In addition to being safe, the structure must be serviceable ;

Serviceable structure is one that performs satisfactorily, not causing any

discomfort such as excessive deflection, vibrations, cracking of plaster or
glass, etc.

AISC provides little guidance on deflection in chapter (L), but other

building codes provides the following criteria:

Plastered construction L
 Δs
360
Unplastered floor const. L
 Δs
240
L
Unplastered roof const.  Δs
180

When L = span length (preferably in inches), and the deflection is combined

effect of service dead load and service live load (un factored deflection) = s
B-26
Example B – 9
Select a standard W-shape of Fy = 50 ksi steel to support 5 k/ft live load.
Lateral support is continuous. The permission live load deflection is L/360
Solution: 5k/ft live load

w
30'
Assume beam wt. = 100 lb/ft
Wu = 1.2 WD + 1.6 WL = 1.2  0.1 + 1.6  5 = 8.12 k/ft. L/2 
1 8.12  (30) 2
L Δ  384
5 wL4

Mu  Wu L2   913.5 k  ft.
EI

8 8
Since fall lateral bracing, assume compact section:- Check deflection:
b Mn = b Mp = b Fy Zx  Mu 5 wL4
Δ (Table 3  23)
384 EI
Mu 913.5  12 5  (30  12) 4
 Zx    243.6 in3 
5
  1.1 in
φbFy 0.9  50 384 12  29000  2850
L 30  12
  1 in (N.G.)
Select W27 x 84 from table (3.2) page (3-15). 360 360
B-27
 Since deflection control the design, we select a section for
deflection criteria from (table 3.3) as follows:

5  125 30  12

4
5 w L4
Ireq.    3142.2 in 4
384 E Δreq. 384  29000  1

From table (3 – 3) page (3 – 21)

Select W 30  90 with Ix = 3610 in4

Note: Deflection of beams is not a function of the grade of

steel used, rather it is a function of load, span and
section moment of Inertia.
B-28
 Select a W shape made of A572-Gr 50 steel to support live loads
as shown below. The maximum deflection shall not exceed
L/240. Lateral support at ends only.
Solution :-
If we ignore self wt. of beam, then 20k 20k

MA = MB = MC = Mmax = 620 = 120 k·ft.

x
A B C
Cb = 1 6' 6' 6' 6'

Mu = 1.6  Mmax=1.6  120 = 192 k·ft 24'

Enter selection charts with Lb = 24 ft.

Select W12  53
b Mn = 208k·ft > 192k·ft OK.
include beam weight:
Mu = 192+(1.2)⅛0.053  (24)2 = 197 k·ft OK
B-29
Check Deflection:
L 24  12
Maximum permissible deflection =   1.2 in.
240 240
From beam tables (case (9) table 3 – 23 page 3 – 213)
Pa 2
Δ max 
24EI

3l  4a 2 
where: Evan if dead load deflection
P= 20k (service live load)
is considered,
a = (6  12) in.
l = (24  12) in. = span 5 wL4
Δ DL    0.004 in.
384 EI
Δ max 
20  6  12
24  29000  425

324  12   46  12 
2 2
 Δ Total  1.114  1.2 O.K.

= 1.11 in < 1.2 in O.K.

B-30