Strain Energy

In mechanics, energy is defined as the capacity to do work and work is the product of a force
and the distance in the direction that the force moves. According to the principal of
conservation of energy, the internal work done (i.e. internal force×deformation) is equal to
the external work done by the applied forces. In solid, deformable bodies, stresses multiplied
by their respective areas are forces and deformations are distances. The product of these two
quantities is the internal work done in a body by externally applied forces. Strain energy of
the member is defined as the internal work done in deforming the body by the action of
externally applied forces. This energy in elastic bodies is known as elastic strain energy.

Strain Energy Due to Axial Stress:

Let us consider an element of elastic material as shown in Fig. 1. Here, x = normal stress
along x – direction, and x = linear strain in x - direction

Fig. 1

At any instant, force acting on any force ABCD = (x)(dy.dz) and elongation = x.dx. The
element is made of a linearly elastic material, stress is proportional to strain. Therefore, if the
element is initially free of stress, the force, which acts on the element, increases linearly from
zero until it attains full value. So, the average force acting on the element, while deformation
0+σx dy.dz
is taking place = = 1⁄2 σx dy. dz
2
1
Now, infinitesimal work done = du = (2 σx dydz) × εx . dx
σx .εx σx .εx σx .σx σ2
= dx. dy. dz = dv = dv = 2Ex dv; where, dv = volume of the element
2 2 2E
du σ2x σx .εx
∴ dv = 2E = = Strain energy per unit volume = Strain energy density
2
v σ2x v σx .εx
Total work done, u = ∫o . dv = ∫o . dv
2E 2

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Elastic strain energy for a rod of uniform cross-section and subjected to equal and
opposite forces:
The elastic strain energy for a rod of uniform cross-section and subjected to equal and
opposite forces of magnitude P at its ends as shown in the Fig. 2 is follows.

Fig. 2

v σ2x Here,
We have, U = ∫0 2E
dv
P
L P 2 1 σx =
U = ∫0 (A) × 2E Adx A
L P2 dv = Adx = element’s volume
U = ∫0 2EA2
Adx
A = area of the bar
P2 L
U = 2AE L = length of the bar

Problem 1:
Consider the bar with varying circular cross-section shown in Fig. 3. Determine the strain
energy if the Young’s modulus is 200 GPa.

Fig. 3

Solution:
The strain energy stored in the bar when a force of 2 kN is applied at the free end is-
2
P2 L (2×103 ) ×2 1 1
U = 2AE = 2×(2×1011)×π ((5×10−2 ) + (3×10−2)) = 9.62 × 10−3 N − m (Ans.)

Problem 2:
Suppose a rod AB as shown in Fig. 4 must acquire an elastic strain energy of 13.6 N-m.
Using E = 200 GPa, determine the required yield strength of steel if the factor of safety with
respect to permanent deformation is equal to 5.

2
 Fig. 4

Solution:
Given that factor of safety = 5
Therefore, the strain energy of the rod should be u = 5×13.6 = 68 N-m = 68000 N-mm
π π
The volume of the rod is, V = AL= 4 d2 L = 4 20 × 1.5 × 103 = 471 × 103 mm3
σ2 V σ2 ×471×103
We have, U =  68000 = 2×(200×103)  = 200 MPa (Ans.)
2E

Problem 3:
Two bars made by linearly elastic materials whose proportions are shown in Fig. 5 to absorb
the same amount of energy delivered by axial forces. Compare the stresses in the two bars
caused by the same input of energy.

2A 3L/4
I A

A L/4
1 2
Fig. 5

Solution:
Let, 1 and 2 are stresses of member 1 and 2.
v σ2x σ2 v σ2 σ2
We know, u1 = ∫o dv = 2E1 ∫o dv = 2E1 V = 2E1 (AL)
2E
σ 2
σ2x σ22 ( 2)
2
Again, u2 = 2E dv = 2E ∫lowerpart dv + ∫upperpart dv
2E
v σ22 AL σ2 3L σ2 AL 3AL σ2 5AL
 u2 = ∫o [ ] + 8E2 [2A × ] = 2E2 [ 4 + ] = 2E2 ( )
2E 4 4 8 8

Given that, u1 = u2
σ2 σ2 5 σ
⇒ 2E1 (AL) = 2E2 (5AL)) ⇒ σ12 = 8 σ22 ⇒ σ1 = 0.79σ2 ⇒ σ2 = 1.265 (Ans. )
1

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Problem 4:
Three round bars having the same length ‘L’ but different shapes are shown in Fig. 6. All
three bars are subjected to the same load P. Compare the amounts of strain energy stored in
the bars, assuming the linear elastic behaviour.

Fig. 6

Solution:
P2 L
1. The strain Energy of the first bar is expressed as- U1 = 2EA
P2 (L/4) P2 (3L/4) P2 L
2. The strain Energy of the second bar is expressed as- U2 = + =
2EA 2E×9A 6EA
U1
 U2 = 3
P2 (L/8) P2 (7L/8) P2 L
3. The strain Energy of the third bar is expressed as- U3 = + = 9EA
2EA 2E×9A
2U1
U3 = 9

For the above results it may be observed that the strain energy decreases as the volume of the
bar increases.

Problem 5:
1 𝑃2𝐿
Show that the strain energy of the tapered rod shown in Fig. 7 is U = 4 𝐸𝐴 . Given that
𝑚𝑖𝑛

radius at A is 2C and radius at B is C.

Fig. 7

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Solution:

𝐶𝑥 𝜋𝐶 2
From the above figure we get the radius at a distance x, r𝑥 = and area, A𝑥 = 𝑥2
𝐿 𝐿2

Hence the strain energy of the tapered section,

𝐿 𝑃2 𝑃2 2𝐿 𝐿2 𝑑𝑥 𝑃 2 𝐿2 1 2𝐿 𝑃 2 𝐿2 1 1 1 𝑃2𝐿
U = ∫0 𝑑𝑥 = 2𝐸 ∫𝐿 = 2𝐸𝜋𝐶 2 (− 𝑥)| = (− 2𝐿 + 𝐿) = 4 𝐸𝐴 
2𝐸𝐴 𝜋𝐶 2 𝑥2 𝐿 2𝐸𝐴𝑚𝑖𝑛 𝑚𝑖𝑛

[where 𝐴𝑚𝑖𝑛 = 𝜋𝐶 2 ]

Problem 6:
A load P is supported at B by two rods of the same material and of the same uniform cross
section of area A as shown in Fig. 8. Determine the strain energy of the system.

Fig. 8
Solution:

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Denoting by FBC and FBD, respectively, the forces in member BC and BD, we express the
F2BC BC F2BD BD
strain energy of the system as U = +
2AE 2AE

But we get from Fig. 8, BC = 0.6l and BD = 0.8l

And from the above figure we get, FBC =+ 0.6P and FBD = −0.8P
(0.6P)2 (0.6l) (0.8P)2 (0.8l) P2 L
Substituting the values we have, U = + = 0.364 ←
2AE 2AE AE

Assignment 1:
For the given loading arrangement on
the rod ABC as shown in Fig. 9,
determine-
(a) The strain energy of the steel rod
ABC when P = 40 kN, and
(b) The corresponding strain energy
density in portions AB and BC of the
rod.

Fig. 9

Strain Energy in Bending:

Consider a beam AB subjected to a given loading as shown in Fig. 10.

Fig. 10

Let, M = value of bending moment at a distance x from end A.

From the simple bending theory, the normal stress due to bending alone is expressed as-
My
σ=
I
Substituting the above relation in the expression of strain energy i.e.,
σ2v v
My 2 1 v 2 2
M .y
U=∫ dv = ∫ ( ) × dv = ∫ 2
dv
0 2E 0 I 2E 0 2EI

Substituting dv = dxdA, where dA = elemental cross-sectional area we get,

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M2 .y2
→is a function of x alone
2EI2

Now substituting for dy in the expression of U.

v L
M2y2 M2
U=∫ dv = ∫ (∫ y 2 dA) dx
0 2EI2 0 2EI 2

We know ∫ y 2 dArepresents the moment of inertia ‘I’ of the cross-section about its neutral
L M2
axis. So, the equation becomes- U = ∫0 dx
2EI

Problem 7:
Determine the strain energy of a prismatic cantilever beam as shown in Fig. 11 by
considering only the effect of the normal stresses.

Fig. 11

Solution:
The bending moment at a distance x from end A is defined as M = – Px
Substituting the above value of M in the expression of strain energy we may write-
l l (−Px)2 l 2 2
M2 P x P 2 l3
U=∫ dx = ∫ dx = ∫ dx =
0 2EI 0 2EI 0 2EI EI

Problem 8:
Determine (a) the expression for strain energy of the prismatic beam AB for the loading as
shown in Fig. 12. Take into account only the effect of normal stresses due to bending and
(b) evaluate the strain energy for the following values of the beam.
P = 208 kN; L = 3.6 m = 3600 mm; a = 0.9 m = 90 mm; b = 2.7 m = 2700 mm;
E = 200 GPa; I = 104× 108 mm4

7
 Fig. 12

Solution:

(a) Bending Moment: Using the free–body diagram of the entire beam, we may determine the
values of reaction as follows:
RA = Pb/L, RB = Pa/L
Pb
For Portion AD of the beam, the bending moments at a distance x from A is- M1 = x
L
Pa
For Portion DB, the bending moment at a distance y from end B is- M2 = y
L

We get the strain energy, U = UAD + UDB

2
a
M12 b
M22 1 a Pb 2 1 b Pa
=∫ dx + ∫ dy = ∫ ( x) dx + ∫ ( y) dy
0 2EI 0 2EI 2EI 0 L 2EI 0 L
1 P 2 b 2 a3 a2 b 3
= ( + )
2EI L2 3 3
p 2 a2 b 2
U= (a + b)
6EIL2
Since (a+b) = L
P2 a2 b2
U= (Ans.)
6EIL

(b) Substituting the values of P, a, b, e, I and L in the expression above.

(208×103 )2 ×(900)2 ×(2700)2
U = 6(200×103 )×(104×106)×(3600) = 5.27 × 107 kN-m (Ans.)

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Strain Energy in Torsion:
Consider a shaft BC of length L subjected to one or several twisting couples. Denoting by J
the polar moment of inertia of the cross section located at a distance 𝑥 from B (Fig. 13), and
by T the internal torque in that section, we recall that the shearing stresses in the section are
𝜏𝑥𝑦 = 𝑇𝜌/𝐽. Substituting for 𝜏𝑥𝑦 into σx to the equation of strain energy for axial strain
v σ2x
energy, u = ∫o . dv
2E

Fig. 13: Shaft subject to torque

τ2xy T2 ρ2
we have, U = ∫ 2G dV = ∫ 2GJ2 dV

Setting dV = dA dx, where dA represents and element of the cross-sectional area, and
L T2
observing that T 2 /2GJ 2 is a function of x alone, we write U = ∫o (∫ ρ2 dA) dx
2GJ2

Recalling that the integral within the parentheses represents the polar moment of inertia J of
L T2
the cross section, we have U = ∫o dx.
2GJ

In the case of a shaft of uniform cross section subjected at its ends to equal and opposite
T2 L
couples of magnitudes T the equation yields U = 2GJ

Problem 9:
A circular shaft consists of two portions BC and
CD of the same material and same length, but
of different cross sections (Fig. 14). Determine
the strain energy of the shaft when it is
subjected to a twisting couple T at end D,
expressing the result in terms of T, L, G, the
polar moment of inertia J of the smaller cross
section, and the ratio n of the two diameters.
Fig. 14

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Solution:
We use Eq. of strain energy for torsion to compute the strain energy of each of the two
portions of shaft, and add the expressions obtained. Noting that the polar moment of inertia of
portion BC is equal to 𝑛4 𝐽, we write-

1 1
T 2 (2 L) T 2 (2 L) T2L 1 1 + n4 T 2 L
Un = + = (1 + 4 ) =
2GJ 2G(n4 J) 4GJ n 2n4 2GJ

T2 L
We check that, for 𝑛 = 1, we have U1 = 2GJ

Problem 10:
Energy absorbed by an elastic circular rod:
The energy absorbed by an elastic circular rod (L) subject to a constant torque in terms of the
maximum shearing stress and the volume of the material as shown in Fig. 15 can be
determined as the following way.

Fig. 15

The shearing stress acting on an element at a distance  from the centre of the cross-section is
τmax ρ τ
and we know that γ = G and integrating over the volume V of the rod L cm long, one
C

obtains,
τ2 τ2max ρ2
U = ∫v 2G dv = ∫v (2πρdρL) [∵ dv = (dAL) = 2πρdρL]
2GC2
C
τ2max 2πL C τ2max 2πL ρ4
= 2G
× C2
∫0 ρ3 dρ = 2G
× C2
[4]
0

τ2max 2πL C4 τ2max πC2 L τ2max 1

= × 2 × = × = ( × Volume))
2G C 4 2G 2 2G 2

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