Beam Deflection

Watching stuff break

BIOE 3200 - Fall 2015

Learning Objectives
Define

beam deflection () and

identify the factors that affect it
Determine deflection and slope in
beams in bending using double
integration method

BIOE 3200 - Fall 2015

Deflection in beams
Deflection is
deformation
from original
position in y
direction

BIOE 3200 - Fall 2015

Recall relationships between

shear force, bending moment
and normal stresses

To balance forces
within beam cross
section:
P=
V=
=

BIOE 3200 - Fall 2015

Bending moments balance

normal stresses across area of
cross section. This is how we
relate applied loads and
deformation (stress and strain).

Simplify:
Recall that
So:

where u0y(x) is displacement in y

direction
BIOE 3200 - Fall 2015

General formula for beam deflection involves

double integration of bending moment equation

Governing

equation for deflection:

= , where deflection (x) = uoy(x)
Solve double integral to get equation for
(x) (elastic curve), or the deflected
shape
Shape of beam determined by change in
load over length of beam
BIOE 3200 - Fall 2015

How to calculate beam deflection

using double integration method

Governing

equation: =

EI = Flexural
Rigidity

(x
)

Note: = tan (x)

] dx +
x + - general formula for beam deflection
BIOE 3200 - Fall 2015

Sign conventions for

beam deflection

(x
)

and Y axes: positive to the right

and upward, respectively
Deflection (x): positive upward
Slope of deflection at any point and
angle of rotation (x): positive when
CCW with respect to x-axis
Curvature (K) and bending moment
(M): positive when concave up
(beam is smiling)
BIOE 3200 - Fall 2015

What affects deflection?

Bending

moment

Magnitude and type of loading

Span (length) of beam
Beam type (simply supported, cantilever)
Material

properties of beam (E)

Shape of beam (Moment of Intertia I)

BIOE 3200 - Fall 2015

How to complete double

integration
x+
Find C1 and C2 from boundary
conditions (supports)
Example: cantilever beam with load at
free end

BIOE 3200 - Fall 2015

Using boundary conditions to

calculate deflections in beams
Other

examples of boundary
conditions:

BIOE 3200 - Fall 2015

Pulling it all together

Relation

of the deflection with beam

loading quantities V, M and load
Deflection =
Slope = d / dx
Moment M(x) = EI
Shear V(x) = - dM/dx = - EI (for
constant EI)
Load w(x) = dV/dx = - EI (for
constant EI)
BIOE 3200 - Fall 2015

Load, moment, deformation and

slope can all be sketched for a beam

BIOE 3200 - Fall 2015

Procedure for calculating

deflection by integration method

Select

interval(s) of the beam to be used,

and set coordinate system with origin at one
end of the interval; set range of x values for
that interval
List boundary conditions at boundaries of
interval (these will be integration constants)
Calculate bending moment M(x) (function of
x for each interval) and set it equal to EI
Solve differential equation (double
integration) and solve using known
integration constants

BIOE 3200 - Fall 2015

Typical deflection equation

Simply
supported beam under
uniform constant load:
ma
x

Loa
d

x = ( +
Material
Property

Span

(at any point x)

Shape
Propert
y
BIOE 3200 - Fall 2015

Examples of deflection
formulae

FBD
for simply supported beam
under constant uniform load:

max

x =

(+

(at midpoint)

(at any point x)

BIOE 3200 - Fall 2015

Examples of deflection
formulae
Simply

supported beam, point

load at midspan

max

x =

()

(at point of load)

(where x < ; symmetric about midspan)

BIOE 3200 - Fall 2015

Examples of deflection
formulae
Cantilever

beam loaded at free

end

max

x =

(-

(at free end)

(everywhere else)

BIOE 3200 - Fall 2015