Deflection of Beams.

A C B

(a) Beam position before loading

If a beam curves uniformly distributed load or a point load, the beam is deflected from its original
position.

Due to the loads acting on the beam, it will be subjected to bending moment. The radius of curvature of
M E
the deflected beam is given by the equation = . the radius of curvature will be constant if
I R
IE
R= = constant.
M

IE
The term will be constant if the beam is subjected to a constant bending moment, M. this means
M
IE
that a beam for which, when loaded, the value of is constant, will bend in a circular arc.
M

Methods of determining Slope and Deflection at a section in a loaded Beam.

Important methods for finding the slope and deflection at a section in a loaded beam are:

(i) Double integration method

In case of double integration method,

d2y d2y M
M = EI or =
dx 2 dx 2 EI

where

R = radius of curvature of the deflected beam

i = moment of inertia of the beam section

E = young’s modulus for the beam material

 = slope of the beam

M = bending moment of the beam

 = bending stress of the beam

d2y M dy
First integration of 2
= gives the value of or slope.
dx EI dx

The second integration gives the value of y or deflection.

The first two methods are used for a single load whereas the third method is used for several loads.

Deflection of a Simply Supported Beam Carrying a point load at the Centre.

l l
2 W 2

A B

x yc

x
L

A simply supported beam AB of length L and carrying a point load W at the Centre as shown.

As the load is symmetrically applied the reactions RA and RB will be equal also the max. deflection will be
at the Centre.
 W
R A = RB =
2
Consider a section X at a distance x from A. the bending moment at this section is given by,

w
M x = RA  x = x
2
But B.M. at any section is also given by

d2y
M = EI
dx 2
Equating the two values of B.M. we get

d2y w
EI =  x ………………………………………………………(i)
dx 2 2
On integration, we get

dy w x2
EI =  + c ………………………………………………(ii)
dx 2 2
Where c is the constant of integration and its values are obtained from boundary conditions.

l dy
The boundary condition is that at x = , slope ( ) = 0. (as the max. deflection is at the Centre, hence
2 dx
slope at the Centre will be zero).

Substituting this boundary condition in the equation(ii) we get

w l
0=  ( )2 + c
4 2

− WL2
Or c
16
Substituting the value of C in the equation(ii) we get

dy Wx 2 WL2
EI = - ……………………………………………. (iii)
dx 4 16
NB equation (iii) is known as the slope equation.

The slope at any point on the beam can be pound by substituting the values of x.

Slope is max at A, x = 0 and hence slope at A will be obtained by substituting x=0 in equation (iii).

dy W  (0) 2 WL2
∴ EI ( ) at A = -
dx 4 16
 dy
[( ) at A is the slope at A and is represented by  A ]
dx

WL2
Or EI   A = -
16

− WL2
∴ A =
16 EI

The slope at a point B will be equal to  A , since the load is symmetrically applied.

− WL2
∴ B =  A = which the slope is in radians.
16 EI
Deflection at any point.

Deflection at any point is obtained by integrating the slope equation (iii). Hence,

w x 3 WL2
EI  y = • − x + C 2 ………………(iv)
4 3 16
Where c2 is another constant of integration.

At A, x=0 and the deflection(y) is zero.

Hence substituting these values in equation(iv) we get

EI  0 = 0 − 0 + C 2

orC 2 = 0

Substituting the value of C2 in equation (iv) we get

wx 3 WL2
EI  y = − • x …………………………(v) (which is the deflected equation).
12 16
The deflection at any point on the beam can be found by substituting the values of x. the deflection is
L
max at Centre point C, where x=
2
Let Yc represent the deflection at C.

L
Then substituting x= and y = Yc in equation (v) we get
2
 w L 3 WL2 L
EI  y c = ( ) − ( )
12 3 16 2
WL3 WL3 WL3 − 3WL3 − 2WL3 − WL3
− = = =
96 32 96 96 48
− WL3
 yc =
48EI
(-ve sign shows that deflection is downwards)

WL3
∴downward deflection, yc =
48EI

Deflection of a simply supported beam with a uniformly distributed load

w/unit length
x

x c

w L w L
RA = RB =
2 Fig (a)
2
A simply supported beam AB of length L and carrying a uniformly distributed load of W per unit length
over the entire length as shown above. The reactions at A and B will be equal. Also, the max. deflection
will be at the center. Each vertical reaction
𝑊×𝐿
=
2
W L
 R A  RB 
2
Consider a section X at a distance x from A. the bending movement at this section is given by,

w x 2
M x  R A  x - w  x  x = w. L  x −
2 2 2
But B.M. at any section is also given as
 d2y
M = EI
dx 2

Equating the two values of B.M., we get

d 2 y w.L w x2
EI 2 = x−
dx 2 2
Integrating the above equation, we get

dy w.L x 2 w x 3
EI = . − . + C1 ..............(i)
dx 2 2 2 3
Where C1 is a constant of integration.

Integration the above equation again we get

wL x 3 w x 4
EI . y = . − . + C1 x + C 2 .......(ii )
4 3 6 4
Where C2 is another constant of integration. The two constants of integration (i.e C1 and C2) are
obtained from boundary conditions.

The boundary conditions are:

(i)_at x=0, y=0 and (ii) at x=L, y=0

Substituting first boundary condition i.e x=0, y=0 in equation (ii), we get

0=0-0+0+C2 or C2=0

Substituting the second boundary condition i.e. x=L and y=0 in equation (ii), we get

w.L L3 w L4
0= . − . + C1 .L (C2 is already zero)
4 4 0 4

w.L4 w.L4
= − + C1 .L
12 24

wL4 wL4 wL3

dy w.L 2 w 3 wL3
EI = .x − x − .........(iii )
dx 4 0 24

w.L 3 w 4  wL3 
And EI . y = x − .x +  − x + 0
12 24  24 
 C2=0

w.L 3 w 4 wL3
Or EIy = x − .x − x............(iv )
12 24 24
dy
The equation (iii) is known as slope equation we can find the slope (i.e. the value of at any point on
dx
the beam by substituting the different values of x in this equation.

The equation (iv) is known as deflection equation we can find the deflection (i.e. the value of y) at any
point on the beam by substituting the different values of x in this equation.

Slope of the supports

dy  dy 
Let  A = slope at support A. this is equal to ( ) at A and  B = slope at support B.=   at B
dx  dx 
dy
At A, x=0 and =A
dx
Substituting these values in equation (iii) we get

wL w wL3
EI . A = 0− 0−
4 6 24

wL3 wL2
= =− (i.e w. L =W = Total load
24 24

WL2
 A = −
24 EI
(-ve sign means that tangent at A makes an angle with AB in the anticlockwise)

WL2
By symmetry,  B = −
24 EI

Maximum deflection

L
The max. deflection is at the center of the beam i.e. at point C, where x=
2

Let yc =deflection at C which is also max. deflection.

L
Substituting y = yC and x = in the equation (iv), we get
2
 3 4
w.L  L  w L wL3  L 
EI . y C = .  − .  − . 
12  2  24  2  24  2 

w.L4 wL4 wL4 5w.L4

5 wL4 5 WL3
 yC = − . =− .
384 EI 384 EI

(w. L=W= Total load)

-ve sign indicates that deflection is downwards.

∴Downward deflection,

5 WL3
yC = .
384 EI