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6/22/24, 8:16 PM Deflection of Beams - Formula, Methods, Questions

Deflection of Beams: Deflection Formula, Deflection Unit
By BYJU'S Exam Prep
Updated on: September 25th, 2023

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Deflection of Beams is the representation of deflection of the structure from its original unloaded
position. Beams are widely used in different types of structures. Therefore, it is very important to
know how to predict the deflection of beams when different types of load and their load combinations
are applied.

It is very important to limit the deflection of beams as too much deflection might cause damage to
other parts of the structures. If too much deflection of the beam is allowed, it will fail the serviceability
criteria; even though the stresses acting in the beam are low and safe, the structure will fail to serve
the purpose of its construction. Let us know more about the deflection of beams discussed in the
upcoming sections.

Download Complete Structural Analysis Formula Notes PDF

Table of content

1. What is the Deflection of Beams?

2. Deflection of Beams Formula

3. Methods of Determining Beam Deflections

4. Double Integration Method

5. Macaulay’s Method

6. Moment Area Method

7. Conjugate Beam Method

8. Deflection for Common Loadings

9. Deflection of Beams Questions

What is the Deflection of Beams?

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 the beam.
6/22/24, 8:16 PM Deflection of Beams - Formula, Methods, Questions
Deflection of Beams Definition

Deflection of beams is the transverse deformation that occurs due to the shear force and bending
moment. The deflection of beams due to the shear force is insignificant compared to the deflection of
beams due to the bending moment. Therefore, the deflection of beams due to shear force is ignored.

Let us now see the slope and deflection of beams in brief.

The slope of a Beam: The slope of a beam is the angle between deflected beam to the actual
beam at the same point.
Deflection of Beam: Deflection is defined as the vertical displacement of a point on a loaded
beam. Many methods determine the slope and deflection at a section in a loaded beam.

The maximum deflection occurs where the slope is zero. The maximum deflection position is found
by equating the slope equation to zero. Then the value of x is substituted in the deflection equation to
calculate the maximum deflection.Deflection of Beams is an essential topic in the Strength of
Materials subject.

Deflection of Beams Formula

The deformed shape of the bean is known as an elastic curve. The slope and deflection of beams
formula for some standard cases are listed below. These formulae can be directly for solving many

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6/22/24, 8:16 PM Deflection of Beams - Formula, Methods, Questions

y is the vertical deflection of the beam. The objective of the beam is defined as the shape given by:

θ= dy/dx

The moment Curvature equation is used to calculate the deflection of beams.

1/R=M/EI

Where

M = Bending Moment
R = Radius of Curvature of deformed shape
EI = Flexural Rigidity of the beam
1/R = Curvature of beam

Deflection Differential Equation

d2y/dx2 = M/EI

(a)

ΘB= ML/EI

∆B= ML2/2EI

(b)

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 (c) 8:16 PM
6/22/24, Deflection of Beams - Formula, Methods, Questions

ΘB= WL3/6EI

∆B= WL4/8EI

DIFFERENTIAL EQUATION OF THE DEFLECTION CURVE OF BEAM

Deflection of Beams Formula for Cantilever Beams:

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6/22/24, 8:16 PM Deflection of Beams - Formula, Methods, Questions

Deflection of Beams Formula for Simply supported Beams:

Methods of Determining Beam Deflections

There are various methods through which deflections of beams and structures can be found
depending upon the type of load and nature of the beam. Some important methods to determine the
deflection of beams are:

Double Integration Method

Macaulay’s Method
Moment Area Method
Conjugate Beam Method

Double Integration Method

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 According to the double integration method,
6/22/24, 8:16 PM Deflection of Beams - Formula, Methods, Questions
EId2y/dx2 =Mx

Where

EI = Flexural Rigidity

Mx = Bending Moment at Section

Integrating the above equation,

EIdy/dx= ∫Mx+ c1

This gives the equation of slopes where dy/dxis slope or rotation.

Integrating the above equation,

EI.y= ∬Mx+ ∫c1+ c2

Where y is deflection.

Macaulay’s Method

Macaulay’s Method is an improvement over the double integration method. It becomes difficult to
solve deflections of the beam that need to be split into many sections. Therefore, this method is used
where there is no need to split the beam. This method is suitable for prismatic bars having different
bending moments at different cross-sections.

Consider the above beam carrying two point loads L1 and L2 at a

distance of ‘a’ and ‘b’ from the left support. Consider a section x-x at a distance of x from left support.
Finding moment about x-x:

Mx= RAx- L1(x-a)- L2(x-b)

EId2y/dx2=RAx- L1(x-a)- L2(x-b)

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6/22/24, 8:16 PM Deflection of Beams - Formula, Methods, Questions

Moment Area Method

The moment area method is used when we need to analyze a beam in which we are interested in
calculating the slope and deflection of the beam at a single location. This method is suitable for
prismatic and non-prismatic members. This method is based on the area under the bending moment
diagram.

Theorem 1

Change in slope from section A to section B B-A will equal the area of the M/EI diagram between ΘA
and ΘB.

ΘB-ΘA=A

Theorem 2

The deflection of section B concerning the tangent at section A is the area of the M/EI diagram
between A and B about point B.

Conjugate Beam Method

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 only requirement is the M/EI diagram should not be completed; it must be easy to determine the area
and8:16
6/22/24, centroid
PM of the M/EI diagram. If the M/EI diagram
Deflection is -positive,
of Beams then Questions
Formula, Methods, loading in the conjugate beam
will be upward. If the M/EI diagram is negative, then loading in the conjugate beam will be downward.

Theorem 1

The slope at any section on the real beam becomes a shear force at the corresponding section on
the conjugate beam. The shear force diagram of the conjugate beam represents the slope diagram of
the real beam.

Theorem 2

The deflection at any section on the real beam becomes a bending moment at the corresponding
section in a conjugate beam. The bending moment diagram of the conjugate beam represents the
deflection diagram of the real beam.

Method of Superposition: The method of superposition, in which the applied loading is represented
as a series of simple loads for which deflection formulas are available. Then the desired deflection is
computed by adding the contributions of the component loads(principle of superposition).

The most direct formula is used in questions. Hence it is advised to look for the beam deflection
formula, which is directly asked from this topic, rather than going for long derivations.

Deflection for Common Loadings

1. Concentrated load at the free end of the cantilever beam (origin at A):

Maximum Moment, M=−PL

The slope at the end:θ=PL2/2EI

Maximum deflection:δ=PL3/3EI

Deflection Equation(y is positive downward): EIy = (Px2)(3L−x)/6

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6/22/24, 8:16 PM Deflection of Beams - Formula, Methods, Questions

2. Concentrated load at any point on the span of a cantilever beam

Maximum Moment:M = -wa

The slope at the end:θ = wa2/2EI

Maximum deflection:>δ = wa3(3L−a)/6EI

Deflection Equation(y is positive downward),

EIy = Px2(3a−x)/6for0EIy = Pa2(3x−a)/6fora

3. Uniformly distributed load over the entire length of a cantilever beam

Maximum Moment: M = −wL2/2

Slope at end: θ = wL3/6EI

Maximum deflection:δ = wL4/8EI

Deflection Equation (y is positive downward),

EIy=wx2(6L2−4Lx+x2)/120L

4. Triangular load, full at the fixed end and zero at the free end

Maximum Moment: M=−wL2/6

Slope at the end: θ = wL3/24EI

Maximum deflection, δ = wL4/30EI

Deflection Equation: (y is positive downward),

EIy = wx2(10L3−10L2x+5Lx2−x3)/120L

5. Moment load at the free end of a cantilever beam

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 Maximum
6/22/24, 8:16 PM deflection:δ=ML2/2EI Deflection of Beams - Formula, Methods, Questions

Deflection Equation (y is positive downward),

EIy=Mx2/2

6. Concentrated load at the midspan of a simple beam

Maximum Moment: M=PL/4

Slope at end:θA=θB= WL2/16EI

Maximum deflection:δ=PL3/48EI

Deflection Equation (y is positive downward),

EIy=Px{(3/4)L2−x2)}/12 for 0

7. Uniformly distributed load over the entire span of a simple beam

Maximum Moment:M = wL2/8

The slope at the end:θL=θR=wL3/24EI

Maximum deflection:δ=5wL4/384EI

Deflection Equation (EIy=wx(L3−2Lx2+x3)/24

9. Triangle load with zero at one support and full at the other support of the simple beam

Maximum Moment:M = woL2/9√3

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 3
θ =8wL
6/22/24,
R
8:16 PM /360EI Deflection of Beams - Formula, Methods, Questions

Maximum deflection:δ=2.5wL4/384EI at x = 0.519L

Deflection Equation (y is positive downward),

EIy = wx(7L4−10L2x+3x)/360L

10. Triangular load with zero at each support and full at the midspan of a simple beam

Maximum Moment: M = wL2/12

The slope at the end, θL = θR = 5wL3/192EI

Maximum deflection: δ = wL4/120EI

Deflection Equation(y is positive downward),

EIy=wox(25L4−40L2x2+16x4)/960L for 0

Deflection of Beams Questions

Problem 1: What is the slope and direction of a cantilever beam at the free endpoint load acting at
the free end?

Solution-

The differential equation for deflection

M= -Px

EId2y/dx2=-Px

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 Boundary
6/22/24, 8:16 PM Conditions at x=L, dy/dx = 0, Deflection of Beams - Formula, Methods, Questions

c1= PL2/2

EIdy/dx= -Px2/2+ PL2/2

Integrating this, we get,

EIy= -Px3/6+ PL2x/2+ c2

Boundary condition x=L, y=0

c2= -PL3/3

EIy= -Px3/6+ PL2x/2- PL3/3

Slope and deflection at the free end

Slope dy/dx= PL2/2EI

Deflection y= PL3/3EI

Problem 2: Simply supported beam of span 6m is loaded as shown in the figure. I = 78 x 106 mm4 E
= 2.1 x 105 N/mm2. Find the central deflections.

Solution-

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6/22/24, 8:16 PM Deflection of Beams - Formula, Methods, Questions

We know that

yc= WL3/48EI= 60 × 103 ×60003/(48 ×2.1 × 105 ×78 × 106)= 16.48mm

Problem 3: A simply supported beam of a span of 5m carrying a load of 10N/mm2. Given E= 104
N/mm2. The maximum permissible bending stress is 8N/mm2, and the maximum deflection of the
beam is 1 cm. Determine the width and depth of the beam.

Solution-

(σb)max= Mmax/z= 8

10 × 50002 ×6/(8 ×BD2)=23437500 mm3

Maximum Deflection= 5WL4/384EI

5WL4/384EI=10mm

5WL4/384 ×104 ×B × D3=10mm

BD3=9765625000 mm4

D= BD3/BD2= 9765625000/23437500= 416.67 mm

BD2=23437500

B = 134.99mm

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FAQs on Deflection of Beams

What is deflection of a beams?

Deflection is the transverse deformation that may occur due to shear force and bending moment. A slope is defined as the angle
between the original axis and the tangent at the section.

What is the formula for deflection of a beam?

What is the importance of deflection of beams?

What causes a beam to deflect?

What is the maximum deflection of beam?

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