces f in all members
2EI 0 EI 0
3. The actual internal elongation or shortening
6 10(6 - x)(0)
BC: (Mm/EI) dx 0 dx 0 caused by the actual applied loading in each
EI 0 member = FL/EA
1500
HC (in metres) 4. Hence 1 = Sum of {f FL/EA}
EI 0
59 60
 B
F
Example 7 +100 2
Calculate the vertical deflection at A and the
+100 2
horizontal deflection at B. Take E = 100 106 kN/m2. A -200

The cross sectional areas are given. 200kN

-100 2
-100
B C D

2m 300kN 100kN
45 45
B B fhB
4m fvA 1

A 90 2/2
0

2/2 1 2
A -1 A
200kN 45 0
90 1
45
C D 2/2 -1/2
0
2 2m C D C D

A truss under a point load 1.5 1/2 1 1

61 62

2m
B
Example 8
Calculate the vertical deflection at A resulting from a
4m
A rise in temperature of 30 C in BD. The truss is the
200kN
same as that in Example 7. Take = 12 10-6.
C D
B Temperature rise
2 2m = 30°C
2m = 12 10-6
A truss under a point load
45 45
Length Area Force fHB
Member
L (m) A (cm2) F (kN)
fVA fVA (FL/A) fHB
(FL/A)
4m
AB 2 1 100 2 2/2 200 0 0 A 90
AC 2 1 – 100 2 – 2/2 200 0 0
BC 2 2 2 – 200 –1 400 1 – 400 45
CD 2 2 2 – 100 – 1/2 100 0 0 90 45
BD 4 2 100 2 2/2 200 – 2 – 400 C D
1 cm2 = 0.0001 m2 1100 – 800 2 2m
1/E = 1/100 106 0.11 m – 0.08 m
63
A truss under a point load 64
 B
fvA

Deflection of Trusses
2/2

2/2
A -1

1. On a statically determinate truss, no reactions or 1

internal forces can be developed because of a 2/2 -1/2

C D
temperature rise or drop t in truss members and
1.5 1/2
hence changes in bar lengths.
2. This will cause the distortion of the whole truss. Vertical deflection at A
3. To find the vertical deflection at A, one may use 1 = Sum of {f tL}
1 = Sum of {f tL} = 2/2 (12 10-6) 30 4
4. Fabrication error or lack of fit can be treated = 0.00102 m
similarly. = 1.02 mm

65 66

A propped cantilever under UDL

by method of consistent deformation

Further Applications of Deflection w

Calculations B
A

RB

w B
A B =0
RB
67
68
Cases to consider A propped cantilever under UDL

w wL4
B w 0
A B1
8 EI B B B1 B2
A wL4 RB L3
0
8 EI 3EI
B PL3 RB
A B2 3wL
3 EI RB
P 8
L M

69 70

A propped cantilever with support

settlement

w
B B1 B2

wL 4
RB L 3 The End
A Support
settlement
B 8 EI 3EI
3wL 3 EI
RB RB
8 L3
M

72
71