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APPENDIX C: DESIGN AIDS 353

C.2 Beam formulae: Moments, shear forces & deflections

Table C.2.1 (a) Moments, shear forces and deflectionscantilevers

P
W

a b a b

x x

Wa Px
Wx

2
Pa
2 2a M

W V P

straight straight

y
3 Pa3
at x
0 Wa
at x
0
8EI 3EI
Wa 3 4b Pa3 3b
8EI (1  3a ) 3EI (1  2a )

W M

a b c a b

b
W(a  M M
2)

W V
V
0

straight straight

y 2
at moment Ma
application 2EI
W 3 2 2 3 Ma 2 2b
24EI (8a  18a2 b 12ab 3b 2 2EI (1  a )

12a c 12abc  4b c )

Note: M = bending moment; V = shear force; y = deflection. See also Syam [1992].
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354 STEEL DESIGNERS HANDBOOK

Table C.2.1 (b) Moments, shear forces and deflectionssimply supported beams

P P P

L
a a
2
L L

PL
Pa
4 M

P
P
2 V

P
P
2

y
PL3
PL3 ( a3
3a
6EI 4L  L3 )
48EI

P P P

a b a b c
L L

Pab
M
L

Pa(b  2c)
Pc (b  2a)

L L

Pb
V
L
Pa

L P (b  2c)
P (b  2a)
L
L
L

2

y For approx. max. deflection add

values for each load P given
PL3 3a 4a 3
in adjacent (left) diagram.
48EI ( L  L3 ) ba

Max. deflection approx.

and always occurs within
0.774L of beam centre

Note: M = bending moment; V = shear force; y = deflection. See also Syam [1992].
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APPENDIX C: DESIGN AIDS 355

Table C.2.1 (b) Moments, shear forces and deflectionssimply supported beams (continued)

W W

L a b c

W
L
8 M

d W 2 2
2b (d  a )

b b
d
a L ( 2  c)
b
W (
L 2  c)

W

2
V b
W (
L 2  a)
W
d
2

y
5WL3
W 3 2 3
384EI (8L  4Lb  b ) when a
c
384EI

W
W
w
2W

L w
2W

L

L L

WL

0.1283 WL M 6

W W

2
3 V
0.5774 L W

2W
2
3

y
WL3 WL3

60EI
0.5193 L 76.69EI

Note: M = bending moment; V = shear force; y = deflection. See also Syam [1992].
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356 STEEL DESIGNERS HANDBOOK

Table C.2.1 (b) Moments, shear forces and deflectionssimply supported beams (continued)

(n  1) forces
P P P P P P P P

L
L

3 n
L L
for n  10 consider as UDL

PL

3 M

nPL

n is even 8
(n21)PL
n is odd
8n

P (n1)P

2
V
P

y
23PL 3
MmaxL2
648EI
ymax = 0.104
EI
valid for n  4
(otherwise see adjacent diagrams)

P P P
M

L
a b
4
L L

Ma

PL
L
2 M
Mb

L

1.5P M

L
V
1.5P

y x
19PL3 ab
Mab a b
3EI ( L  L )

384EI
Mx
for 0
x  a y  (L2  3b2  x2)
6EIL
& if a  b then max. y occurs at x =
(L
 2
3) 
b2

Note: M = bending moment; V = shear force; y = deflection. See also Syam [1992].
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APPENDIX C: DESIGN AIDS 357

Table C.2.1 (c) Moments, shear forces and deflectionssimply supported beams with overhang

w(L  2N) wN wN

N L N N L N

2 2
w( L N
8  2 )

2 wN 2
wN

2 M 2

wL

2
V
wN wN

wL4 (5  24N

2 wL3N (1  6 N
2 ) ;
2
2  3N
3
3 ) wLN 3 (2 
N) wL

2N 2
384EI L 24EI L L 8EI L 16EI

w (L  N ) wN

Q L N Q L N

Curve (A)

wL2 Curve (B)

wN 2
8
wN 2 M 2

2
M
Curve (A)  Curve (B) (& Max. M may not be at centre)
Max. M between supports
w
(L  a ) 2(L  a )2
8L2

w (L2 2

2L N ) wN wN
V
w (L2 2

2L N ) wN

2
2L
0.5774 L
x
y

wL3Q N 2 wL3N N 3 N 2 wLN 2Q wLN 3 (4  3

N)
24EI (2 L 2  1) 24EI (3 L 3  4 L 2  1)

12EI 24EI L
wx 4 2 2 3 2 2 2 2 wL2N 2
max. y between supports

 2L x  Lx  2L N  2N x )
24EIL (L 31.25EI

Note: M = bending moment; V = shear force; y = deflection. See also Syam [1992].
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358 STEEL DESIGNERS HANDBOOK

Table C.2.1 (d) Moments, shear forces and deflectionscontinuous beams

Loaded spans Reactions, Loading pattern on loaded spans

moments, W W W W
deflections

A 0.375 0.313 0.667

1 2
B 1.250 1.375 2.667
L L M1 0.070 at 0.375 from A 0.156 0.222
A B C MB 0.125 0.188 0.333
1 0.0054 at 0.421 from A
A 0.438 0.406 0.833
B 0.625 0.688 1.337
C 0.063 0.094 0.167
1 2
A B C M1 0.096 at 0.438 from A 0.203 0.278
MB 0.063 0.094 0.167
1 0.0092 at 0.472 from A
A 0.400 0.350 0.733
B 1.100 1.150 2.267
1 M1 0.080 at 0.400 from A 0.175 0.244
L L L
A B C D MB 0.100 0.150 0.267
1 0.0069 at 0.446 from A
A 0.450 0.425 0.867
B 0.550 0.575 1.133
1 M1 0.101 at 0.450 from A 0.213 0.289
A B C D MB 0.050 0.075 0.133
1 0.0099 at 0.479 from A
A 0.050 0.075 0.133
B 0.550 0.575 1.133
2 M2 0.075 at 0.5 from B 0.175 0.200
A B C D MB 0.050 0.075 0.133
2 0.0068 at 0.5 from B
A 0.383 0.325 0.690
B 1.200 1.300 2.533
C 0.450 0.425 0.866
D 0.033 0.050 0.090
M1 0.073 at 0.383 from A 0.163 0.230
1 2 M2 0.054 at 0.583 from B 0.138 0.170
A B C D
MB 0.117 0.175 0.311
MC 0.033 0.050 0.089
1 0.0059 at 0.43 from A
A 0.433 0.400 0.822
B 0.650 0.725 1.400
C 0.100 0.150 0.266
D 0.017 0.025 0.044
1
A B C D M1 0.094 at 0.433 from A 0.200 0.274
MB 0.067 0.100 0.178
MC 0.017 0.025 0.044
1 0.0089 at 0.471 from A

Note: Reactions A, B, C, etc are in terms of W. Moments M are in terms of WL. Deflections are in terms of
WL3/EI. Locations of M1, M2, etc and are in terms of L. L = span. See also Syam [1992].
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APPENDIX C: DESIGN AIDS 359

Table C.2.1 (d) Moments, shear forces and deflectionscontinuous beams (continued)

Loaded spans Reactions, Loading pattern on loaded spans

moments, W W W W
deflections





A 0.393 0.339 0.714
B 1.143 1.214 2.381
1 2 C 0.929 0.892 1.810
L L L L M1 0.077 at 0.393 from A 0.170 0.238
A B C D E M2 0.036 at 0.536 from B 0.116 0.111
MB 0.107 0.161 0.286
MC 0.071 0.107 0.190
1 0.0065 at 0.44 from A
A 0.446 0.420 0.857
B 0.572 0.607 1.192
C 0.464 0.446 0.904
D 0.572 0.607 1.192
E 0.054 0.080 0.144
1 3 M1 0.098 at 0.446 from A 0.210 0.286
A B C D E M3 0.081 at 0.482 from C 0.183 0.222
MB 0.054 0.080 0.143
MC 0.036 0.054 0.096
MD 0.054 0.080 0.143
1 0.0097 at 0.477 from A
A 0.380 0.319 0.680
B 1.223 1.335 2.595
C 0.357 0.286 0.618
D 0.598 0.647 1.262
E 0.442 0.413 0.846
1 2 4 M1 0.072 at 0.38 from A 0.160 0.226
A B C D E M2 0.061 at 0.603 from B 0.146 0.194
M4 0.098 at 0.558 from D 0.207 0.282
MB 0.121 0.181 0.321
MC 0.018 0.027 0.048
MD 0.058 0.087 0.155
4 0.0094 at 0.525 from D
A 0.036 0.054 0.096
B 0.464 0.446 0.906
C 1.143 1.214 2.381
2 M2 0.056 0.143 0.174
A B C D E MB 0.036 0.054 0.095
MC 0.107 0.161 0.286
A 0.433 0.400 0.822
B 0.652 0.728 1.404
C 0.107 0.161 0.286
D 0.027 0.040 0.072
E 0.005 0.007 0.012
1 M1 0.094 0.200 0.274
A B C D E
MB 0.067 0.100 0.178
MC 0.018 0.027 0.048
MD 0.005 0.007 0.012
A 0.049 0.074 0.132
B 0.545 0.567 1.120
C 0.571 0.607 1.190
D 0.080 0.121 0.214
2 E 0.013 0.020 0.036
A B C D E M2 0.074 0.173 0.198
MB 0.049 0.074 0.131
MC 0.054 0.080 0.143
MD 0.013 0.020 0.036

Note: Reactions A, B, C, etc are in terms of W. Moments M are in terms of WL. Deflections are in terms of
WL3/EI. Locations of M1, M2, etc and are in terms of L. L = span. See also Syam [1992].
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360 STEEL DESIGNERS HANDBOOK

Table C.2.2 Bending moment values for various load cases

Bending Moments

Loads Simple beam Fixed end beam

A C B A C B
L L

MC  MA  MC  MB 

W
0.125 0.125 WL
A C B
0.25 WL 0.125
W



0.111 0.111 WL
A C B 0.167 WL 0.0556
W




0.104 0.104 WL
A C B 0.167 WL 0.0625
W





0.100 0.100 WL
A C B 0.150 WL 0.0500
W
0.0833 0.0833 WL
A C B 0.125 WL 0.0417
W
0.104 0.104 WL
A C B 0.167 WL 0.0625
W
0.0625 0.0625 WL
A C B 0.0833 WL 0.0208
W
2 2
W ab
2
L W ab
L2
A C B ab 2b 2
a b x
a
W
L x
a W 2a

L3

a
M L b
M
M L 2 (3aL)
A C B
a b b
M L 2 M a
a M
L2 (3bL)
3L

1
La 2
L
3 3
W
MC
MA MB
A C B a
L
m
a a 2
a W
2 (1 2L)
a a
x
a(1 2L ) 3 2
2 (m 2m 2)
x

WL
MA   m(3m2  8m  6)
12
WL 2
MB   m (4  3m)
12
WL 2
MC   m ( 1.5m5  6m4  6m3  6m2
12
 15m  8)
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APPENDIX C: DESIGN AIDS 361

Table C.2.3 Rapid deflection calculation of symmetrical beam sections

ym C
D

521 103ML2 M = maximum bending moment in table below, kNm

ym =  K1 ,mm
I L = span of beam, m
K1 = deflection coefficient in table below
521 103ML2
=  K1 ,mm I = second moment of area, mm4 (note the units) = ZC
ZC
Z = elastic section modulus, mm3 (note the units)
C = length from neutral axis to outer fibre, mm (see figure)
E = Youngs modulus of elasticity
= 200 106 kN/m2 (assumed in the equation)

Case Load diagram B.M. diagram Case M K1

W WL

1 1 8 1.00
M
P P P
PL





2 2 2 0.950
M
P P
PL




3 3 3 1.02
M
P P
PL





4 M 4 4 1.10

P
PL



5 M 5 4 0.800

P



2PL
6 M 6  0.767
9
P




3PL

7 M 7 16 0.733

M
8 M 8 M 0.595

M M
M
9 9 M 1.20

Note: To use the Table

(1) Determine the Case type.
(2) Evaluate M (in kNm) and K1 for the respective Case.
(3) Obtain I (or ZC) (in mm multiples) from external references/evaluation.
(4) Calculate the maximum beam deflection ym from the above equation.