CEN 304-BEAM DEFLECTIONS

• BEAM DEFLECTION
• In addition to safety, a structure must be serviceable.
• a serviceable structure is one that performs satisfactorily, not causing
discomfort or perceptions of unsafety for the occupants or users of the
structure.
• For a beam, serviceability means limited deformations, primarily the vertical
sag or deflection.
• Effect of deflection:
• 1. Flexibility creating problems with vibration
• 2. Equipment sensitive to small distortions can be damaged
• 3. Users of structure may view large deflections negatively and wrongly
assume the structure is unsafe.
 CEN 304-BEAM DEFLECTIONS
• BEAM DEFLECTION
• Deflection formulas can be found in Codes.
• For more unusual situations , standard analytical method such as
virtual work can be used.
• Deflections is a serviceability limit state not of strength, so deflection
should always be computed with service loads
• The appropriate limit for maximum deflection depends on the
function of the beam and the likelihood of damage resulting from
deflection.
• Appropriate limits of deflection can usually be found in some
governing building codes, expressed as a fraction of the span length L.
• Camber-is curvature in the opposite direction of dead load deflection.
 CEN 304-BEAM DEFLECTIONS
• BEAM DEFLECTION
• The limits given in International Building Code (IBC 2003) are typical.
• Some deflections limits are given in Table 5.4
•
 CEN 304-BEAM DEFLECTIONS

• BEAM DEFLECTION
• The limits shown in the table due to dead load plus live load do not
apply to steel beams because dead load deflection is usually
compensated by some means, such as cambering.
• Camber is a curvature in the opposite direction of the dead load
deflection curve and can be accomplished by bending the beam with or
without heat.
• Dead load deflection can also be accounted for by pouring a variable
depth slab with a level top surface, the variable depth being a
consequence of the deflection of the beam ( this is being referred to as
ponding of the concrete).
• BEAM DEFLECTION
• BEAM DEFLECTION
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