Minimizing Deflection and Bending Moment in a Beam with End Supports*

Abstract

We give heuristics to sequence blocks on a beam, like books on a bookshelf, to minimize simultaneously the maximum deflection and the maximum bending moment of the beam. For a beam with simple supports at the ends, one heuristic places the blocks so that the maximum deflection is no more than 16/9 √ 3 ≈ 1.027 times the theoretical minimum and the maximum bending moment is within 4 times the minimum. Another heuristic allows maximum deflection up to 2.054 times the theoretical minimum but restricts the maximum bending moment to within 2 times the minimum. Similar results hold for beams with fixed supports at the ends.