Deflection and Slope of a Simply Supported Beam

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SUMMARY

The forum discussion centers on calculating the slope and deflection of a simply supported beam using Macaulay's method. The user calculated a deflection of -2.61667µm and a slope of -256.668 x10^-9 rads but expressed concerns about their accuracy. Recommendations included verifying calculations with free simulation software and selecting a beam design that meets the specified EI value of 50 MN/m². Users emphasized the importance of unit consistency and provided resources for further assistance.

PREREQUISITES
  • Macaulay's method for beam deflection and slope calculations
  • Understanding of beam design specifications and material properties
  • Knowledge of moment of inertia and Young's modulus
  • Familiarity with LaTeX for mathematical expressions
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  • Research free beam analysis software alternatives to SkyCiv
  • Learn about selecting universal beam sizes from design tables
  • Study the relationship between EI, deflection, and slope in beam theory
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Mechanical engineering students, structural engineers, and anyone involved in beam design and analysis will benefit from this discussion.

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Homework Statement
College assignment help for computer software modelling.
Relevant Equations
M= R_A x-ω(x-a) ((x-a))/2+ω(x-b) ((x-b))/2

M/I=stress/y=E/R
Hello,

I have a mechanical college assignment for calculating the slope and deflection of a simply supported beam. I have solved for both deflection (y) and slope (dy/dx) but I am not sure if they are correct as I cannot confirm it with simulation software online.

The assignment requires me to review a suitable universal beam size from appropriate data tables to given design specifications for slope and deflection. Then to critique and justify the choice of beam with computer software to model the application. I do not have access to any paid software for this and I am stuck. I am unsure how to proceed in this area.

I have attached the initial question and the drawing of the beam. Using Macaulay's method I calculated at x=2.5m:
Deflection (y) = -2.61667µm
Slope (dy/dx) = 256.668 x10^-9 rads. (This seems to small)

BEAM.PNG


Does anyone have any recommendations what software I could sue to verify this? I tried to use SkyCiv, but I don't know the moment of inertia or the Young's modulus only that EI = 50MN/m^2.

Thank you.
 
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If you want us to give any help you must post your workings, preferably in ## \LaTeX ##. Having said that,
Tomarama24 said:
(This seems to small)
Perhaps: when this happens it is usually because of using mm instead of m, g instead of kg etc. so check your units.

Tomarama24 said:
I don't know the moment of inertia or the Young's modulus only that EI = 50MN/m^2.
I think you have misunderstood what the question is asking you to do: as I read it you are supposed to select a beam design and material then size it so that ## EI = 50 \ \mathrm{MNm^{-2}} ##.
 
I don't know how to use the Latex on this site. Also attached this in a word file if it's easier to read.

My workings:
R1+R2=15kN+25kN+(10kN×2m)=60kN
(15kN×15m)+(10kN×2m×2.5m)+(25kN×3.5m)=R2×5m
R2=(160 kNm)/5m=32 kN
R1=60kN-32kN=28kN
M= R_A x-ω(x-a) ((x-a))/2+ω(x-b) ((x-b))/2

M=28x-15(x-1.5)-25(x-3.5)-(10(x-1.5)^2)/2+(10(x-3.5)^2)/2
EI (d^2 y)/(dx^2 )=(28x^2)/2-(15(x-1.5)^2)/2-(25(x-3.5)^2)/2-(10(x-1.5)^3)/6+(10(x-3.5)^3)/6+C
EI y=(28x^3)/6-(15(x-1.5)^3)/6-(25(x-3.5)^3)/6-(10(x-1.5)^4)/24+(10(x-3.5)^4)/24+Cx+D
Using R1 for the boundary condition where x=0 & y=0
EI×0=(28〖×0〗^3)/6-(15(0-1.5)^3)/6-(25(0-3.5)^3)/6-(10(0-1.5)^4)/24+(10(0-3.5)^4)/24+(C×0)+D
∴0=0-0-0-0+0+0+D
D=0

EI×0=(28〖×5〗^3)/6-(15(5-1.5)^3)/6-(25(5-3.5)^3)/6-(10(5-1.5)^4)/24+(10(5-3.5)^4)/24+C×5+0
C=(-4.01667×〖10〗^2)/5=-80.3334
With x=2.5m and EI=50MN/m^2

50×〖10〗^6×y=(28〖×2.5〗^3)/6-(15(2.5-1.5)^3)/6-(25(2.5-3.5)^3)/6-(10(2.5-1.5)^4)/24+(10(2.5-3.5)^4)/24+(-80.3334×2.5)+0

Eliminating negative bracket fractions as they do not cause deflection.
∴50×〖10〗^6×y=(28〖×2.5〗^3)/6-(15(2.5-1.5)^3)/6-(10(2.5-1.5)^4)/24+(-80.3334×2.5)+0

∴y=(-130.8335)/(50×〖10〗^6 )=-2.61667×〖10〗^(-6)

EI dy/dx=(28(2.5)^2)/2-(15(2.5-1.5)^2)/2-(25(2.5-3.5)^2)/2-(10(2.5-1.5)^3)/6+(10(2.5-3.5)^3)/6+(-80.3334)
∴EI dy/dx=87.5-7.5-12.5-1.667+1.667+(-80.3334)
∴EI dy/dx=-12.8334
dy/dx=(-12.8334)/(50×〖10〗^6 )=-256.668×〖10〗^(-9) rads

This is as far as I have gotten, I am not sure how to translate this to a universal data table for a beam selection.
 

Attachments

What makes you think the slope is too small at ## \frac{L}{2}##? We expect the slope to be ##\frac{dy}{dx} = 0## somewhere just to the right of ## \frac{L}{2}## because of the slight asymmetrical loading. There could be a units error- its a lot of tabulation to check - which I haven't done, but there is a logical reason for the "smallness" of the slope in that region in my opinion.

P.S. see LaTeX Guide
 
Last edited:
Tomarama24 said:
I don't know how to use the Latex on this site.
1737985857097.png


Tomarama24 said:
This is as far as I have gotten, I am not sure how to translate this to a universal data table for a beam selection.
No, of course not, that is looking at the problem from the wrong end. UB selection tables show elastic modulus ## E ## and second moment of area ## I ## and you are given the value of ## EI ##. Find one that (approximately) matches, model it under the specified conditions and see if the deflection (approximately) matches your calculations.
 
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Ok, I got motivated enough to check your work. Your solution methodology is fine, and your calculations are correct up to the evaluation of the derivative on the last step. Check to see if values inside the parenthesis are negative before you include them in the sum, and your ##EI## is also converted incorrectly. You are looking for units of ##\frac{\text{kN}}{\text{m}^2}##, you have used ##\frac{\text{N}}{\text{m}^2}##.

1738091519241.png


You should be getting something in the vicinity (magnitude)of ## 2 \cdot 10^{-3} \text{rad}##...so you were correct...slope was too small.
 
Last edited:
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erobz said:
Ok, I got motivated enough to check your work. Your solution methodology is fine, and your calculations are correct up to the evaluation of the derivative on the last step. Check to see if values inside the parenthesis are negative before you include them in the sum, and your ##EI## is also converted incorrectly. You are looking for units of ##\frac{\text{kN}}{\text{m}^2}##, you have used ##\frac{\text{N}}{\text{m}^2}##.

View attachment 356505

You should be getting something in the vicinity (magnitude)of ## 2 \cdot 10^{-3} \text{rad}##...so you were correct...slope was too small.
Hello erobz,

Thank you for the clarification. While I did eventually manage to factor in the kN part of this equation into my final calculations, I did not exclude those two parts from the final equation.

My final answer was $$-0.000256668 rads$$

I have now submitted this assignment and cannot make any changes.
 
Tomarama24 said:
Hello erobz,

Thank you for the clarification. While I did eventually manage to factor in the kN part of this equation into my final calculations, I did not exclude those two parts from the final equation.

My final answer was $$-0.000256668 rads$$

I have now submitted this assignment and cannot make any changes
😏 bummer.
 

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