UNIVERSITY OF NIGERIA, NSUKKA

DEPARTMENT OF MECHANICAL ENGINEERING

ME 431 – Theory of Elasticity I

Lecture Notes on
Dynamic Loading
for 2021/2022 Session

Lecturer:
Howard O. NJOKU PhD

February 6, 2023
Contents
3 Dynamic Loading 56
3.1 Strain energy due to impact loads . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 56
3.2 Strain energy due to suddenly applied loads . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 60

55
3 Dynamic Loading
In addition to the static loads, which we have considered so far in our discussions, dynamic
loads are also frequently experienced in practice. Whereas a static load is applied slowly,
so that its magnitude increases gradually from zero to the maximum value, a dynamic load
is applied suddenly or in such a manner that its magnitude changes with time. Examples
of dynamic loads include loads caused by collision of objects, rotating machinery, traffic,
wind gusts, water waves, earthquakes, etc.
We shall consider impact loads and suddenly applied loads as examples of dynamic
loads.

3.1 Strain energy due to impact loads

Consider the bar AB shown in Fig. 45. It is fixed at A and has a flange attached to its
free end B. A collar of mass Mc slides freely along the bar and is initially suspended at a
height h from the flange. At this height, the collar has a potential energy Mc gh relative
to the position of the flange.

Figure 45: A heavy collar falling on the flanged end of a bar

If the collar is allowed to fall freely, this potential energy will be converted fully to

56
kinetic energy 21 Mc v 2 at the instant it strikes the flange, so that

1
Mc gh = Mc v 2
2
v 2 = 2gh
p
=⇒ v = 2gh (43)

The impact of the collar on the flange leads to elongation in the bar and the kinetic
energy of the collar is transformed into strain energy in the stretched bar. In the event
that energy losses are accounted for during impact, let the kinetic energy of the collar be
KE1 just before impact and KE2 , just after impact, then a kinetic energy loss factor KL
may be defined such that
KE2 = KL × KE1 (44)

KL may be determined using advanced analytical methods. However, based on the prin-
ciple of conservation of momentum, it may be shown that
Mf Mb
1+ Mc
+ 3Mc
KL =  2 (45)
Mf Mb
1+ Mc
+ 2Mc

where, Mf is the mass of the flange and Mb is the mass of the bar. KL has values ranging
from 0 to 1.
Just before the impact of the collar, its kinetic energy is given by

KE1 = W h (46)

where W = Mc g. Just after the impact, its kinetic energy is

KE2 = KL KE1 = KL W h (47)

The potential energy lost due to the extension of the bar at maximum elongation is given
by
P Eext = W δmax (48)

Hence the total potential energy lost is W (KL h + δmax ). Equating this to the stain energy
acquired by the bar, we have
2
EAδmax
W (KL h + δmax ) = (49)
2L

(Recall that the strain energy stored in a material under pure tension which has undergone
an extension e, is given by EAe2 /2l). Equation (49) is quadratic in δmax , and solving for

57
its positive root, δmax is obtained as

" 2 #1
2
WL WL 2KL W Lh
δmax = + + (50)
EA EA EA

Noting that the extension of bar AB under a static load of magnitude W is given by

WL
δst = (51)
EA

equation (49) for δmax may be re-written as

p
2
δmax = δst + δst + 2KL hδst (52)

If δst ≪ h, then it may be ignored in equation 52 so that

p
δmax ≈ 2K hδ
s L st
v2 W L p
≡ 2KL ∵v= 2gh
2g EA
s
v 2 Mc gL
≡ 2KL
2g EA
r
Mc v 2 KL L
⇒ δmax ≈ (53)
EA

This approximation always results in lesser values than those obtained with the complete
expression.
If the stress distribution in the bar is assumed to be uniform, the maximum tensile
stress developed in the bar may be obtained using

" 2 #1
2
Eδmax W W 2W KL hE
σmax = = + + (54)
L A A AL

or
 1
2 2KL hE 2
σmax = σst + σst + σst (55)
L
where σst = W/A is the stress due to a static load of magnitude W . Again, if δst ≪ h,
r
2KL hE
σmax ≈ σst
s L
v 2 E Mc g
≡ 2KL
2g L A
r
Mc v 2 KL E
⇒ σmax ≈ (56)
AL

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 We note from equation (56) that stresses are increased by increasing the kinetic energy
of the falling mass (Mc v 2 /2) and reducing the volume of the bar (AL) and vice versa.

Figure 46: A heavy mass falling on the free end of a bar

Another example of impact loading is illustrated in Figure 46, in which a falling mass
M strikes the end of bar AB, causing it to shorten. Assuming the mass of the falling
object is very large compared to that of the bar, the previous approached may still be
applied. At the point of impact, the kinetic energy of the mass is M v 2 /2. The portion of
this kinetic energy transformed into strain energy in the deformed bar may be stated as

M v2 2
EAδmax
KL = (57)
2 2L

where δmax is the maximum contraction of bar AB. Therefore

r
M v 2 KL L
δmax = (58)
EA

and the corresponding maximum stress, assuming a uniform stress distribution in the bar,
is r
Eδmax M v 2 KL E
σmax = = (59)
L AL
Equations (58) and (59) are identical to equations (52) and (56) obtained earlier.

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3.2 Strain energy due to suddenly applied loads
Sudden loads are impact loads applied without an initial velocity, such as in situations in
which a load is placed gently on a structural member and then suddenly released. This
corresponds to the case of the falling collar with h = 0.
From the complete equation for δmax (Equation (52)), setting h = 0, we obtain that

δmax = 2δst (60)

and

Eδmax 2Eδst
σmax = =
L L
2E W L
≡ = 2Eϵst
L AE
⇒ σmax = 2σst (61)

that is, the maximum displacement and maximum stress that occur in the bar are respec-
tively equal to twice the static displacement and the static stress. (After vibrations, the
final displacement in the bar will still assume the value of the static displacement.)

Example 20
An axial pull of 50 kN is suddenly applied to a steel rod 2 m long and 1000 mm2 in cross
section. What is the maximum strain energy that can be absorbed by the rod if E = 200
GN/m2 ?
Solution:

EAe2
U =
2l
2
EAδmax
∴ Umax =
2l

Given:
E = 200 ×109 N/m2 ; W = 50 × 103 N; A = 1000 mm2 = 1000×10−6 m2 ; l = 2m.

WL 2 × 103 × 2 × 50
δmax = 2δst = 2 × = = 0.001 m
AE 1000 × 10−6 × 200 × 109

200 × 109 × 1000 × 10−6 × 0.0012

Umax = = 50 Nm
2×2

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Example 20
A bar 3 m long and 5 cm diameter hangs vertically with a flange attached securely at its
lower end. What is the maximum stress induced, when

(i) a 250 kg mass falls from a 12 cm height unto the flange;

(ii) a 2500 kg mass fall from a 1 cm height unto the flange.

Take E = 200 GN/m2 .

Solution:
Given: L = 3 m; d = 5 cm ≡ 0.005 m.

A= π
4
× 0.052 = 0.001963495m2

(i) In the first case, W = 250 × 9.81 = 2452.5 N; h = 12 cm ≡ 0.12 m.

WL 2452.5 × 3
δst = = = 0.000018736 m
AE 0.001963495 × 200 × 109

As δst ≪ h, r
M v 2 KL E
∴ σmax ≈
AL
p √
v = 2gh = 2 × 9.81 × 0.12 = 1.534405422 m/s
r
250 × 1.5344054222 × 1 × 200 × 109
σmax = = 141.367507 MPa
0.001963495 × 3

(ii) In the second case, W = 2500 × 9.81 = 24525 N; h = 1 cm ≡ 0.01 m.

WL 24525 × 3
δst = = = 0.00018736 m
AE 0.001963495 × 200 × 109

Again, δst ≪ h, but we decide to use the exact relation for σmax , viz.:

 1
2 2KL hE 2
σmax = σst + σst + σst
L

W 2500 × 9.81
σst = = = 12.490482 MPa
A 0.001963495

1
2 × 1 × 0.01 × 2009

2
2
∴ σmax = 12490482 + 12490482 + 12490482
3
= 142.143820 MPa

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 If δst were to be ignored,
√
v= 2 × 9.81 × 0.01 = 0.442944692 m/s

r
2500 × 0.4429446922 × 1 × 200 × 109
σmax =
0.001963495 × 3
= 129.050287 MPa

resulting in an error of ≈ 9%.

Figure 47: Exercise 1

Exercises
1. The static deflection at the end of the cantilever beam
shown in Fig. 47 is given by the formula δst = W L3 /3EI,
where L is its length, I is the moment of inertia of its
cross-sectional area about the x − x axis, and E is the
modulus of elasticity. Determine the maximum height
through which the weight w = 5 lb can be dropped if
the maximum deflection at the end of the cantilever is
not to exceed 0.090 in. Use E = 30 × 106 psi.

2. A cable with a restrainer at the bottom hangs vertically

from its upper end (Fig. 48). The cable has length, L =
15 m, effective cross sectional area A = 42 mm2 , effective
modulus of elasticity E = 140 GPa, and weighs w = 3.5
N/m. A slider of weight W = 45 kg drops from a height
h = 1.5 m onto the restrainer. Determine the maximum
stress σmax in the cable using Eq. (45). Figure 48: Exercise 2

3. A sliding collar of mass M = 5 kg drops from a height

h = 10 mm onto the lower end of a non-prismatic bar

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 (Fig. 49). The lower part of the bar has length L1 = 300
mm and diameter d1 = 5 mm, whereas the upper part
has length L2 = 100 mm and diameter d2 = 10 mm. The
moduluss of elasticity of the material is E. Determine
the maximum displacement δmax and the maximum ten-
sile stress σmax due to the falling mass if E = 200 GPa
and the energy loss factor, KL = 0.85.

4. Problems 11.42

5. Problems 11.43

6. Problems 11.44

7. Problems 11.45

8. Problems 11.46

9. Problems 11.47

10. Problems 11.48

Figure 49: Exercise 3

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