To find the deflection of a steel I-section using shell elements, start by modeling the geometry of the beam accurately, including flange and web dimensions. Assign appropriate material properties (e.g., steel grade) and define shell element thicknesses. Apply boundary conditions to simulate simple supports at both ends. Then, apply the uniformly distributed load (UDL) along the top flange or as pressure on shell faces. Use a finite element software to mesh the model with sufficient refinement. Run the analysis and extract deflection results, typically from the midspan. Verify results by comparing with analytical beam theory for validation.

Using SAP2000

Create a New Model Choose "Beam" as the structure type. Define an I-section from the section designer.

Expected Result (Theoretical Validation)

For a simply supported beam with UDL w (N/m) and length L, the maximum deflection δmax is:

δmax⁡=5wL4384EI\delta_{\max} = \frac{5 w L^4}{384 EI}δmax​=384EI5wL4​

To find the deflection of a simply supported steel I-section beam under UDL using shell elements, model the beam in FEA software (e.g., ANSYS/Abaqus) with appropriate material properties and meshing. Apply boundary conditions, assign UDL, and run a static structural analysis to obtain maximum deflection.