2105ENG – Mechanics of Materials II

Hassan KARAMPOUR

Week 6 – Virtual Work Method

– Calculation of deflections in trusses
– Modelling a truss in SPACEGASS
– Finding deflections in beams

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Modelling Trusses in SPACEGASS

The cross sectional area of each member of the truss shown, is A = 400mm2
& E = 200GPa.
a) Determine the vertical displacement of joint C if a 4-kN force is applied
to the truss at C

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Modelling Trusses in SPACEGASS

2D Truss

Node Ux Uy Uz Rotx Roty Rotz SPACEGASS

A fixed fixed fixed fixed fixed released FFFFFR

B released fixed fixed fixed fixed released RFFFFR

C released released fixed fixed fixed released RRFFFR

Select all
Members and
Pin the ends

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 External Work

External Work
When a force F undergoes a displacement dx in
the same direction as the force, the work
done is

x
U e = ∫ F dx
0

The force applied gradually

U e = P∆ 1
2

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 External Work

External Work
If P is already applied to the bar and that
another force F` is now applied gradually,
the work done by P when the bar undergoes
the further deflection ∆` is then

U e '= P ∆ '

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 External Work

External Work
The work of a moment is defined by the
product of the magnitude of the moment M
and the angle dθ then

dU e = M dθ

If the total angle of rotation is θ , the work

becomes:
θ
U e = ∫ M dθ
0

U e = 12 Mθ The moment applied gradually

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 Energy Method

Strain Energy – Axial Force-Truss Member

σ = Eε
N
σ= NL
A ∆=
∆ AE
ε=
L

P=N
U = 12 P∆
2 N = internal normal force in a truss member caused
N L by the load
Ui =
2 AE L = length of member
A = cross-sectional area of a member
E = modulus of elasticity of a member
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Energy Method

Strain Energy – Bending-Beam Member

M
dθ = dx
EI
U = 12 Mθ

M 2 dx
dU i =
2 EI
L
M 2 dx
Ui = ∫
0
2 EI

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Principle of Virtual Work

∑ P∆ = ∑ uδ
Work of External Virtual Energy (energy of virtual internal
Virtual Loads on forces acting on real deformations
Real
Displacements

Virtual Load

1.∆ = ∑ u.dL

Real displacement

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 Method of Virtual Work: Trusses

External Loading

1.∆ = ∑ u.dL
NL
1. ∆ = ∑ n .
AE
1 = external virtual unit load acting on the truss joint in the stated direction of
n = internal virtual normal force in a truss member caused by the external
virtual unit load
∆ = external joint displacement caused by the real load on the truss
N = internal normal force in a truss member caused by the real load
L = length of member
A = cross-sectional area of a member
E = modulus of elasticity of a member
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 Method of Virtual Work: Trusses

Temperature

1.=
∆ ∑ n ⋅ α ⋅ ∆T ⋅ L
1 = external virtual unit load acting on the truss joint in the stated direction of
n = internal virtual force in a truss member caused by the external virtual unit
load
∆ = external joint displacement caused by the temperature change.
α = coefficient of thermal expansion of member
∆T = change in temperature of member
L = length of member

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EX1: Trusses

The cross sectional area of each member of the truss shown, is A = 400mm2
& E = 200GPa.
a) Determine the vertical displacement of joint C if a 4-kN force is applied
to the truss at C

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EX1: Trusses

Solution
A virtual force of 1 kN is applied at C in the NL
vertical direction 1. ∆ = ∑ n .
AE

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EX1: Trusses

Member n (KN) N (KN) L (m) nNL

AB 0.667 2 8 10.67
AC -0.833 2.5 5 -10.41
CB -0.833 -2.5 5 10.41
Sum 10.67

nNL 10.67 10.67( kN )

1. ∆ ∑ = =
=
AE AE 400 ×10−6 ( m2 ) × 200 ×106 ( kN / m2 )
∆ 0.000133
= m 0.133 mm

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EX1: Trusses

The cross sectional area of each member of the truss shown, is A = 400mm2
E = 200GPa and α=11.7×10^-6 /ºC.
a) Determine the vertical displacement of joint C if a 4-kN force is applied
to the truss at C
b) In addition to the horizontal load at C, the temperature of member CB
is raised by ΔT=60ºC

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 EX1: Trusses

Member n (KN) N (KN) L (m) nNL nαΔTL

AB 0.667 2 8 10.67 0
AC -0.833 2.5 5 -10.41 0
CB -0.833 -2.5 5 10.41 0.0029133
Sum 10.67 2913e-6

∆ = −133 ×10−6 + 2913 ×10−6 = 2780 ×10−6 m = 2.78mm

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Method of Virtual Work: Beams

1.∆ = ∑ u.dL dθ =
M
dx
EI

L
M
1.∆ = ∫ m dx
0
EI
1 = external virtual unit load acting on the beam in the stated direction of Δ
m = internal virtual moment in a beam caused by the external virtual unit load
Δ = external joint displacement caused by the real load on the truss
M = internal moment in a beam caused by the real load
L = length of beam
I = moment of inertia of cross-sectional
E = modulus of elasticity of the beam
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Method of Virtual Work: Beams

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Method of Virtual Work: Beams

Similarly the rotation angle at any point on the beam can be

determined, a unit couple moment is applied at the point and the
corresponding internal moment mθ have to be determine

L
mθ M
1( KN .m ).θ = ∫ dx
0
EI

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EX4: Beams

Determine the displacement at point B of a steel beam

E = 200 GPa , I = 500(106) mm4

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EX4: Beams

L 10 10 10
M 2
( −1x ) × ( −6 x ) dx 6 x dx  6 x 4 
3
1.∆ = ∫ m dx = ∫ =∫ = 
0
EI 0
EI 0
EI  4 EI 0
15(103 ) 15(103 )
∆= = = 0.15m
EI 200(10 6 ) × 500(10 6 )(10 −12 )

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EX4: Beams Another Solution

Real Load

Virtual Load

Integral=area under M/EI-x curve, times value of m

at x=centroid of M/EI-x diagram

− 2000
∆B = 6 6 −12
× −7.5
200(10 ) × 500(10 )(10 )
∆ B = 0.15m

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EX5: Beams

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EX5: Beams

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 EX6: Beams

Determine the Slope θ at point B of a steel beam

E = 200 GPa , I = 60(106) mm4

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EX6: Beams

Virtual Load

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 EX6: Beams

Real Load

L 5 10 10 10
M (0) × (−3 x)dx (−1) × (−3 x)dx 3 x dx  3 x 
2
1.θ = ∫ mθ dx = ∫ +∫ =∫ = 
0
EI 0
EI 5
EI 5
EI  2 EI 5
3(10 2 ) − 3(52 )
θB = 6 −6
= 0.0094 rad
2 × 200(10 ) × 60(10 )

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EX6: Beams Another Solution

Real Load

Virtual Load

− 112 112
θB = × −1 =
EI EI
= 200 (109112
)×60×10 −6
= 0.0094 rad
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