Chapter 7

Deflections

7.1 Deflection Diagrams and the Elastic Curve

In design, deflections need to be limited to prevent cracking of

attached brittle materials (such as tiles) and to control

vibrations (satisfying serviceability).

Elastic response (elastic deflection curve): The deformed

response of a structure when subjected to loads and it will

return to its undeformed configuration after unloading.

With the assistance of the moment diagram and noting the

inflection points (if any), it will be easy to construct the

deflection curve qualitatively.

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7.2 Elastic-Beam Theory

Moment-Curvature Relation:

1 v( x)
M ( x) = EI  = EI = EI  EIv( x)
 (1 + v( x) 2 )
3
2

 (=1/ ) = the curvature at a specific point on the elastic curve;

 (=1/ ) = the radius of curvature at a specific point on the elastic

curve;

v( x)
Note that  = 3
 v( x) is an excellent approximation as
(1 + v( x) )
2 2

v( x) is much less than 1/100 (say 2/1000) for a real structure.

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 7.5 Conjugate Beam Method (共軛梁法)

Moment-Shear-Distributed Load Relations:

Consider only the first-order terms to derive

the below equations:
F y
= 0 : V − (V + dV ) + wdx = 0 
w(x)
w(x)+dw(x)
dV ( x) M(x) M(x)+dM(x)
dV = wdx; =w( x); V ( x) = w( x)
dx
 M = 0 : −M + (M + dM ) − Vdx = 0  V(x) V(x)+dV(x)
dM ( x)
dM = Vdx; = V ( x); M ( x) = V ( x)
dx x x+dx

V =  dV =  wdx (1); M =  dM =  Vdx =  wdx (2)

Moment-Curvature Relation:

M ( x)
M ( x) = EIv( x)  v( x)=
EI
M ( x)
 ( x) = v( x) =  v( x)dx =  dx   w( x)dx  V (compare (1))
EI
M ( x)
v( x) =  v( x)dx =  dxdx   w( x)dxdx  M (compare (2))
EI
M ( x)
w( x)  : the distributed load acting on the conjugate beam.
EI

Real beam  = Conjugate beam shear V

Real beam v = Conjugate beam moment M

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 Real Beam Conjugate Beam

Type1: Fixed end  Free end

v=0 ;  =0 M =0 ; V =0

v0 ;  0 M 0 ; V 0
Type2: Hinge/roller  Hinge/roller

v=0 ;  0 M =0 ; V 0
Type3: Internal hinge/roller support  internal pin

v=0 ;  0 M =0 ; V 0

v  0 ; L ； R M  0 ; VL ；VR
(both  0 in general) (both  0 in general)

Sign Convention:

w( x)  M ( x) / EI : upward when positive; downward when negative.

v( x) = M (x) : v( x) is upward when M >0 and downward when M <0 .
 ( x) = V (x) :  ( x) is counterclockwise when V >0 and clockwise
when V <0 .

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Real Beams VS Conjugate Beams

Note that if the right beams are real then the left ones are conjugate.

Procedure for the conjugate beam method

1. Draw M ( x) , the moment diagram of the real beam.

2. Draw the conjugate beam.

3. Apply w( x) = M ( x) / EI on the conjugate beam.

4. Find v( x) = M ( x) &  ( x) =V (x) at any position x.

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 Illustrative Example: Determine the deflections and rotations

at B and C using the conjugate beam method.

1
real beam P V
PL A
EI , L P
C (x=L/2) B
P M
2 conjugate beam

-PL
-PL3
3 MB=
3EI
PL3
VB= 3EI
PL w(x) PL2
EI -PL2 θB=
VB= 2EI
2EI
Note that VB (=  B ) and M B (=vB ) are both negative according

to the sign convention and thus  B is clockwise and vB is

downward.

3 PL 1 3 PL2
 F y = 0 : C =VC = − 4 EI ( 2 L) = − 8 EI
4 A 0.5L C M
C
F “-“ means clockwise
0.5F VC
1 2L 1L
PL/EI M = 0: v = MC = − F(
C
2 32
) − F(
22
)=

1 L PL 2 L L PL 1 L 5 PL3
− ( )( )( ) − ( )( )( )=−
2 2 2 EI 3 2 2 2 EI 2 2 48 EI
“-“ means downward

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Example 7.12 Find the max deflection vmax and the position.

x 8kN
1 A 9m 3m B
vmax
V M
2kN 18kN m
2
-6kN
18 81 27
EI EI EI
3
45 6m 4m 2m 63
9m 3m EI EI

Key point:

v max → v( x) = 0 or  ( x) = 0 or V ( x)=0

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Find the position x where V ( x)=0 and then determine M ( x) ,

which is v max .
2x
w(x)= EI
1 2 x 45 Mx=vmax
 Fy =0: x( ) − = 0 A
2 EI EI
45 Vx=0
x2 =45 → x = 3 5  6.71 m EI x
2 45
5  M A =0: M x + x  =0
3 EI
2 45 201.3 kNm3
 vmax = M x = − (6.71) = −
3 EI EI
Note that EI is with the unit of kN  m .
2

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Example 7.13 Find the deflection at the middle point.

Conjugate beam

Because of symmetry,
Vc=0 at the center.

From the FBD, we get

Mc=c as follows.
4

620 400 200 20

 M C =0  M C + (6) − (3.33) − (1) − (0.67) = 0
EI EI EI EI

2173 kNm3
C = M C = −
EI

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Example Find the max deflection vmax and the position.

Conjugate beam

v max → v( x) = 0 or
 ( x) = 0 or V ( x)=0

2 2 2
2
4  Fy =0: 1 x Px = PL − PL = PL → x = L = 0.8165L
2 2EI 4EI 12EI 6EI 3

PL2 L PL2 PL2 2 2 −0.257 PL3

 M A =0: M x − + L+ ( L+ L) = 0 → M x =vmax =
4EI 3 12EI 6EI 3 3 EI

PL2 2L PL2 2 2 −0.257PL3

 M x = L =0: M x + + ( L) = 0 → M x =vmax =
4EI 3 6EI 3 3 EI

Problems: Find v B ,  BL , and  BR .

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