DEFLECTION OF BEAMS

In-Class Activities:
•Follow up

Today’s Objective : 14th September •Concepts

To: • Theory, formula, steps

a) Understand the context, concept and •Applications

derivation for deflection and slope. • Problem Solving
b) Be able to calculate max and specific • Quiz types
values.
• Video Project discussion
Deflections of Beams
 Serviceability of beams

 Deflection limits for beams

 appearance (sagging)
 fitness for purpose (machinery, pipe grades)
 structural (avoid unintended load paths)
General Guidelines

 Limit total deflections to span/250

deflection (v)
L
vmax ≤
250

 Different design codes give guidance on the

limits for deflections
To limit deflections, we need to be
able to calculate them!
 The elastic curve – deformed shape of
the beam

The deflection diagram of

the longitudinal axis that
passes through the
centroid of each cross-
sectional area of the beam
v is called the elastic curve
 Revision- Geometry of the beam
deformations

Consider the deflected shape of the beam given below

The deflection, slope and curvature

of a beam are related by:
Deflection = v
Slope = dv/dx = θ
Curvature = d2v/dx2 = dθ /dx = K
The curvature is the inverse of the
radius, K = 1/R

ie. for a segment of the beam dx

R
dx = Rdθ hence, dθ
1/R = dθ /dx

dx
Geometry of the beam deformations: Strain

At a distance y from the neutral axis (N.A.)

Strain:

ε = ∆L L
= (ds '−ds ) ds
( R − y )dθ − Rdθ
=
Rdθ
y
=−
R
Moment-Curvature Relationship
We have shown that the strain ɛ at a distance y
from the N.A.
ɛ=-y/R (1)
Hooke’s law
ɛ=σ/E (2)
From the flexure formula, the stress σ at the
point under bending is given by
σ=-My/I (3)
Substituting (3) into (2), the strain can be
expressed by
ɛ=-My/EI (4)
Substituting (4) into (1), the moment-curvature
relationship can be found as
1/R=M/EI or K=M/EI
 Slope and Displacement by integration

Curvature: d 2v M
K= 2 =
dx EI
E – Young’s modulus which is a constant for a given material
I – Moment of inertia computed about the neutral axis
dv d 2v
Slope: EIθ = EI = EI ∫ 2 = ∫ M
dx dx

d 2v
Deflection: EIv = EI ∫∫ 2 = ∫∫ M
dx

•We need to be able to define the bending moment as a

function of the distance from one end of the beam
•The constants of integration need to be determined by
evaluating the slope or deflection at particular points –
boundary condition
 Boundary condition
At a point on the beam where the value of slope or deflection is known,
these values are called boundary conditions. For example:

Roller: v =0

Pin: v =0

v =0
Fixed:
θ =0
 Example 1
The simply supported beam supports the uniform distributed loading.
Determine the equation of the elastic curve, slope and deflection at point C
and the maximum deflection of the beam. E=200GPa, I=50(106)mm4.
Reaction forces

F.B.D:

+ ∑M B = 0: − R A × 10 + 100 × 10 × 10 / 2 = 0

RA = 500 N

+ ∑F y = 0: R A + RB = 100 × 10

RB = 500 N
Moment Function
A free-body diagram of the segment and coordinate x is shown as

+ ∑M o = 0:
x
M ( x) + 100 x × − 500 × x = 0
2

M ( x) = −50 x 2 + 500 x
Slope and deflection by integration
According to Moment-Curvature relationship, we have
d 2v
EI 2 = M ( x) = −50 x 2 + 500 x
dx
Integrating twice, we obtain the slope and deflection

dv 50
Slope: EIθ = EI = − x 3 + 250 x 2 + C1
dx 3

25 4 250 3
Deflection: EIv = − x + x + C1 x + C 2
6 3
Applying boundary conditions
To determine the constants C1 and C2, the boundary conditions will be
applied:
Condition 1:
At point A, x = 0 and v = 0. Thus
25 4 250 3
EI 0 = − 0 + 0 + C1 0 + C2
6 3
C2 = 0

Condition 2: At point B, x =10m and v = 0.

25 4 250 3
EI 0 = − 10 + 10 + C110 + 0 C1 = −4166.7
6 3
 Slope and deflection at point C
With the values of C1 and C2, the functions of slope and deflection
are
dv 50
Slope: EIθ = EI = − x 3 + 250 x 2 − 4166.7
dx 3
25 4 250 3
Deflection: EIv = − x + x − 4166.7 x
6 3
At Point C, x = 2m

50 3
EIθ C = − × 2 + 250 × 2 2 − 4166.7
3
= −3300
3300 3300
θC = − =− = − −4

EI ( ) −12
200 10 × 50(10 )(10 )
9 6
3 . 3(10 ) ?
25 4 250 3
EIvC = − ×2 + 2 − 4166.7 × 2 = −7733.4 vC = −7.73(10 −4 )m
6 3
 The maximum deflection
The maximum deflection occurs at the point where the slope θ=dv/dx =0.
Assuming θ=0 in the slope function:
50 3
0=− x + 250 x 2 − 4166.7
3
Finding x between 0 and 10m

x = 0.5
Alternatively, by inspection of the elastic curve, the maximum deflection
occurs in the middle where the slope is zero.
Thus, the maximum deflection is
25 250
EIvmax = − × 0.54 + × 0.53 − 4166.7 × 0.5 = -2073.2
6 3

− 2073.2
vmax = = −2.07(10 −3 )m
EI
 Summary of results
1) Elastic curve:
25 250 3
EIv = − x 4 + x − 4166.7 x
6 3
or
25 4 250 3 4166.7
v=− x + x − x
6 EI 3EI EI
2) Slope and deflection at point C

θ C = −3.3(10 −4 )

vC = −7.73(10 −4 )m

3) The maximum deflection

vmax = −2.07(10 −3 )m

at x = 0.5
 Positive Sign Convention

When applying double integration equations, the positive signs for slope
and deflection are
 Sign convention-cont.
The sign convention is helpful to verify your calculation, for example

vA is negative
θA is negative

vB is negative
θB is positive

Q: By inspection, slope and deflection at point A, B and C are positive or

negative under the given coordinate?
 Boundary condition for a symmetry
structure
Due to symmetry, only half of the structure needs to be calculated for slope
and deflection. In such cases, the slope at the symmetry axis is zero. This
boundary condition will greatly simplify our calculation.

Symmetry condition:

dv dx = 0 at x = L 2
 Previous example using the symmetry
condition
From previous slides, we obtained
d 2v
EI 2 = M ( x) = −50 x 2 + 500 x
dx
dv 50
EIθ = EI = − x 3 + 250 x 2 + C1
dx 3
25 250 3
EIv = − x 4 + x + C1 x + C 2
6 3
Boundary conditions:
1) At point A, x = 0 and v = 0.
25 4 250 3
EI 0 = − 0 + 0 + C1 0 + C2 ∴C2 = 0
6 3
2) When x = 5m and θ = 0.
EI 0 = −
50 3
× 5 + 250 × 52 + C1 ∴C1 = −4166.7
3
Function of elastic curve:
25 4 250 3
EIv = − x + x − 4166.7 x -Same to the previous result
6 3
Continuity conditions
If a single x coordinate cannot be used to express the equation for the slope or
deflection, then continuity conditions must be used to evaluate some of
integration constants.
Continuity conditions – cont.
Each coordinate is only valid within the regions
0 ≤ x1 ≤ a and a ≤ x2 ≤ ( a + b )
Continuity conditions require

v1 (a ) = v2 (a )
θ1 (a) = θ 2 (a)

Each coordinate is only valid within the regions

0 ≤ x1 ≤ a and 0 ≤ x2 ≤ b
Continuity conditions require

v1 (a ) = v2 (a )
θ1 (a) = −θ 2 (a)
Example 2
Determine the equations of the elastic curve for the beam using x1 and x2
coordinates. Specify the slope at A and the maximum deflection. EI is
constant.
Reaction Forces

∑MA = 0:
L 2L
+ RB × L − P × − P× =0
3 3
RB = P
+ ∑F y = 0: RA + RB − P − P = 0
RA = P
Moment Functions
When 0 ≤ x1 ≤ L 3

+ ∑M = 0:
M ( x1 ) − Px1 = 0
M ( x1 ) = Px1

When L 3 ≤ x2 ≤ L 2

+ ∑M = 0:
L
M ( x2 ) − Px2 + P( x2 − ) = 0
3
PL
M ( x2 ) =
3
Slope and deflection by integration
Thus, for 0 ≤ x1 ≤ L 3
d 2v1
EI 2 = M ( x1 ) = Px1
dx1
dv1 P
EI = EIθ1 ( x1 ) = x12 + C1 ------(1)
dx1 2
P Note: There are four
EIv1 = x13 + C1 x1 + C2 ----------(2)
6 constants of
For L 3 ≤ x2 ≤ L 2 integration: C1, C2,
C3 and C4. To
d 2v2 PL determine the above
EI 2 = M ( x2 ) =
dx2 3 four constants, four
additional equations
dv2 PL
EI = EIθ 2 ( x2 ) = x2 + C3 ------(3) are needed by
dx2 3 applying boundary
PL 2 conditions
EIv2 = x2 + C3 x2 + C4 --------(4)
6
Boundary conditions

Because only half of the

structure is considered, so
only the boundary condition
at point A will be applied,
that is,

When x1 = 0 , v1 = 0. From eqn.(2)

P 3
EI 0 = × 0 + C1 × 0 + C2
6
So C2 = 0 ------------------------------------------(5)
Boundary condition due to symmetry

Due to the symmetry of

the structure, we know
dv2
when x2 = L / 2 , =0
dx2

From eqn.(3),
PL L
EI 0 = × + C3
3 2
PL2
C3 = − ------------------------------------------(6)
6
 Continuity conditions
when x1 = x2 = L / 3, continuity conditions will be applied

From eqn.(1) and eqn.(3), slope

continuity condition is
L L
EIθ1 ( ) = EIθ 2 ( )
3 3
2
P L PL L PL2
×   + C1 = × −
2 3 3 3 6
PL2
C1 = − ------------------------------------------(7)
9
From eqn.(2) and eqn.(4), deflection continuity condition is
L L
EIv1 ( ) = EIv2 ( )
3 3
3 2
P  L  PL2 L PL  L  PL2 L PL3
×  − × = ×  − × + C4 C4 = -----(8)
6 3 9 3 6 3 6 3 162
 Slope and deflection
Slope:
P 2 PL2
EIθ1 ( x1 ) = x1 − (0 ≤ x1 ≤ L 3)
2 9 2
EIθ 2 ( x2 ) =
PL
x2 −
PL ( L 3 ≤ x2 ≤ L 2)
3 6
Deflection:
P 3 PL2
EIv1 = x1 − x1 (0 ≤ x1 ≤ L 3)
6 9
PL 2 PL2 PL3
EIv2 = x2 − x2 + ( L 3 ≤ x2 ≤ L 2)
6 6 162
P 2 PL2 PL2 PL2
Slope at point A: EIθ A = × 0 − =− θA = −
2 9 9 9 EI
The max v occurs at x2=L/2
2
PL  L  PL2  L  PL3 23PL3
EIvmax = ×  − ×  + vmax =−
6 2 6  2  162 648 EI
 Steps for DOUBLE INTEGRATION

 Select appropriate coordinator(s) and establish

the equation(s) for M(x)
 Integrate M (x) to get slope, EIθ.
 Integrate again to get deflection, EIv.
 Apply the boundary conditions and continuity
conditions to θ and v to evaluate the integration
constants.
Why is deflection calculation important?

a) Deflection is another important set

off calculation in structural analysis.
b) Loads create bending and bending
causes deflection
c) Deflection is an important service
condition
d) Deflection is not important at all
What does dv/dx represent?

a) Deflection
b) The elastic curve
c) The curvature
d) The slope
What is the purpose of boundary
conditions?

a) Allows to calculate or eliminate

constants
b) Defines the equations at boundaries
c) Is a part of all equations
d) Not useful at all