Seventh Edition

CHAPTER MECHANICS OF
MATERIALS
9 Ferdinand P. Beer
E. Russell Johnston, Jr.
John T. DeWolf Deflection of Beams
David F. Mazurek

Lecture Notes:
Brock E. Barry
U.S. Military Academy

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Contents
Deformation Under Transverse Loading Sample Problem 9.8
Equation of the Elastic Curve Moment-Area Theorems
Determination of the Elastic Curve from Cantilever Beams and Beams with
the Load Distribution Symmetric Loadings
Statically Indeterminate Beams Bending-Moment Diagrams by Parts
Sample Problem 9.1 Sample Problem 9.11
Sample Problem 9.3 Beams with Unsymmetric Loadings
Method of Superposition Maximum Deflection
Sample Problem 9.7 Use of Moment-Area Theorems to
Determine Reactions in Statically
Statically Indeterminate Beams
Indeterminate Beams

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Deformation 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 P at the free end,
1 Px

 EI

• Curvature varies linearly with x

1
• At the free end A,  0, ρA  
ρA
Fig. 9.3 (a) Cantilever beam with
concentrated load. (b) Deformed beam 1 EI
showing curvature at ends. • At the support B,  0,  B 
B PL

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Deformation Under Transverse Loading

• Overhanging beam
• Reactions at A and C
• Bending moment diagram
Fig. 9.4 (a) Overhanging beam with two • Curvature is zero at points where the
concentrated loads. (b) Free-body diagram
showing reaction forces. 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
Fig. 9.5 Beam of Fig. 9.4. (a) Bending-moment
diagram. (b) Deformed shape.
elastic curve is required to determine
maximum deflection and slope.
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Equation of the Elastic Curve

• From elementary calculus, simplified for beam
parameters,
d2y
1 dx 2 d2y
  2
  3 2
dx
 dy  
2
1    
  dx  
Fig. 9.7 Slope (x) of tangent to the
elastic curve. • Substituting and integrating,
1 d2y
EI  EI 2  M  x 
 dx
x
dy
 M  x  dx  C1
dx 
EI   EI
0
x x
EI y   dx  M  x  dx  C1x  C2
0 0

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Equation of the Elastic Curve

• Constants are determined from boundary
conditions
x x
EI y   dx  M  x  dx  C1x  C2
0 0

• 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

Fig. 9.8 Known boundary conditions for

statically determinate beams.
• More complicated loadings require multiple
integrals and application of requirement for
continuity of displacement and slope.
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Determination of the Elastic Curve from the Load

Distribution
• For a beam subjected to a distributed load,
dM d 2M dV
 V  x 2
   w x 
dx dx dx

• Equation for beam displacement becomes

d 2M d4y
2
 EI 4
  w x 
dx dx

• Integrating four times yields

EI y  x     dx  dx  dx  w x  dx

 16 C1x3  12 C2 x 2  C3 x  C4

• Constants are determined from boundary

Fig. 9.12 Boundary conditions for (a) cantilever
conditions.
beam (b) simply supported beam.

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Statically Indeterminate Beams

• Consider beam with fixed support at A and roller
support at B.
• From free-body diagram, note that there are four
unknown reaction components.
• Conditions for static equilibrium yield
 Fx  0  Fy  0  M A  0

Fig. 9.14 (a) Statically indeterminate The beam is statically indeterminate.

beam with a uniformly distributed load.
(b) Free-body diagram with four unknown • Also have the beam deflection equation,
reactions.
x x
EI y   dx  M  x  dx  C1x  C2
0 0
which introduces two unknowns but provides
three additional equations from the boundary
conditions:
Fig. 9.15 Boundary conditions for beam of
Fig. 9.14. At x  0,   0 y  0 At x  L, y  0

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Sample Problem 9.1

SOLUTION:
• Develop an expression for M(x)
and derive differential equation for
elastic curve.
W 14  68 I  722 in 4 E  29 106 psi • Integrate differential equation twice
P  50 kips L  15 ft a  4 ft 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 of maximum deflection.
curve, (b) determine the maximum
deflection, • Evaluate corresponding maximum
(c) evaluate ymax. deflection.

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Sample Problem 9.1

SOLUTION:
• Develop an expression for M(x) and derive
differential equation for elastic curve.

- Reactions:
Pa  a
RA   RB  P1   
L  L

- From the free-body diagram for section AD,

a
M  P x  0  x  L
L

- The differential equation for the elastic

curve,
d2y a
Fig. 1 Free-body diagrams of beam and portion EI 2
  P x
AD.
dx L

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Sample Problem 9.1

• Integrate differential equation twice and apply
boundary conditions to obtain elastic curve.
dy 1 a
EI   P x 2  C1
dx 2 L
1 a
EI y   P x3  C1x  C2
Fig. 2 Boundary conditions. 6 L
at x  0, y  0 : C2  0
1 a 1
at x  L, y  0 : EI (0)   P L3  C1 L C1  PaL
6 L 6

d2y a Substituting,
EI 2
  P x
dx L
dy PaL   x 
2
dy 1 a 1
EI   P x 2  PaL  1  3  
dx 2 L 6 dx 6 EI   L  
1 a 1
EI y   P x3  PaLx
PaL2  x  x 
3
6 L 6
y    
6 EI  L  L  
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Sample Problem 9.1

• Locate point of zero slope or point
of maximum deflection.
PaL   xm  
2
dy L
0 1  3   xm   0.577 L
dx 6 EI   L   3
Fig. 3 Deformed elastic curve with location of
maximum deflection.
• Evaluate corresponding maximum
deflection.

PaL2  x  x 
3 ymax 
PaL2
6 EI

0.577   0.577  3 
y    
6 EI  L  L   PaL2
ymax  0.0642
6 EI

 50 kips  48 in 180 in  2
ymax  0.0642
 
6 29  106 psi 723in 4 
ymax  0.238 in

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Sample Problem 9.3

SOLUTION:
• Develop the differential equation for
the elastic curve (will be functionally
dependent on the reaction at A).

• Integrate twice and apply boundary

For the uniform beam, determine the conditions to solve for reaction at A
reaction at A, derive the equation for and to obtain the elastic curve.
the elastic curve, and determine the
slope at A. (Note that the beam is • Evaluate the slope at A.
statically indeterminate to the first
degree)

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Sample Problem 9.3

• Consider moment acting at section D,
MD  0
1  w0 x 2  x
RA x  M 0
2  L  3

w0 x3
M  RA x 
Fig. 1 Free-body diagram of portion AD 6L
of beam.
• The differential equation for the elastic
curve,
d2y w0 x3
EI 2  M  R A x 
dx 6L

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Sample Problem 9.3

• Integrate twice
4
dy 1 2 w0 x
EI  EI  R A x   C1
dx 2 24 L
5
1 3 w0 x
EI y  R A x   C1x  C2
6 120 L
Fig. 2 Boundary conditions.
• Apply boundary conditions:
at x  0, y  0 : C2  0
3
1 2 w0 L
at x  L,   0 : RAL   C1  0
d2y w0 x3 2 24
EI 2  M  R A x  4
dx 6L 1 3 w0 L
at x  L, y  0 : RAL   C1L  C2  0
6 120
• Solve for reaction at A
1 1 1
R A L3  w0 L4  0 RA  w0 L 
3 30 10

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Sample Problem 9.3

• Substitute for C1, C2, and RA in the
elastic curve equation,
5
1 1  3 w0 x  1 
EI y   w0 L  x   w0 L3  x
6  10  120L  120 

Fig. 3 Deformed elastic curve showing

slope at A. y
w0
120EIL

 x5  2 L2 x3  L4 x 

• Differentiate once to find the slope,


dy

w0
dx 120 EIL

 5 x 4  6 L2 x 2  L4 
w0 L3
at x = 0, A 
120 EI

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Method of Superposition

Fig. 9.21b-d (b) The beam’s loading can be obtained by superposing deflections due to (c) the
concentrated load and (d) the distributed load.

Principle of Superposition:
• Deformations of beams subjected to • Procedure is facilitated by tables of
combinations of loadings may be solutions for common types of
obtained as the linear combination of loadings and supports.
the deformations from the individual
loadings

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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.

Fig. 1 Actual loading is equivalent to the superposition of two distributed loads.

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Sample Problem 9.7

Loading I
wL3 wL4
 B  I    yB  I  
6 EI 8 EI

Loading II
wL3 wL4
C  II   yC  II 
48 EI 128EI

In beam segment CB, the bending moment is

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

wL4 wL3  L  7 wL4

 yB  II    
Fig. 2 Deformation details of the 128EI 48EI  2  384EI
superposed loadings I and II.

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Sample Problem 9.7

Fig. 1 Actual loading is equivalent to the superposition of two distributed loads.

Combine the two solutions,

wL3 wL3 7 wL3

 B   B  I   B  II    B  
6 EI 48 EI 48EI

wL4 7 wL4 41wL4

yB   yB  I   y B  II    yB  
8 EI 384EI 384 EI

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Statically Indeterminate Beams

Fig. 9.22 (b) Analyze the indeterminate beam by superposing two determinate
cantilever beams, subjected to (c) a uniformly distributed load, (d) the redundant
reaction.

• Method of superposition may be • Determine the beam deformation

applied to determine the reactions at without the redundant support.
the supports of statically indeterminate
beams. • Treat the redundant reaction as an
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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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.

Fig. 1 Indeterminate beam modeled as superposition of two determinate simply supported beams
with reaction at B chosen redundant.

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Sample Problem 9.8

• Distributed Loading:

 yB  w   w
24 EI

x 4  2 Lx3  L3 x 

At point B, x  23 L

w  2  
4 3
2  3 2 
 yB  w   L   2 L L   L  L 
24 EI  3  3   3 
wL4
 0.01132
EI

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Sample Problem 9.8

• Redundant Reaction Loading:

Pa 2b 2
At x  a, y
3EIL

For a  23 L and b  13 L

2 2
R 2   L
 yB  R  B  L  
3EIL  3   3 
RB L3
 0.01646
EI

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Sample Problem 9.8

• For compatibility with original supports, yB =

0 wL4 RB L3
0   y B  w   y B  R  0.01132  0.01646
EI EI
RB  0.688wL 

• From statics,
R A  0.271wL  RC  0.0413wL 

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Sample Problem 9.8

Slope at end A,
wL3 wL3
 A  w    0.04167
24 EI EI

 A  R 
 

Pb L2  b 2 0.0688wL  L   2  L  
2
   L      0.03398
wL3
6 EIL 6 EIL  3    3   EI

wL3 wL3 wL3

 A   A  w   A  R  0.04167  0.03398  A  0.00769
EI EI EI

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Moment-Area Theorems
• Geometric properties of the elastic curve can
be used to determine deflection and slope.

• Consider a beam subjected to arbitrary loading,

d d 2 y M
 
dx dx 2 EI
D xD
M
 d   EI
dx
C xC
xD
M
 D  C   EI
dx
xC

• First Moment-Area Theorem:

Fig. 9.23 First moment-area theorem. (a)
sample loaded beam. (b) Plot of M/ET curve.  D C  area under (M/EI) diagram between
(c) Elastic curve showing slope at C and D.
(d) Elastic curve showing slope at D with C and D.
respect to C.

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Moment-Area Theorems
• Tangents to the elastic curve at P and P’
intercept a segment of length dt on the
vertical through C.
Fig. 9.25 Geometry used to determine the
tangential deviation of C with respect to D.
M
dt  x1d  x1 dx
EI
xD
M
Fig. 9.26 The expression x1(M/EI)dx is the first
tC D   x1
EI
dx = tangential deviation of
moment of the shaded area with respect to C. xC C with respect to D

• Second Moment-Area Theorem:

The tangential deviation of C with
respect to D is equal to the first
moment with respect to a vertical axis
through C of the area under the (M/EI)
diagram between C and D.
Fig. 9.27a Second moment-area theorem
illustrated.

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Cantilever Beams and Beams with Symmetric

Loadings
• Cantilever beam - select tangent at A as
the reference.
with θ A  0,

Fig. 9.28 Application of moment-area method to D  D A

cantilever beams.
yD  tD A

• Simply supported, symmetrically loaded

beam - select tangent at C as the
reference.
with θC  0,
B  B C
yB  tB C
Fig. 9.29 Application of moment-area method to
simply supported beams with symmetric loadings. (a)
Beams and loadings. (c) deflection and slope at
arbitrary point D.

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Bending-Moment Diagrams by Parts

• Determination of the change of slope and the
tangential deviation is simplified if the effect of
each load is evaluated independently.

• Construct a separate (M/EI) diagram for each

load.
- The change of slope, D/C, is obtained by
adding the areas under the diagrams.
- The tangential deviation, tD/C is obtained by
adding the first moments of the areas with
respect to a vertical axis through D.

• Bending moment diagram plotted from

individual loads is said to be drawn by parts.
Fig. 9.31 Areas and centroids of
common shapes.

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Sample Problem 9.11

SOLUTION:
• Determine the reactions at supports.

• Construct shear, bending moment and

(M/EI) diagrams.
For the prismatic beam and loading
shown, determine the slope and • Taking the tangent at C as the
deflection at end E. reference, evaluate the slope and
tangential deviations at E.

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Sample Problem 9.11

SOLUTION:
• Determine the reactions at supports.
RB  RD  wa

• Construct shear, bending moment and

(M/EI) diagrams.
wa 2  L  wa 2 L
A1    
2 EI  2  4 EI

1  wa 2  wa 3
A2  
 
 a  
3  2 EI  6 EI

Fig. 1 Free-body diagram and construction of the

moment-area plot.

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Sample Problem 9.11

• Slope at E:
 E  C   E C   E C

wa 2 L wa 3
 A1  A2   
4 EI 6 EI
wa 2
E    3L  2a 
12 EI

• Deflection at E:
yE  tE C  t D C
  L  3a    L 
  A1 a    A2     A1 
  4  4    4 
 wa 3 L wa 2 L2 wa 4   wa 2 L2 
       
 4 EI 16 EI 8 EI   16 EI 
Fig. 2 Due to symmetry, reference tangent at
midpoint C is horizontal. Shown are the slope wa 3
and deflection at end E related to this yE    2L  a 
reference tangent. 8 EI
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 MECHANICS OF MATERIALS
Edition
Seventh Beer • Johnston • DeWolf • Mazurek

Beams with Unsymmetric Loadings

• Define reference tangent at support A.

Evaluate A by determining the tangential
deviation at B with respect to A.
tB A
A  
L
Fig. 9.34 (a) Unsymmetric loading. (b) • The slope at other points is found with
Application of moment-area method to find
slope at point A.
respect to reference tangent.
D   A D A

• The deflection at D is found from the

tangential deviation at D.
EF HB x
 EF  tB A
x L L
x
Fig. 9.36c Deflection of point D and y D  ED  EF  t D A  t B A
similar triangles used to determine yD. L

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 MECHANICS OF MATERIALS
Edition
Seventh Beer • Johnston • DeWolf • Mazurek

Maximum Deflection
• Maximum deflection occurs at point K
where the tangent is horizontal.
tB A
A  
L
K  0   A K A

 K A   A

• Point K may be determined by measuring

the area under the (M/EI) diagram equal
to -A .

• Obtain ymax by computing the first

Fig. 9.38 Determination of maximum deflection moment with respect to the vertical axis
using moment-area method. (a) The maximum
deflection occurs at a point K where θK = 0, which
through A of the area between A and K.
is where θK/A= −θA. (b) With point K so located, the
maximum deflection is equal to the first moment of
the shaded area with respect to A.
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 MECHANICS OF MATERIALS
Edition
Seventh Beer • Johnston • DeWolf • Mazurek

Use of Moment-Area Theorems to Determine

Reactions in Statically Indeterminate Beams
• Reactions at supports of statically indeterminate beams
are found by designating a redundant constraint and
treating it as an unknown load which satisfies a
displacement compatibility requirement.
• The (M/EI) diagram is drawn by parts. The resulting
Fig. 9.40a Statically
indeterminate beam with a
tangential deviations are superposed and related by
uniformly distributed load. the compatibility requirement.
• With reactions determined, the slope and deflection are
found from the moment-area method.

Fig. 9.40b-d (b) Analyze the indeterminate beam by superposing two determinate simply supported
beams, subjected to (c) a uniformly distributed load, (d) the redundant reaction.

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