ME 307 – Machine Elements I

Chapter 3
Deflection Analysis (Part I)

Mechanical Engineering Dr. Sadık Olguner

University of Gaziantep Dr. Hakan Çandar
 Deflection
 Deflection is one of the important consideration in the design of
machanical elements.
 In some cases, an element may be strong enough as to carry the
loads without any failure, but the deflection is so high that the system
may be adversely affected.
 For instance, in the main drive of machine tools, the deflection at the tip
of the spindles should not be greater than the tolerable limits. Otherwise,
large deflections may create chatter which affects dimensional accuracy
and geometrical tolerances (roundness, cylindricity, concentricity).
 As another example, in a power transmission system, the gears are
mounted on a solid shaft. If the shaft bends too much, the teeth of the
gears can not mesh properly and the result will be noise, wear, and an
early failure.
 In these type of applications, in addition to stress analysis, deflection at
the specific points must be determined as to finalise the design study.
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 Deflection
 Deflection under axial loading
When an element is subjected to axial loading, the relationship between
deflection and force may be obtained from:
  F FL F AE Resistance of the element
     k
L E AE AE  L against axial deflection

 Deflection under torsional loading

When an element is subjected to torsional loading, the relationship
between angular deflection and torque may be obtained from:

r  Tr TL T GJ
     k 
t
Resistance of the element
L G GJ GJ  L against torsional deflection

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 Deflection
 There are many methods used for the determination of deflection of the
elements. Most known methods are:
• Method of using Singularity Functions
• Double Integration method
• Numerical Integration method
• Graphical Integration method
• Area-Moment method
• Strain Energy method (Castigliano’s Theorem)
 In this course, the emphasis is given to the application of strain
energy method because this is a powerful approach to solving a wide
range of deflection analysis situations.

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 Strain Energy
 Strain energy is the potential energy stored in an element due to elastic
deformation caused by different loading conditions.
 Strain energy is dependent on the type of loading (axial load, torque,
bending moment, direct shear or transverse shear) because the
deformation due to the type of loading is different.
 It depends on;
• The amount of load
• Type of loading
• Dimensions

Strain Energy = Work done

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 Strain Energy
 Let’s look at the strain energies for all types of loading.

Fy F 2
F
U  and y U 
2 k 2k
This equation is general in the sense that the force F
can also mean axial force, torque, or moment.

For axial loading For torsional loading For direct shear

2 AE 2 GJ FL
F F Fy
U  and k  U  and k
t
 U  and y
2k L 2 kt L 2 AG
2 2 2
F L T L F L
U  U  U 
2 AE 2GJ 2 AG

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 Strain Energy
For bending moment For transverse shear

M Mds Flexural shear may be subjected to

dU  d and  d  ds dU  change throughout the length of the
2 2
element, therefore strain energy is
2 expressed as;
1 M M ds
 dU  CF 2dx
 EI 2 EI U 
2GA

For small deflections ds  dx C: 1.2 for rectangular shape

C: 1.11 for circular shape
C: 2.0 for tubular shape
M 2dx
U 
2 EI
Note: For most of the problems, the
contribution of transverse shear on
deflection is very small comparing the
others and it is usually neglected.

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 Strain Energy
 As a summary:
2
F L
For axial loading U 
2 AE

2
T L
For torsional loading U 
2GJ

2
F L
For direct shear U 
2 AG

M 2dx
For bending moment U 
2 EI

CF 2dx
For transverse shear U  (usually neglected)
2GA

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 Castigliano’s Theorem
 Castigliano’s Theorem states that deflection of a member at the point
of application and in the direction of a force can be found by taking
partial derivative of the total strain energy with respect to that force.
U
yi 
Fi

 The slope of deflection curve at the point of interest is obtained by

taking derivative of total strain energy with respect to bending moment at
that point.
U
i 
M i

 For Castigliano’s theorem to be applied there must exist a

concentrated load at the point under consideration. If the deflection
of a member is required at a point where no concentrated load is
acting, an imaginary (fictitious) force Q is placed at that point and in the
resulting deflection expression Q is set to zero.  U 
y 
 Q Q 0 8
 Example 3.1
Consider a simply supported beam as shown below. Using Castigliano’s
theorem, develop an expression for the deflection at point B.

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 Solution of Example 3.1

At point B, there is a concentrated load F.

Hence, Castigliano’s theorem can directly
be applied to this case.

U Where U is the total energy which is the sum of

yB 
F strain energies stored in parts AB and BC.

M AB 2dx M BC 2dx
U  U AB  U BC U AB  and U BC 
2 EI 2 EI

U1 a M L M 
yB     M AB AB dx   M BC BC dx 
F EI  0 F a F 

MAB, MBC and partial derivatives of these

expressions with respect to F must be determined.

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 Solution of Example 3.1
Free Body Diagram
F
A a b C

B
Fb Fa
L L

0<x≤a a≤x<L
Fb M AB Fb M BC
F
L L a xa

x V x V

Fb Fb Fb
M AB  x M BC  F  x  a   x M BC  x  F  x  a
L L L
M AB b b 
M BC 
Fb
x  Fx  Fa M BC  F   1 x  Fa
 x L 
F L L
M BC  b 
   1 x  a
F L  11
 Solution of Example 3.1

Fb M AB b b  M BC  b 
M AB  x  x M BC  F   1 x  Fa    1 x  a
L F L L  F L 

U1 a M L M 
yB     M AB AB dx   M BC BC dx 
F EI  0 F a F 

U  a Fb b L  b    
1
  b 
yB   x xdx    F  1 x  Fa   1 x  a dx 
F EI  0 L L a  L    L   

U Fb2a3 Fa 2b3 Fa 2b2  a b  a 2b2

yB      F
F 3EIL2 3EIL2 3EIL2 3EIL

This problem can also be solved by writing moment expression MBC by considering x
is changing between 0 and b.
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 Solution of Example 3.1
Free Body Diagram
F
A a b C

B
Fb Fa
L L
Second Way

0<x≤a 0≤x<b a b 
1
  M AB M M
yB  AB dx   M BC BC dx 
Fb M AB M BC Fa EI  0 F 0 F 
L L
1  a Fb2 x2 b Fa 2 x2 
yB   dx   dx 
x
EI  0 L2
0 L
2 
V V x

Fb 1  Fb2a3 Fa 2b3 
M AB  x Fa yB    
L M BC  x EI  3L2 3L 
2
L
1  Fa 2b2  a b   Fa 2b2
M AB b M BC a yB   
 x  x EI  3L 2  3EIL
F L F L

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 Example 3.3
A simple truss composed of two bars each of length L carries a vertical
load P at joint D. Find the horizontal and vertical components of the total
deflection of point D. The bars are made of same material, DB having a
cross sectional area of A and DC having a cross sectional area of 2A.
Use theorem of Castigliano.

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 Solution of Example 3.3

Vertical deflection will be in the direction of the external load P.

As shown in Figure, BDC is an equilateral triangle. Force acting
on bar DB and DC is equal to P.

2 2
P L P L
U DB  and U DC 
2 AE 4 AE

 U DB  U DB    P2 L    P 2L  3 PL
v      
P P  2 AE  P  4 AE  2 AE
  

P P

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 Solution of Example 3.3
In order to determine the deflection in horizontal direction, we must
apply an imaginary (fictitious) force Q at point D as shown in Figure.
Q Q
Force on DB= P  Force on DC= P
3 3

Energies stored in these bars due to the addition of the

imaginary force Q can be written as:

   
2 2
Q Q
P L P L
3 3
U DB  U DC 
2 AE 4 AE

 2 2 
 Q   Q 
 U DB  U DB 
 
Q/√3    P  3  L  P  3  L 
h     
Q Q  2 AE 4 AE 
Q/√3  
 
P P
 Q  1  Q  1 
 P   L  P    L
h 
 3 3

3  3

PL
AE 2 AE 2 3 AE
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