Deflection of Beams

CE 1812 Mechanics of Materials

March 2020
Lecture by: Mr. P.Vishnu

4 Deflection of Beams

4.1 Introduction

It is necessary that a beam should not only be strong but also stiff enough, so that it does
not deflect from its original position by more than a certain amount. Codes of practises
recomend limits on the allowable deflections. Normally, deflection of a beam is limited to
span / 250 to avoid damages to finishes.

Assumptions

• All deflections take place within the elastic limit and are very small compared to the
length of the member.

• Vertical deflections occur due to bending moment and shear force in the beam. But
deflection due to shear is negligible in comparison with that due to bending.

Simple bending formula can be used to calculate deflection in a beam.

M E 1
= ⇒ M = EI (1)
EI R R
where 1/R is the curvature

The deflection curve for the beam is also known as the elastic line. The elastic curve is
obtained by expressing the curvature (1/R) as a function of x.
4.2 Mathematical relationship for curvaturer in cartesian co-ordinates

Angle between two tangents at A and B = δθ

∴ Rδθ = δS
1 δθ (2)
⇒ curvature = =
R δS
but,
δθ dθ
lim = (3)
δS→0 δS dS
and
dy
lim tan θ = (4)
δθ→0 dx
Considering,
dy
tan θ = (5)
dx
differentiating w.r.t. ‘S’ !
2 dθ d dy
sec θ =
dS dS dx
d2 y dx
=
dx2 dS (6)
dθ d2 y
sec2 θ = 2 cos θ
dS dx
dθ d2 y
⇒ sec3 θ = 2
dS dx

2
However, since
dy
tan θ =
dxv
u !2 (7)
u dy
⇒ sec θ = ±t1 +
dx

Substituting (7) in (6);

d2 y
dθ dx2
= ±" !2 # 32 (8)
dS
dy
1+
dx
δθ 1
since = ;
δS R
d2 y
1 dx2
= ±" !2 # 32 (9)
R
dy
1+
dx
!2
dy dy
for small deflections is small and is very small
dx dx
!2
dy
∴1+ ≈1 (10)
dx

substituting in equation (8)

1 d2 y
=± 2 (11)
R dx
substituting in the simple bending equation
1
M = EI (12)
R

d2 y
M = ±EI (A)
dx2

3
4.3 Sign convention

Consider the two cases given below. Hogging moment is taken as positive.

case 1 case 2
downward deflection (+) upward deflection (+)

dy
(−), 0, (+) (+), 0, (−)
dx
d2 y
>0 <0
dx2
d2 y d2 y
M EI 2 −EI 2
dx dx

elastic line is given by;

Z "Z #
M
y= dx dx (13)
EI
Note that, for integration w.r.t x to be defined (M/EI) must be a continous function of x.

4
4.4 Examples

4.4.1 A uniform cantilever subjected to an end load W

d2 y
M = EI 2
dx (14)
d2 y
w[L − x] = EI 2
dx
integrating w.r.t x;
" #
x2 dy
w Lx − = EI + C1 (15)
2 dx
integrating w.r.t x;
" #
x2 x3
w L − = EIy + C1 x + C2 (16)
2 6

The integration constants C1 and C2 can be determined from applying the boundary condi-
tions in eqautions (15) and (16).

equation boundry condition integration constant

dy
(15) = 0 at x = 0 C1 = 0
dx
(16) y = 0 at x = 0 C2 = 0

Then, from substituting C1 and C2 in equation (15) and (16)

" #
dy w x2
= Lx − (slope)
dx EI 2

5
 " #
w x2 x3
y= L − (elastic line)
EI 2 6

Maximum deflection is at the free end, when x = L.

" #
w L3 L3
ymax = −
EI 2 6
(17)
3
wL
=
3EI

Then, the slope at x = L

dy wL2
= (18)
dx x=L 2EI

For small deflections tan θ ≈ θ.

wL2
∴θ x=L
= (19)
2EI

6
4.4.2 A uniform cantilever subjected to a load W at a distance from the fixed
end

0≤x≤a

M = w(a − x) (20)

set L → a in the earlier example

d2 y
EI = w[a − x] (21)
dx2
Then, " #
w a3 a3
ya = −
EI 2 6
(22)
wa3
=
3EI

and,
dy wa2
= (23)
dx x=a 2EI

7
a≤x≤L
M =0 (24)

d2 y
EI =0 (25)
dx2
integrating w.r.t x;
dy
= C1 (26)
dx
integrating w.r.t x;

y = C1 x + C 2 (27)

The integration constants C1 and C2 can be determined from applying the boundary condi-
tions determined at a.

equation boundry condition integration constant

dy wa2 wa2
(26) = at x = a C1 =
dx 2EI 2EI3
wa3 wa
(27) y= at x = a C2 = −
3EI 6EI

wa2 wa3
∴y= x− (28)
2EI 6EI

wa2 L wa3
⇒ yb = − (29)
2EI 6EI

The above is a general procedure of solving. Considering this particular loading system the
following alternative procedure can also be used to determine the deflection at B.

Note that the region from A to B is not loaded (by external forces or reactions).

yb = ya + (L − a) tan θ
wa3 wa2 (30)
= + (L − a)
3EI 2EI

8
4.4.3 Deflections of a few typical loading systems for simply supported beams

loading system ymax

wL4
8EI

W L3
48EI

5wL4
384EI

−Mo L2
8EI

Exercise: Prove the above results from first principles. Also determine the location of
maximum deflection.

9
4.5 Maculay’s method of integration

This method is useful in situation where there is no single expression for M throughout the
beam.

In the normal method of computation we have to consider the beam in two parts

0≤x≤a
Wb
M =− x (31)
L

d2 y Wb
EI 2
=− x (32)
dx L
integrating w.r.t x;

dy W b x2
EI =− + C1 (33)
dx L 2
integrating w.r.t x;

W b x3
EIy = − + C1 x + C2 (34)
L 6

a≤x≤L
Wb
M =− x + W (x − a) (35)
L

d2 y Wb
EI 2
=− x + W (x − a) (36)
dx L

10
integrating w.r.t x;

W b x2
 2 
dy x
EI =− +W − ax + C3 (37)
dx L 2 2
integrating w.r.t x;

W b x3
 3
ax2

x
EIy = − +W − + C3 x + C4 (38)
L 6 6 2

We have four unknown constants (C1 , C2 , C3 , C4 ) to be determined. And, we have four

boundary conditions.

1. y = 0 at x = 0

2. y = 0 at x = L

3. [yC ]LHS = [yC ]RHS at x = a

   
dy dy
4. = at x = a
dx C LHS dx C RHS

Thus, elastic line can be fully determined, as two seperate eqautions (34 and 38).

A simpler method has been devised by Macaulay. In Macaulay’s method we only write one
equation.

d2 y Wb
EI 2
=− x+W <x−a> (39)
dx L

The term inside <> is only considered when it is positive. When integrating, the term inside
this bracket has to be integrated as one unit.

dy W b x2 < x − a >2
EI =− +W + C1 (40)
dx L 2 2
W b x3 < x − a >3
EIy = − +W + C1 x + C2 (41)
L 6 6

Since we only have two unknown constants to be determined, we only need two of the four
boundary conditons.

11
 1. y = 0 at x = 0
applying in equation (41)

W b L3 < x − L >3
0=− +W + C1 L
L 6 6 (42)
Wb 2
⇒ C1 = (L − b2 )
6L

2. y = 0 at x = L
applying in equation (41)

0 = 0 + {not considered as < 0 − a is negative >} + 0 + C2

(43)
⇒ C2 = 0

Then,
dy Wb 2 < x − a >2 W b 2
EI =− x +W + (L − b2 ) (slope)
dx 2L 2 6L

Wb 3 < x − a >3 W b 2
EIy = − x +W + (L − b2 )x (elastic line)
6L 6 6L

(Q1) What is the deflection under the load?

x=a

Wb 3 < a − a >3 W b 2
EIy = − a +W + (L − b2 )a
6L 6 6L
wa2 b2
= (44)
3L
a2 b 2 w
⇒y=
3L EI

wL3
Also note that a = b = L/2 → ymid span =
48EI
(Q2) What is the maximum deflection and where does it occur?

To find maximum deflection;

dy
=0 (45)
dx

Assume that the maximum deflection occurs at x = xo and 0 ≤ xo ≤ a;

12
 dy Wb 2 < x − a >2 W b 2
EI =− x +W + (L − b2 )
dx 2L 2 6L
Wb 2 < xo − a >2 W b 2
⇒0=− xo + W + (L − b2 )
2L 2 6L
2 2 (46)
(L − b )
0 = x2o + 0 +
r 3
2 2
L −b
⇒ xo =
3

If xo lies in the range 0 ≤ xo ≤ a, then the maximum deflection occurs at x = xo

ASIDE

It can be shown that xo lies in the range 0 ≤ xo ≤ a when a ≥ b

if xo ≤ a

⇒ x2o ≤ a2 (47)
r
L2 − b2
since xo =
3

L 2 − b2
≤ a2
3
(48)
a2 + 2ab ≤ 3a2
b≤a

r
L 2 − b2
for xo =
3
! 23
wb L 2 − b2
ymax = (49)
3EIL 3

13
4.5.1 Multiple point loads

d2 y
EI = −RA x + W1 < x − a1 > +W2 < x − a2 > +W3 < x − a3 > (50)
dx2

4.5.2 Distributed loads

A udl starting at a distance a from support A and continuing till support B.

d2 y w
EI 2
= −RA x + < x − a >2 (51)
dx 2

14
A udl starting at a distance a from support A and ending at a distance b from support A.

The two udl’s (upwards and downwards) shaded in green are ficticious udl’s of the same
magnitude as the applied udl w.

d2 y w w
EI 2
= −RA x + < x − a >2 − < x − b >2 (52)
dx 2 2

4.5.3 Applied moments

d2 y
EI = −RA x+ < x − a >0 Mb (53)
dx2

This will give,

dy x2
EI = −RA + < x − a > Mb + C1 (54)
dx 2

Now the applied moment Mb is properly accounted for.

15