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Deflection Prof Schierle 1

 Deflection
Beam deflection must be limited to:
•  = L / 360 for LL
•  = L / 240 for combined DL+LL.

Beam deflection is caused by both bending and shear

• Bending deflection governs long beams
• Shear deflection governs short beams,
but is very small and usually ignored

1 Simple beam under uniform load

2 Large bending deflection of simple beam
3 Small shear deflection of simple beam
4 Small bending deflection of short cantilever beam
5 Large shear deflection of short cantilever beam

Deflection Prof Schierle 2

 Deflection by Moment Area Method
(Mohr’s Theorems, 1868)
Mohr’s Theorems

Slope Theorem
The angle  between tangents at A and B on the
elastic curve of a beam is the moment diagram
area between A & B, divided by EI

 = x Am/ EI

Deflection Theorem
The displacement  of the tangent at B on the
elastic curve equals the moment of the bending
diagram area between A and B times the lever-
arm x from its centroid to A, divided by EI.

Moment Area Method

with examples

Deflection Prof Schierle 3

 Deflection formulas
 = slope of the tangent of the elastic curve
 = maximum deflection.
1 Cantilever beam with point load
 = (PL)(L/2)/(EI)  =  2/3 L
 = 1/2 PL2/(EI)
 = 1/3 PL3/(EI)
2 Cantilever beam with uniform load
 = (WL/2)(L/3)/(EI)  =  3/4 L
 = 1/6 WL2/(EI)
 = 1/8 WL3/(EI)
3 Simple beam with point load
 = (PL/4)(L/4)/(EI)  =  1/3 L
 = 1/16 PL2/(EI)
 = 1/48 PL3/(EI)
4 Simple beam with uniform load
 = (WL/8)(2/3 L/2)/(EI)  =  5/16 L
 = 1/24 WL2/(EI)
 = 5/384 WL3/(EI)
Deflection Prof Schierle 4
 Beam formulas
The formulas include for common beams:
• M = bending moment
• V = shear
•  = deflection
• More Beam Formulas

Deflection Prof Schierle 5

 Steel beam with point load
Beam supports joist point load (P=8k). Design for stress
L = 30’(12”) = 360”, Fb = 22 ksi, E=30,000 ksi
1 Beam diagram
2 Load diagram (ignore load at supports which has no effect
on shear, bending, or deflection)
Shear
Va = Vbl = 2(8)/2 Va=Vbl = 8 k
Vbr = Vcl = 8-8 Vbr=Vcl = 0 k
Vcr = Vd = R = 0-8 Vcr=Vd = 8 k
Bending moment
Mmax = 8(10) Mmax = 80 k’
Required section modulus
S = M/Fb = 80 k’(12”)/22 ksi S = 44 in3
Try W10x45, S =49.1 in3 49.1 > 44, ok
From AISC table I = 248 in4
Deflection (L = 30’(12”) = 360”)
 = (23/648)PL3/EI
 = (23/648)8(3603)/[(30000)248]  = 1.78”
all = 360/240 = 1.5” 1.78>1.5, not ok
Try W18x35, S = 57.6 in3, I = 510 in4
Deflection
 = [(23/648)8(3603)]/[(30000)510]  = 0.87”
0.87<1.5, ok
Note: the W10x45 of 36 span/depth ratio is too shallow;
while the W18x35 has the recommended ratio of 20, is
lighter and more economical.

Deflection Prof Schierle 6

 Steel beam (with mixed load)
Steel beam supports 8k joist load + 0.4 kfl uniform DL
(beam, fire proofing & finish), L = 30’(12”) = 360”, Fb = 22 ksi
1 Beam diagram
2 Load diagram (ignore load at supports)
Shear
Va= R= [2(8)+0.4(30)]/2 Va = 14 k
Vbl= 14-0.4(10) Vbl = 10 k
Vbr= 10-8 Vbr = 2 k
Vcl= 2-0.4(10) Vcl= -2 k
Vcr= -2-8 Vcr= -10 k
Vd= -10-0.4(10) Vd= -14 k
Bending moment
M = 10(14+10)/2 + 5(2)/2 M =125 k’
Required Section modulus S
S = M/Fb= 125 k’(12”)/22 ksi S = 68 in3
Try W18x40, S= 68.4 in3 68.4>68, ok
From AISC table I = 612 in4
Deflection
W = wL = 0.4 (30) W = 12 k
max = (23/684) PL3/(EI) + (5/384) WL3/(EI) *
* Combined point load and uniform load
max = [(23/684)8(360)3+(5/384)12(360)3]/[(30000)612]
max=1.1”
all=360/240 = 1.5 in 1.1<1.5 ok

Deflection Prof Schierle 7

 Deflection vs. span
The formulas
• V=wL
• M = w L2/8
•  = (5/384) wL4/EI
reveal:
V increases linearly with L
M increases quadratic with L
 increases to the 4th power with L
If L doubles  increase 16 times !
1 Beam with = 1
2 Double span with = 16
3 Short span: shear V governs
4 Medium span: bending M governs
5 Long span: deflection  governs

Deflection Prof Schierle 8

 Deflection  vs. I (moment of inertia)

Type of beam  I

1 Single board 1 1

2 Twin board 1/2 2

3 Twin board glued 1/8 8

4 Four boards glued 1/64 64

Deflection Prof Schierle 9

Deflection
Wood beam deflection using
Beam deflection calculator
Span L = 20’x12” = 240“
Spaced 4’
Nominal size: 4x12 = 3.5 x 11.25
Allowable deflection (DL+LL)
Δ = 240/240 Δ = 1 in
Moment of Inertia
I = bd3/12 = 415 in4
Elastic Modulus
E = 1500000 psi
Distributed load Distributed load (LD+LL)
144 plf = 12 pli

Deflection
Δ = 0.83” < 1” ok

Deflection Prof Schierle 10

Deflection
Steel beam deflection using
Beam deflection calculator
Span L = 30’ = 360“
W18x97, S=188 in3, I=1750 in4
Allowable deflection
Δ= 360”/360 (LL only) Δ = 1 in
Elastic Modulus E = 30000 ksi
Point load P = 30 k
M = 30k x 120” M = 3600 ksi
fb = M/S = 3600/188 fb= 19 ksi
19 < 22 ok
Deflection
Δ = 0.946 < 1 ok
Note:
If deflection is too large
a camber (initial upward Δ) may
mitigate large Δ
Deflection Prof Schierle 11
Beam deflection video
Beam deflection formulas
Beam deflection calculator

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Deflection Prof Schierle 12