Methods for Deflections

• Integral method

• Singularity function

• Method of superposition

• Castiglino’s theorem

Integral Method

My y 1 M
ε =− =− ⇒ =
EI r r EI

1 d 2 y / dx 2
=
[
r 1 + (dy / dx )2 ]3/ 2

d3y V
=
1 d y M 2 dx 3 EI
= = d4y q
r dx 2 EI =
dx 4 EI
M 2
EIy ( x) = x + C1 x + C2
2 M(x)-Internal moment at x!

1
 Integral Method Example
A perpendicular force P acts at the end of a cantilevered beam
with length l, assume that the cross section is constant along the
beam and that the material is the same throughout, thus implying
that the area moment of inertia I and the modulus of elasticity E
are constant. Find the deformation for any x.

d2y M Px
= =−
dx 2 EI EI
x Px Px 2
y' = ∫ dx = − + c1
0 EI 2 EI
x  Px
P 2  P 3
Px
y = ∫  + c1 dx = − + c1 x + c2
0 2 EI 6 EI
 
Pl 2 Pl 3
y' x =l = 0 ⇒ c2 =, y x =l = 0 ⇒ c1 = −
2 EI 3EI
Px 3 Pl 2 x Pl 3
y(x ) = − + −
6 EI 2 EI 3EI

Singularity Functions

2
 Singularity Function Example
The shown bar is clamped into the
structure at A and is free at C. The
unit step distribution begins at the
free end. Find the deflection function
Distributed stress function
 b
q( x ) = w0b x
−1 −2 0
− w0b a +  x − w0 x − a
 2
Twice integration gives
2
 b 0 w x−a
M ( x ) = w0b x − w0b a +  x − 0
1

 2 2
2
d2y 1  b 0 w x−a
EI 2 = w0b x − w0b a +  x − 0
dx  2 2
dy w0b 2  b  1 w0 3
EI = x − w0b a + x − x − a + c1
dx 2  2 6
w0b 3 w0b  b 2 w 4
EIy = x −  a +  x − 0 x − a + c1 x + c2
6 2  2 24
Applying BCs get c1 and c2=0

w0 b 3 b  b x−a
4

y=  x −  a + x2 − 
EI  6 2 2 24 

Method of Superposition

d2y d2
EI = EI ( y1 + y2 + y3 .. + yn )
dx 2 dx 2

Refer to Table-A9 in textbook

3
 Method of Superposition Example

R1 R2 yAB yBC

Table A-9-6
Fb / l Fa / l
Fbx 2
6 EIl
(
x + b2 − l 2 ) Fb(l − x ) 2
(x + a 2 − 2lx )
6 EIl

Table A-9-7
wl / 2 wl / 2
wx
24 EI
(
2lx 2 − x 3 − l 3 )
Total Fb(l − x ) 2
(Fb + wl ) / l (Fa + wl ) / l
Fbx 2
6 EIl
( )
x + b2 − l 2 +
wx
24 EI
(
2lx 2 − x 3 − l 3 ) 6 EIl
(
x + a 2 − 2lx + )
wx
24 EI
(
2lx 2 − x 3 − l 3 )

Method of Superposition Example

Tension spring
Deflection of x when considering the F
y1 =
non-rigidity at the fixed location kt

T i spring
Torsion i
Fl
y2 = x
kr

Bending of Beam
Fx 2
y3 = (x − 3l )
6 EI

Total deflection at x
F Fl Fx 2
ytotal = − − x+ (x − 3l )
kt k r 6 EI

4
 Castigliano’s Theorem

Castigliano’s theorem: when forces act on elastic systems

subject to small displacements, the displacement
corresponding
di to t any force,
f in
i the
th direction
di ti off the th force,
f is
i
equal to the partial derivate of the total strain energy with
respect to that force.

Castigliano’s theorem is the most versatile of the four

approaches considered since it can be applied to a wide
range of deflection problems, in particular in (1) statically
indeterminate beams, beams of varying material properties
or cross-sections, and (2) energy-related loading such as
impact load or exact force in loading in not known.

Strain Energy

5
 Strain Energy under Axial Load

Deflection in a small segment

σ P
du = εdx = dx = dx
E AE

Deflection in the beam

L
P
u=∫ dx
0
AE

Strain energy under axial load

L
1 P2
U= Pu = ∫ dx
2 0
2 AE

Strain Energy under Torsion Load

Deflection in a small segment

T
dφ = γdx = ds
GJ

Deflection in the beam

L
T
φ=∫ ds
0
GJ

Strain energy under torsion oad

L
1 T2
U = Tφ = ∫ ds
2 0
2GJ

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 Strain Energy under Direct Shear

Deflection in a small segment

τ F
dγ = dx = dx
G GA

Deflection in the beam

L
F
γ =∫ dx
0
GA

Strain energy under torsion oad

L
1 F2
U= Fγ = ∫ dx
2 0
2GA

Strain Energy under Pure Bending Load

Deflection in a small segment

ds M M
dθ = = ds = ds
R EI EI

Deflection in the beam

L
M
θ =∫ dx
0
EI

Strain energy under torsion oad

L
1 M2
U= Mθ = ∫ dx
2 0
2 EI

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Strain Energy under Transverse Shear

Strain energy of Strain energy of

Strain-Energy direct shear pure bending
Correction Factors
L L
V2 M2
U =∫ dx U =∫ dx
0
2GA 0
2 EI

CV 2l 
Strain energy of U= 
2 AG 
transverse shear load L 
CV 2l 
U =∫ dx
0
2 AG 

Strain Energy

Strain-Energy
Correction Factors

C
C

Table: Strain energy for five

types of loading.

8
Application of Castigliano’s Theorem

Assume the strain energy U is a function of generalized force

Qi; i.e. U(Qi), then its partial derivative with respect to Qi
gives the generalized displacement qi in the direction of Qi.

Castigliano’s Theorem Example I

The linkage assembly is made of different materials and have different
cross-sectional areas denoted by subscripts 1 and 2. Calculate the horizontal
displacement at the point of vertical force application by using Catigliano’s
theorem

1 P Q  1 P Q 
P1 =  +  , P2 =  − 
2  sin θ cos θ  2  sin θ cos θ 

P12l P 2l
U= + 2
2 A1 E1 2 A2 E2

∂U P l ∂P1 P l ∂P2
= 1 + 2
∂Q A1 E1 ∂Q 2 A2 E2 ∂Q
1  P1 l Pl 
=  − 2 
2 cos θ  A1 E1 A2 E2 

Let Q=0

∂U lP  1 1 
δ= =  − 
∂Q 2 sin 2θ  A1 E1 A2 E2 

9
Castigliano’s Theorem Example II
Determine the deflections of point A and B due to the force F applied at the
end of the step shaft. The second area moments for AB and BC are I1 and
2I1, respectively. 2
l  
 − (F + Q )x + Q 
l/2
(− Fx )2 dx + l
 2
U= ∫
0
2 EI1 ∫l / 2 2 E (2 I1 )
dx

 l
l/2 l  (F + Q )x − Q x
∂U F 2 2
δA = = ∫ x dx + ∫  dx
∂F 0
EI1 l/2
2 EI1
Fl 3 7(F + Q )l 3 3Ql 3
= + −
24 EI1 48 EI1 32 EI1

l2
∂U
l (F + Q )x 2 − F l x+Q
2 4 dx
∂Q l ∫/ 2
δB = =
2 EI1
7(F + Q )l 3 3Fl 3 Ql 3
= − +
48EI1 32 EI1 16 EI1

Let Q=0
3FL3 5 FL3
δA = ,δ B =
16 EI1 96 EI1

Castigliano’s Theorem Example III

A cantilevered bar with a 90° bend acted upon by a horizontal

force P at the free end. Calculated the vertical deflection at the
free end, assuming that transverse shear is neglected using
Castigliano’s theorem.

l (Qx + ph )
2
h P2 y2 h Q
2
l P
2
U =∫ dy + ∫ dy + ∫ dy + ∫ dx
0 2 EI 0 2 EI 0 2 EA 0 2 EA

∂U l (Qx + ph ) h Q Ql 3 phl 2 Ql 3
∂Q ∫0
δ= = xdy + ∫ dy = + + h
EI 0 EA 3EI 2 EI EI

Let Q=0
phl 2
δ=
2 EI

10