Chapter 8 Supplement 2

Deflection in Beams - Double Integration Method

Page 1 of 9
Chapter 8 Supplement: Deflection in Beams Double Integration Method

8.5 Beam Deflection Double Integration Method
In this supplement, we describe the methods for determining the equation of the
deflection curve and for finding deflections at specific points along the axis of the
beam.

The calculations of deflection are essential for the following reasons.
1. Analysis of statically indeterminate beams.
2. Verify that deflections do not exceed allowable values: large deflections are
associated with poor appearance, and with too much flexibility in the structure
(which can lead to a sense of discomfort or broken glass panels).

For the derivation of this method, we start with the following equations.
dx = R d 1/R = d/dx
and 1/R = M/EI
where
R = radius of curvature
M = bending moment
E = modulus of elasticity
I = moment of inertia of the beam cross section
EI = flexural rigidity of the beam

For small rotations: 1/R = d/dx = d
2
y/dx
2
= M/EI

This equation is the basic differential equation of the deflection curve of a beam.

Application of Elastic Curve Double Integration
The equation for the deflection curve is found by starting with the following
equation.
y = d
2
y/dx
2
= M/EI

Finding the deflection curve consists of successive integrations of this equation,
with the resulting constants of integration being evaluated from the boundary
conditions of the beam.

Chapter 8 Supplement 2
Deflection in Beams - Double Integration Method
Page 2 of 9
Integrating once gives an expression for the slope of the elastic curve at any
point x.
= y = dy/dx = (M/EI) dx
Integrating a second time yields an expression for the deflection of the elastic
curve at any point x:
= y = (M/EI) dx
2


The following sign convention is used for this method.
1. Downward deflection is negative.
2. Upward deflection is positive.

Summary of Procedure
First, the equations for the bending moment are written, using free body
diagrams and the equations of equilibrium.
Next, the following integral equation is written.
y = d
2
y/dx
2
= M/EI or EI y = EI (d
2
y/dx
2
) = M
Then, the integration is performed and the constants of integration are
evaluated from boundary conditions pertaining to and at the supports of
the beam and from continuity equations.

Double Integration Use of Symmetry
The double integration method becomes laborious when the constants of
integration are difficult to determine.
When simply supported beams are symmetrically loaded, the solution becomes
simpler.
- The maximum deflection occurs at mid-span.
- The slope of the elastic curve is zero at mid-span.

Summary
1. Write the equations for bending moment.
2. Write the following integral equation.
y = d
2
y/dx
2
= M/EI or EI y = d
2
y/dx
2
= M
3. Perform the integrations.
4. Evaluate the constants of integration.

Chapter 8 Supplement 2
Deflection in Beams - Double Integration Method
Page 3 of 9
Examples Deflection by the Double Integration Method

Given: The simply supported beam
with a uniformly distributed load.

Find: Write equations for and .

Solution

Write an equation for moment using the free body diagram at the right.
M
cut
= 0 = - (wL/2) x + w x (x/2) + M
M = (wL/2) x wx
2
/2

Write the equations for the deflection
curve by integrating the moment equation.
EIy = M = (wL/2) x - wx
2
/2
EIy = EI = (wL/2)(x
2
/2) - (w/2)(x
3
/3) + C
1
EIy = EI = (wL/2)(x
3
/6) - (/2)(x
4
/12) + C
1
x + C
2


Solve for the constants of integration.
Boundary conditions: At x = 0, = 0 So C
2
= 0
At x = L, = 0
0 = (wL/2)(L
3
/6) - (/2)(L
4
/12) + C
1
L + 0
C
1
L = - (wL/2)(L
3
/6) + (/2)(L
4
/12) = (L
4
/24)(- 2 + 1) = - L
4
/24
So C
1
= - L
3
/24

Write the equations for and .
EIy = EI = (wL/2)(x
2
/2) - (w/2)(x
3
/3) - L
3
/24 = w/24 (6Lx
2
- 4x
3
- L
3
)
Thus, = (w/24EI)(6Lx
2
- 4x
3
- L
3
)

EIy = EI = (wL/2)(x
3
/6) - (/2)(x
4
/12) - (L
3
/24)x + 0 = wx/24(2Lx
2
- x
3
- L
3
)
Thus, = (wx/24EI)(2Lx
2
- x
3
- L
3
)


Chapter 8 Supplement 2
Deflection in Beams - Double Integration Method
Page 4 of 9
Example

Given: The cantilever beam with a
uniformly distributed load.

Find: Write equations for and .

Solution

Write an equation for moment using the free body diagram at the right.
M
cut
= 0 = wx(x/2) + M
M = wx
2
/2

Write the equations for the deflection
curve by integrating the moment equation.
EIy = M = - wx
2
/2
EIy = EI = - (w/2)(x
3
/3) + C
1
EIy = EI = - (/2)(x
4
/12) + C
1
x + C
2


Solve for the constants of integration.
Boundary condition: At x = L, = 0
0 = - (w/2)(L
3
/3) + C
1

C
1
= + wL
3
/6
Boundary condition: At x = L, = 0
0 = - (/2)(L
4
/12) + (wL
3
/6) L + C
2

C
2
= + wL
4
/24 - wL
4
/6 = (wL
4
/24)(1 - 4) = - 3wL
4
/24 = - wL
4
/8

Write the equations for and .
EIy = EI = - (w/2)(x
3
/3) + wL
3
/6 = w/6 (- x
3
+ L
3
)
Thus, = (w/6EI) (L
3
x
3
)

EIy = EI = - (/2)(x
4
/12) + (wL
3
/6) x - wL
4
/8 = (w/24)(- x
4
+ 4xL
3
- 3L
4
)
Thus, = (w/24EI)(- x
4
+ 4xL
3
- 3L
4
)


Chapter 8 Supplement 2
Deflection in Beams - Double Integration Method
Page 5 of 9
Example

Given: Simply supported beam
loaded as shown.

Find: Write equations for and .

Solution

Find the reactions at the supports.
F
x
= 0 = A
x
A
x
= 0
M
C
= 0 = - 20 A
y
+ 2 (10) 15
20 A
y
= 300 A
y
= 15.0 k
M
A
= 0 = 20 C
y
- 2(10)5
20 C
y
= 100 C
y
= 5.0 k

Write an equation for moment for the left half of the beam using the free body
diagram at the right.
0 < x < 10
M
cut
= 0 = - 15 x + 2x (x/2) + M
M = 15x x
2


Write the equations for the deflection
curve by integrating the moment equation.
EIy = M = 15x - x
2

EIy = EI = 15 (x
2
/2) - (x
3
/3) + C
1
= 7.5 x
2
- x
3
/3 + C
1

EIy = EI = 7.5(x
3
/3) - (x
4
/12) + C
1
x + C
2
= 2.5 x
3
- x
4
/12 + C
1
x + C
2


Solve for the second constant of integration.
Boundary condition: At x = 0, = 0 So C
2
= 0






Chapter 8 Supplement 2
Deflection in Beams - Double Integration Method
Page 6 of 9
Write an equation for moment for the right half of the beam using the free body
diagram at the right.
10 < x < 20
M
cut
= 0 = - M + 5 (20 x)
M = 5 (20 x) = 100 5x

Write the equations for the deflection
curve by integrating the moment equation.
EIy = M = 100 - 5x
EIy = EI = 100 x 5 (x
2
/2) + C
3
= 100 x - 2.5 x
2
+ C
3

EIy = EI = 100 (x
2
/2) - 2.5 (x
3
/3) + C
3
x + C
4


Solve for the constants of integration.
Boundary condition: At x = 10, EI
1
= EI
2
7.5 x
2
- x
3
/3 + C
1
= 100 x - 2.5 x
2
+ C
3

7.5 (10)
2
- (10)
3
/3 + C
1
= 100 (10) - 2.5 (10)
2
+ C
3

C
1
C
3
= - 750 + 333.33 + 1000 - 250 = + 333.33
Boundary condition: At x = 10, EI
1
= EI
2
2.5 x
3
- x
4
/12 + C
1
x + C
2
= 100 (x
2
/2) - 2.5 (x
3
/3) + C
3
x + C
4

2.5(10)
3
- (10)
4
/12 + C
1
(10) + 0

= 100 [(10)
2
/2] - 2.5 [(10)
3
/3] + C
3
(10) + C
4

2500 - 833.33 + 10 C
1
= 5000 - 833.33 + 10 C
3
+ C
4

C
4
= 2500 - 833.33 + 10 C
1
- 5000 + 833.33 - 10 C
3
= 10 C
1
- 2500 - 10 C
3

C
4
= - 2500 + 10 C
1
- 10 C
3
= - 2500 + 10(C
1
- C
3
) = - 2500 + 10(333.33)
C
4
= 833.33
Boundary condition: At x = 20, = 0
0 = 100 [(20)
2
/2] - [2.5 (20)
3
/3] + C
3
(20) + C
4

0 = 20,000 - 6666.67 + 20 C
3
+ 833.33 = 20 C
3
+ 14,166.67
20 C
3
= - 14,166.67 C
3
= - 708.33

C
1
C
3
= + 333.33
C
1
= C
3
+ 333.33 = - 708.33 + 333.33 C
1
= - 375




Chapter 8 Supplement 2
Deflection in Beams - Double Integration Method
Page 7 of 9
Write the equations for and .
0 < x < 10
EIy = EI = 7.5 x
2
- x
3
/3 + C
1

EI = 7.5 x
2
- x
3
/3 - 375
Thus, = (1/EI)(7.5 x
2
- x
3
/3 - 375)

EIy = EI = 2.5 x
3
- x
4
/12 + C
1
x + C
2
= 2.5 x
3
- x
4
/12 375 x + 0

EI = 2.5 x
3
- x
4
/12 - 375x
Thus, = (1/EI)(2.5 x
3
- x
4
/12 375 x)

10 < x < 20
EIy = EI = 100 x - 2.5 x
2
+ C
3

EI = 100 x - 2.5 x
2
- 708.33
Thus, = (1/EI)(100 x - 2.5 x
2
- 708.33)

EI = 100 (x
2
/2) - 2.5 (x
3
/3) + C
3
x + C
4

EI = 100 (x
2
/2) - 2.5 (x
3
/3) - 708.33x + 833.33
Thus, = (1/EI)[100 (x
2
/2) - 2.5 (x
3
/3) - 708.33x + 833.33]





Chapter 8 Supplement 2
Deflection in Beams - Double Integration Method
Page 8 of 9
Example

Given: The simply supported beam
with a uniformly distributed load.
W10 x 49 (I
x
= 272 in
4
)
E = 29,000 ksi

Find: Write equations for and .
Compute and at mid-span.

Solution

Write an equation for moment using the free body diagram at the right.
M
cut
= 0 = M 24x + 4x (x/2)
0 = M 24x + 2x
2

M = 24x 2x
2


Write the equations for the deflection
curve by integrating the moment equation.
EIy = M = 24x - 2x
2

EIy = EI = 24(x
2
/2) - 2(x
3
/3) + C
1
= 12x
2
(2/3) x
3
+ C
1
EI = - 2x
3
/3 + 12x
2
+ C
1

EIy = EI = 12 (x
3
/3) - (2/3)(x
4
/4) + C
1
x + C
2

= 4x
3
x
4
/6 + C
1
x + C
2
EI = - x
4
/6 + 4x
3
+ C
1
x + C
2


Solve for the constants of integration.
Boundary conditions: At x = 0, = 0 So C
2
= 0
At x = 12, = 0
0 = - (12
4
/6) + 4 (12
3
) + C
1
(12) + 0
0 = - 3456 + 6912 + 12 C
1

12 C
1
= 3456 6912 = - 3456
C
1
= - 288


Chapter 8 Supplement 2
Deflection in Beams - Double Integration Method
Page 9 of 9
Write the equations for and .
EIy = EI = - 2x
3
/3 + 12x
2
+ C
1
= - 2x
3
/3 + 12x
2
- 288
Thus, = (1/EI)(- 2x
3
/3 + 12x
2
- 288)

EIy = EI = - x
4
/6 + 4x
3
+ C
1
x + C
2
= - x
4
/6 + 4x
3
- 288x + 0
Thus, = (1/EI)(- x
4
/6 + 4x
3
- 288x)

Compute and at mid-span (i.e. x = 6).
EI = - 2x
3
/3 + 12x
2
- 288 = - 2(6)
3
/3 + 12(6)
2
288
= - 144 + 432 288 = 0
Thus, = 0 (i.e. horizontal tangent) at mid-span (as expected due to the
symmetry of the loading).

EI = - x
4
/6 + 4x
3
- 288x = - (6)
4
/6 + 4(6)
3
288(6)
= - 216 + 864 1728 = - 1080 (Deflection is down.)
= 1080/EI = 1080 (12/)
3
/[29,000 (272)]
Thus, = 0.237

For a simply supported beam with a uniformly distributed load, the deflection at
mid-span may be determined by the following standard formula.
= 5wL
4
/384EI
= 5(4)(12)
4
(12/)
3
/[384 (29,000) 272] = 0.237