LESSON 17: BEAM DEFLECTION

DEFLECTION [Ref: Structural Analysis by Hibbeler, 8th Edition]

Elastic deflections of a structure can be determined using both geometrical and energy
methods. The geometrical methods, are the moment-area theorems and the conjugate-beam
method, and the energy methods are based on virtual work and Castigliano’s theorem.

DEFLECTION DIAGRAMS AND THE ELASTIC CURVE

Deflection of structures can occur from various sources, such as loads, temperature,
fabrication errors, or settlement. In design, deflections must be limited in order to prevent cracking
of attached brittle materials such as concrete or plaster. Furthermore, a structure must not vibrate
or deflect severely in order to “appear” safe for its occupants.

For beams and frames the greatest deflections are caused by internal bending, whereas
internal axial forces cause the deflections of a truss.
The deflection diagram represents the elastic curve for the points representing the
centroids of the cross-sectional areas along each of the members.

If
the elastic
curve seems
difficult to
establish, it is suggested that the moment diagram for the beam or frame be drawn first. Positive
moment tends to bend a beam or horizontal member concave upward, and a negative moment
tends to bend the beam or member concave downward from the sign convention for moments.
 METHODS:
1. Double Integration Method
2. Area – Moment Method
3. Conjugate Beam Method
4. Virtual Work Method
5. Castigliano’s Theorem

DOUBLE INTEGRATION METHOD

𝑑2∆ 𝑀
= , equation of the elastic curve by direct integration
𝑑𝑥 2 𝐸𝐼

𝑑2 ∆
𝐸𝐼 =𝑀
𝑑𝑥 2
Solution to this equation requires to successive integrations to obtain the deflection ∆ of the elastic
curve.
1.
𝑑2𝑦 𝑀
=
𝑑𝑥 2 𝐸𝐼
𝑑2𝑦
y’’ =
𝑑𝑥 2
EI y’’ = M

𝑤𝐿𝑥 𝑥
– 𝑤𝑥( ) – Mx = 0
2 2
𝑤𝐿𝑥 𝑤𝑥 2
Mx = −
2 2
By Double Integration:
𝑑2𝑦 𝑤𝐿𝑥 𝑤𝑥 2
EI =M= −
𝑑𝑥 2 2 2
𝑑𝑦 𝑤𝐿𝑥 2 𝑤𝑥 3
EI = − + C1
𝑑𝑥 4 6
𝑤𝐿𝑥 3 𝑤𝑥 4
EI y = − + C1x + C2
12 24
Boundary Conditions:
@ x = 0; y = 0; C2 = 0
@ x = L; y = 0;
𝑤𝐿𝑥 3 𝑤𝑥 4
EI y = − + C1x + C2
12 24
𝑤𝐿(𝐿)3 𝑤(𝐿)4
EI (0) = − + C1 (L) + 0
12 24
𝑤𝐿3 𝑤𝐿3 𝒘𝑳𝟑
C1 = -- + ; C1 = --
12 24 𝟐𝟒
Equation of Deflection:
𝑤𝐿𝑥 3 𝑤𝑥 4 𝑤𝐿3
EI y = − -- 𝑥
12 24 24
Max. Deflection; x = L/2
𝐿 𝐿
𝑤𝐿( )3 𝑤( )4 𝑤𝐿3 𝐿
2 2
EI y = − -- ( )
12 24 24 2
𝑤𝐿4 𝑤𝐿4 𝑤𝐿4
EI y = − --
96 384 24
 5𝑤𝐿4 𝟓𝒘𝑳𝟒
EI y = − ; y= −
384 𝟑𝟖𝟒 𝑬𝑰

2. Write the equation of deflection and determine the location of maximum deflection.

: - RA(L) + M =0; RA = M/L

- M/L (x) +M – Mx = 0
𝑀𝑥
Mx = − 𝐿 +𝑀
By Double Integration:
𝑑2𝑦 𝑀𝑥
EI =M=𝑀− 𝐿
𝑑𝑥 2
𝑑𝑦 𝑀𝑥2
EI = 𝑀𝑥 − 2𝐿 + C1
𝑑𝑥
𝑀𝑥 2 𝑀𝑥3
EI y = − + C1x + C2
2 6𝐿

Boundary Conditions:
@ x = 0; y = 0; C2 = 0
@ x = L; y=0
𝑀(𝐿)2
𝑀(𝐿)
3
EI (L) = 6𝐿
−
+ C1(L) + 0
2
𝑀𝐿 𝑀𝐿 𝑴𝑳
C1 = − 2 + 6 ; C1 = − 𝟑

Equation of Deflection:
𝑀𝑥 2 𝑀𝑥3 𝑴𝑳𝒙
EI y = − 6𝐿 − 3
2
Location of Maximum Deflection:
( x is the location of max. deflection)
𝑑𝑦
At 𝑑𝑥
= y’ = 0 @ pt. of max. deflection

𝑑𝑦 𝑀𝑥2
EI = 𝑀𝑥 − 2𝐿 + C1
𝑑𝑥
𝑀𝑥 2 𝑀𝐿
0 = 𝑀𝑥 − −
2𝐿 3
𝑥2 𝐿 6𝐿𝑥−3𝑥 2 −2𝐿2
0=𝑥− −3 =
2𝐿 6𝐿
𝟐 𝟐
0 = 𝟔𝑳𝒙 − 𝟑𝒙 − 𝟐𝑳
Distance x can be determined if L is given.
3. Write the equation of deflection and determine the maximum deflection.

𝑥 𝑤𝐿2
𝑤𝐿𝑥 − 𝑤𝑥 (2) − − 𝑀𝑥 = 0
2
𝑤𝑥 2 𝑤𝐿2
𝑀𝑥 = 𝑤𝐿𝑥 − −
2 2
2
𝑤𝑥2
EI y’’ = M = 𝑤𝐿𝑥 −
2
− 𝑤𝐿2
𝑤𝐿𝑥 2 𝑤𝑥 3 𝑤𝐿2 𝑥
EI y’ = − − + C1
2 6 2
𝑤𝐿𝑥 3 𝑤𝑥 4 𝑤𝐿2 𝑥 2
EI y = − − + C1x + C2
6 24 4
Boundary Conditions:
@ x = 0; y = 0; C2 = 0
𝑑𝑦
@ x = L; y’ = =0 C1 = 0
𝑑𝑥
Equation of deflection:
𝑤𝐿𝑥 3 𝑤𝑥 4 𝑤𝐿2 𝑥 2
EI y = − −
6 24 4
Maximum Deflection:
@x=L
𝑤𝐿4 𝑤𝐿4 𝑤𝐿4
EI y = − −
6 24 4
3𝑤𝐿4 𝑤𝐿4
∆𝑚𝑎𝑥. = y = − =−
24𝐸𝐼 8𝐸𝐼

4. The beam in the figure is subjected to a load P at its end. Determine the displacement at C.
EI is constant.
 Moment Functions
𝑷
𝑀1 = − 𝒙 𝟎 ≤ 𝒙 ≤ 𝟐𝒂
𝟐 𝟏
𝑃 3𝑃
𝑀1 = − 𝑥2 + (𝑋2 − 2𝑎)
2 2
= 𝑷𝒙𝟐 − 𝟑𝑷𝒂 𝟐𝒂 ≤ 𝒙 ≤ 𝟑𝒂

𝒅𝟐 ∆ 𝑴
= ,
𝒅𝒙𝟐 𝑬𝑰

𝑑2 ∆
𝐸𝐼 =𝑀
𝑑𝑥 2
Slope and Elastic Curve
𝑑2 ∆1 𝑃
𝑓𝑜𝑟 𝑥1 ; 𝐸𝐼 2
= − 𝑥1
𝑑𝑥 2
𝑑 2 ∆1 𝑃𝑥12
𝐸𝐼 =− + 𝐶1 ----- equation 1
𝑑𝑥 2 4
𝑃𝑥13
𝐸𝐼∆1 = − + 𝐶1 𝑥1 + 𝐶2 ----- equation 2
12

𝑑 2 ∆2
𝑓𝑜𝑟 𝑥2 ; 𝐸𝐼 = 𝑃𝑥2 − 3𝑃𝑎
𝑑𝑥 2
𝑑 2 ∆2 𝑃𝑥22
𝐸𝐼 = − 3𝑃𝑎𝑥2 + 𝐶3 ----- equation 3
𝑑𝑥 2 2
𝑃𝑥2 3 3
𝐸𝐼∆2 = − 𝑃𝑎𝑥22 + 𝐶3 𝑥2 + 𝐶4 ----- equation 4
6 2
Boundary conditions
at x1 = 0; ∆1 = 0; 0= 0 + 0 +C2 C2 = 0
𝑃(2𝑎)3
at x1 = 2a; ∆1 = 0; 0=− + 𝐶1 (2𝑎) + 𝐶2
12
𝑃(2𝑎)3 3
at x2 = 2a; ∆2 = 0; 0== − 𝑃𝑎(2𝑎)2 + 𝐶3 (2𝑎) + 𝐶4
6 2

𝑑∆1 𝑑∆
at x = 2a
𝑑𝑥1
= 𝑑𝑥2
2
𝑃(2𝑎)2 𝑃(2𝑎)2
− + 𝐶1 = − 3𝑃𝑎(2𝑎) + 𝐶3
4 2
Solving, we obtain
𝑃𝑎2 10𝑃𝑎2
C1 = C2 = 0 C3 = C4 = - 2P𝑎3
3 3
Substituting C3 and C4 into Eq. (4) gives

𝑃𝑥2 3 3 10𝑃𝑎2 2𝑃𝑎3

∆𝑐 = − 𝑃𝑎𝑥22 + 𝑥2 −
6𝐸𝐼 2𝐸𝐼 3𝐸𝐼 𝐸𝐼
The displacement at C is determined by setting x2 = 3a. We get

𝑷𝒂𝟑
∆𝒄 = −
𝑬𝑰