Many a times, it is possible to find a functional,

minimization of which along with the satisfaction of

geometric boundary conditions means solution of
governing differential equation along with geometric and
force boundary condition. Ritz method can be used in that
situation. The method is illustrated with the help of the
example of a Beam. In a typical beam element of length
h, the total potential energy may be written as
22112211222001dd2hhvEIxqvxVvVvMvMvx⎛⎞∂′′Π=−−+
−+⎜⎟⎜⎟∂⎝⎠∫∫ (6.20)
where the first term is the strain energy and all other
terms are work potential. Here, v is the beam deflection, V
the shear force and M the moment. The subscript 1 and 2
indicate nodes. The highest order of derivative in this
expression is 3, since the shear force V contains the third
derivative of v. Hence, v should be of the form . Since the
highest order of derivative inside the integral is 2, the
approximating function should be C1 continuous. One
suitable approximation is 2abxcxdx+++
11123422evvvNNNNvv⎧⎫⎪⎪′⎪⎪=⎡⎤⎨⎬⎣⎦⎪⎪⎪⎪′⎩⎭
(5.27)
Here, N1, N2, N3 and N4 are called Hermitian shape
functions. Then,
[][][]1121112212343204211211122112232041d2d′′ ⎧⎫⎧
⎪⎪⎪′′′ ⎪⎪⎪′′′′′′′′′′Π=⎡⎤ ⎨⎬⎨⎣⎦′′ ⎪⎪⎪ ⎪⎪⎪′′′⎩⎭⎩⎭ ⎧⎫⎧
⎪⎪⎪ ⎪⎪⎪′′′′−− ⎨⎬⎨− ⎪⎪⎪
⎪⎪⎪−⎩⎭⎩⎭∫∫hhNvNvvvvvEINNNNxNvNvNVNMqvvvvxv
vvvNVN (5.32)
For minimizing this expression, we differentiate the
expression with respect to [v1 v′1 v2 v′2] and set equal to
zero. Thus,