School of Engineering, The University of Birmingham Mechanics 1

Lecture 20 – Bending Stress and Deflection

20.1 Learning Outcomes

In this lecture we will learn how to use the flexure formula and apply it in different situations. You
will also learn to determine the deflection at specific points of a beam.

20.2 Introduction

In this lecture we will discuss the deformations that occur when a straight beam made of
homogeneous material is subjected to bending. Consider an undeformed bar with a square cross
section. It is marked with horizontal and vertical grid lines. When a bending moment is applied it
distorts these lines.

The bending moment causes the material within the bottom portion of the bar to stretch and the
material within the top portion to compress. Material at the top of the beam is reduced in length and
carries a compressive (negative) stress. Material at the bottom is extended and carries a tensile
(positive) stress. Consequently, between these two regions there must be a surface called the neutral
surface, in which horizontal fibres of the material will not undergo a change in length.

Dr Malboubi
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School of Engineering, The University of Birmingham Mechanics 1

20.3 Stress Due To Bending - The Flexure Formula

The stress due to bending in a member can be found using the following formula:

𝑀𝑦
𝜎=−
𝐼

Where:

• 𝜎 is the normal stress due to bending in the

member
• 𝑀 is the resultant internal moment
• 𝑦 is the distance from the neutral axis
• 𝐼 is the moment of inertia of the cross-sectional area about the neutral axis

20.4 Deflection of Beams and Shafts

The deflection of a beam or shaft must often be limited in order to provide stability and for beams to
prevent cracking of any attached brittle materials such as concrete or plaster. Consider the beam
shown below. It is subjected to an arbitrary loading and a free body diagram of a very small segment
∆𝑥 of it is shown.

By writing the equations of equilibrium for the small segment we can obtain:

𝑑𝑉 𝑑𝑀
=𝑤 & =𝑉
𝑑𝑥 𝑑𝑥

These equations state that at any point the slope of the shear diagram equals the intensity of the
distributed loading and at any point the slope of the moment diagram is equal to the shear.

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The deflected shape of a beam is represented by its elastic curve. For example, consider the beam
below with its associated moment diagram. Due to the roller and pin supports, the displacement at B
and D must be zero. Within the region of negative moment, AC, the elastic curve must be concave
downward, and within the region of positive moment, CD, the elastic curve must be concave upwards.
There is inflection point at C, where the curve changes from concave up to concave down, since this is
a point of zero moment.

The internal moment in a beam is related to the radius of curvature of the elastic curve:
1 𝑀
=
𝜌 𝐸𝐼
Where:

• 𝜌 is the radius of curvature, 1/𝜌 is referred to as the curvature.

• 𝑀 is the resultant internal moment
• 𝐸 is the modulus of elasticity
• 𝐼 is the moment of inertia of the cross-sectional area about the neutral axis

Note that 𝐸𝐼 is called flexural rigidity and is constant in most problems.

The equation of the elastic curve, 𝑣 = 𝑓(𝑥), is defined by the coordinates 𝑣 and 𝑥; and can be
obtained using the below relations:

𝑣 = deflection
𝑑𝑣
= 𝜃(𝑥) = slope of the deflected shape
𝑑𝑥
𝑑2 𝑣 𝑀(𝑥)
= = moment − curvature relationship
𝑑𝑥 2 𝐸𝐼(𝑥)
𝑑3 𝑣 𝑑 𝑀(𝑥) 𝑉(𝑥)
3
= [ ]= = shear − deflection relationship
𝑑𝑥 𝑑𝑥 𝐸𝐼(𝑥) 𝐸𝐼(𝑥)
𝑑4 𝑣 𝑑 𝑉(𝑥) 𝑤(𝑥)
= [ ] = = load − deflection relationship
𝑑𝑥 4 𝑑𝑥 𝐸𝐼(𝑥) 𝐸𝐼(𝑥)

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19.4 Introductory Examples

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Example 2

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19.5 Practice in Classroom

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19.6 Test Yourself

The T-section shown in the diagram is to be used for a simply supported beam, of 4.0m span,
carrying a uniformly distributed load of 6 kN/m.

a) What is the largest bending moment in the beam?

b) Where is the neutral axis of the section?
c) What is the second moment of area about the neutral axis?
d) What are the greatest tensile and compressive stresses in the section?

200
20

_
y
NA G

150

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19.7 Further Reading

These topics are covered in sections 11.4 (The Flexure Formula, Chapter 11, Section 4); 16.1 (The
Elastic Curve, Chapter 16, Section 1) and 16.2 (Slope and Displacement by integration, Chapter 16,
Section 2) in the Statics & Mechanics of Materials textbook (5th Edition, 2018).

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School of Engineering, The University of Birmingham Mechanics 1

19.8 Work To Do

Statics & Mechanics of Materials textbook:

Go through the ‘Preliminary Problems’ and ‘Fundamental Problems’ of the following sections:

• 11.4 The Flexure Formula

• 16.1 The Elastic Curve
• 16.2 Slope and Displacement by integration

Solutions and answers to these questions are provided at the end of the textbook.

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School of Engineering, The University of Birmingham Mechanics 1

Tutorial Questions

1. The uniform cantilevers shown in the diagram are each of length L and have flexural rigidity EI. Note
that at the fixed end both the deflection and the slope are zero : v = dv/dx = 0.

P x x
 /unit length

L L

(a) (b)

In each case, derive expressions for the deflection and the slope at the free end.

PL3  dv  PL2 L4  dv  L3

Ans: (a) v x = 0 = ,  = - (b) v x = 0 = ,  = -
3EI  dx  x = 0 2EI 8EI  dx  x = 0 6EI

2. The simply-supported beam shown in the diagram, span L and flexural rigidity EI, carries a
distributed load which varies linearly from zero at one end of the beam to /unit length at the other.

 /unit length
x

Show that the bending moment and deflection of the beam are given by:

Lx x 3 L4  x5 x3 7x 
M= - ; v=  5
- 3
+ 
6 6L EI 120L 36L 360L 

and hence find expressions for the position and magnitude of the largest deflection.

L4
Ans: x = 0.519L, v max = 0.00652
EI

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3. The diagram shows two beams, simply-supported at their ends, with the same flexural rigidity EI,
which cross at right angles at their mid-points - the upper beam just resting upon the lower. The upper
beam carries a concentrated load of 10 kN at mid-span. Note that the deflections of the beams at the
point of contact must be identical.

10 kN

4m
3m

3m 4m

What is the reaction between the beams at the point of contact and what is the greatest bending
moment in each of the beams?

Ans: 7.03 kN; (Upper) 5.94 kNm; (Lower) 10.55 kNm

4. A uniform simply supported beam, span L and flexural rigidity EI, carries a total load W, uniformly
distributed over the central portion of the span ( = W/2b), as shown in the diagram.
x
W (total)

a 2b a
L

Form an expression for the bending moment in the left-hand half of the beam (x  L/2) and show that
the maximum deflection (at mid-span) is given by:

=
W
(
L3 - 2b 2 L + b 3 )
48EI

Confirm that this corresponds to the known results for the limiting cases: b = 0 and b = L/2.

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5. A uniform simply-supported beam, of span 3L and flexural rigidity EI, carries a concentrated load 7P
and a uniformly distributed load 20P (total), as shown in the diagram.

7P
x
20P (total)

L 2L

Form an expression for the bending moment as a single function of x, and show that the maximum
deflection occurs at mid-span (x = 3L/2). What is the magnitude of the maximum deflection?

723PL3
Ans:  =
64EI

6. The diagram shows a 'propped cantilever', of length L and uniform flexural rigidity EI, fully fixed at
one end and simply-supported at the other. A uniformly distributed load, , acts on the full length.

 /unit length

C
V L V
1 2

Recall that the deflections at the free end of an unpropped cantilever carrying a concentrated load and
a uniformly distributed load are given by :

P
 /unit length

L L

PL3  L4
= =
3EI 8EI

What are the external reactions at the supports of the propped cantilever? Draw the Shear Force and
Bending Moment Diagrams and find the greatest bending moment in the beam.

Ans: V1 = 3
8
L; V2 = 5
8
L; C = 1
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L2 ; M max = + 128
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L2 , - 18 L2

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