Chapter 5

Impact Loading
So far we have considered only static loading of beams. However, in many applications,
loads are dynamically applied. This brings us to the topic of impact loading. Dealing
with impact is not overly complicated. Essentially, there are two steps:
i. Determine an equivalent mass of the structure being hit (e.g. beam) by calculating
the total kinetic energy of that structure and object causing the impact load;
ii. Perform an energy balance assuming all kinetic and potential energy of the structure
and impacting object is transferred to strain energy in the structure being hit.
Note that the first step (determining an equivalent mass) is difficult and rather tedious.
In many cases it is acceptable to ignore the mass of the structure being hit. That is,
assume the structure being hit is massless. In this case, only an energy balance between
kinetic/potential energy and strain energy in the massless structure is required.
As in previous chapters, the best (only?) way to explain how to solve impact load problems
is through examples.

5.1

Example 1: Weight falling on the flange of a rod

Consider the annular disc of mass, m, falling from height h above a flange at the end of
a rod shown in the figure below. The flange and rod will be considered massless.

26

5.1. EXAMPLE 1: WEIGHT FALLING ON THE FLANGE OF A ROD

m
1111111
0000000
0000000
1111111
0000000
1111111
0000000
1111111

Figure 5.1: Mass hitting flange at the end of a rod. Flange and rod are massless.
When the disc falls and hits the flange, the system will oscillate (it is elastic) and come
to rest. The oscillation is a dynamics problem. We are interested in the maximum load
on the flange. It is this maximum load that will determine failure of the rod and flange.
Firstly, we must recognise the energy transfer taking place. Initially, the disc has only
potential energy, mg (distance the disc will fall), and there is no other energy stored in
the system. At the point of impact, the kinetic energy of the disc is simply the potential
energy lost by the disc,
1
mV 2
2
p
=
2gh

mgh =
V

where V is the velocity of the disc at impact. This is interesting, but not useful in this
example (!). After impact, the rod will undergo strain due to the impact load. The
associated stress is determined by Youngs modulus or the rod.
*** Assumptions ***

27

5.2. EXAMPLE 2: MASS FALLING ONTO A MASSLESS BEAM

Equating Strain energy and potential energy:
1
U =
E(Volume of rod)
2
.
.
.
1 EA 2
=
2 L
1 EA 2
mg(h + ) =
2 L
.
.
.
v"
u 
2
#

mgL u
mgL
mgL
=
+t
+ 2h
EA
EA
EA

This gives the deflection due to the impact load. The impact load itself is easily determined
once the extension is known:
EA
P = A =
L s



mgEA
= mg +
(mg)2 + 2h
L
s
!

EA
= mg 1 +
1 + 2h
mgL

5.2

Example 2: Mass falling onto a massless beam

Consider the mass falling a height, h, onto the CENTRE of a beam of length, L. At
impact, there will be a maximum deflection, .
As in the previous example, we equation potential energy and Strain energy. You can
show that the Strain energy is given by, U = 0.5P , where P is the impact load. Then,
1
U =
P = mg(h + )
2
Now, we know as a function of the load:
=

P L3
48EI
28

(5.1)

5.3. EXAMPLE 3: MASS FALLING ON A BEAM WITH MASS

11
00
00
11
00
11
00
11
00
11

Figure 5.2: Mass falling onto the centre of a beam.

Substituting this into our energy balance gives:


1 P 2 L3
P L3
= mg h +
2 48EI
48EI
.
.
.
s
P = mg 1 +

96EIh
1+
mgL3

The maximum deflection is then simply found from equation 5.1.

5.3

Example 3: Mass falling on a beam with mass

Consider again figure 5.2. If we do not ignore the mass of the beam, we need to determine
an equivalent mass of the beam at the point of impact in order to simplify the problem
to a level we can solve relatively easily. That is, we want to consider figure 5.3.
11
00
00
11
00
11
00
11

Me

Figure 5.3: Mass falling onto the centre of a beam.

29

5.3. EXAMPLE 3: MASS FALLING ON A BEAM WITH MASS

In this figure, the beam is replaced with a massless beam with equivalent mass, Me lumped
at point of impact. Note that deflection is still given by 5.1, as expected the lumped
mass only helps determine the kinetic + potential energy of the mass and beam.
To solve the problem, we assume that the velocity of each point on the original beam at
impact is proportional to the deflection:
V (L/2)
y(L/2)
=
V (x)
y(x)

(5.2)

This is not a very big assumption.

It can be shown from the integration method that


P
3L2 x 4x3
48EI
3L2 x 4x3
V (x) = V (L/2)
L3
y(x) =

so

The Kinetic energy of the beam is then

Z L
1 2
K.E. = 2
V (x)2 dm
2 0
 2

Z L
3 2
2
2 3L x 4x
V (L/2)
= A
dx
L3
0
.
.
.
1 22
=
mb V (L/2)2
2 35
where mb = AL is the mass of the whole (original) beam. Thus an equivalent mass can
be thought of as Me = 22/35mb . This is not quite theend as we need to know V (L/2).
Recall that at impact, the velocity of a falling mass is 2gh, thus, a momentum balance
determining the transfer of momentum at impact is:


p
22
m 2gh =
m + mb V (L/2)
35
.
.
.

m 2gh
V (L/2) =
22
mb
m + 35
30

5.3. EXAMPLE 3: MASS FALLING ON A BEAM WITH MASS

We can now determine the kinetic energy of the mass and beam at impact:


22
m + mb
35
2
m gh
=
m
m + 22
35 b

1
K.E. =
2



2
m 2gh
.
m
m + 22
35 b

The energy balance is then easy to complete in the same manner as in the previous
example, except we now have kinetic energy and potential energy:
1
P = K.E + P.E
2


1
mh
+
P = mg
2
m + 22
m
35 b
.
.
.
s
"
#

96EIh
1
P = mg 1 + 1 +
gL3
m
m + 22
35 b
Again, is found from equation 5.1.

31