CHAPTER

MECHANICS OF
SOLIDS
Deflection of Beams

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MECHANICS OF SOLIDS
Deflection of Beams
Deformation of a Beam Under Transverse
Loading

Sample Problem 9.8

Equation of the Elastic Curve

Direct Determination of the Elastic Curve
From the Load Di...

Statically Indeterminate Beams

Sample Problem 9.1
Sample Problem 9.3
Method of Superposition
Sample Problem 9.7
Application of Superposition to Statically
Indeterminate ...

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MECHANICS OF SOLIDS
Deformation of a Beam Under Transverse Loading
Relationship between bending moment and
curvature for pure bending remains valid for
general transverse loadings.
1

M ( x)
EI

Cantilever beam subjected to concentrated

load at the free end,
1

Px
EI

Curvature varies linearly with x

1
At the free end A, 0,
A

At the support B,
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0, B

EI
PL
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MECHANICS OF SOLIDS
Deformation of a Beam Under Transverse Loading
Overhanging beam
Reactions at A and C
Bending moment diagram
Curvature is zero at points where the bending
moment is zero, i.e., at each end and at E.
1

M ( x)
EI

Beam is concave upwards where the bending

moment is positive and concave downwards
where it is negative.
Maximum curvature occurs where the moment
magnitude is a maximum.

An equation for the beam shape or elastic curve

is required to determine maximum deflection
and slope.
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MECHANICS OF SOLIDS
Equation of the Elastic Curve
From elementary calculus, simplified for beam
parameters,
d2y
1

dx 2
2 3 2

dy
1
dx

d2y
dx 2

Substituting and integrating,

EI

EI

d2y
dx

M x
x

dy
EI EI
M x dx C1
dx
0

EI y dx M x dx C1x C2
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MECHANICS OF SOLIDS
Equation of the Elastic Curve
Constants are determined from boundary
conditions
x

EI y dx M x dx C1x C2

Three cases for statically determinant beams,

Simply supported beam
y A 0,

yB 0

Overhanging beam
y A 0,

yB 0

Cantilever beam
y A 0, A 0
More complicated loadings require multiple
integrals and application of requirement for
continuity of displacement and slope.
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MECHANICS OF SOLIDS
Sample Problem 9.1
SOLUTION:
Develop an expression for M(x)
and derive differential equation for
elastic curve.
W 14 68

I 723 in 4

E 29 106 psi

P 50 kips

L 15 ft

a 4 ft

Integrate differential equation twice

and apply boundary conditions to
obtain elastic curve.

For portion AB of the overhanging beam,

Locate point of zero slope or point
(a) derive the equation for the elastic curve,
of maximum deflection.
(b) determine the maximum deflection,
Evaluate corresponding maximum
(c) evaluate ymax.
deflection.

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MECHANICS OF SOLIDS
Sample Problem 9.1
SOLUTION:

Develop an expression for M(x) and derive

differential equation for elastic curve.
- Reactions:
RA

Pa
a
RB P1
L
L

- From the free-body diagram for section AD,

a
M P x
L

0 x L

- The differential equation for the elastic

curve,
EI
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d2y

P
x
2
L
dx
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MECHANICS OF SOLIDS
Sample Problem 9.1
Integrate differential equation twice and apply
boundary conditions to obtain elastic curve.
EI

dy
1 a
P x 2 C1
dx
2 L

1 a
EI y P x3 C1x C2
6 L
2

EI

d y

P
x
2
L
dx

at x 0, y 0 : C2 0
1 a
1
at x L, y 0 : 0 P L3 C1L C1 PaL
6 L
6

Substituting,
dy
1 a
1
EI
P x 2 PaL
dx
2 L
6
1 a
1
EI y P x3 PaLx
6 L
6
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2
dy PaL
x

1 3
dx 6 EI
L

PaL2 x x
y

6 EI L L

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MECHANICS OF SOLIDS
Sample Problem 9.1
Locate point of zero slope or point
of maximum deflection.
2
dy
PaL
xm
0
1 3
dx
6 EI
L

PaL2 x x
y

6 EI L L

xm

L
0.577 L
3

Evaluate corresponding maximum

deflection.

PaL2
ymax
0.577 0.577 3
6 EI

PaL2
ymax 0.0642
6 EI
ymax

50 kips 48 in 180 in 2
0.0642

6 29 106 psi 723 in 4

ymax 0.238 in
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MECHANICS OF SOLIDS

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MECHANICS OF SOLIDS
Method of Superposition

Principle of Superposition:
Deformations of beams subjected to
combinations of loadings may be
obtained as the linear combination of
the deformations from the individual
loadings

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Procedure is facilitated by tables of

solutions for common types of
loadings and supports.

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MECHANICS OF SOLIDS

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MECHANICS OF SOLIDS
Sample Problem 9.7
For the beam and loading shown,
determine the slope and deflection at
point B.

SOLUTION:
Superpose the deformations due to Loading I and Loading II as shown.

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MECHANICS OF SOLIDS
Sample Problem 9.7
Loading I
wL3
B I
6 EI

wL4
yB I
8EI

Loading II
wL3
C II
48EI

wL4
yC II
128EI

In beam segment CB, the bending moment is

zero and the elastic curve is a straight line.
wL3
B II C II
48EI

wL4
wL3 L 7 wL4
yB II

128EI 48EI 2 384 EI
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MECHANICS OF SOLIDS
Sample Problem 9.7

Combine the two solutions,

wL3 wL3
B B I B II

6 EI 48EI

7 wL3
B
48EI

wL4 7 wL4
yB yB I yB II

8EI 384 EI

41wL4
yB
384 EI

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MECHANICS OF SOLIDS
Application of Superposition to Statically
Indeterminate Beams

Method of superposition may be

Determine the beam deformation
applied to determine the reactions at
without the redundant support.
the supports of statically indeterminate
Treat the redundant reaction as an
beams.
unknown load which, together with
Designate one of the reactions as
the other loads, must produce
redundant and eliminate or modify
deformations compatible with the
the support.
original supports.

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MECHANICS OF SOLIDS
Sample Problem 9.8
For the uniform beam and loading shown,
determine the reaction at each support and
the slope at end A.

SOLUTION:

Release the redundant support at B, and find deformation.

Apply reaction at B as an unknown load to force zero displacement at B.

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MECHANICS OF SOLIDS
Sample Problem 9.8
Distributed Loading:
4
3

w 2
2
3 2
yB w
L 2 L L L L
24 EI 3
3
3

wL4
0.01132
EI

Redundant Reaction Loading:

2

RB 2 L
RB L3
yB R
L 0.01646
3EIL 3 3
EI

For compatibility with original supports, yB = 0

wL4
RB L3
0 yB w yB R 0.01132
0.01646
EI
EI
RB 0.688wL

From statics,
RA 0.271wL
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RC 0.0413wL
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MECHANICS OF SOLIDS
Sample Problem 9.8

Slope at end A,
wL3
wL3
A w
0.04167
24 EI
EI
2
0.0688wL L 2 L
wL3
A R
L 0.03398
6 EIL 3
EI
3

wL3
wL3
A A w A R 0.04167
0.03398
EI
EI
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wL3
A 0.00769
EI
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MECHANICS OF SOLIDS

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