CIVL 3121 Virtual Work for Beams 1/4

Deflections Deflections

 The geometric methods previously discussed are  This principle states that the work done by all the external
very good and quite straight-forward for simple forces, Ue, acting on a structure is equal to the internal
loadings. work or the strain energy, Ui, stored in the structure.

 However, these methods are very tedious for

complex loadings. Ue  U i
 In cases like this, an energy method is the
preferred technique.  Both shear and moment contribute to the deformation of
beams.
 Typically, the effects of bending on deformation is much
 Energy methods are based on the principle of
more significant than effects of shear
conservation of energy.

Deflections Deflections

 The procedure to compute a deflection component Let’s examine the following beam and use virtual work to
of a beam is similar to that for a truss compute the displacement at point C
P (real load)
dx
 Begin by applying a unit virtual load Q at the point d
M B C
where the deflection is to be computed m
P
x
A L D
 Apply a unit couple at the point where slope is to
computed Q (virtual load)
dx dx
M – moment due to real B C
loads P P
x
m – moment due to virtual A D
loads Q

Deflections Deflections
The change in slope due to the P system is: The find the magnitude of dUQ we must sum – or integrate – the energy:
M
d  dx x L
EI UQ  
x 0
md
The external work done by the virtual force WQ
d d
M moving through the distance P is: M The principle of conservation of energy states the
m m
the external virtual work WQ equals the virtual strain
WQ   Q P energy UQ:
x L

dx The virtual strain energy dUQ stored in each element dx

 Q P   md
as the moment m moves through angle d is: x 0

x L
The d is known in terms of M, mM
dUQ  md then the virtual work  Q P  EI
dx
expression is: x 0
CIVL 3121 Virtual Work for Beams 2/4

Deflections Deflections
Since the virtual load is a unit load the previous expression reduces to: Example: Determine the displacement and slope at point A on the
beam (I = 1,000 in4, and E = 29(103) ksi).
x L
mM
P  
x 0
EI
dx 2 k/ft.

d
M
m A
If the external work is done by a virtual moment MQ x
moving through a slope P, then the virtual work 10 ft. 5 ft.
equation is:
The first step is to find the M expression for the real forces. Integrating
x L the loading function we can get the shear force equation
mM
P    dx
dx

EI V ( x  0)  15k
x 0 V ( x )   w ( x )dx    2dx  2x  C1 V ( x  15)  15k

Where virtual moment m is caused by a virtual couple
V ( x )  15  2 x  k

Deflections Deflections
Example: Determine the displacement and slope at point A on the Example: Determine the displacement and slope at point A on the
beam (I = 1,000 in4, and E = 29(103) ksi). beam (I = 1,000 in4, and E = 29(103) ksi).
2 k/ft. 2 k/ft.

A A
x x
10 ft. 5 ft. 10 ft. 5 ft.

The next step is to find the M equation from the shear equation The next step is to find the virtual moment equation
1
M ( x  0)  0
M ( x )   V ( x )dx   (15  2 x ) dx  15x  x 2  C2 
M ( x  15)  0
A
M ( x )  15 x  x 2  k ft. x
10 ft. 5 ft.

Deflections Deflections
Example: Determine the displacement and slope at point A on the Example: Determine the displacement and slope at point A on the
beam (I = 1,000 in4, and E = 29(103) ksi). beam (I = 1,000 in4, and E = 29(103) ksi).

M L  0  1(10 ft.)  RR (15 ft.)  RR  2

3
 RL  1
3
Since the moment due to the virtual load is discontinuous, we have to
break the integration up into two parts.
10 15
Using the method of section the virtual moment expressions are: mM mM
A  
0 EI
dx  
10 EI
dx

 2x 
m( x )   x  ft. 0  x  10 m( x )  10  ft. 10  x  15
3 
 3 Substituting the moment expression into the virtual work equation and
 integrating yields the following:
1
x (15 x  x 2 ) (30  2 x )(15 x  x 2 )
10 15
A  
0 3EI
dx  
10 3EI
dx
A
x
10 ft. 5 ft.
RL RR
CIVL 3121 Virtual Work for Beams 3/4

Deflections Deflections
Example: Determine the displacement and slope at point A on the Example: Determine the displacement and slope at point A on the
beam (I = 1,000 in4, and E = 29(103) ksi). beam (I = 1,000 in4, and E = 29(103) ksi).
1 ft.
x (15 x  x 2 ) (30  2 x )(15 x  x 2 )
10 15
A   3EI
dx  
3EI
dx
0 10 A
x
10 15
20 x 3  x 4 900 x 2  80 x 3  2 x 4 10 ft. 5 ft.
A   RL RR
12EI 0
12EI 10
M  0  1ft  RR (15ft )  RR   1  RL  1
15
10,000  3,750  k ft 3 15
L
13,750k ft 3
A  
12EI 12EI Using the method of section the virtual moment expressions are:
13,750k ft 3 1,728in3
A    0.068 in.
12(29,000ksi )(1,000in 4 ) ft 3  x  15 
m( x )   x  ft 0  x  10 m( x )    ft 10  x  15
 15   15 

Deflections Deflections
Example: Determine the displacement and slope at point A on the Example: Determine the displacement and slope at point A on the
beam (I = 1,000 in4, and E = 29(103) ksi). beam (I = 1,000 in4, and E = 29(103) ksi).

x(15 x  x 2 ) ( x  15)(15 x  x 2 )
10 15
Since the moment due to the virtual couple is discontinuous, we have
to break the integration up into two parts. A  
0 15EI
dx  
10 15EI
dx
10 15
m M mM
A   dx    dx 10 15
20 x 3  x 4 450 x 2  40 x 3  x 4
0 EI 10 EI A  
60EI 0
60EI 10
Substituting the moment expression into the virtual work equation and
integrating yields the following:
A 
10,000  1,875  k ft 2 
8,125k ft 2

60EI 60EI
x (15 x  x 2 ) ( x  15)(15 x  x 2 )
10 15
A  
0 15EI
dx  
10 15EI
dx
A 
8,125k ft 2

144in2
 0.0007 radians
60(29,000ksi )(1,000in 4 ) ft 2

Deflections Deflections
Example: Determine the displacement at point C on the beam Example: Determine the displacement at points C and D on the
shown below. Assume I = 240 in4, and E = 29(103) ksi. beam shown below. Assume I = 400 in4, and E = 29(103) ksi.

16 k

A D
B C

10 ft. 10 ft. 20 ft.

Notice that this beam must be divided into three sections to

accommodate the real and virtual moment expressions Notice that this beam must be divided into three sections to
accommodate the real and virtual moment expressions and the
variation in the moment of inertia
CIVL 3121 Virtual Work for Beams 4/4

End of Virtual Work - Beams

Any questions?