What is the reciprocal of deflection in structural analysis?

Reciprocal of deflection in structural analysis is best represented by the concept of flexibility. Flexibility is defined as the ability of a structure to deform under load, and it can be quantitatively expressed as the change in deformation per unit load. In structural engineering, the relationship between stiffness (the resistance to deformation) and flexibility is reciprocal; hence, higher flexibility correlates with a lower value of stiffness.

When considering deflection, as the flexibility of a structure increases, the corresponding deflection under load also increases, highlighting the inverse relationship between the two properties. Essentially, flexibility captures how much a structure deflects under a specific load, while stiffness is a measure of the resistance offered by a structure against that load.

In contrast, while rigidity is related to the overall willingness of the structure to resist deformation, it is not specifically the reciprocal of deflection. Modulus of Elasticity relates to material properties rather than the overall structural behavior in terms of deflection and is not directly connected to the reciprocal nature with deflection.