DEFLECTION OF BEAMS

• Beam deformation is often expressed in terms of deflection from its original unloaded
position
• Deflection is measured from the original neutral surface of the beam to the neutral surface of
the deformed beam
• The configuration assumed by the deformed neutral surface is called Elastic curve.
• Therefore, beam deflection can be defined as the vertical displacement of a point on a loaded
beam
• Maximum deflection occurs where the slope is zero.

Figure 1

• For a simply supported beam loaded at the center, maximum deflections occur at the center
• For a cantilever beam loaded as shown above, maximum deflection occurs at the free end

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 Figure 2

• Let us consider a small section (curve) subtended by an angle 𝑑𝜃 at the centre of curvature

𝑑𝑦
tan 𝜃 = ⟹ 𝐹𝑜𝑟 𝑠𝑚𝑎𝑙𝑙 𝜃 tan 𝜃 ≅ 𝜃
𝑑𝑥
𝑑𝑦
⟹𝜃=𝑑
𝑥

𝐸𝑞𝑢𝑎𝑙𝑙𝑦 ∶ 𝑑𝑠 ≃ 𝑑𝑥 ≃ 𝑅𝑑𝜃
𝑑𝑥 = 𝑅𝑑𝜃
𝑑𝑥 𝑑𝜃 1
𝑅= 𝑜𝑟 =
𝑑𝜃 𝑑𝑥 𝑅
𝑑𝜃 𝑑 𝑑𝑦
⟹ = 𝑑 (𝑑 )
𝑑𝑥 𝑥 𝑥
2
𝑑𝑦 1
𝑜𝑟 𝑑 2 =𝑅 (1)
𝑥

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 𝑀 𝐸 𝜎
𝐵𝑢𝑡 = =
𝐼 𝑅 𝑦
1 𝑀
𝑜𝑟 =
𝑅 𝐸𝐼
𝑑𝑦2 𝑀
𝑇ℎ𝑒𝑟𝑒𝑓𝑜𝑟𝑒 2 = 𝑜𝑟
𝑑𝑥 𝐸𝐼
𝐸𝐼𝑑𝑦2
=𝑀 [𝐵𝑒𝑛𝑑𝑖𝑛𝑔 𝑀𝑜𝑚𝑒𝑛𝑡]
𝑑𝑥 2
• This equation can be used to solve for deflection of beams using.
1) Double integration method
2) Singularity functions
• Let us start by solving the following examples using double integration method

Examples
1. Derive an expression for maximum deflection of the beam below

Figure 3

Solution
Determine the reaction functions

∑ 𝐹𝑜𝑟𝑐𝑒𝑠 = 0 ⟹ 𝑅1 + 𝑅2 = 𝑊

∑ 𝑀(𝑅1) = 0 ⟹ 𝐿𝑅2 = 𝑊𝐿⁄2 𝑜𝑟 𝑅2 = 𝑊⁄2 𝜉 𝑅1 = 𝑊⁄2

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Determine the equation for moments

𝑓𝑜𝑟 0 ≤ 𝑥 ≤ 𝐿⁄2
𝑀𝑥 = 𝑤⁄2 𝑥

𝑓𝑜𝑟 𝐿⁄ ≤ 𝑥 ≤ 𝐿
2
−𝑊𝑥 𝑊
𝑀𝑥 = 𝑤⁄2 𝑥 − 𝑤(𝑥 − 𝐿⁄2) = +
2 2
Then recall
𝐸𝐼𝑑𝑦2
= 𝑀𝑥
𝑑𝑥 2
𝐻𝑒𝑛𝑐𝑒 𝑓𝑜𝑟 0 ≤ 𝑥 ≤ 𝐿⁄2
𝐸𝐼𝑑𝑦2 𝑊𝑥
2 =
𝑑𝑥 2
𝐸𝐼𝑑𝑦 𝑊𝑥 2
= + 𝐶1 … … … … … … … … … . . [1]
𝑑𝑥 4
𝑊𝑥 3
𝐸𝐼𝑦 = + 𝐶1 𝑥 + 𝐶2 … … … … … … … … … . . [2]
12
𝑓𝑜𝑟 𝐿⁄ ≤ 𝑥 ≤ 𝐿
2
𝐸𝐼𝑑𝑦2 −𝑊𝑥 𝑊𝐿
2 = +
𝑑𝑥 2 2
𝐸𝐼𝑑𝑦 −𝑊𝑥 2 𝑊𝐿𝑥
= + + 𝐶3 … … … … … … … … … . . [3]
𝑑𝑥 4 2
−𝑊𝑥 3 𝑊𝐿𝑥 2
𝐸𝐼𝑦 = + +𝐶3 𝑥 + 𝐶4 … … … … … … … … … . . [4]
12 4
Then solve for the boundary conditions known the values of the constants 𝐶1,2,3,4
𝐴𝑡 𝑥=0 𝑦=0
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 𝑥=𝐿 𝑦=0
𝑥 = 𝐿⁄2 (𝑦)1 = (𝑦)2
𝑑𝑦1 𝑑𝑦2
𝑥 = 𝐿⁄2 =
𝑑𝑥 𝑑𝑥
𝑑𝑦
𝑥 = 𝐿⁄2 =0
𝑑𝑥

𝐴𝑡 𝑥=0 𝑦=0
𝑊𝑥 3 𝑊0 3
𝐸𝐼𝑦 = + 𝐶1 𝑥 + 𝐶2 ⟹= 0 = + 𝐶1 0 + 𝐶2
12 12
ℎ𝑒𝑛𝑐𝑒 𝐶2 = 0 … … … … … … … … … . . [5]

At 𝑥=𝐿 𝑦=0
−𝑊. 𝐿3 𝑊𝐿. 𝐿 2
𝐸𝐼(0) = + +𝐿𝐶3 𝑥 + 𝐶4
12 4
−𝑊𝐿3 𝑊𝐿 3 𝑊𝐿 3
0= + +𝐶3 𝐿 + 𝐶4 = +𝐶3 𝐿 + 𝐶4 … … … … … … … … … . . [6]
12 4 6

𝐴𝑡 𝑥 = 𝐿⁄2 (𝑦)1 = (𝑦)2

3 3 2
𝑊(𝐿⁄2) 𝐿 −𝑊(𝐿⁄2) −𝑊(𝐿⁄2) 𝐿
𝐸𝐼(𝑦)1 = + 𝐶1 = 𝐸𝐼(𝑦)2 = + +𝐶3 + 𝐶4
12 4 12 4 2
3
𝑊𝐿 𝐿 −𝑊𝐿3 𝑊𝐿3 𝐿
𝑜𝑟 + 𝐶1 = + +𝐶3 + 𝐶4
96 2 96 16 2
𝐿 𝑊𝐿3 𝐿
⟹ 𝐶1 = + 𝐶3 + 𝐶4 … … … … … … … … . … … … … … … … … … … . . [7]
2 24 2
𝑑𝑦 𝑑𝑦
𝐴𝑡 𝑥 = 𝐿⁄2 ( ) =( )
𝑑𝑥 1 𝑑𝑥 2
𝑊 𝐿 2 −𝑊 𝐿 2 𝑊𝐿 𝐿
( ) + 𝐶1 = ( ) + ( ) + 𝐶3
4 2 4 2 2 2
𝑊𝐿2 −𝑊𝐿2 𝑊𝐿2
+ 𝐶1 = + + 𝐶3
16 16 4
𝑊𝐿2 𝑊𝐿2
+ 𝐶1 = + 𝐶3
8 4
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 𝑊𝐿2
𝑜𝑟 𝐶1 = + 𝐶3 … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … . . [8]
8
Solve these equations
i.e Equations [8] and [7]
𝑊𝐿2
𝐶1 = + 𝐶3
8
𝐿 𝑊𝐿3 𝐿
𝐶1 = + 𝐶3 + 𝐶4
2 24 2
𝑊𝐿2 𝐿 𝑊𝐿3 𝐿
[ + 𝐶3 ] = + 𝐶3 + 𝐶4
8 2 24 2
𝑊𝐿3 𝐿 𝑊𝐿3 𝐿
+ 𝐶3 = + 𝐶3 + 𝐶4
16 2 24 2
𝑊𝐿3 𝑊𝐿3 𝑊𝐿3
𝐶4 = − = … … … … … … … … … … … . … … . . [9]
16 24 48
From equation [6]
−𝑊𝐿3
0= +𝐶3 𝐿 + 𝐶4
6
−𝑊𝐿3 𝑊𝐿3
0= +𝐶3 𝐿 +
6 48
𝐶3 = −3⁄16 𝑊𝐿2 … … … … … … … … … . . … … … … … … . … … . . [10]
From equation [8]
𝑊𝐿2
𝐶1 = + 𝐶3
8
𝑊𝐿2 −3
= + ( ) 𝑊𝐿2
8 16
−𝑊𝐿2
=
16
Hence
0 ≤ 𝑥 ≤ 𝐿⁄2
𝑑𝑦 𝑊𝑥 2 𝑊𝐿2
𝐸𝐼 = − (𝑠𝑙𝑜𝑝𝑒)
𝑑𝑥 4 16
𝑊𝑥 3 𝑊𝐿2
𝐸𝐼𝑦 = − 𝑥 (𝑑𝑒𝑓𝑙𝑒𝑐𝑡𝑖𝑜𝑛 𝑒𝑞𝑢𝑎𝑡𝑖𝑜𝑛)
12 16

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𝐿⁄ ≤ 𝑥 ≤ 𝐿
2
𝑑𝑦 −𝑊𝑥 2 𝑊𝐿 𝑥 3𝑊𝐿2
𝐸𝐼 = + − (𝑠𝑙𝑜𝑝𝑒)
𝑑𝑥 4 2 16
−𝑊𝑥 3 𝑊𝐿 𝑥 2 3𝑊𝐿2 𝑥 𝑊𝐿3
𝐸𝐼𝑦 = + − + (𝑑𝑒𝑓𝑙𝑒𝑐𝑡𝑖𝑜𝑛 )
12 4 16 48
Maximum deflection
𝑊 𝑥 2 𝑊𝐿2
0= −
4 16
𝑊 𝑥 2 𝑊𝐿2 𝐿2
= ⟹ 𝑥2 =
4 16 4
𝐿
𝑥=
2
𝐿
Maximum deflection occurs at 𝑥 = 2

1 𝑊 𝐿 3 𝑊𝐿2 𝐿
𝑦𝑚𝑎𝑥 = [ ( ) − . ]
𝐸𝐼 12 2 16 2
1 𝑊𝐿3 𝑊𝐿3 −𝑊𝐿3
= [ − ]=
𝐸𝐼 96 32 48𝐸𝐼

2. For the following beam, derive an expression for maximum deflection

Figure 4

Reaction and moment

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∑𝐹 = 0 ⟶ 𝑅 = 𝑊

∑ 𝑀(𝑅) = 0 ⟶ 𝑀 = 𝑊𝐿

0≤𝑥≤𝐿
𝑀𝑥 = 𝑊𝑥 − 𝑊𝐿
𝐸𝐼𝑑2 𝑦
= 𝑀𝑥 = −𝑊𝐿 + 𝑀𝑥
𝑑𝑥 2
𝐸𝐼𝑑𝑦 𝑊𝑥 2
= −𝑊𝐿𝑥 + + 𝐶1 … … … … … … … … … … . … … . . [1]
𝑑𝑥 2
−𝑊𝐿𝑥 2 𝑊𝑥 3
𝐸𝐼 𝑦 = + + 𝐶1 𝑥 + 𝐶2 … … … … … … … … … . . [2]
2 6
Boundary conditions
𝐴𝑡 𝑥=0 𝑦=0
𝑑𝑦
𝑥=0 =0
𝑑𝑥
−𝑊𝐿(0)2 𝑊(0)3
0= + + 𝐶1 (0) + 𝐶2
2 6
⇒ 𝐶2 = 0
0 = −𝑊𝐿(0) + −𝑊𝐿(0) 2 + 𝐶1
⇒ 𝐶1 = 0
Hence;
𝐸𝐼𝑑𝑦
= −𝑊𝐿𝑥 +
𝑑𝑥
𝑊𝑥 2 𝑊𝑥 3
𝐸𝐼 𝑦 = − +
2 6
Maximum deflection
𝑊𝑥 2 𝑑𝑦
0 = −𝑊𝐿𝑥 + =
2 𝑑𝑥
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 𝑊𝑥 2
𝑊𝐿𝑥 =
2
𝑊𝑥
𝑊𝐿 = ⇒ 𝑥 = 2𝐿
2
Hence in this case 𝑥 = 𝐿
1 −𝑊𝐿. 𝐿2 𝑊𝐿3
𝑦𝑚𝑎𝑥 = [ + ]
𝐸𝐼 2 6
1 −𝑊𝐿3 𝑊𝐿3 1 −𝑊𝐿3
= [ + ]= [ ]
𝐸𝐼 2 6 𝐸𝐼 3
−𝑊𝐿3
𝑦𝑚𝑎𝑥 =
3𝐸𝐼

3. Derive an expression for the deflection and the slope at the centre of the beam.

Figure 5

Reaction forces

Equilibrium of forces
𝑊𝐿
𝑅1 + 𝑅2 = … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … . . [1]
2
Equilibrium of moments (about 𝑅1 )

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 𝑊𝐿 𝐿 1 𝑊𝐿2
𝑅2 . 𝐿 = . . =
2 2 2 8
𝑊𝐿
𝑅2 =
8
𝑊𝐿 𝑊𝐿 𝑊𝐿 3𝑊𝐿
𝑅1 = − 𝑅2 = − =
2 2 8 8

Moment
0 ≤ 𝑥 ≤ 𝐿⁄2
3𝑊𝐿𝑥 −𝑊𝑥. 𝑥 3𝑊𝐿𝑥 −𝑊𝑥 2
𝑀𝑥 = − = − … … … … … … … … … . . [3]
2 2 8 2
𝐿⁄ ≤ 𝑥 ≤ 𝐿
2
3𝑊𝐿𝑥 𝑊𝐿 1
𝑀𝑥 = − [𝑥 − ]
8 2 4
3𝑊𝐿𝑥 𝑊𝐿𝑥 𝑊𝐿2
= − +
8 2 8
−𝑊𝐿𝑥 𝑊𝐿2
= + … … … … … … … … … … … … … … . [4]
8 8
𝐷𝑒𝑓𝑙𝑒𝑐𝑡𝑖𝑜𝑛 0 ≤ 𝑥 ≤ 𝐿⁄2
𝐸𝐼𝑑2 𝑦 3𝑊𝐿𝑥 𝑊𝑥 2
= −
𝑑𝑥 2 8 2
𝐸𝐼𝑑𝑦 3𝑊𝐿𝑥 2 𝑊𝑥 3
= − + 𝐶1 … … … … … … … … … . . [5]
𝑑𝑥 16 6

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 3𝑊𝐿𝑥 3 𝑊𝑥 4
𝐸𝐼 𝑦 = − + 𝐶1 𝑥+𝐶2 … … … … … … … … … . . [6]
48 24
𝐿⁄ ≤ 𝑥 ≤ 𝐿
2
𝐸𝐼𝑑2 𝑦 −𝑊𝐿𝑥 𝑊𝐿2
= −
𝑑𝑥 2 8 8
𝐸𝐼𝑑𝑦 −𝑊𝐿𝑥 2 𝑊𝐿3 𝑥
= − + 𝐶3 … … … … … … … … … . . [7]
𝑑𝑥 16 8
−𝑊𝐿𝑥 3 𝑊𝐿2 𝑥 2
𝐸𝐼 𝑦 = + + 𝐶3 𝑥 + 𝐶4 … … … … … … … … … . . [8]
48 16
Boundary Conditions
𝑥=0 𝑦=0
𝑥=𝐿 𝑦=0
𝑥 = 𝐿⁄2 (𝑦)1 = (𝑦)2
𝑑𝑦 𝑑𝑦
𝑥 = 𝐿⁄2 ( ) =( )
𝑑𝑥 1 𝑑𝑥 2
𝐴𝑡 𝑥=0 𝑦=0
𝐶2 = 0
𝑥=𝐿 𝑦=0
2
−𝑊𝐿. 𝐿3 𝑊𝐿 2 . 𝐿
0= + +𝐶3 𝐿 + 𝐶4
48 16
−𝑊𝐿4 𝑊𝐿 4
0= + +𝐶3 𝐿 + 𝐶4
48 16
𝑊𝐿4
0= +𝐶3 𝐿 + 𝐶4 … … … … … … … … … … . . [9]
24
𝐴𝑡 𝑥 = 𝐿⁄2 (𝑦)1 = (𝑦)2

3𝑊𝐿𝑥 3 𝑊𝑥 4 −𝑊𝐿𝑥 3 𝑊𝐿2 𝑥 2

− + 𝐶1 𝑥+𝐶2 = + + 𝐶3 𝑥+𝐶4
48 24 48 16
3𝑊𝐿. 𝐿3 𝑊𝐿4 𝐿 −𝑊𝐿. 𝐿3 𝑊𝐿2 . 𝐿2 𝐿
− + 𝐶1 = − + 𝐶3 +𝐶4
48 × 8 24 × 16 2 48 × 8 4 × 16 2
𝐿 𝑊𝐿4 𝐿
𝐶1 = + 𝐶3 +𝐶4 … … … … … … … … … … [10]
2 128 2
𝑑𝑦 𝑑𝑦
𝐴𝑡 𝑥 = 𝐿⁄2 ( ) =( )
𝑑𝑥 1 𝑑𝑥 2
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3𝑊𝐿𝑥 2 𝑊𝑥 3 −𝑊𝐿𝑥 2 𝑊𝐿2 𝑥
− + 𝐶1 = + + 𝐶3
16 16 16 8
2 3 2
3𝑊𝐿(𝐿⁄2) 𝑊(𝐿⁄2) −𝑊𝐿(𝐿⁄2) 𝑊𝐿2 (𝐿⁄2)
− + 𝐶1 = + + 𝐶3
16 16 16 8
−𝑊𝐿3
+ 𝐶1 = 𝐶3 … … … … … … … … … … … … … . . … … … . [11]
48
Using equations [11] and [10]
𝐿 𝑊𝐿4 𝐿
𝐶1 = + 𝐶3 +𝐶4
2 128 2
𝑊𝐿3
𝐶1 = + 𝐶3
48
𝐿 𝑊𝐿3 𝑊𝐿4 𝐿
[𝐶3 + ]= + 𝐶3 +𝐶4
2 48 128 2
𝑊𝐿4
𝑜𝑟 𝐶4 =
384
Equation [9]
𝑊𝐿4 𝑊𝐿4
0= +𝐶3 𝐿 +
24 384
−17𝑊𝐿3
𝐶3 =
384
Equation [11]
−𝑊𝐿3 −17𝑊𝐿3
+ 𝐶1 = 𝐶3 =
48 384
3
−3𝑊𝐿
𝐶1 =
128
𝐿
Deflection at the centre (2)

3𝑊𝐿𝑥 3 𝑊𝑥 4
𝐸𝐼 𝑦 = − + 𝐶1 𝑥+𝐶2
48 24
3𝑊𝐿𝑥 3 𝑊𝑥 4 −3𝑊𝐿3 𝑥
= − −
48 24 128
3𝑊𝐿. 𝐿3 𝑊𝐿4 −3𝑊𝐿3 . 𝐿
= − −
48 × 23 24 × 22 128 × 2
3𝑊𝐿4 𝑊𝐿4 −3𝑊𝐿4
= − −
48 × 8 24 × 24 768

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 −5𝑊𝐿4
𝑦𝑐𝑒𝑛𝑡𝑒𝑟 =
768𝐸𝐼
Slope
𝑑𝑦 3𝑊𝐿𝑥 2 𝑊𝑥 3 3𝑊𝐿3
𝐸𝐼 = − −
𝑑𝑥 16 6 128
𝐿
𝑥=
2
3𝑊𝐿. 𝐿2 𝑊. 𝐿3 3𝑊𝐿3
= − −
16 × 4 8 × 6 128
3𝑊 3
=
384
𝑑𝑦 𝑊𝐿3
=
𝑑𝑥 384𝐸𝐼
𝐿
𝑥=
2

Problems
1.

𝐼𝑓 𝐸 = 200𝐺𝑁⁄𝑚2 𝑎𝑛𝑑 𝐼 = 960 × 10−6 𝑚4 , 𝐶𝑎𝑙𝑐𝑢𝑙𝑎𝑡𝑒

i) The deflection at the free end
ii) The deflection at a point in between the supports
Ans: i) 𝑦 = −5.843 × 10−6 𝑚
ii) 𝑦 = −5.85 × 10−7 𝑚

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 2.

Derive an expression for the deflection and slope at:

i) The mid-point of the beam
ii) At the free end
Ans:
i)
𝑑𝑦 −85. 125𝑤𝑎3
=
𝑑𝑥 𝐸𝐼
−146.7𝑤𝑎4
𝑦=
𝐸𝐼

ii)
𝑑𝑦 −109. 125𝑤𝑎3
=
𝑑𝑥 𝐸𝐼
−447.07𝑤𝑎4
𝑦=
𝐸𝐼

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