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Deflection of beams
We have previously shown that the curvature is proportional to the rate of change of , i.e.,
Figure 15 below shows the deflected shape of a cantilever. v represents the deflection of the beam. Then
the slope of the deflection curve can be given as
+d
v
v+dv
Assuming that deflections and curvatures are very small (and it holds true for many structures in practice),
we can introduce the approximation
for simplifying the analysis of beams. Therefore
Relating to curvature,
For a linear- l s ic m
i l following Hook s l w
This differential equation defines the deflected shape of the beam. It can be integrated twice to obtain the
deflection v knowing the bending moment variation M(x) and the flexural rigidity (EI). We have also
previously seen the following two relations between the load (w), shear force (V) and bending moment (M).
Therefore, substituting from above and assuming prismatic beams, i.e., the moment of inertia I does not
vary along the length of the beam,
n
The derivatives of the deflection v are often written in the following simple form.
Therefore the above equations between M, V, EI and v are often represented as follows.
The deflection of a beam is evaluated by integrating the above expressions and then applying boundary
conditions (e.g., v=0 at a support) to evaluate any constants of integration.
Example 4
Evaluate the deflected shape and the maximum deflection for the beam in Figure 16
w
A
We evaluated the bending moment and shear force distribution for this beam in a previous lecture (see
Example 3). From Figure 10 (in an earlier handout),
To find deflections,
where A and B are constants from the integration. Applying the boundary conditions that v=0 @ x=0, we
find that B=0. Similarly, v=0 @ x=L implies
fo
The maximum deflection will be at mid-span due to symmetry. It can be evaluated by substituting x=L/2 in
above expression for v.
We can also evaluate the slope of the beam at any point along its length. For instance, at the left support,
x=0,
Slopes at the two supports are of equal magnitudes but with opposite signs (as would be expected from
symmetry).
Example 5
Evaluate the deflection at the free end of the cantilever of length L shown in Figure 17.
w
A
B
Figure 17: Cantilever beam with udl w
Figure 18 shows a free-body diagram of a portion of the beam. From equilibrium of forces and moments,
w
A
MA
RA
Figure 18: Free-body diagram showing reactions, shear force (V) and bending moment (M)
Substituting for M in
and integrating,
Applying boundary conditions, v=0 @ x=0 => B=0. Then using v=0 @ x=0 gives A=0. Therefore expression
for deflection is given by
Example 6
Evaluate the deflection at the free end of the cantilever of length L shown in Figure 19.
P
A
B
Figure 19: Cantilever beam with concentrated load P at free end
The support reaction and moment at the fixed end can be evaluated as for the previous example.
MA
RA
Figure 20: Free-body diagram showing reactions, shear force (V) and bending moment (M)
Substituting for M in
and integrating,
Applying boundary conditions, v=0 @ x=0 => B=0. Then using v=0 @ x=0 gives A=0. Therefore expression
for deflection is given by
Example 7
Evaluate the deflection at the free end of the cantilever of length L with a linearly varying distributed load
as shown in Figure 21.
wo
A
B
Figure 21: Cantilever beam with linearly varying distributed load
o
Substituting for q,
n in g
ng
Shear force (V) should be zero at the free end, i.e., @x=L. Use this boundary condition in
Similarly, bending moment (M) should be zero at the free end. Enforce this condition in
We know that the slope is zero at the fixed end, i.e., v=0 @ x=0. Using this in the expression for
we
get C=0. Next, since v=0 @ x=0, we get D=0. Therefore, the expression for deflection can be given as
Example 8
Evaluate the maximum deflection for the beam of length L in Figure 22.
w
The beam has a pin support at the end A. At end B, it has no restraint against translation in the vertical
direction. However, there is a restraint against rotation. Again, integrating
slo
Method of Superposition
When evaluating deflections for beams with multiple loads, it could be easier to use the superposition
principle, in particular, when the deflections are known for the individual loads. The principle is applicable if
the following conditions are satisfied.
1. Linear-elastic behaviour
2. Small deformations
The idea is to superpose the deflections due to the individual loads to obtain the net deflection of all the
loads.
Example 9
Evaluate the deflection at the free end for the cantilever beam in Figure 23.
w
A
P
B
The deflection at B could be evaluated as the net deflection due to that of a udl and that of a concentrated
load (see Figure 24).
P
+
Figure 24: Superposition applied to beam in Figure 23
Deflection at the free end of a cantilever v1 due to a udl w is given as (see Table G-1 cases 1 and 4)
Note that the ve sign is due to the followed sign convention for deflections. Deflection is positive upward
and downward negative. Similarly deflection due to the concentrated load P is given as
Example 10
Evaluate the deflection at the free end for the cantilever beam in Figure 25.
w2
w1
Deflection could be evaluated as the sum of the deflection due to the following two load cases (see Figure
26).
w1
(w2 - w1)
Example 11
Evaluate the deflection and rotation at the free end for the cantilever beam in Figure 27.
P
B
L/3
L/3
L/3
Using the superposition principle, the deflection at the free end B is (see Table G-1 case 5)
Evaluating rotations in a similar manner (and assuming counter-clockwise rotations are positive), we find
Example 12
Evaluate the deflection and rotation at the free end for the cantilever beam in Figure 28.
w
A
B
L/3
L/3
L/3
This load case could be represented as the superposition of the two load cases shown in Figure 29.
w
w
L/3
2L/3
Example 13
Evaluate the deflection at the middle of the center-span for the beam in Figure 30.
w
A
b
B
L
Apply the superposition principle with cases 1 and 10 in Table G-2 to find the maximum deflection in the center-span.
MA
MB MB
MA
Figure 31: Beam for Example 13
Example 14
Evaluate the rotation at A and deflection at B for the beam in Figure 32.
w=4kN/m
P=10kN
B
A
2m
1m
4m
Drawing the free-body diagrams as in Figure 33 and then finding the support reaction at A,
kN.
=10/3
w=4kN/m
P=10kN
F
From the free-body diagram of the cantilever portion in Figure 33, deflection at B can be calculated as the
superposition of the deflections due to a concentrated load and a udl.
Example 15
Evaluate the deflection at mid-span and at the end of the overhanging portion for the beam in Figure 34.
w
A
Let us obtain the free-body diagrams for the overhanging portion and the simply-supported portion (see
Figure 35). Therefore
w
MB MB
Figure 35: Free-body diagrams for Example 15
Deflection at mid-span could be evaluated as the sum of the deflection due to the udl over the span and
that due to the moment MB at the right support. Use cases 1 and 7 in Table G-2.
Deflection at C could be calculated as the sum of deflections due to (i) the net rotation at support B of a
simply-supported portion with udl w and a moment MB and (ii) deflection at the end of a cantilever
supported of length a.For (i), see cases 1 and 7 in Table G-2.
Example 16
Evaluate the deflections at B and C for the beam in Figure 34.
P
A
3b
The free-body diagrams for the three portions and the corresponding reaction forces at the hinges are
shown in Figure 37. The deflection at B can therefore be evaluated as that at the free end of a cantilever
with a concentrated load of P/2.
P/2
B
P/2
P/2
P/2
The maximum deflection in the beam is under the load. This is evaluated as the total of the deflection at
mid-span of a simply-supported beam of length 2b and the average of the deflections at the two supports B
and C.