1

Deflection and Spring Rate Simple Cases

Table 5.1a (p. 184)
Deflection and Stiffness Formulas for Straight Bars (Rods, Beams) of
Uniform Section. (Continued on next slide.)
Table 5.1b (cont.)
Table 5.2a (p. 185)
Formulas for Torsional
Deflection
Case 2 of Table 5.1.
(Continued on next slide.)
Table 5.2b (cont.)
Spring rate is also known as spring constant
or spring scale

For linear deflections
the spring rate is designated by k (with
units of pounds per inch, Newtons per
meter)

For angular deflections
the spring rate is designated by K (with
units of lbft per radian, Nm per radian)
6
Spring Rate
Beam Deflection
7
Beams are structural members, subjected to
transverse loads
Examples include machinery shafts, building floor joists, leaf
springs, automobile frame members and numerous other
machine and structural components
A beam often requires a larger cross section
to limit deflection than it does to limit stress
All steel alloys have the same resistance to elastic deflection
Many steel beams are made of low-cost alloys because
these have the same modulus of elasticity as stronger, high-
cost steels

Superposition
Method of Superposition
More than one load applied to a beam
Beam response is within the linear elastic
range
The deflection at any point on the beam is the
sum of the individual deflections produced at
that point by each of the loads acting singly.
Superposition often provides the easiest and
quickest solution to beam deflection problems
involving several loads
Appendix D
8
Fundamental Equations
9
10
11
12
2. Note the key factors involved in
the graphical integration of any
curve (as the shear diagram) to
obtain the next lower curve (as the
moment diagram).
a. The difference in ordinate values
at any two points along the
lower curve (as the moment
diagram) is equal to the area
under the curve above it (as the
shear diagram) between these
two points.
b. b. The absolute value of the
ordinate of the lower curve is
determined from known end
conditions. For example, the
moment at the bearing supports
is known to be zero.
c. c. The slope at any point on the
lower curve is equal to the
ordinate of the curve above.
13
3. To account for the differences in
diameter along the shaft, each
segment of the moment curve is
divided by the product EI for that
segment.
E = 207 GPa






Values of I








Dia.
(mm)
MOI
(mm
4
)
30 39,761
40 125,664
50 306,796
60 636,173
14
4. When integrating the M/EI curve
to obtain slope, the location of zero
slope is not known at this time.
Visualizing or sketching a rough
deflection curve makes it clear
that zero slope occurs
somewhere in the mid-portion of
the shaft.
An initially assumed location
of zero slope is chosen as
shown.
(Note: Final accuracy is not affected by
this assumption zero slope could
even be assumed at a bearing support.)
Because of the assumption, it is
necessary to call the ordinate relative
slope.
15
5. Integration of the slope curve to
obtain deflection begins with the
known location of zero deflection at
the left bearing support.
If the estimated location of zero
slope is correct, the calculated
deflection at the right support will
also come out to zero.
In this instance the assumed
zero- slope location is only slightly
off.
To correct for this, connect the
two known points of zero
deflection with the true line of
zero deflection.
Values of true deflection at any
point must be measured
perpendicularly from this line.
16
6. The correct location of zero
slope is determined by drawing a
line tangent to the deflection
curve, parallel to the true line
of zero deflection.
This enables the absolute
slope scale to be added.
In this case negligible error
would have been introduced by
eliminating the steps at the shaft
ends
The problem could have been
simplified by carrying out the 40-
and 50- mm diameters to the
ends.
Determining Elastic Deflections
Castiglianos Method
Work = Energy = Fs and Work = Energy = T

Force F is gradually applied to an elastic body
The force does work as the body deforms
This work can be calculated from



is the work- absorbing displacement of the point of
application of F
is the displacement component in the direction of F

17

o
o =
0
d F U
Castiglianos Method
18
If the stress is below the proportional limit, then F is proportional
to , as shown











then

o = o =
o
F d F U
2
1

0
Castiglianos Method
19
Elastic load deflection curve for the completely general case
The load Q can be any force or moment
The displacement being the corresponding linear or
angular displacement
Stored Elastic Energy
Complementary Energy
dQ U d dU Q U U A =
'
=
A
=
'
= and
2

dQ
dU
= A
Castiglianos Theorem
The deflection in the direction of Q and at the point
where Q is applied is found by taking the derivative
while all other loads are held constant.




When a body is elastically deflected by any
combination of loads, the deflection at any point and
in any direction is equal to the partial derivative of
strain energy (computed with all loads acting) with
respect to a load located at that point and acting in
that direction.
20

Q
U
c
c
= A
Load Types Q Equivalent Equivalent
Axial Force
P
Bending
M
Torsion
T
Shear
V
21
Application of Castiglianos Theorem
Note: For MOST problems, the effects of Shear will
be negligible
22
Consider the Axial Load

: Deflection Axial : Deflection Axial in Energy 2. 1.
AE
PL
P U Q U
axial
= o =
A
=
2
1
2


, Elasticity of Modulus varying Possibly
section, - cross Varying
L Length of Bar
: on Substituti 4. 3. dx
AE
P
U
L E
A(L)
AE
L P
U
L
}
=

=
0
2 2
2
) (
2
23
Table 5.3 (p. 171)
Summary of Energy and Deflection Equations for Use with Castigliano's
Method.
How to Use Castiglianos Theorem
1. Obtain the proper expression for all components
of energy
Use the equations for U in Table 5.3
2. Taking the appropriate partial derivative to
obtain deflection

or

3. Use the technique of differentiating under the
integral sign, represented by the deflection
equations in the final column of Table 5.3.
24

Q
U
c
c
= A
25
Application of Castiglianos Theorem
In general, the strain energy of a bar subjected to combined loading is
obtained by superimposing the contributions of axial loading, torsion, and
bending:







The deflection i = U/ Fi is best evaluated by differentiating inside the
integral signs before integrating. This procedure is permissible because Fi is
not a function of x.

Axial Load Type: Torsion Bending
26
Application of Castiglianos Theorem
1. If no load acts at the point where the deflection is desired
A dummy load in the direction of the desired
deflection must be added at that point
2. After differentiating but before integrating
Set the dummy load equal to zero
(this avoids integration of terms that will eventually be set equal to zero)
1. Denote the dummy load by Q
The displacement in the direction of Q thus is
Announcements (5
th
ed.)
HW05: 5.9, 5.13, 5.14, 5.15, 5.21, 5.26
27