Axial Load

 Consider a bar with a slowly changing cross-section that is loaded centroidally.

 The internal load at x from one end is N , and the normal stress is N / A . using Eq. (6-
4) the strain energy is:

2 N2
 U i   x dV   2
dV 
V 2E V 2EA

 The volume dV can be expressed as Adx and:

 L
N2
Ui   2AE
dx (6-10)
  0

 If the cross-sectional area is constant:

 N 2L
Ui  (6-11)
2AE

 Note:

o L , Ui  

o A, Ui 

 o E , Ui 

 o i.e. something that is easy to distort will store more strain energy.

 