Ways on how visualize the deflected shape of a simple structure?

[driedupfish]

Hi guys, what are some ways to visualize the deflected shape of a simple structure?
I know that there is no slope or deflection at fix ends. No deflection at supports (roller, fix ends, etc).
Also, I am not really sure what a kink is.

Thanks

 

[Masonface]

Hey driedupfish,

This is my first post, but this is a question that I feel like I can answer, even if not in the most detailed way...

I was going to write out an example and walk you through it and its theory, but then I realized how long it would be, and if you're like me, you'd get halfway through it and just stop reading. Besides, I doubt I'm really the best at explaining it. Instead, I'll give you the short answer. The way I learned was to use shear and moment diagrams. I can't give you a good overview of how to do it in a forum, really. It took about a week of lectures before I understood it.

Finding deflections of point loaded members is fairly straight forward, but distributed loads can get kinda hairy at times, especially if you don't use superposition. The solution of these diagrams requires solving some simple differential equations with initial conditions, but all you really have to do is integrate.

If you can do statics, find the reaction forces caused by the point load (using summation of moments or forces in x-axis or y-axis).

I was going to go into more detail here, but I'm beginning to see how it would really become unclear in text. I'd suggest you look into Shear and Moment diagrams.

Take if from Wikipedia: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shear_and_moment_diagram"
I'd skip down to the "Procedure" section.

Once you can apply it to your own scenario reliably, you just have to integrate the Moment Diagram and you'll have the Deflection Diagram which will tell you how much the beam has deflected at any given point along the axis.

Not really the best answer to your question, admittedly. But hopefully this will get you pointed in the right direction.