DEFLECTION OF BEAMS

LECTURE NOTES TAKEN FROM BEER AND JOHNSTON

 Deflection of Beams
Sample Problem 9.8
Moment-Area Theorems
Deformation of a Beam Under Transverse
Loading Application to Cantilever Beams and
Beams With Symmetric Loadings
Equation of the Elastic Curve
Bending Moment Diagrams by Parts
Direct Determination of the Elastic Curve
From the Load Distribution Sample Problem 9.11
Statically Indeterminate Beams Application of Moment-Area Theorems to
Beams with Unsymmetric Loadings
Sample Problem 9.1
Maximum Deflection
Sample Problem 9.3
Use of Moment-Area Theorems with
Statically Indeterminate Beams

9-2
Objectives
• Develop the governing differential equation for the elastic curve, the basis for
the several techniques considered in this chapter for determining beam
deflections.
• Use direct integration to obtain slope and deflection equations for beams of
simple constraints and loadings.
• Use the moment-area theorems as an alternate technique to determine slope
and deflection at specific points in a beam.
• Use singularity functions to determine slope and deflection equations for
beams of more complex constraints and loadings.
• Use the method of superposition to determine slope and deflection in beams
by combining tabulated formulae.
• Apply direct integration, singularity functions, superposition, and the
moment-area theorems to analyze statically indeterminate beams
Deformation of a Beam Under Transverse Loading
• Relationship between bending moment and
curvature for pure bending remains valid for
general transverse loadings.
1 M ( x)
=
 EI

• Cantilever beam subjected to concentrated

load at the free end,
1 Px
=−
 EI

• Curvature varies linearly with x

1
• At the free end A, ρ = 0, ρA = 
A

1 EI
• At the support B,   0,  B =
B PL

9-4
Deformation of a Beam Under Transverse Loading
• Overhanging beam
• Reactions at A and C
• Bending-moment diagram
• Curvature is zero at points where the bending
moment is zero, i.e., at each end and at E.
1 M ( x)
=
 EI
• Beam is concave upwards where the bending
moment is positive and concave downwards
where it is negative.
• Maximum curvature occurs where the moment
magnitude is a maximum.
• An equation for the beam shape or elastic curve
is required to determine maximum deflection
and slope.
9-5
 Equation of the Elastic Curve
• From elementary calculus, simplified for beam
parameters,
d2y
1 dx2 d2y
= 
   dy  2 3 2 dx2
1 +   
  dx  

• Substituting and integrating,

1 d2y
EI = EI = M (x)
 dx 2

x
dy
= M ( x )dx + C1
dx 
EI   EI
0
x x
EI y =  dx  M ( x ) dx + C1x + C2
0 0
9-6
 Equation of the Elastic Curve
• Constants are determined from boundary
conditions
x x
EI y =  dx M (x)dx + C1x + C2
0 0

• Three cases for statically determinate beams,

– Simply supported beam
yA = 0, yB = 0

– Overhanging beam
yA = 0, yB = 0
– Cantilever beam
yA = 0,  A = 0

• More complicated loadings require multiple

integrals and application of requirement for
continuity of displacement and slope.
9-7
Figure: Internal moments and its effect on
bending of beams
Figure: Sign convention and Coordinates.
Positive deflection y, is upward and positive
slope is measured counter clockwise from x-axis
when x is positive to the right.

Figure: Sign convention and Coordinates.

If positive x-axis is directed to the left, slope will
be positive clockwise.
Figure: Boundary conditions of beams
Direct Determination of the Elastic Curve From the
Load Distribution

• For a beam subjected to a distributed load,

dM d 2M dV
= V (x ) 2
= = − w( x )
dx dx dx

• Equation for beam displacement becomes

d 2M d4y
2
= EI 4
= − w( x )
dx dx

• Integrating four times yields

EI y( x ) = − dx dx dx w( x )dx

+ 16 C1x3 + 12 C2 x 2 + C3 x + C4

• Constants are determined from boundary

conditions.

9-9
 Sample Problem 9.1
SOLUTION:
• Develop an expression for M(x) and
derive differential equation for
elastic curve.

• Integrate differential equation twice

and apply boundary conditions to
obtain elastic curve.

• Locate point of zero slope or point

For portion AB of the overhanging beam, (a) of maximum deflection.
derive the equation for the elastic curve, (b)
determine the maximum deflection, • Evaluate corresponding maximum
(c) evaluate ymax. deflection.

9 - 10
 Sample Problem 9.1
SOLUTION:
• Develop an expression for M(x) and derive
differential equation for elastic curve.

− Reactions:
Pa  a
RA =  RB = P1 +  
L  L

− From the free-body diagram for section AD,

a
M = −P x (0  x  L )
L

− The differential equation for the elastic

curve,
d2y a
EI 2
= − P x
dx L
9 - 11
 Sample Problem 9.1
• Integrate differential equation twice and apply
boundary conditions to obtain elastic curve.
dy 1 a
EI = − P x 2 + C1
dx 2 L
1 a
EI y = − P x3 + C1x + C2
6 L
at x = 0, y = 0 : C2 = 0
d2y a
EI 2 = − P x 1 a 1
dx L at x = L, y = 0 : 0 = − P L3 + C1L C1 = PaL
6 L 6
Substituting,
dy PaL   x 
2
dy 1 a 2 1
EI = − P x + PaL = 1 − 3  
dx 2 L 6 dx 6 EI   L  
1 a 1
EI y = − P x3 + PaLx
PaL2  x  x 
3
6 L 6
y=  −  
6 EI  L  L  
9 - 12
 Sample Problem 9.1
• Locate point of zero slope or point
of maximum deflection.
PaL   xm  
2
dy L
=0= 1 − 3   xm = = 0.577L
dx 6EI   L   3

• Evaluate corresponding maximum

PaL2  x  x 
3
y=  −   deflection.
6 EI  L  L  

9 - 13
 Statically Indeterminate Beams
• Consider beam with fixed support at A and roller
support at B.
• From free-body diagram, note that there are four
unknown reaction components.
• Conditions for static equilibrium yield
 Fx = 0  Fy = 0  M A = 0

The beam is statically indeterminate.

• Also have the beam deflection equation,
x x
EI y =  dx M (x)dx + C1x + C2
0 0
which introduces two unknowns but provides
three additional equations from the boundary
conditions:
At x = 0,  = 0 y = 0 At x = L, y = 0

9 - 21
 Sample Problem 9.3
SOLUTION:
• Develop the differential equation for
the elastic curve (will be functionally
dependent on the reaction at A).

• Integrate twice and apply boundary

For the uniform beam, determine the conditions to solve for reaction at A
reaction at A, derive the equation for the and to obtain the elastic curve.
elastic curve, and determine the slope at
A. (Note that the beam is statically
indeterminate to the first degree.)
• Evaluate the slope at A.

9 - 22
 Sample Problem 9.3
• Consider moment acting at section D,
MD = 0
1  w0 x 2  x
RA x − −M =0
2  L  3

w0 x3
M = RA x −
6L

• The differential equation for the elastic

curve,
d2y w0 x3
EI 2 = M = R A x −
dx 6L

9 - 23
 Sample Problem 9.3
• Integrate twice
4
dy 1 2 w0 x
EI = EI = R A x − + C1
dx 2 24L
5
1 3 w0 x
EI y = R A x − + C1x + C2
6 120L

• Apply boundary conditions

2 3
d y w0 x
EI = M = R A x − at x = 0, y = 0 : C2 = 0
dx2 6L
3
1 2 w0 L
at x = L,  = 0 : RA L − + C1 = 0
2 24
4
1 3 w0 L
at x = L, y = 0 : RA L − + C1L + C2 = 0
6 120
• Solve for reaction at A
1 1 1
RAL3 − w0L4 = 0 RA = w0L 
3 30 10
9 - 24
 Sample Problem 9.3
• Substitute for C1, C2, and RA in the
elastic curve equation,
5
1 1  3 w0 x  1 
EI y =  w0 L  x − − w0 L3  x
6  10  120L  120 

y=
w0
120EIL
(
− x5 + 2L2 x3 − L4 x )

• Differentiate once to find the slope,

=
dy
=
w0
dx 120EIL
(
− 5x4 + 6L2 x2 − L4 )
w0 L3
at x = 0, A =
120EI

9 - 25
Fig. 9.14 (a) Statically
indeterminate beam with a
uniformly distributed load.
(b) Free-body diagram with four
unknown reactions.
 Moment-Area Theorems
• Geometric properties of the elastic curve can
be used to determine deflection and slope.

• Consider a beam subjected to arbitrary loading,

d d 2 y M
= 2 =
dx dx EI
D xD
M
 d =  EI
dx
C xC
xD
M
 D − C =  EI
dx
xC

• First moment-area theorem:

 D C = area under (M/EI) diagram between
C and D.
9 - 27
 Moment-Area Theorems
• Tangents to the elastic curve at P and P’ intercept a
segment of length dt on the vertical through C.
M
dt = x1d = x1 dx
EI
xD
M
tC D =  x1
EI
dx = tangential deviation of C
xC with respect to D

• Second moment-area theorem:

The tangential deviation of C with respect to D
is equal to the first moment with respect to a
vertical axis through C of the area under the
(M/EI) diagram between C and D.

9 - 28
Application to Cantilever Beams and Beams with
Symmetric Loadings
• Cantilever beam − Select tangent at A as the
reference.
with θ A = 0,
D = D A

yD = t D A

• Simply supported, symmetrically loaded

beam − select tangent at C as the reference.
with θC = 0,
B = B C
yB = t B C

9 - 29
 Bending Moment Diagrams by Parts
• Determination of the change of slope and the
tangential deviation is simplified if the effect of
each load is evaluated separately.

• Construct a separate (M/EI) diagram for each

load.
− The change of slope, D/C, is obtained by
adding the areas under the diagrams.
− The tangential deviation, tD/C, is obtained by
adding the first moments of the areas with
respect to a vertical axis through D.

• Bending moment diagram constructed from

individual loads is said to be drawn by parts.

9 - 32
 Sample Problem 9.11
SOLUTION:
• Determine the reactions at supports.

• Construct shear, bending-moment and

(M/EI) diagrams.
For the prismatic beam shown, determine
the slope and deflection at E. • Taking the tangent at C as the
reference, evaluate the slope and
tangential deviations at E.

9 - 33
 Sample Problem 9.11
SOLUTION:
• Determine the reactions at supports.
RB = RD = wa

• Construct shear, bending-moment and

(M/EI) diagrams.
wa 2  L  wa 2 L
A1 = −  =−
2 EI  2  4 EI

1  wa 2  wa 3
A2 = − (a ) = −
3  2 EI  6 EI

9 - 34
 Sample Problem 9.11
• Slope at E:
 E = C +  E C =  E C

wa 2 L wa 3
= A1 + A2 = − −
4 EI 6 EI
wa 2
E = − (3L + 2a )
12EI

• Deflection at E:
yE = t E C − t D C
  L  3a    L 
=  A1 a +  + A2   −  A1 
  4  4    4 
 wa 3 L wa 2 L2 wa 4   wa 2 L2 
= − − −  − − 
 4 EI 16 EI 8 EI   16 EI 

wa 3
yE = − (2 L + a )
8 EI
9 - 35
 Application of Moment-Area Theorems to Beams with
Unsymmetric Loadings

• Define reference tangent at support A. Evaluate A

by determining the tangential deviation at B with
respect to A.
tB A
A = −
L
• The slope at other points is found with respect to
reference tangent.
D =  A + D A

• The deflection at D is found from the tangential

deviation at D.
EF HB x
= EF = tB A
x L L
x
y D = ED − EF = t D A − tB A
L
9 - 39
 Maximum Deflection
• Maximum deflection occurs at point K
where the tangent is horizontal.
tB A
A = −
L
K = 0 =  A +K A

K A = − A

• Point K may be determined by measuring

an area under the (M/EI) diagram equal
to −A .

• Obtain ymax by computing the first

moment with respect to the vertical axis
through A of the area between A and K.

9 - 41
Use of Moment-Area Theorems with Statically Indeterminate
Beams
• Reactions at supports of statically indeterminate
beams are found by designating a redundant
constraint and treating it as an unknown load which
satisfies a displacement compatibility requirement.
• The (M/EI) diagram is drawn by parts. The
resulting tangential deviations are superposed and
related by the compatibility requirement.
• With reactions determined, the slope and deflection
are found from the moment-area method.

9 - 43