JJ310STRENGTH

OF
MATERIALS

DEFLECTION
OF BEAMS

DEFLECTION OF
BEAMS
In a plane figure the neutral plane is represented by a

straight line. The displacement of the central line of

the neutral plane from its original position in the
direction of normal at any point is termed as deflection
of the beam.
Since there is almost no change in the transverse

dimension of the beam cross-section, it may be

understood that the top and bottom surface of the
beam will deform in the same way as the neutral plane
and hence for all practical purpose for calculation of
deflection of the beam, the beam may be represented
by the central line of the neutral plane.

Figure below illustrates this definition of the

deflection.

Figure 1:

Equation to Elastic Curve

- DOUBLE INTEGRATION METHOD
From figure 2:

ds dx
d
R R

(i)

Where R is the radius of curvature of CD and CD

being small it can be regarded as arc of a circle of

radian R.
Also since angle is small due to proximity of points
C and D.
dy

tan

dx

(ii)

It can be seen that while y defines the deflection of

beam, dy/dx define its slope at any section.

Differentiating (ii) with respect to x.

d d 2 y
2
dx dx

(iii)

Now using (i) in (ii),

1 d2y
2
R dx

(iv)

Bending Moment equation is;

1 M

R EI

(a)

Combining eq.(a) with (iv);

M d2y
2
EI dx

(1.1)

Eq. (1.1) is the basic equation for calculation of

the beam deflection y of a beam. In this

equation, M represents the bending moment at
any section of the beam. E is the modulus of
elasticity of the beam material (a constant) and
I the moment of inertia of the section of the
beam.
For prismatic beam, I will be constant for all

values of x. Both E and I are positive.

The quantity EI is known as flexural rigidity and

may some times be specified as a single

constant for a given beam.

For calculation of y from eq. (1.1), the steps

are apparently straight forward. First

integration will give dy/dx (the slope) and
introduce a constant of integration.
The second step will result into y and
introduce yet another constant of integration.
These steps are illustrated
below.
2
d y
Bending
EI 2 M
moment
dx
x

dy
EI Mdx A
dx 0
x x

EI y Mdx Ax B
0 o

The slope

The
deflection

The constants C1 and C2 are determined from

boundary condition.
The boundary condition are the known values of

dy/dx and y at given values of x. these values

are invariably known at supports. For
determining two constants at least two
boundary conditions must be known.
The following boundary condition will be

identified:a. at simple supports y = 0, dy/dx 0

A SIMPLY
SUPPORTED
BEAM

- with concentrated
load on the center
of the beam.

A SIMPLY SUPPORTED BEAM

- with concentrated load on the center of the beam

The method will now be used for calculating the maximum

deflection in case of simply supported beam loaded by a

single concentrated load in the middle of the span.

Simply supported beam concentrated load at center of the beam

The reaction force at A and B;

RA = RB = P/2

(i)

The maximum deflection will occur just under the

load or at x = L/2 with origin at left hand support.

This will mean that at x = L/2, dy/dx = 0. Thus

boundary conditions for the determination of

constants of integration
are; First boundary
condition
y = o at x = o
= dy/dx = o at x = L/2

Second boundary
condition

Simply supported beam concentrated load at center of the beam

With origin at left support and x measuring

positive to the right,

M(x) = P/2 . x
From eq. 1.1;

M d2y
2
EI dx

(i)
(x L/2)

d2y P
EI 2 .x
dx
2

(ii)

Simply supported beam concentrated load at center of the beam

2
d
y
P
x
Integrating eq. (ii); EI
. A
dx 2 2

Using second boundary condition; dy/dx = o

at x = L/2

P L2
0 . A
4 4
PL2
A
16

Hence,

dy Px 2 PL2
EI

dx
4
16

Integrating eq.(iii);

(iii)

Px 3 PL2
EI.y

.x B
12 16
Simply supported beam concentrated load at center of the beam

Using first boundary condition; y= o at x = 0

B=0
Hence

Px 3 PL2
EI.y

.x
12 16

The maximum deflection occurs at x = L/2,

ymax

PL3

48EI

The maximum slope, occurs at x = 0;

dy
PL2

dx max
16 EI
Simply supported beam concentrated load at center of the beam

A SIMPLY
SUPPORTED
BEAM

- with uniformly
distributed load
along the beam

A SIMPLY SUPPORTED BEAM

- with uniformly distributed load along the beam

The method will now be used for calculating

the maximum deflection in case of simply

supported beam loaded by a single
concentrated load in the middle of the span.
Simply supported beam uniformly distributed load along the beam

The reaction force at A and B;

RA = RB = wL/2

(i)

The maximum deflection will occur just under the

load or at x = L/2 with origin at left hand support.

This will mean that at x = L/2, dy/dx = 0. Thus

boundary conditions for the determination of

constants of integration
are; First boundary
condition
y = o at x = o
dy/dx = o at x = L/2

Second boundary
condition

Simply supported beam uniformly distributed load along the beam

With origin at left support and x measuring

positive to the right,

wLx wx 2
M (x)

2
2

M d2y
From eq. 1.1; 2
EI dx

(i)

d 2 y wLx wx 2
EI 2

dx
2
2

(ii)

2
3
d
y
wLx
wx
Integrating eq. (ii);EI

A
dx
4
6

Simply supported beam uniformly distributed load along the beam

Using second boundary condition; dy/dx = o

at x = L/2

wL3 wL3
0

A
16
48
wL3
A
24

Hence

dy wLx 2 wx 3 wL3
EI

dx
4
6
24

(iii)

Integrating eq.(iii);

wLx 3 wx 4 wL3
EIy

xB
12
24 24
Simply supported beam uniformly distributed load along the beam

Using first boundary condition; y= o at x = 0

B=0
Hence

wLx 3 wx 4 wL3
EIy

x
12
24 24

The maximum deflection occurs at x = L/2,

5wL4
ymax
384 EI
The maximum slope occurs at
x = 0;
x = L;
dy
wL3

dx max
24 EI

dy
wL3

dx max 24 EI
Simply supported beam uniformly distributed load along the beam

A CANTILEVER
BEAM

- with single
concentrated load
at the free end

A CANTILEVER BEAM
- with single concentiated load at the free end (edge of the
beam)
A

Figure above shows a cantilever of length L and

loaded at free end by a single concentrated load

P. the moment of inertia of the beam cross-section
is I and modulus of elasticity of its material is E.
Cantilever beam single concentrated load at the free end

The origin of the coordinates is chosen at free

end with x measuring positive to the right.

The broken line in figure shows the elastic
curve of the cantilever.
To determine the equation to elastic curve,
the first step is to write down the expression
for BM at a section x away from
the origin.
(i)
M(x) = - P. x
(BM has been written as M(x) to emphasise its
variable character)
Substituting the
2 Eq. (1.1):
M d 2 y value of BMdin
y
2

EI 2 P.x
EI dx
dx
(ii)
Cantilever beam single concentrated load at the free end

The double integration may now be perform

to obtain y but it is worthwhile at this stage to

identify the boundary conditions, which are:
y = o at x = L First boundary
condition

dy/dx = o at x = L

Second boundary
condition

It may also be noted that expression eq.(i) is

applicable for all values of x from x = 0 to x =

L.
dy
Px 2
EI
A
Integrating eq.(ii);
dx
2
Cantilever beam single concentrated load at the free end

Using second boundary condition; dy/dx = o

at x = L
PL2
0
A
2
Hence

dy
Px 2 PL2
EI

dx
2
2

PL2
A
2

(iii)

Px 3 PL2
EIy

.x B
6
2
Integrating eq.(iii);
Using first boundary condition; y= o at x = L
3
3
3

PL PL
0

B
6
2

PL
B
3

Cantilever beam single concentrated load at the free end

Therefore the eq. become

Px 3 PL2
PL3
EIy

.x
6
2
3
The maximum deflection occurs at x = 0.

ymax

PL3

3EI

The maximum slope occurs at x = 0.

dy
PL2

dx max 2 EI
Cantilever beam single concentrated load at the free end

A CANTILEVER
BEAM

- With uniformly
distributed load
along the beam

A CANTILEVER BEAM
- with uniformly distributed load along the beam

Figure above shows a cantilever of length L and loaded

an uniformly distributed load along the beam. The

moment of inertia of the beam cross-section is I and
modulus of elasticity of its material is E.
Cantilever beam uniformly distributed load along the beam

The origin is at free end and x measure

positive towards right. w is the rate of loading.

To determine the equation to elastic curve,
the first step is to write down the expression
for BM at a section x away from the origin.
wx 2
(i)
M (x)
2
Substituting the value of BM in Eq. (1.1):

M d2y
2
EI dx

d2y
wx 2
EI 2
dx
2

(ii)

Cantilever beam uniformly distributed load along the beam

The double integration may now be perform

to obtain y but it is worthwhile at this stage to

identify the boundary conditions, which are:
y = o at x = L First boundary
condition

dy/dx = o at x = L

Second boundary
condition

It may also be noted that expression eq.(i) is

applicable for all values of x from x = 0 to x =

L.
dy
wx 3
EI
A
Integrating eq.(ii);
dx
6
Cantilever beam uniformly distributed load along the beam

Using second boundary condition; dy/dx = o

at x = L
wL3
0
A
6
Hence

dy
wx 3 wL3
EI

dx
6
6

wL3
A
6

(iii)

wx 4 wL3
EIy

.x B
24
6
Integrating eq.(iii);
Using first
boundary
condition; y= o4 at x = L
4
4

wL wL
0

B
24
6

wL
B
8

Cantilever beam uniformly distributed load along the beam

Therefore the eq. become

wx 4 wL3
wL4
EIy

.x
24
6
8
The maximum deflection occurs at x = 0.

ymax

wL4

8EI

The maximum slope occurs at x = 0.

dy
wL3

dx max
6 EI
Cantilever beam uniformly distributed load along the beam

A CANTILEVER
BEAM

- With a single
concentrated load
at a point other
than free end or
not at free end.

A CANTILEVER BEAM
- with a single concentrated load at a point other than free end

As known the deflection for single

concentrated load at free3 end is

PL
ymax
3EI

Eq. ymax

PL3
is first used to calculate yp by
3EI

replacing L by a. Thus;

Pa 3
yp
3EI

(i)

Deflection
at B

2
2
d
y
Px
PL
From eq. EI
, the slope at x = o, i.e
dx
2
2

Under load P,

dy
Pa 2
( )p
dx
2 EI

(ii)

Slope at B

From triangle ABD;

where
Hence

dy
AD
Tan ( ABD) ( ) p
dx
DB
DB = (L-a)
dy
AD ( L a )( ) p
dx
( L a) Pa 2
AD
2 EI

Deflection of free end or deflection at A:

ymax

Pa 3 ( L a) Pa 2

3EI
2 EI

or

ymax

PL1 ( L L1 ) PL1

3EI
2 EI

Example 1:A beam measuring 2 m long simply

supported, is the concentrated force of 10 kN

at the mid-point. Determine the maximum
deflection occurs.
Given E = 200 GN/m2 and I = 12 x 10-6 m4.

Solution:From the proof of the simply supported beam

with concentrated load on the center of beam,
3
has been proved thatPL
the
maximum deflection
ymax
is: 48 EI
Example 1

Example 1

Example 2:
A 4 m long simply supported beam carrying a

uniform load of 10 kN/cm. Calculate the

deflection at the center of the beam.
Given EKeluli = 2.0 GN/cm2 and I = 2000 cm4.

Example 2

Solution:From the proof of the simply supported beam

with uniformly distributed load along the

beam, has been proved that the maximum
deflection is: 5wL4
ymax
384 EI

Example 2

Example 3:
A wooden beam is simply supported and carries a

uniformly distributed load 4 kN/m as shown in

below figure. Determine the value of b if the
deflection allowed is 20 mm. Given E = 10 GN/m 2.

Example 3

Solution:-

Example 3

Example 4:
A simple beam which length 8m supports a

concentrated load of 300 kN at the middle

span. If the material contains a value of EI = 80
x 103 kN/m2, calculate:a. The maximum beam deflection, y max.
b. The slope (angle) of deflection at y max, dy/dx

Example 4

Solution:-

a.

b.

Example 4

Example 5:
Determine the integral of variables for the

equations of the beam deflection in the

diagram below.

Solution:The slope and deflection of the beam

equation is as follows:-

By using the conditions of a suitable limits,

determine the value of A and B.

The position of the point in simply supported beam

The position of the point in cantilever beam.

EXERCISE 1
1. Calculate:a) the maximum deflection
b) the maximum slope
for loads of the beam as shown in each figure.
Given E = 200 GN/m2.

Answer:i) a) 2.83 mm
ii) a) 1.6 mm
b) 4.24 radian
b) 6 x 10-4 radian

iii) a) 51.2 mm
iv) a) 2.025 mm
b) 0.128 radian
b) 3.375 x 10-4 radian