1.

Stress Function

The solution of two dimensional problems in elasticity requires integration
of the differential equations of equilibrium together with the compatibility
equation and the boundary conditions.

For no body forces
( ) 0
2
2
2
2
= +
|
|
.
|

\
|
c
c
+
c
c
y x
y x
o o
0 =
c
c
+
c
c
y x
xy
x
t
o
0 =
c
c
+
c
c
y x
y xy
o t
xy x
m l x t o + =
xy y
l m y t o + =
These equations are the same for both plane stress and plane strain problems.
The equations of equilibrium are identically satisfied by a new function |(x,y),
called the stress function, introduced by G.B. Airy, related to stresses as:
2
2
y
x
c
c
=
|
o
2
2
x
y
c
c
=
|
o
y x
xy
c c
c
=
|
t
2
Substituting the above expressions into the compatibility equation
( ) 0 0
0 2
2 2 4
4
4
2 2
4
4
4
= V V = V
=
c
c
+
c c
c
+
c
c
| |
| | |
or
y y x x
Biharmonic Equation
Where
2
2
2
2
2
2 2 4
.
|
|
.
|

\
|
c
c
+
c
c
= V V = V
y x
For a more general case of a body forces and when the force components X and Y
are given by
x
V
X
c
c
=
y
V
Y
c
c
=
In which V is the potential function. The equilibrium equations become
( ) 0 =
c
c
+
c
c
y
V
x
xy
x
t
o ( ) 0 =
c
c
+
c
c
x
V
y
xy
y
t
o
These equations can be satisfied by taking
V
y
x
+
c
c
=
2
2
|
o V
x
y
+
c
c
=
2
2
|
o
y x
xy
c c
c
=
|
t
2
Substituting into the compatibility equation for plane stress distribution.
( )
( ) V or
y
V
x
V
y y x x
2 4
2
2
2
2
4
4
2 2
4
4
4
1
1 2
V = V
|
|
.
|

\
|
c
c
+
c
c
=
c
c
+
c c
c
+
c
c
v |
v
| | |
An analogous equation can be obtained for the case of plane strain.

Note: When the body force is simply the weight, the potential V is (- .g.y).
Example:
Show that the given function gives the stresses correctly on all boundaries
except at the end x=l.
|
|
.
|

\
|
+ +
+ +
=
5 3 2 3 3 2 3 2
2 2 2 2 3
3
5 . . 10 . 2 . 5
. . 15 . . . 30 10
40
y y x y x l y h y l
y x h y x l h x h
h
p
|
x
y
p
l
h
h
1
Example:
For the given cantilever show that


is the proper stress function. Determine the constants A and B so that the
shear stress is zero on the top and bottom face while the resultant vertical
force on the free surface is P
3
. . . . y x B y x A + = |
y
x
p
l
h
h
1
2. Strain Energy due to the work of elastic deformation