Calculation of Deflection using

the Principle of Virtual work

Dr. Swagata Banerjee Basu

February 3 and 5, 2021
Application to Statically Determinate Trusses

• External Load

© Swagata Banerjee Basu 2 CE222: Structural Mechanics I

Application to Statically Determinate Trusses

• Temperature Change
Temperature Change
+ 200°F

© Swagata Banerjee Basu 3 CE222: Structural Mechanics I

Application to Statically Determinate Trusses

• Fabrication

Desired Truss

Final Deformed Shape due to Self Weight (Dead Load)

© Swagata Banerjee Basu 4 CE222: Structural Mechanics I

Application to Statically Determinate Trusses

• Fabrication
Final Shape (Desired)

Initial Fabrication

© Swagata Banerjee Basu 5 CE222: Structural Mechanics I

Application to Statically Determinate Trusses

• Due to external load

𝑚
𝑖 𝑖
1. 𝑖
𝑖 𝑖
𝑖=1

1= Unit force (virtual) applied at B in the direction of expected

deflection
D= Deflection at B
m= Number of truss members
ni = Internal force in the ith member due to the virtual load
P1, P2 = External loads
Ni = Internal force in ith member due to P1 and P2
Ai = Cross-sectional area of ith member
Li = Length of member i
Ei = Modulus of elasticity of member i

© Swagata Banerjee Basu 6 CE222: Structural Mechanics I

Application to Statically Determinate Trusses

• Due to temperature change

Temperature Change

1.

B
1= Unit force (virtual) applied at B in the direction of expected
deflection
D= Deflection at B L DL = aDTL
m= Number of truss members
ni = Internal force in the ith member due to the virtual load
(a DT L)i = Thermal expansion or contraction of member i
a= Coefficient of thermal expansion
DT = Change in temperature
L= Length of member

© Swagata Banerjee Basu 7 CE222: Structural Mechanics I

Application to Statically Determinate Trusses

• Due to fabrication

1.

B
1= Unit force (virtual) applied at B in the direction of expected
deflection
D= Deflection at B L DL
m= Number of truss members
ni = Internal force in the ith member due to the virtual load
(DL)i = Difference in length of member i due to fabrication
Li = Desired length of member i

© Swagata Banerjee Basu 8 CE222: Structural Mechanics I

Application to Statically Determinate Beams and Frames

• Translational deformation due to bending

1= Unit force (virtual) applied at A in the direction of

expected deflection
D= Deflection at A
M= Internal moment due to applied (real) load
m= Internal moment due to unit virtual load
E= Modulus of elasticity
I= Moment of inertia of cross-sectional area
L= Length of the member

© Swagata Banerjee Basu 9 CE222: Structural Mechanics I

Application to Statically Determinate Beams and Frames

• Rotational deformation due to bending

1= Unit moment (virtual) applied at A in the direction

of expected rotation
= Rotation at A
M= Internal moment due to applied (real) load
m = Internal moment due to unit virtual moment
E= Modulus of elasticity
I= Moment of inertia of cross-sectional area
L= Length of the member

© Swagata Banerjee Basu 10 CE222: Structural Mechanics I

Application to Statically Determinate Beams and Frames

• Under axial deformation

n= Internal force in a member due to the virtual load

N= Internal force in a member due to external load
A= Cross-sectional area of the member
L= Length of the member
E= Modulus of elasticity of the member

© Swagata Banerjee Basu 11 CE222: Structural Mechanics I

Application to Statically Determinate Beams and Frames

• Under shear deformation

v= Internal shear force in a member due to the virtual load

V= Internal shear force in the member due to external load
A= Cross-sectional area of the member
L= Length of the member
G= Shear modulus of elasticity of the member
K= Form factor for the cross-sectional area
=1.2 for rectangular section
=10/9 for circular section
=1 for wide-flange and I-beams where A is the area of the web

© Swagata Banerjee Basu 12 CE222: Structural Mechanics I

Application to Statically Determinate Beams and Frames

• Under torsional deformation

t= Internal torque in a member due to the virtual load

T= Internal torque in the member due to external load
J= Polar moment of inertia for the cross-section
L= Length of the member
G= Shear modulus of elasticity of the member

© Swagata Banerjee Basu 13 CE222: Structural Mechanics I