UNIVERSITY OF THE CORDILLERAS COLLEGE OF ENGINEERING AND ARCHITECTURE

MECH 3 MECHANICS OF DEFORMABLE BODIES

MODULE 6: BEAM DEFLECTIONS

UNIT 1: DOUBLE INTEGRATION
METHOD
Prepared by:
Brian Jhay Guzman, CE, RMP, ME-1
 UNIT LEARNING OUTCOMES
In this unit, here are the following desired learning outcomes:
✘ Write Singularity Equations.
✘ Solve Beam Deflections using the Double Integration Method.

2
 BEAM DEFLECTIONS

In the discussions for the stresses in

beams it was stated that lateral loads
applied to a beam not only give rise to
Figure A.
internal bending and shearing stresses
in the beam, but also cause the beam
to deflect in a direction perpendicular
to its longitudinal axis.
Figure B.

3
 BEAM DEFLECTIONS
The deformation of a beam is expressed in
terms of the deflection of the beam from its
original unloaded position. The deflection is
measured from the original neutral surface
to the neutral surface of the deformed
beam.
Figure A.
The configuration assumed by the
deformed neutral surface is known as the
elastic curve of the beam. Figure A
represents the beam in its original
undeformed state and Fig. B represents the Figure B.
beam in the deformed configuration it has
assumed under the action of the load.

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 BEAM DEFLECTIONS
The displacement is defined as the
deflection of the beam. Often it will be
necessary to determine the deflection for
every value of along the beam.

This relation is the elastic curve or

Figure A.
deflection curve of the beam. Specifications
for the design of beams frequently impose
limitations upon the deflections as well as
the stresses. Consequently, in addition to
the calculation of stresses, it is essential Figure B.
that the designer be able to determine
deflections.

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 BEAM DEFLECTIONS
For example, in many building codes the
maximum allowable deflection of a beam is
not to exceed 1/300 of the length of the
beam.

Components of aircraft usually are

Figure A.
designed so that deflections do not exceed
some preassigned value, so that the
aerodynamic characteristics are not
altered. Thus, a well-designed beam must
not only be able to carry the loads to which Figure B.
it will be subjected but it must also not
undergo undesirably large deflections.

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DOUBLE INTEGRATION
METHOD

7
DIFFERENTIAL EQUATION OF THE ELASTIC CURVE

Let us derive the differential equation of the

deflection curve of a beam loaded by lateral forces. In
the discussions for beam stresses this equation was
derived;
𝐸𝐼 Figure C.
𝑀=
𝜌

In this expression 𝑀 denotes the bending moment

acting at a particular cross section of the beam, 𝜌 the
radius of curvature of the neutral surface of the beam
at this same section, 𝐸 the modulus of elasticity, and
𝐼 the moment of the cross-sectional area about the
neutral axis passing through the centroid of the cross
section.

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DIFFERENTIAL EQUATION OF THE ELASTIC CURVE

For now, we will be concerned with those beams

for which 𝑬 and 𝑰 are constant along the entire length
of the beam, but in general both 𝑴 and 𝝆 could be
functions of 𝒙.
Figure C.
Let the heavy line in Fig. C represent the
deformed neutral surface of the bent beam.
Originally, the beam coincided with the x-axis prior to
loading and the coordinate system that is usually
found to be most convenient is shown in the sketch.
The deflection 𝒚 is taken to be positive in the upward
direction; hence for the particular beam shown, all
deflections are negative.

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DIFFERENTIAL EQUATION OF THE ELASTIC CURVE

An expression for the curvature at any point along

the curve representing the deformed beam is readily
available from differential calculus. It is

𝟏 𝒅𝟐 𝒚⁄𝒅𝒙𝟐 Figure C.
= 𝟑⁄ 𝟐
𝝆 𝟏 + 𝒅𝒚⁄𝒅𝒙 𝟐

In this expression, 𝒅𝒚⁄𝒅𝒙 represents the slope of the

curve at any point; and for small beam deflections
this quantity and in particular its square is small in
comparison to unity and may reasonably be
neglected. This assumption of small deflections
simplifies the expression for curvature into

𝟏 𝒅𝟐 𝒚 𝒅𝟐 𝒚
≈ 𝟐
→ 𝑴 = 𝑬𝑰 𝟐 = 𝑬𝑰𝒚"
𝝆 𝒅𝒙 𝒅𝒙 10
DIFFERENTIAL EQUATION OF THE ELASTIC CURVE

𝟐 𝟐
"
𝟐 𝟐

This is the differential equation of the deflection curve Figure C.

of a beam loaded by lateral forces.

It is called the Euler-Bernoulli equation of bending of

a beam. In any problem it is necessary to integrate
this equation to obtain an algebraic relationship
between the deflection 𝒚 and the coordinate 𝒙 along
the length of the beam. This will be carried out in the
problems.

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 DEFLECTION BY INTEGRATION
The double-integration method for calculating deflections of beams merely consists of integrating 𝑴 =
𝑬𝑰𝒚" . The first integration yields the slope 𝒅𝒚⁄𝒅𝒙 at any point in the beam and the second integration gives
the deflection 𝒚 for any value of 𝒙. The bending moment 𝑴 must, of course, be expressed as a function of the
coordinate 𝒙 or 𝑴 𝒙 before the equation can be integrated. For the cases to be studied here the
integrations are straightforward.

"

𝟏 𝟐

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 DEFLECTION BY INTEGRATION
Since the differential equation 𝑴 = 𝑬𝑰𝒚" is of Frequently two or more equations are
the second order, its solution must contain two necessary to describe the bending moment in
constants of integration, 𝑪𝟏 𝒂𝒏𝒅 𝑪𝟐 . These two the various regions along the length of a beam.
constants must be evaluated from known This was emphasized in the discussion of
conditions concerning the slope or deflection at moment equations.
certain points in the beam.
In such a case, 𝑴 = 𝑬𝑰𝒚" must be written for
For example, in the case of a cantilever beam each region of the beam and integration of
the constants would be determined from the these equations yields two constants of
conditions of zero change of slope as well as integration for each region. These constants
zero deflection at the built-in(fixed) end of the must then be determined so as to impose
beam, and at a pin or roller the deflection would conditions of continuous deformations and
be zero. slopes at the points common to adjacent
regions. Problems will illustrate.
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 DEFLECTION BY INTEGRATION
The sign conventions for bending moment adopted in the discussion of moment
equations will be retained here. The quantities and appearing in "
are, of
course, positive. Thus, from this equation, if is positive for a certain value of , then
𝟐 𝟐
is also positive.

With the above sign convention for bending moments, it is necessary to consider the
coordinate along the length of the beam to be positive to the right and the
deflection to be positive upward. With these algebraic signs the integration of
"
may be carried out to yield the deflection with the understanding that
upward beam deflections are positive and downward deflections negative.

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DEFLECTIONS USING SINGULARITY EQUATIONS

If the loadings are continuously varying over the length of the beam and
concentrated forces or moments are present, a distinct pair of shearing
force and bending moment equations must be written for each interval
between such concentrated forces or moments (change of load points).
Although this presents no fundamental difficulties, it usually leads to very
cumbersome results. These results are particularly unwieldy to work with in
dealing with deflections of beams.

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DEFLECTIONS USING SINGULARITY EQUATIONS
At least some compactness of representation may be achieved by introduction of singularity or half-
range functions. Let us introduce, by definition, the pointed brackets − , 𝒙 and 𝒂 and define this quantity
to be zero if 𝒙 − 𝒂 < 𝟎, that is, 𝒙 < 𝒂, and to be simply 𝒙 − 𝒂 if 𝒙 − 𝒂 > 𝟎, that is, 𝒙 > 𝒂. That is, a half-
range function is defined to have a value only when the argument is positive. When the argument is
positive, the pointed brackets behave just as ordinary parentheses. The singularity function,
𝒏
𝒏
obeys the integration law
𝒙 𝒏 𝟏
𝒏
𝟎

The singularity function is very well suited for representation of shearing forces and bending moments in
beams subject to loadings of interest.
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DEFLECTIONS USING SINGULARITY EQUATIONS

The use of singularity functions for the In the Double Integration Method, it was
representations of shearing force and stated how the elastic deflections of
bending moment makes it possible to transversely loaded beams are found
describe each of these quantities by a through direct integration of the second-
single equation along the entire length of order Euler-Bernoulli equation. As we
the beam, no matter how complex the saw, the approach is direct but may
loading may be. Most important, the become very lengthy even for relatively
singularity function approach leads to simple engineering situations in which
simple computer implementation several loads are imposed.

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DEFLECTIONS USING SINGULARITY EQUATIONS
A more expedient approach is based upon the use of the singularity functions. The
method is direct and may be applied to a beam subject to any combination of concentrated
forces, moments, and distributed loads. One must only remember the definition of the
singularity function.
There are several possible approaches for using singularity functions for the determination of
beam deflections. Perhaps the simplest is to employ the approach in which the bending
moment is written in terms of singularity functions in the form of one equation valid along
the entire length of the beam. Two integrations of "
lead to the equation for the
deflected beam in terms of two constants of integration which must be
determined from boundary conditions. Integration of the singularity functions proceeds
directly and in the same manner as simple power functions. Thus, the approach is direct and
avoids the problem of the determination of a pair of constants corresponding to each region
of the beam (between loads/change of load points), as in the case of double integration.
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 Consider the given beam and the determine the
EXAMPLE 1. deflection at D 𝒙 = 𝟑 . Consider 𝑬𝑰 to be
constant.
𝑆𝑜𝑙𝑢𝑡𝑖𝑜𝑛:
𝑆𝑜𝑙𝑣𝑒 𝑓𝑜𝑟 𝑟𝑒𝑎𝑐𝑡𝑖𝑜𝑛𝑠
Σ𝑀 = 0
10 1 +5 2 + 15 3 − 𝐸 5 = 0; 𝑬𝑽 = 𝟏𝟑 𝒌𝑵
Σ𝑀 = 0
−10 4 −5 3 − 15 2 + 𝐴 5 = 0; 𝑨𝑽 = 𝟏𝟕 𝒌𝑵

𝑀𝑜𝑚𝑒𝑛𝑡 𝐸𝑞𝑢𝑎𝑡𝑖𝑜𝑛 𝑴 = 𝑬𝑰𝒚"

𝐸𝐼𝑦 " = 17𝑥 − 10 𝑥 − 1 − 5 𝑥 − 2 − 15 𝑥 − 3

17𝑥 10 𝑥 − 1 5 𝑥−2 15 𝑥 − 3
𝐸𝐼𝑦 = − − − +𝐶
2 2 2 2

17𝑥 10 𝑥 − 1 5 𝑥−2 15 𝑥 − 3
𝐸𝐼𝑦 = − − − +𝐶 𝑥+𝐶
6 6 6 6

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 Consider the given beam and the determine the
EXAMPLE 1. deflection at D 𝒙 = 𝟑 . Consider 𝑬𝑰 to be
constant.
𝑆𝑜𝑙𝑣𝑒 𝑓𝑜𝑟 𝐶 𝑎𝑛𝑑 𝐶 .

𝑎𝑡 𝑥 = 0, 𝑦 = 0. 𝑇ℎ𝑒𝑟𝑒𝑓𝑜𝑟𝑒;

𝐶 = 0 𝑘𝑁𝑚

𝑎𝑡 𝑥 = 5, 𝑦 = 0. 𝑇ℎ𝑒𝑟𝑒𝑓𝑜𝑟𝑒;

17 5 10 5 − 1 5 5−2 15 5 − 3
0= − − − + 0 5 +𝐶
6 6 6 6

17 5 10 4 5 3 15 2
0= − − − +𝐶
6 6 6 6

𝐶 = −205 𝑘𝑁𝑚

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 Consider the given beam and the determine the
EXAMPLE 1. deflection at D 𝒙 = 𝟑 . Consider 𝑬𝑰 to be
constant.
𝐷𝑒𝑓𝑙𝑒𝑐𝑡𝑖𝑜𝑛 𝑎𝑡 𝐷 𝑥 = 3

𝑢𝑠𝑖𝑛𝑔

17𝑥 10 𝑥 − 1 5 𝑥−2 15 𝑥 − 3
𝐸𝐼𝑦 = − − − − 205
6 6 6 6

17 3 10 3 − 1 5 3−2 15 3 − 3
𝐸𝐼𝑦 = − − − − 205
6 6 6 6

17 3 10 2 5 1
𝐸𝐼𝑦 = − − − 205
6 6 6

428
− 3 𝑘𝑁𝑚
𝑦=
𝐸𝐼

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 Consider the given beam and the determine the
EXAMPLE 2. deflection at D 𝒙 = 𝟑 . Consider 𝑬𝑰 to be
constant.
𝑆𝑜𝑙𝑢𝑡𝑖𝑜𝑛:
𝑆𝑜𝑙𝑣𝑒 𝑓𝑜𝑟 𝑟𝑒𝑎𝑐𝑡𝑖𝑜𝑛𝑠
Σ𝑀 = 0
4000 + 3500 14 −𝐷 16 = 0; 𝑫𝑽 = 𝟑𝟑𝟏𝟐. 𝟓 𝑵
Σ𝑀 = 0
4000 − 3500 2 +𝐵 16 = 0; 𝑩𝑽 = 𝟏𝟖𝟕. 𝟓 𝑵

𝑀𝑜𝑚𝑒𝑛𝑡 𝐸𝑞𝑢𝑎𝑡𝑖𝑜𝑛 𝑴 = 𝑬𝑰𝒚"

𝐸𝐼𝑦 " = 4000 + 187.5 𝑥 − 2 − 3500 𝑥 − 16

187.5 𝑥 − 2 3500 𝑥 − 16
𝐸𝐼𝑦 = 4000𝑥 + − +𝐶
2 2

4000𝑥 187.5 𝑥 − 2 3500 𝑥 − 16

𝐸𝐼𝑦 = + − +𝐶 𝑥+𝐶
2 6 6

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 Consider the given beam and the determine the
EXAMPLE 2. deflection at D 𝒙 = 𝟑 . Consider 𝑬𝑰 to be
constant.
𝑆𝑜𝑙𝑣𝑒 𝑓𝑜𝑟 𝐶 𝑎𝑛𝑑 𝐶 .
𝑎𝑡 𝑥 = 2, 𝑦 = 0. 𝑇ℎ𝑒𝑟𝑒𝑓𝑜𝑟𝑒;

4000 2 187.5 2 − 2 3500 2 − 16

0= + − +𝐶 2 +𝐶
2 6 6

2𝐶 + 𝐶 = −8000 → 𝐸𝑞𝑢𝑎𝑡𝑖𝑜𝑛 1

𝑎𝑡 𝑥 = 2, 𝑦 = 0. 𝑇ℎ𝑒𝑟𝑒𝑓𝑜𝑟𝑒;

4000 2 187.5 2 − 2 3500 2 − 16

0= + − +𝐶 2 +𝐶
2 6 6

2𝐶 + 𝐶 = −8000 → 𝐸𝑞𝑢𝑎𝑡𝑖𝑜𝑛 1

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 Consider the given beam and the determine the
EXAMPLE 2. deflection at D 𝒙 = 𝟑 . Consider 𝑬𝑰 to be
constant.
𝑆𝑜𝑙𝑣𝑒 𝑓𝑜𝑟 𝐶 𝑎𝑛𝑑 𝐶 .
𝑎𝑡 𝑥 = 16, 𝑦 = 0. 𝑇ℎ𝑒𝑟𝑒𝑓𝑜𝑟𝑒;

4000 16 187.5 16 − 2 3500 16 − 16

0= + − + 𝐶 16 + 𝐶
2 6 6

4000 16 187.5 14
0= + + 𝐶 16 + 𝐶
2 6

16𝐶 + 𝐶 = −597750 → 𝐸𝑞𝑢𝑎𝑡𝑖𝑜𝑛 2

Solving 𝐸𝑞𝑢𝑎𝑡𝑖𝑜𝑛 1 and 𝐸𝑞𝑢𝑎𝑡𝑖𝑜𝑛 2 simultaneously

𝑪𝟏 = −𝟒𝟐𝟏𝟐𝟓 𝑵𝒎𝟐 𝒂𝒏𝒅 𝑪𝟐 = 𝟕𝟔𝟐𝟓𝟎 𝑵𝒎𝟑

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 Consider the given beam and the determine the
EXAMPLE 2. deflection halfway between the supports
𝒙 = 𝟏𝟎 . Consider 𝑬𝑰 to be constant.
𝐷𝑒𝑓𝑙𝑒𝑐𝑡𝑖𝑜𝑛 𝑏𝑒𝑡𝑤𝑒𝑒𝑛 𝑡ℎ𝑒 𝑠𝑢𝑝𝑝𝑜𝑟𝑡𝑠 𝑥 = 10
𝑢𝑠𝑖𝑛𝑔

4000𝑥 187.5 𝑥 − 2 3500 𝑥 − 16

𝐸𝐼𝑦 = + − − 42125𝑥 + 76250
2 6 6

4000 10 187.5 10 − 2 3500 10 − 16

𝐸𝐼𝑦 = + − − 42125 10 + 76250
2 6 6

4000 10 187.5 8
𝐸𝐼𝑦 = + − 42125 10 + 76250
2 6

−129000 𝑁𝑚
𝑦=
𝐸𝐼

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 Consider the given beam and the determine the
EXAMPLE 3. deflection at the free-end 𝒙 = 𝟑𝟎 . Consider 𝑬𝑰
to be constant.

𝑆𝑜𝑙𝑢𝑡𝑖𝑜𝑛:
𝑆𝑜𝑙𝑣𝑒 𝑓𝑜𝑟 𝑟𝑒𝑎𝑐𝑡𝑖𝑜𝑛𝑠

Σ𝑀 = 0

1 2 𝟕𝟎𝟎𝟎
200 20 10 + 20 −𝐶 20 = 0; 𝑪𝑽 = 𝟐𝟑𝟑𝟑. 𝟑𝟑 𝑵 𝒐𝒓 𝑵
2 3 𝟑

Σ𝑀 = 0

1 2 𝟏𝟎𝟎𝟎
200 20 20 − 10 +𝐴 20 = 0; 𝑨𝑽 = −𝟑𝟑𝟑. 𝟑𝟑 𝑵 𝒐𝒓 − 𝑵
2 3 𝟑

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 Consider the given beam and the determine the
EXAMPLE 3. deflection at the free-end 𝒙 = 𝟑𝟎 . Consider 𝑬𝑰
to be constant.
𝑀𝑜𝑚𝑒𝑛𝑡 𝐸𝑞𝑢𝑎𝑡𝑖𝑜𝑛 𝑴 = 𝑬𝑰𝒚"

1000 1 1 7000
𝑀=− 𝑥− 10 𝑥 − 10 𝑥 − 10 𝑥 − 10 + 𝑥 − 20
3 2 3 3

1000 5 7000
𝑀=− 𝑥 − 𝑥 − 10 + 𝑥 − 20
3 3 3

𝐸𝐼𝑦 " = − 1000 3 𝑥 − 5 3 𝑥 − 10 + 7000 3 𝑥 − 20

1000 5 7000
"
𝐸𝐼𝑦 = − 3𝑥 − 3 𝑥 − 10 + 3 𝑥 − 20 +𝐶
2 4 2

1000 5 7000
𝐸𝐼𝑦 = − 3𝑥 − 3 𝑥 − 10 + 3 𝑥 − 20 +𝐶 𝑥+𝐶
6 20 6

27
 Consider the given beam and the determine the
EXAMPLE 3. deflection at the free-end 𝒙 = 𝟑𝟎 . Consider 𝑬𝑰
to be constant.

𝑆𝑜𝑙𝑣𝑒 𝑓𝑜𝑟 𝐶 𝑎𝑛𝑑 𝐶 .

𝑎𝑡 𝑥 = 0, 𝑦 = 0. 𝑇ℎ𝑒𝑟𝑒𝑓𝑜𝑟𝑒;

𝐶 = 0 𝑘𝑁𝑚

𝑎𝑡 𝑥 = 20, 𝑦 = 0. 𝑇ℎ𝑒𝑟𝑒𝑓𝑜𝑟𝑒;

1000 5 7000
0=− 3 20 − 3 20 − 10 + 3 20 − 20 + 0 20 + 𝐶
6 20 6

1000 5
0=− 3 20 − 3 10 +𝐶
6 20

𝟒𝟎𝟕𝟓𝟎𝟎𝟎
𝑪𝟐 = − 𝑵𝒎𝟑
𝟗

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 Consider the given beam and the determine the
EXAMPLE 3. deflection at D 𝒙 = 𝟑 . Consider 𝑬𝑰 to be
constant.
𝐷𝑒𝑓𝑙𝑒𝑐𝑡𝑖𝑜𝑛 𝑏𝑒𝑡𝑤𝑒𝑒𝑛 𝑡ℎ𝑒 𝑠𝑢𝑝𝑝𝑜𝑟𝑡𝑠 𝑥 = 30
𝑢𝑠𝑖𝑛𝑔

1000 5 7000 4075000

𝐸𝐼𝑦 = − 3𝑥 − 3 𝑥 − 10 + 3 𝑥 − 20 −
6 20 6 9

1000 5 7000 4075000

𝐸𝐼𝑦 = − 3 30 − 3 30 − 10 + 3 30 − 20 −
6 20 6 9

1000 5 7000 4075000

𝐸𝐼𝑦 = − 3 30 − 3 20 + 3 10 −
6 20 6 9

16475000
− 𝑁𝑚
𝑦= 9
𝐸𝐼

29
 thanks!
Any questions?
bpguzman@uc-bcf.edu.ph

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