Galerkin's Method

It is one of the weighted residual method for determining approximate solution for a given
problem
Procedure :-
Step 1 Formulate the differential equation of equilibrium
Step 2 Assume trial displacement function [polynomial or trigonometric ] which should
satisfy boundary conditions
Step 3 Substitute the displacement into differential equation of equilibrium . if the
function assumed is exact then equilibrium is satisfied, if not the difference due to
. the approximate function is denoted by Residue ‘R’ .
Step 4 Determine the constants of the function by using Galerkin's formula
𝐿
0 𝑖
𝑓 𝑥 𝑅𝑑𝑥 = 0 OR 𝑓1 𝑥 𝑅𝑑𝑥 = 0 and 𝑓2 𝑥 𝑅𝑑𝑥 = 0

Where, i is the order of unknowns

𝑓1 𝑥 and 𝑓2 𝑥 are the functions of displacement model. They are also known as weight
functions and are also represented as 𝑓𝑖 𝑥 = 𝑊𝑖 𝑥
Step 5 knowing the constants of displacement function , determine the unknown values
Differential equation for bars and beams subjected to different types of loading
The differential equation, trial displacement function and boundary conditions that are
applicable to bars and beams for few standard cases are given below. The trial function can
be different from the one that is given but it should satisfy all the boundary conditions.
For bars
1) Bar subjected to axial point load P at its free end A1E
𝜕2𝑢
a) Differential equation is EA𝜕𝑥 2 = 0 2
1
b) Trial Displacement function u = a0 +a1x +a2x2 P

c) Boundary conditions, L
∂u 𝑃
(i) At x=0 , u=0 and (ii) At x=L =
∂x 𝐸𝐴

2) For bar subjected to distributed axial load throughout its length

A1E
𝜕2𝑢
a) Differential equation is EA𝜕𝑥 2 + P0= 0 𝑃0 / 𝑢𝑛𝑖𝑡 𝑙𝑒𝑛𝑔𝑡𝑕

b) Trial Displacement function u = a0 +a1x +a2x2 2

1
c) Boundary conditions,
(i) At x = 0 , u = 0 L
 ∂u 𝑃
(ii) At x = L = 𝐸𝐴 = 0 [since P is absent ]
∂x

3) For bar subjected to distributed axial load throughout and axial point load at the end
𝜕2𝑢
a) Differential equation is EI 𝜕𝑥 2 + P0= 0 A1E
𝑃0 / 𝑢𝑛𝑖𝑡 𝑙𝑒𝑛𝑔𝑡𝑕
b) Trial Displacement function u = a0 +a1x +a2x2
2
c) Boundary conditions 1
∂u 𝑃
P
(i) At x = 0 , u = 0 and (ii) At x = L , ∂x = 𝐸𝐴
L
p

For Beams
1) Cantilever beam subjected to point load at its free end

4 y
Differential equation is EI =0
x 4
Trial displacement function, y = a0 + a1x + a2x2 + a3x3 + a4x4
x P
E,I
Boundary conditions,
y L
(i) At x= 0, y = 0 (ii) At x = 0, 0
x

2 y 3 y P
(iii) At x = L, 0 (iv) At x = L, 3  
x 2 x EI
2) Cantilever beam subjected to UDL throughout its length

4 y
Differential equation is EI  P0  0
x 4 E,I P0/unit length

y
(i) At x= 0 , y= 0 (ii) At x= 0 , 0
x L

2 y 3 y
(iii) At x=L , 0 (iv) At x=L , 0 ,
x 2 x 3
3) Simply supported beam subjected to UDL throughout
E,I P0/unit length
 y
4
a) Differential equation is EI  P0  0
x 4
L
b) Trial displacement function
𝜋𝑥 𝜋𝑥 3𝜋𝑥
y = a0 + a1x + a2x2 + a3x3 + a4x4 OR y = a sin ( 𝐿 ) OR y = a sin ( 𝐿 ) + b sin ( )
𝐿
 c) Boundary conditions

2 y
i) At x= 0 , y= 0 (ii) At x= 0 , 0
x 2

2 y
iii) At x= L , y= 0 (iv) At x= L , 0
x 2