126
Mechanics
of
Materials
But, where the deflection is a maximum, the
slope
is zero.
..
0
=
20x2
+
20~
-
196
-
20
&
(400
+
15680)”2
-
20
126.8
-
-
40
40
..
X=
i.e.
x
=
2.67m
Then, from
(3),
the maximum deflection is given by
1
20
x 1.673
6
-
-
186
x
2.67
s,,,=
--
EI
=
-
0.0194
=
-
19.4mm
lo3 x 321.78
=-
200 109 x
83
x
10-6
In loading situations where this point lies within the portion of a beam covered by
a
uniformly distributed load the above procedure is cumbersome since it involves the solution
of
a
cubic equation to determine
x.
As
an alternative procedure it is possible to obtain
a
reasonable estimate
of
the position of
zero slope, and hence maximum deflection, by sketching the slope diagram, commencing with
the slope at either side
of
the estimated maximum deflection position; slopes will then be
respectively positive and negative and the point
of
zero slope thus may be estimated. Since the
slope diagram is generally a curve, the accuracy of the estimate is improved as the points
chosen approach the point of maximum deflection.
As
an example
of
this procedure we may re-solve the final part of the question.
Thus, selecting the initial two points as
x
=
2
and
x
=
3,
when
x
=
2,
186
=
-76
EZ
dy
60
x
22
20(12)
lo3
dx
2 2
when
x
=
3,
186
=
+44
EZ
dy
60~3~
20(22)
lo3
dx
2 2
--=----
Figure
5.37
then gives a first estimate
of
the zero slope (maximum deflection) position as
x
=
2.63
on the basis
of
a straight line between the above-determined values. Recognising the
inaccuracy
of
this assumption, however, it appears reasonable that the required position can
/
I’
--
X--.
2......
I
/\
3
Fig.
5.31.