Tutorial 2

Principle of Virtual Work

1. Use the virtual work method to determine the vertical
displacement at C. EI is constant.
• For the real load of the beam, take moment about
point B Free-body diagram of the
beam under the real load
∑ 𝑀𝑀𝐵𝐵 = 0 𝐴𝐴𝑦𝑦 × 8 − 4 × 6 − 4 × 2 = 0
𝐴𝐴𝑦𝑦 =4 kN
𝑥𝑥1 𝑥𝑥2
• Consider force equilibrium condition along the
horizontal direction
∑ 𝐹𝐹𝑥𝑥 = 0 𝐴𝐴𝑥𝑥 =0
• Consider force equilibrium condition along the
vertical direction
∑ 𝐹𝐹𝑦𝑦 = 0 𝐵𝐵𝑦𝑦 + 𝐴𝐴𝑦𝑦 − 4 − 4 =0 2m 4m 2m

𝐵𝐵𝑦𝑦 =4 kN
• The internal moments in the real frame are A E C F B

represented by M
4𝑥𝑥1 between A~E 8kNm 8kNm
𝑀𝑀 = � 8 between E~F
4𝑥𝑥2 between F~B M
• Apply a unit downward virtual force at C. Taking
moment about point A Free-body diagram of the
∑ 𝑀𝑀𝐴𝐴 = 0 𝐵𝐵𝑦𝑦 × 8 − 4 × 1 = 0 beam under the virtual
𝐵𝐵𝑦𝑦 =0.5 kN force
1kN
• Consider force equilibrium condition along the 𝑥𝑥1 𝑥𝑥2
horizontal direction
A E C F B
∑ 𝐹𝐹𝑥𝑥 = 0 𝐴𝐴𝑥𝑥 =0

• Consider force equilibrium condition along the

vertical direction
2kNm
∑ 𝐹𝐹𝑦𝑦 = 0 𝐵𝐵𝑦𝑦 + 𝐴𝐴𝑦𝑦 − 1 =0
𝐴𝐴𝑦𝑦 =0.5 kN 2m 4m 2m

• The internal moments in the virtual frame are

represented by Mu Mu
0.5𝑥𝑥1 between A~𝐶𝐶
Mu= �
0.5𝑥𝑥2 between C~𝐵𝐵
• The internal moments in the real beam are
2m 4m 2m
represented by M
4𝑥𝑥1 between A~𝐸𝐸 A E C F B
𝑀𝑀 = � 8 between E~𝐹𝐹
4𝑥𝑥2 between F~𝐵𝐵 A E C F B

M
• The internal moments in the virtual beam 𝑥𝑥1 8kNm 8kNm 𝑥𝑥2
1kN
are represented by Mu
0.5𝑥𝑥1 between A~𝐶𝐶
𝑀𝑀𝑢𝑢 = � A E C F B
0.5𝑥𝑥2 between C~𝐵𝐵

• From virtual work

𝑀𝑀𝑀𝑀𝑢𝑢
1𝑘𝑘𝑘𝑘 • Δ𝐶𝐶 = �
𝐸𝐸𝐸𝐸
𝑑𝑑𝑑𝑑 2kNm Mu
𝐸𝐸 𝐶𝐶 𝐹𝐹 𝐵𝐵
𝑀𝑀𝑀𝑀 𝑀𝑀𝑀𝑀𝑢𝑢 𝑀𝑀𝑀𝑀𝑢𝑢 𝑀𝑀𝑀𝑀𝑢𝑢 2
Δ𝐶𝐶 = � 𝐸𝐸𝐸𝐸 𝑢𝑢 𝑑𝑑𝑑𝑑 +� 𝑑𝑑𝑑𝑑 +� 𝑑𝑑𝑑𝑑 +� 2m = ∫
𝑑𝑑𝑑𝑑 0
4𝑥𝑥14m0.5𝑥𝑥1 𝑑𝑑𝑥𝑥12m
𝐸𝐸𝐸𝐸 𝐸𝐸𝐸𝐸 𝐸𝐸𝐸𝐸
𝐴𝐴 𝐸𝐸 𝐶𝐶 𝐹𝐹
4 2 4
176
+ � 8 0.5𝑥𝑥1 𝑑𝑑𝑥𝑥1 + � 4𝑥𝑥2 0.5𝑥𝑥2 𝑑𝑑𝑥𝑥2 + � 8 0.5𝑥𝑥2 𝑑𝑑𝑥𝑥2 =
2 0 2 3𝐸𝐸𝐸𝐸
Alternatively, we may use 2m 4m 2m

Diagram Multiplication and A E C F B

apply it to four segments AE, EC,
CF and FB (noting the A E C F B

symmetry):
8kNm 8kNm M
1kN

MuM
D=∫ dx A E C F B
EI
1 1 1 
=  × 1 × 8 × 2 + × 8 × 2 × (1 + 2 ) ×2 1 kNm 1 kNm
EI  3 2 
2kNm
1  16  176
= ×  + 24  × 2 = Mu
EI  3  3EI 2m 4m 2m
2. Determine the vertical displacement of joint A. Assume
the members are pin connected at their end points. Take
A for the area and E for the Young’s modulus of each
member. Use the method of virtual work.
D

E l

A B C

l l

0.5 P
P
Solution: Apply a unit downward virtual force at Point A. The axial forces of
the truss due to the unit virtual force and actual forces are plotted in the
following figures.
D D

2.795P 2.236

E l E l

2.236P 0.559P 2.236 0

0.5P 0
A -2P B -2P C A -2 B -2 C

l l l l

0.5 P
P
N 1 Nu

𝑁𝑁𝑢𝑢 𝑁𝑁𝑁𝑁
Δ𝐴𝐴 = �
𝐸𝐸𝐴𝐴
1 2 −2.00𝑃𝑃 −2.00 𝑙𝑙 + 2.236𝑃𝑃 2.236 1.118𝑙𝑙
=
𝐴𝐴𝐴𝐴 + 2.795𝑃𝑃 2.236 1.118𝑙𝑙

𝑃𝑃𝑃𝑃
= 20.577
𝐸𝐸𝐸𝐸
 1.25 5
1.25
N D

2.795P 2.5
E l

2.236P 0.559P
0.5P
A -2P B -2P C

l l Nu D

2.236
0.5 P
P E l

A 0.25 5 E 2.236 0
0
5 A -2 B -2 C
1 0.5
2 l l
0.25 5~0.559
1

B
3. The L-shaped frame is made from two segments, each
of length L and flexural stiffness EI. If it is subjected to a
uniformly distributed load w, determine the horizontal
displacement of the end C. Use the method of virtual
work.
1. Calculate the internal moment
due to the real loads

A
1/2wL2
B

1/2wL2

M
 1
C
2. Apply a unit horizontal virtual load at C,
Calculate the internal moment.
Mu
A
L
B
L
3. Apply the virtual work equation
C MuM
∆C = ∑ ∫ dx
EI
1 1 2 1 1 2 
M =  wL × L × L + × wL × L × L 
EI 2 4 2 
A
1/2wL2 5wL4
B =
8EI
1/2wL2