# 7.5: Deflection by Moment-Area Method


The moment-area method uses the area of moment divided by the flexural rigidity ($$M / E D$$) diagram of a beam to determine the deflection and slope along the beam. There are two theorems used in this method, which are derived below.

## First Moment-Area Theorem

To derive the first moment-area theorem, consider a portion $$AB$$ of an elastic curve of the deflected beam shown in Figure 7.8b. The beam has a radius of curvature $$R$$. Figure 7.8c represents the bending moment of this portion. According to geometry, the length of the arc $$ds$$, of the radius $$R$$, subtending an angle $$d \theta$$, is equal to the product of the radius of curvature and the angle subtend. Therefore,

$d s=R d \theta$

Rearranging equation 1 suggests the following:

$\frac{d \theta}{d s}=\frac{1}{R}$

$$Fig. 7.8$$. Deflected beam.

Substituting equation 7.14 into equation 7.8 suggests the following:

$d \theta=\frac{M}{E I} d s$

Since $$ds$$ is infinitesimal because of the small lateral deflection of the beam that is allowed in engineering, it can be replaced by its horizontal projection $$dx$$. Thus,

$d \theta=\frac{M}{E I} d x$

The angle $$\theta$$ between the tangents at $$A$$ and $$B$$ can thus be obtained by summing up the subtended angles by the infinitesimal length lying between these points. Thus,

$\begin{array}{l} \int_{A}^{B} d \theta=\int_{A}^{B} \frac{M}{E I} d x \\ \operatorname{Or} \theta_{B / A}=\theta_{B}-\theta_{A}=\int_{A}^{B} \frac{M}{E I} d x \end{array}$

Equation 7.17 is referred to as the first moment-area theorem. The first moment-area theorem states that the total change in slope between $$A$$ and $$B$$ is equal to the area of the bending moment diagram between these two points divided by the flexural rigidity $$EI$$.

## Second Moment-Area Theorem

Referring again to Figure 7.8, it is required to determine the tangential deviation of point $$B$$ with respect to point $$A$$, which is the vertical distance of point $$B$$ from the tangent drawn to the elastic curve at point $$A$$. To do so, first calculate the contribution $$\delta \Delta$$ of the element of length $$dL$$ to the vertical distance. According to geometry,

$\delta y=x d \theta$

Substituting $$d \theta$$ from equation 7.15 to equation 7.18 suggests the following:

$\delta y=\frac{M x}{E I} d x$

Hence,

$y=\int_{A}^{B} \frac{M x}{E I} d x$

Equation 7.20 is referred to as the second moment area theorem. The second moment-area theorem states that the vertical distance of point $$B$$ on an elastic curve from the tangent to the curve at point $$A$$ is equal to the moment with respect to the vertical through $$B$$ of the area of the bending moment diagram between $$A$$ and $$B$$, divided by the flexural rigidity, $$EI$$.

## Sign Conventions

The sign conventions for moment-area theorems are as follows:

(1)The tangential deviation of a point $$B$$, with respect to a tangent drawn at the elastic curve at a point $$A$$, is positive if $$B$$ lies above the drawn tangent at $$A$$ and negative if it lies below the tangent (see Figure 7.9).

(2)The slope at a point $$B$$, with respect to a tangent drawn at a point $$A$$ in an elastic curve, is positive if the tangent drawn at $$B$$ rotates in a counterclockwise direction with respect to the tangent at $$A$$ and negative if it rotates in a clockwise direction (see Figure 7.9).

$$Fig. 7.9$$. Sign convention representation.

Procedure for Analysis by Moment-Area Method

•Sketch the free-body diagram of the beam.

•Draw the $$M/EI$$ diagram of the beam. This will look like the conventional bending moment diagram of the beam if the beam is prismatic (i.e. of the same cross section for its entire length).

•To determine the slope at any point, find the angle between a tangent passing the point and a tangent passing through another point on the deflected curve, divide the $$M/EI$$ diagram into simple geometric shapes, and then apply the first moment-area theorem. To determine the deflection or a tangential deviation of any point along the beam, apply the second moment-area theorem.

•In cases where the configuration of the $$M/EI$$ diagram is such that it cannot be divided into simple shapes with known areas and centroids, it is preferable to draw the $$M/EI$$ diagram by parts. This entails introducing a fixed support at any convenient point along the beam and drawing the $$M/EI$$ diagram for each of the applied loads, including the support reactions, prior to the application of any of the theorems to determine what is required.

Table 7.1. Areas and centroids of geometric shapes.

 Geometric Shape Area Centroid C1 C2 Rectangle $$bh$$ $$\frac{b}{2}$$ $$\frac{b}{2}$$ Triangle $$\frac{bh}{2}$$ $$\frac{b}{3}$$ $$\frac{2b}{3}$$ Parabolic Spandrel $$\frac{bh}{3}$$ $$\frac{b}{4}$$ $$\frac{3b}{4}$$ $$\frac{2bh}{3}$$ $$\frac{3b}{8}$$ $$\frac{5b}{8}$$ Cubic Spandrel $$\frac{bh}{4}$$ $$\frac{b}{5}$$ $$\frac{4b}{5}$$ $$\frac{3bh}{4}$$ $$\frac{2b}{5}$$ $$\frac{3b}{5}$$ General Spandrel $$\frac{bh}{n+1}$$ $$\frac{b}{n+2}$$ $$\frac{b(n+1)}{n+2}$$

Example 7.7

A cantilever beam shown in Figure 7.10a is subjected to a concentrated moment at its free end. Using the moment-area method, determine the slope at the free end of the beam and the deflection at the free end of the beam. $$EI$$ = constant.

$$Fig. 7.10$$. Cantilever beam.

Solution

($$M/EI$$) diagram. First, draw the bending moment diagram for the beam and divide it by the flexural rigidity, $$EI$$, to obtain the $$\frac{M}{E I}$$ diagram shown in Figure 7.10b.

Slope at $$A$$. The slope at the free end is equal to the area of the $$\frac{M}{E I}$$ diagram between $$A$$ and $$B$$, according to the first moment-area theorem. Using this theorem and referring to the $$\frac{M}{E I}$$ diagram suggests the following:

$$\theta_{A}=-\left(\frac{1}{E I}\right)(6)(20)=-\frac{120}{E I}$$

Deflection at $$A$$. The deflection at the free end of the beam is equal to the moment with respect to the vertical through $$A$$ of the area of the $$\frac{M}{E I}$$ diagram between $$A$$ and $$B$$, according to the second moment-area theorem. Using this theorem and referring to Figure 7.10b and Figure 7.10c suggests the following:

$$\Delta_{A}=-\left(\frac{1}{E I}\right)(6)(20)(3)=-\frac{360}{E I} \quad \Delta_{A}=\frac{360}{E I} \downarrow$$

Example 7.8

A propped cantilever beam carries a uniformly distributed load of 4 kips/ft over its entire length, as shown in Figure 7.11a. Using the moment-area method, determine the slope at $$A$$ and the deflection at $$A$$.

$$Fig. 7.11$$. Propped cantilever beam.

Solution

($$M/EI$$) diagram. First, draw the bending moment diagram for the beam and divide it by the flexural rigidity, $$EI$$, to obtain the $$\frac{M}{E I}$$ diagram shown in Figure 7.11b.

Slope at $$A$$. The slope at the free end is equal to the area of the $$\frac{M}{E I}$$ diagram between $$A$$ and $$B$$. The area between these two points is indicated as $$A_{1}$$ and $$A_{2}$$ in Figure 7.11b. Use Table 7.1 to find the computation of $$A_{2}$$, whose arc is parabolic, and the location of its centroid. Noting from the table that $$A=\frac{1}{3} b h$$ and applying the first moment-area theorem suggests the following:

$$\theta_{A}=A_{1}-A_{2}=\left(\frac{1}{E I}\right)\left(\frac{1}{2}\right)(10)(120)-\left(\frac{1}{E I}\right)\left(\frac{10 \times 200}{3}\right)=-\frac{66.67}{E I}$$

Deflection at $$A$$. The deflection at $$A$$ is equal to the moment of area of the $$\frac{M}{E I}$$ diagram between $$A$$ and $$B$$ about $$A$$. Thus, using the second moment-area theorem and referring to Figure 7.11b and Figure 7.11c suggests the following:

$$\Delta_{A}=A_{1}\left(\frac{L}{3}\right)-A_{2}\left(\frac{3 L}{4}\right)=\left(\frac{1}{E I}\right)\left(\frac{1}{2}\right)(10)(120)\left(\frac{2 \times 10}{3}\right)-\left(\frac{1}{E I}\right)\left(\frac{10 \times 200}{3}\right)\left(\frac{3 \times 10}{4}\right)=-\frac{1000}{E I} \quad \Delta_{A}=\frac{1000}{E I} \downarrow$$

Example 7.9

A simply supported timber beam with a length of 8 ft will carry a distributed floor load of 500 lb/ft over its entire length, as shown Figure 7.12a. Using the moment area theorem, determine the slope at end $$B$$ and the maximum deflection.

$$Fig. 7.12$$. Simply supported timber beam.

Solution

($$M/EI$$) diagram. First, draw the bending moment diagram for the beam, and divide it by the flexural rigidity, $$EI$$, to obtain the $$\frac{M}{E I}$$ diagram shown in Figure 7.12b.

Slope at $$B$$. The slope at $$B$$ is equal to the area of the $$\frac{M}{E I}$$ diagram between $$B$$ and $$C$$. The area between these two points is indicated as $$A_{2}$$ in Figure 7.12b. Applying the first moment-area theorem suggests the following:

$$\theta_{B}=A_{2}=\left(\frac{1}{E I}\right)\left(\frac{2 b h}{3}\right)=\left(\frac{1}{E I}\right)\left(\frac{2(4)(4000)}{3}\right)=\frac{10666.67}{E I}$$

Maximum deflection. The maximum deflection occurs at the center of the beam (point C). It is equal to the moment of the area of the $$\frac{M}{E I}$$ diagram between $$B$$ and $$C$$ about $$B$$. Thus,

$$\Delta_{c}=A_{2}\left(\frac{5 b}{8}\right)=\left(\frac{1}{E I}\right)\left(\frac{2(4)(4000)}{3}\right)\left(\frac{5(4)}{8}\right)=\frac{26666.67}{E I}$$

Example 7.10

A prismatic timber beam is subjected to two concentrated loads of equal magnitude, as shown in Figure 7.13a. Using the moment-area method, determine the slope at $$A$$ and the deflection at point $$C$$.

$$Fig. 7.13$$. Prismatic timber beam.

Solution

($$M/EI$$) diagram. First, draw the bending moment diagram for the beam and divide it by the flexural rigidity, $$EI$$, to obtain the $$\frac{M}{E I}$$ diagram shown in Figure 7.13b.

Slope at $$A$$. The deflection and the rotation of the beam are small since they occur within the elastic limit. Thus, the slope at support $$A$$ can be computed using the small angle theorem, as follows:

$$\theta_{A}=\frac{\Delta_{B / A}}{L}=\frac{\Delta_{B / A}}{6}$$

To determine the tangential deviation of $$B$$ from $$A$$, apply the second moment-area theorem. According to the theorem, it is equal to the moment of the area of the $$\frac{M}{E I}$$ diagram between $$A$$ and $$B$$ about $$B$$. Thus,

$$\begin{array}{l} \Delta_{B / A}=A_{1}\left(1.5+3+\frac{1}{3} \times 1.5\right)+A_{2}(1.5+1.5)+A_{3}\left(\frac{2}{3} \times 1.5\right) \\ \Delta_{B / A}=\frac{1}{E I}\left[\frac{1}{2}(1.5)(6)\left(\frac{2}{3} \times 1.5\right)+(3)(6)(1.5+1.5)+\frac{1}{2}(1.5)(6)\left(1.5+3+\frac{1}{3} \times 1.5\right)\right] \\ \Delta_{B / A}=\frac{81}{E I} \end{array}$$

Thus, the slope at $$A$$ is

$$\theta_{A}=\frac{\Delta_{B / A}}{L}=\frac{81}{6 E I}=\frac{13.5}{E I} \quad \theta_{A}=\frac{13.5}{E I}$$

Deflection at $$C$$. The deflection at $$C$$ can be obtained by proportion.

$$\begin{array}{l} \frac{\Delta_{B / A}}{6}=\frac{\Delta_{c}+\Delta_{C / A}}{1.5} \\ \Delta_{c}=\frac{(1.5)\left(\Delta_{B / A}\right)}{6}-\Delta_{C / A} \end{array}$$

Similarly, the tangential deviation of $$C$$ from $$A$$ can be determined as the moment of the area of the $$\frac{M}{E I}$$ diagram between $$A$$ and $$C$$ about $$C$$.

$$\Delta_{C / A}=\frac{1}{E I}\left[\frac{1}{2}(1.5)(6)\left(\frac{2}{3} \times 1.5\right)\right]=\frac{9}{2 E I}$$

Therefore, the deflection at $$C$$ is

$$\Delta_{c}=\frac{(1.5)(81)}{6 E I}-\frac{9}{2 E I}=\frac{15.75}{E I} \quad \Delta_{c}=\frac{15.75}{E I}$$

7.5: Deflection by Moment-Area Method is shared under a CC BY-NC-SA 4.0 license and was authored, remixed, and/or curated by René Alderliesten via source content that was edited to conform to the style and standards of the LibreTexts platform; a detailed edit history is available upon request.