Advanced Structural Mechanics M Nicholas Fantuzzi

Nicholas Fantuzzi (nicholas.fantuzzi@unibo.it) September 30, 2018

Virtual Work and Energy Principle of Mechanics Principle of Virtual Displacements
Example 4.2.1, page 170

Problem Statement

Bernoulli-Euler beam theory with nonlinear axial deformation is discussed here (for the purpose
of introducing the equilibrium equation for the beam buckling problem. The beam rests on a
elastic foundation (Fs = kw, e.g. Winkler foundation) and is subjected to transversal and axial
distributed loads.

Solution

Displacement field is
dw
u1 (x, y, z) = u(x) + zθx , u2 = 0, u3 = w(x); with θx = − (1)
dx
Linear strains are considered expect with a non linear term in the axial direction
 2
du 1 dw dθx
εxx = + +z (2)
dx 2 dx dx

By assigning the virtual displacements δu, δw as

dδu dw dδw dδθx
δεxx = + +z (3)
dx dx dx dx
The external work takes the form
Z L Z L
δWE = − (f (x)δu + q(x)δw) dx + (−Fs )δw dx+
0 0
 
dδw
P δu(L) + (−F )δw(L) + (−M0 ) −
dx
Z L Z L (4)
=− (f (x)δu + q(x)δw) dx − kwδw dx+
0 0
  
dδw
P δu(L) − F δw(L) + M0
dx x=L

1
and the internal work is
Z LZ LZ
d2 δw
Z  
dδu dw dδw
δWI = σxx δεxx dA dx = σxx + −z dA dx (5)
0 A 0 A dx dx dx dx2
The principle of virtual displacements δWE + δWI = 0 gives
Z L Z L  
dδw
0=− (f (x)δu + q(x)δw) dx + kwδw dx − P δu(L) + F δw(L) − M0 +
0 0 dx x=L
Z LZ
d2 δw
 
dδu dw dδw
σxx + −z dA dx
0 A dx dx dx dx2
Z L Z L  
dδw
0=− (f (x)δu + q(x)δw) dx + kwδw dx − P δu(L) + F δw(L) − M0 +
0 0 dx x=L
Z L (6)
d2 δw

dδu dw dδw
N +N −M dx
0 dx dx dx dx2
Z L Z L  
dδw
0=− (f (x)δu + q(x)δw) dx + kwδw dx − P δu(L) + F δw(L) − M0 +
0 0 dx x=L
Z L L
d2 M
   
dN d dw dw dδw dM
− δu − N δw − δw dx + N δu + N δw − M + δw
0 dx dx dx dx2 dx dx dx 0
where the stress resultants are defined
Z Z
N= σxx dA, M= σxx z dA (7)
A A
Euler equations are obtained by setting alternatively the coefficients of δu and δw equal to zero
as
dN
δu : − = f (x)
dx
(8)
d2 M
 
d dw
δw : − 2 − N + kw = q(x)
dx dx dx
Boundary conditions are given by
N δu(0) = 0, (N − P )δu(L) = 0
   
dw dM dw dM
N + δw(0) = 0, N + + F δw(L) = 0
dx dx dx dx (9)
   
dδw dδw
−M = 0, (M0 + M ) =0
dx x=0 dx x=L
Please note that δu, δw and δ(dw/dx) appear in the boundary conditions, thus they are the
primary variable of the theory. Thus, they represent the essential (displacement) boundary
conditions of the problem.
A close examination of this example shows that the principle of virtual displacements can be
used to derive governing equations and boundary conditions of higher-order theories of beams
and plates by
1. assuming a displacement expansion in power of thickness coordinate with unknown gen-
eralized displacements;
2. computing the actual and virtual strains using a suitable measure;
3. using the principle of virtual displacements in an appropriate description of motion;
4. introducing stress resultants using the fundamental lemma of variational calculus.