12/2/2015

Strain Energy
A uniform rod is subjected to a slowly increasing load
The elementary work done by the load P as the rod
elongates by a small dx is
dU P dx elementary work

which is equal to the area of width dx under the loaddeformation diagram.

The total work done by the load for a deformation x1,

Strength of Materials:
Energy Methods
Asanga Ratnaweera
Dept. of Mechanical Engineering

x1

U P dx total work strain energy

0

which results in an increase of strain energy in the rod.

In the case of a linear elastic deformation,
x1

U kx dx 12 kx12 12 P1x1
0

Strain Energy Density

To eliminate the effects of size, evaluate the strainenergy per unit volume,
U

x1

P dx
L

A
0

u x d strain energy density

0

The total strain energy density resulting from the

deformation is equal to the area under the curve to 1.
As the material is unloaded, the stress returns to zero
but there is a permanent deformation. Only the strain
energy represented by the triangular area is recovered.
Remainder of the energy spent in deforming the material
is dissipated as heat.

Strain-Energy Density
The strain energy density resulting from
setting 1 R is the modulus of toughness.
The energy per unit volume required to cause
the material to rupture is related to its ductility
as well as its ultimate strength.
If the stress remains within the proportional
limit,
1

u E1 d x
0

E12 12

2
2E

The strain energy density resulting from

setting 1 Y is the modulus of resilience.

uY Y modulus of resilience
2E
2

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Elastic Strain Energy for Normal

In an element with a nonuniform stress distribution,
Stresses
u lim

V 0

U dU

V dV

Elastic Strain Energy for Normal

For a beam subjected to a bending load,
Stresses
2
M 2 y2
U x dV
dV
2E
2 EI 2

U u dV total strain energy

For values of u < uY , i.e., below the proportional

limit,

U x dV elastic strain energy

2E
2

Under axial loading, x P A

L

U
0

Setting dV = dA dx,
L

My
I

0 A
L

dV A dx

P
dx
2 AE

M 2 y2

M2

2EI 2 dA dx 2 EI 2 y
A

dA dx

M2
dx
2 EI

For an end-loaded cantilever beam,

M Px

For a rod of uniform cross-section,

P2L
U
2 AE

Strain Energy For Shearing Stresses

Strain Energy For Shearing Stresses

For a shaft subjected to a torsional load,

For a material subjected to plane shearing

stresses,

xy

P2 x2
P 2 L3
dx
2 EI
6 EI

xy d xy

For values of xy within the proportional limit,

2
xy

2
xy

2G

xy

T
J

2G

T 2 2
2GJ 2

dV

T 2 2

T 2 2
dA dx
2

2
GJ
A

dA dx

T2
dx
2GJ

In the case of a uniform shaft,

U

dV

dV

2GJ 2
0A

The total strain energy is found from

U u dV

2G

Setting dV = dA dx,

2
u 12 G xy
12 xy xy

2
xy

T 2L
2GJ

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Strain Energy for a General State of

Stress

Example 1

Previously found strain energy due to uniaxial stress and plane

shearing stress. For a general state of stress,

u 12 x x y y z z xy xy yz yz zx zx

With respect to the principal axes for an elastic, isotropic body,

u

1 2
a b2 c2 2 a b b c c a
2E

uv ud

a) Taking into account only the normal stresses due to bending, determine the
strain energy of the beam for the loading shown.

uv

1 2v
a b c 2 due to volume change
6E

b) Evaluate the strain energy knowing that the beam is a W10x45, P = 180 kN, L
= 4 m, a = 1, and E = 200 GPa.

ud

1
a b 2 b c 2 c a 2 due to distortion
12G

Basis for the maximum distortion energy failure criteria,

ud ud Y Y for a tensile test specimen

6G
2

Impact Loading
To determine the maximum stress m

Example 2

- Assume that the kinetic energy is

transferred entirely to the
structure,
U m 12 mv02

- Assume that the stress-strain

diagram obtained from a static test
is also valid under impact loading.
Consider a rod which is hit at its
end with a body of mass m moving
with a velocity v0.
Rod deforms under impact. Stresses
reach a maximum value m and then
disappear.

Maximum value of the strain energy,

U m m dV
2E
2

For the case of a uniform rod,

m

2U m E
mv02 E

V
V

Body of mass m with velocity v0 hits the end of the nonuniform rod BCD.
Knowing that the diameter of the portion BC is twice the diameter of
portion CD, determine the maximum value of the normal stress in the
rod.