A solid, round simply supported steel shaft has a diameter of 25mm and span length of 500mm. The shaft supports a concentrated load of 3kN at midspan. Calculate the maximum deflection of the shaft.

Answer 1

diameter, d = 25mm = 0.025m
I=%pi;d^4/64
Modulus of elasticity of steel, E = 200 GPa
Span, L = 500 mm = 0.5m
Point load, P = 3kN

Maximum deflection occurs at the centre of the span (by symmetry) and is equal to δ = PL&sup3/(48EI)