Chapter V ILUSTRATIVE EXAMPLE

BEAM DEFLECTIONS 5.7 Compute the midspan value of 𝐸𝐼𝛿 for the
simply supported beam shown in Fig. (a)
5.4 Method of Superposition that is carrying two concentrated loads.
The method of superposition, a popular
method for finding slopes and deflections, is
based on the principle of superposition:
If the response of a structure is linear, then the
effect of several loads acting simultaneously can be
obtained by superimposing (adding) the effects of the
individual loads.
By ‘‘linear response’’ we mean that the
relationship between the cause (loading) and
the e¤ect (deformations and internal forces) is
linear.
The two requirements for linear response
are (1) the material must obey Hooke’s law;
and (2) the deformations must be suffciently
small so that their e¤ect on the geometry is
negligible.
The method of superposition permits us to
use the known displacements and slopes for
simple loads to obtain the deformations for more
complicated loadings.
To use the method e¤ectively requires
access to tables that list the formulas for slopes
and deflections for various loadings, such as Solution:
Tables 5.2 and 5.3. More extensive tables can be The loading on the beam can be considered to
found in most engineering handbooks. be the superposition of the loads shown in Figs.
(b) and (c). According to Table 5.3, the
displacement at the center of a simply
supported beam is given by
𝑃𝑏
𝐸𝐼𝛿𝑐𝑒𝑛𝑡𝑒𝑟 = (3𝐿2 − 4𝑏 2 ) 𝑤ℎ𝑒𝑟𝑒 𝑎 > 𝑏
48

We can use this formula to obtain the midspan

displacements 𝛿1 and 𝛿2 of the beams
in Figs. (b) and (c), provided we choose the
dimensions a and b as shown in the figures (note
that a must be larger than b). We obtain
(80)(3)
𝐸𝐼𝛿1 = [3(9)2 − 4(3)2 ] = 1035 𝑙𝑏 ∙ 𝑓𝑡 3 ↓
48
(100)(2)
𝐸𝐼𝛿2 = [3(9)2 − 4(2)2 ] = 946 𝑙𝑏 ∙ 𝑓𝑡 3 ↓
48

The midspan deflection of the original beam is

obtained by superposition:
𝐸𝐼𝛿 = 𝐸𝐼𝛿1 + 𝐸𝐼𝛿1 = 1035 + 946
𝑬𝑰𝜹 = 𝟏𝟗𝟖𝟏 𝒍𝒃 ∙ 𝒇𝒕𝟑 ↓
5.8 Compute the midspan value of 𝐸𝐼𝛿 for the 5.9 The overhanging beam 𝐴𝐵𝐶 in Fig. (a) carries
simply supported beam shown in Fig. (a) a concentrated load 𝑃 at end 𝐶. Determine the
that is carrying two concentrated loads. displacement of the beam at 𝐶.

Solution:
From the sketch of the elastic curve in Fig. (b),
we see that the displacement of 𝐶 is
𝛿𝐶 = 𝜃𝐵 𝑏 + 𝛿′𝐶

where 𝜃𝐵 is the slope angle of the elastic curve

at 𝐵 and 𝛿′𝐶 is the displacement at 𝐶 due to the
deformation of 𝐵𝐶. We can obtain y B from the
deformation of segment 𝐴𝐵, shown in Fig. (c).
Using Table 5.3, we get
(𝑃𝑏)𝑎
𝜃𝐵 =
3𝐸𝐼

Solution: From Fig. (d) and Table 5.2, the displacement

The given loading can be analyzed as the due to the deformation of 𝐵𝐶 is
superposition of the two loadings shown in Figs. 𝑃𝑏 3
(b) and (c). From Table 5.3, the midspan value of 𝛿′𝐶 =
3𝐸𝐼
EId for the beam in Fig. (b) is
𝑤0 Therefore, the displacement at 𝐶 becomes
𝐸𝐼𝛿1 = (5𝐿4 − 12𝐿2 𝑏 2 + 8𝑏 4 )
384 (𝑃𝑏)𝑎 𝑃𝑏 3 𝑃𝑏 2 𝑷𝒃𝟐 𝑳
600 𝛿𝐶 = 𝑏+ = (𝑎 + 𝑏) = ↓
𝐸𝐼𝛿1 = [5(6)4 − 12(6)2 (2)2 + 8(2)4 ] 3𝐸𝐼 3𝐸𝐼 3𝐸𝐼 𝟑𝑬𝑰
384
𝐸𝐼𝛿1 = 7625 𝑁 ∙ 𝑚3 ↓

Similarly, the midspan displacement of the beam

in Fig. (c) is
𝑤0 𝑎2
𝐸𝐼𝛿2 = (3𝐿2 − 2𝑎2 )
96
600(1)2
𝐸𝐼𝛿2 = [3(6)2 − 2(1)2 ]
96
𝐸𝐼𝛿1 = 662.5 𝑁 ∙ 𝑚3 ↑

The midspan displacement of the original beam

is obtained by superposition:

𝐸𝐼𝛿 = 𝐸𝐼𝛿1 − 𝐸𝐼𝛿1 = 7625 − 662.5

𝑬𝑰𝜹 = 𝟔𝟗𝟔𝟎 𝑵 ∙ 𝒎𝟑 ↓
Table 5.3 Deflection Formulas for Simply Supported Beams Table 5.2 Deflection Formulas for Cantilever Beams