Deflection of Beams

∆φ
ρ
θ
0 z
xis
la
v ra
ut
ne
s ∆φ ∆v

h ∆s

z
∆z

Figure 1: The elastic curvature of the beam in the yz-plane

Consider a free body diagram of a very small element sectioned from a beam
subjected to pure bending as shown in Fig.1, such that the derived expression for
a longitudinal strain
σz
z =
Ez
in the cross-sectional elements above and below the neutral axis shows behaviour
that is symmetrical and linearly elastic. At the neutral axis when the slope ∆ φ is
‘very-very-very small’ and ∆s → 0, the arc-length ∆ s is approximately ρ ∆φ, such
that the curvature definition becomes
∆φ dφ 1
lim = =
∆ s→0 ∆ s ds ρ

1
simplified as
dφ 1
=
ds ρ
leading to the curvature-moment equation
dφ Mb
=
ds Ez Ixx

Assumptions

1. The beam is initially straight and has a uniform cross-section throughout its
longitudinal length.
2. The effects of shear forces related to bending moments on the overall defor-
mation at the neutral axis are ignored.
3. The deflection defined by the deformation of the curvature, at various in-
tervals of the beam are assumed to be small, such that there is negligible
relative difference between the original length of the beam compared to the
projection of its deformed arc-length.
4. The beam is composed of a homogeneous material that obeys Hook’s law.
5. The deformation model adheres to symmetrical bending argument, such that
it has the same modulus of elasticity in compression and tension.
6. Transverse normals simply rotate, remaining perpendicular and straight rel-
ative to the mid plane after deformation.

Denoting the slope of a tangent to the neutral axis by

∆v dv
lim = = tan φ
∆z
∆ s→0 dz
and differentiating with respect to the arc-length ‘s’, first
   
d dv d dv dz
=
ds dz dz dz ds
followed by

cos φ d sin φ d sin φ

dφ − sin φ dφ dφ
 
d d sin φ
tan φ = =
ds ds cos φ cos2 φ ds

2
yielding
d2 v dz dφ
= sec2 φ
dz ds ds
rearranged, we get
dφ d2 v dz
= cos2 φ
ds dz ds
for a very-very-very small segment of the beam, ∆ s → 0, as shown if Fig. 2, we
proceed as follows

ds dv
φ
dz
Figure 2: Pythagoras

dz dz 1
cos φ = =√ =q
ds dz 2 + dv 2 dv 2


1+ dz

by substitution we obtain the following

dφ d2 v/d z 2
= q
ds
2
1 + dv
3/2
dz

d2 v/d z 2 Mb
q =
2 Ez Ixx
1 + dv
3/2


dz

nonlinear differential equation where Ezz and Ixx denotes Young’s modulus in a
longitudinal direction of the beam and the second moment of the area respectively.
Replacing the symbols (Mb , Ezz , Ixx ) by (M, E, I), implementing assumption 3,
ignoring (dv/dz)2 , and simplification, we obtain a linear second order differential
equation
1 dφ d2 v
= ≈
ρ ds dz 2
d2 v
∴EI = M (z)
dz 2

3
Boundary Conditions

Fixed or Clamped End

slope → dv
dz
=0
deflection → v = 0
Figure 3: Clamped

Simply Supported End

bending moment → M = 0
deflection → v = 0
Figure 4: Simple

4
Double-Integration Method

Integrating the second order linear differential equation, we get

Z
dv
EI = M dz + C1
dz
a first order differential equation, where dv/dz is the slope (in radians) and C1 a
constant to be evaluated from the boundary conditions. Integrating the first order
differential, we obtain
Z Z
EIv = M dz dz + C1 z + C2

an expression with v denoting the deflection of the neutral axis, and C2 another
constant to be evaluated using the boundary conditions.

Cantilever example

y
P

z
0
Figure 5: Cantilever beam

Deriving a bending moment equation, we get

M (z) = P (z − l) where 0≤z≤l

leading to
d2 v
EI = P (z − l)
d z2

5
integrating twice  2 
dv z
EI =P − l z + C1
dz 2
 3
l z2

z
EIv =P − + C1 z + C2
6 2
Evaluating C1 and C2 using the boundary conditions
dv
@ z = 0, = 0, v = 0
dz
we get
0 = P (0) + C1 ∴ C1 = 0
and
0 = P (0) + 0 + C2 ∴ C2 = 0
the final expressions are as follows
 2 
dv z
EI =P −lz
dz 2
 3
l z2

z
EIv =P −
6 2

Simply supported beam example

Deriving a bending moment equation, we get

w l
l z − z2


M (z) = where 0≤z≤
2 2
cognisant of the symmetrical load spanning the beam. This leads to

d2 v w 2


EI = l z − z
d z2 2
integrating twice
w z2 z3
 
dv
EI = l − + C1
dz 2 2 3
w z3 z4
 
EIv = l − + C1 z + C2
2 6 12

6
 y

z
l
Figure 6: Simply supported beam

Evaluating C1 and C2 using the boundary conditions

@ z = 0, v = 0

we get
w
0= (0) + C1 (0) + C2 ∴ C2 = 0
6
and
l dv
@ z= , =0
2 dz
w l3
 
w
0= + C1 ∴ C1 = − l 3
2 12 24
the final expressions are as follows

z2 z3
 
dv w w 3
EI = l −l −
dz 2 2
24 3

z4 z 3
 
w 3
EIv = lz − − l
12 2 2