by Russ Elliott

6/22/24, 8:24 PM Deflection of beams

Acknowledgements: There are a number of standard works addressing the principles of

beam deflection. A particularly good exposition, and on which the equations given here are
based, is contained in Mechanics of Materials (Fourth SI edition), by J M Gere and S P
Timoshenko, Stanley Thornes, ISBN 0 7487 3998 X. Reference should be made to this
work for the derivation of the equations.

Contents Introduction
Application to model locomotive hornblocks
Choosing a deflection value
Moment of inertia, I
Key to deflection diagrams and symbols
Deflection equations and diagrams
Values of Young's Modulus
Notes on units and dimensions

Introduction
The deflection of a spring beam depends on its length, its cross-sectional shape, the
material, where the deflecting force is applied, and how the beam is supported.

The equations given here are for homogenous, linearly elastic materials, and where the
rotations of a beam are small.

In the following examples, only loads applying at a single point or single points are
considered – the application point of force F in the diagrams is intended to denote a model
locomotive hornblock (or vehicle axlebox) able to move vertically in a hornguide, and acting
against the force of the spring beam fixed to or carried by the locomotive or vehicle
mainframes. The proportion of the total weight acting on each axle of a loco or vehicle will
depend on the position of its centre of gravity in relation to the axle (or the chassis fixing
points of equalising beams where these are used).

Application to model locomotive hornblocks

As can be seen from the equations, the thickness of the material (h or d) is very critical,
and hence the incremental sizes in the range of guitar strings available make them very
attractive for use as spring beams. There is also a considerable difference in the deflection
of a beam, for a given force, depending on how it is supported and fixed and whether it is
supported at one end only or at both ends.

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 intended to be supported by each axle.
6/22/24, 8:24 PM Deflection of beams

For locos weighted to be between 4 and 6 grams per prototype ton, the masses to be
supported by each individual locomotive hornblock are likely to fall within the range 30 to 60
grams (equating to a prototype loading of between 14 and 20 tons per axle).

Choosing a deflection value

For reasonable 4mm scale finescale track, a recommended value for hornblock deflection,
δ, under the final load of a locomotive, is 0.5mm.

The above recommendation is known to be an oversimplistic and possibly incorrect

assumption on what the design value for the deflection should be, and has given rise to
considerable debate. Any experience on applying this recommendation to real chassis
modelling practice is welcomed – the purpose of this article is a starter for discussion rather
than a conclusion of it. Click here for an initial examination of the issues on this
matter.

Moment of inertia, I
All the equations given Moment of inertia for rectangular
below contain I, the section
moment of inertia of a
beam, which is a
I = bh 3 ∕ 12
constant determined by
the beam's cross-
sectional shape and where h is the dimension in the plane of
thickness. The moment bending, i.e. in the axis in which the
of inertia is not related to bending moment is applied
the length or the beam
material. Only Moment of inertia for round section
rectangular and round
solid sections are
I = πr 4 ∕ 4 = πd 4 ∕ 64
considered here.
where r and d are the radius and
diameter respectively

Key to deflection diagrams and symbols

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 on the support and rotate according to the force being applied on
6/22/24, 8:24 PM Deflection of beams
the beam.

L = length of beam
a = intermediate length of beam
δ = deflection of beam
F = force (i.e. the proportion of loco weight being resisted by axlebox)
E = Young's Modulus
I = moment of inertia of beam

Deflection equations and diagrams

Note on diagrams and equations. The diagrams given here have been inverted from their
normal textbook presentation, to reflect their application for model locomotive and vehicle
axleboxes. However, whilst the equations for deflection have been kept consistent with their
textbook presentation, the normal sign convention (+ or –, to indicate deflections in the
vertical y axis from the beam datum line) has been ignored, as we are concerned here only
with the absolute value of a beam deflection.

End load on cantilever beam

with single fixed support

δ = FL 3 ∕ 3EI

This equation should also be

used for the deflection of an
equalising beam rotating about
a fixed axis and bearing onto
two hornblocks either side of
the pivoting axis.

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 (application examples of
this configuration)
6/22/24, 8:24 PM Deflection of beams

δ = FL 3 ∕ 48EI

Intermediate load on beam

with two simple supports
(application examples of
this configuration)

The deflection at distance a

from the left-hand support is:

δ = Fa 2(L – a) 2 ∕ 3EIL

Twin loads on beam with two

simple supports
(application examples of
this configuration)

The application of this would

be for two hornblocks pressing
up against a single beam. The
deflection at distance a from
the adjacent support is:

δ = Fa 2(3L – 4a) ∕ 6EI

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 suppo ts
6/22/24, 8:24 PM Deflection of beams
δ = Fa 2(L + a) ∕ 3EI

Intermediate/centre load on
beam with one fixed and one
simple support

The deflection at length a from

the fixed support is:

δ = Fa 3(L – a) 2(4L –
a) ∕ 12EIL 3

For a load in the centre of the

beam, substituting a = L ∕ 2 in
the above equation, the
deflection is:

δ = 3.5FL 3 ∕ 384EI

Centre load on beam with

two fixed supports

δ = FL 3 ∕ 192EI

With the load at the centre, the

deflection at distance a from
the fixed
support (where a is less than
or equal to L ∕ 2) is:

δ = Fa 2(3L – 4a) ∕ 48EI

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 The deflection at distance a
6/22/24, 8:24 PM Deflection of beams
from the fixed support is:

δ = 2Fa 3(L – a) 2 ∕ 3EI(2a +

L) 2

Values of Young's Modulus, E

Beryllium copper 124 GPa 1
Brass, 70/30 hard temper 117.2 GPa
Brass, unspecified 96 to 110 GPa
Nickel-silver 132.5 GPa (127 GPa 1)
Phosphor-bronze, 5%, hard 131.8 GPa
Phosphor-bronze (92%Cu/8%Sn, or 'CuSn8') 111 GPa 1
Steel, mild or tool 212 GPa
Steel, mild, low carbon 210 GPa
Steel, mild (hardened) 201.4 GPa
Steel, stainless 215.2 GPa (190 GPa 1)
Steel, tool (hardened) 203.2 GPa

It should be noted that these are theoretical values.

A typical value for steel guitar string can be taken as 205 GPa.

There are differences for the values quoted for phosphor-bronze: it would seem that these
will depend on whether the material is of the 'spring temper' or the 'extra spring temper'
type of 92%Cu/8%Sn phosphor bronze commonly used in snap-over switches.

1 Shigley, Mechanical Engineering Design, 1980, McGraw Hill

Notes on units and dimensions

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 constant g (9.81 m·s -2, or more conveniently forDeflection
6/22/24, 8:24 PM
us, 9810 mm·s -2)
of beams

The dimensions of Young's Modulus E are ML -1T -2

The dimensions of force F are L 2ML -1T -2 = MLT -2
The dimensions of the moment of inertia I are L 4

© Russ Elliott

first published 19 April 2000;

slight editorial revision August 2001;
equation for intermediate load on beam with two fixed supports corrected, and deflection equation for
the intermediate/centre load on beam with one fixed and one simple support re-expressed, January
2005;
diagram for overhanging load on beam constrained by two simple supports revised, 8 October 2009;
equation for intermediate load on beam with two fixed supports corrected, 30 December 2010

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