CED 426

Structural Theory II
Lecture 1
Principle of Virtual Work
Method of Virtual Work (Trusses)

Mary Joanne C. Aniñon

Instructor
Principle of Virtual Work
• Developed by John Bernoulli in 1717
• Sometimes referred to as the unit-load method
• Provides a general means of obtaining the displacement and slope at
a specific point on a structure, be it a beam, frame, or truss.
Principle of Virtual Work
• The external and internal loads are related by the equation of
equilibrium
• If we take a deformable structure of any shape or size and apply a
series of external loads P to it, it will cause internal load u at points
throughout the structure.
• As a consequences of these loadings, external displacements Δ will
occur at the P loads and internal displacements δ will occur at each
point of internal load u.
Principle of Virtual Work
• In general, the principle of work and energy states:

Work of External Loads = Work of Internal Loads

The Principle of
Virtual Work was
developed based on
this concept.
Principle of Virtual Work
• Supposed it is necessary to determine the displacement Δ
of point A on the body caused by the “real loads” P1 P2,
and P3.
• The displacement Δ can be determined by first placing on
the body a “virtual” load such that this force P’ acts on
the same direction as Δ.
• For convenience, we will choose P’ to have a unit
magnitude, i.e., P’ =1
• The term “virtual” is used to described the load, since it is
imaginary and does not actually exist as part of the real
loading.
Principle of Virtual Work
• The unit load P’ does create an internal load u,
hence, P’ and u are related by the equations of
equilibrium.
• After the virtual loadings are applied, then the
frame is subjected to the “real loads” P1 P2, and P3.
• Point A will be displaced an amount Δ and, causing
the element to deform an amount
Principle of Virtual Work
• Therefore, we can write the virtual-work equation as

where
P’ = 1 = external virtual unit load acting in the direction of
= internal virtual load acting on the element in the
direction of
Δ = external displacement caused by the real loads
= internal deformation of the elements caused by the real
loads.
Principle of Virtual Work
• Since P’ = 1, therefore,

• In similar manner, if the rotational displacement or

slope of the tangent at a point on a structure is to be
determined, a virtual couple moment M’ having a
“unit” magnitude is applied at the point.
• As a consequences, this couple moment causes a
virtual load in one of the elements of the body.
Principle of Virtual Work
• Assuming that the real loads deform the element an
amount , the rotation θ can be found from the virtual-
work equation:

where
M’ = 1 = external virtual unit couple moment acting in the
direction of θ
= internal virtual load acting on the element in the direction of
θ = external rotational displacement caused by the real loads
= internal deformation of the elements caused by the real loads.
Principle of Virtual Work
• This method for applying the principle of virtual work is often referred
to as the method of virtual forces, since a virtual force is applied
resulting in the calculation of a real displacement.
Method of Virtual Work: Trusses
EXTERNAL LOADING
• To compute the vertical displacement Δ of joint B of the truss
caused by external loadings P1 and P2:

where

where
1 = external virtual unit load acting on the truss joint in the stated direction
of Δ
Method of Virtual Work: Trusses
= internal normal force in a truss member caused by the external virtual
unit load
Δ = external join displacement caused by the real loads on the truss
= internal normal force in a truss member caused by the real loads
= length of the member
= cross-sectional area of a member
= modulus of elasticity of a member
Method of Virtual Work: Trusses
TEMPERATURE
• In some cases, truss members may change their length due to
temperature
• If α is the coefficient of thermal expansion for a member and is
the change in its temperature, the change in length of a member is

• To compute the displacement of a selected truss joint due to this

temperature change

where
1 = external virtual unit load acting on the truss joint in the stated direction of Δ
Method of Virtual Work: Trusses
= internal normal force in a truss member caused by the external virtual
unit load
Δ = external join displacement caused by the temperature change
= coefficient of thermal expansion of a member
= change in temperature of member
= length of the member
Method of Virtual Work: Trusses
FABRICATION ERRORS AND CAMBERS
• Occasionally, errors in fabricating the lengths of the members
of a truss may occur
• Also, in some cases truss members must be made slightly
longer or shorter in order to give the truss a camber
• To compute the displacement of a truss joint from its expected
position

where
1 = external virtual unit load acting on the truss joint in the stated direction of
Δ
Method of Virtual Work: Trusses
= internal normal force in a truss member caused by the external virtual
unit load
Δ = external join displacement caused by the fabrication errors
= difference in length of the member from its intended size as caused by a
fabrication error
Procedure for Analysis
Virtual Forces,
• Place the unit load on the truss at the joint where the desired
displacement is to be determined. The load should be in the same
direction as the specified displacement, e.g., horizontal or vertical.
• With the unit load so placed, and all the real loads removed from the
truss, used the method of joints or the method of sections and
calculate the internal force in each truss member.
• NOTE: Assume that tensile forces are positive and compressive forces
are negative.
Procedure for Analysis
Real Forces,
• Use the method of joints or the method of sections to determine the
force in each member.
• NOTE: Assume that tensile forces are positive and compressive forces
are negative.
Procedure for Analysis
Virtual-Work Equation
• Apply the equation of virtual work, to determine the desired
displacement. It is importance to retain the algebraic sign for each of
the corresponding and forces when substituting these terms into the
equation.
• If the resultant sum is positive, the displacement Δ is in the same
direction as the unit load. If a negative value results, Δ is opposite to
the unit load.
Procedure for Analysis
Virtual-Work Equation
• When applying , realize that if any of the members undergoes an
increase in temperature, will be positive, whereas a decrease in
temperature results in a negative value for .
• For , when a fabrication error increases the length of a member, is
positive, whereas decrease in length is negative.
Procedure for Analysis
Virtual-Work Equation
• When applying any formula, attention should be paid to the units of
each numerical quantity. In particular, the virtual unit load can be
assigned any arbitrary unit (lb, kip, N, etc.), since the n forces will
have these sam units, and as a result of the units for both the virtual
unit load and the n forces will cancel from both sides of the equation.
EXAMPLE 1
Problem:
Determine the vertical displacement if joint C of the steel truss shown.
The cross-sectional area of each member is A = 300 mm2 and E = 200
Gpa.
EXAMPLE 1
Solution: F E

• Virtual Forces n
• The virtual force in each member is calculated A
B C D
using the method of joints.

1 kN
: F E

1(6)-RD(9)=0
RD= 0.667 kN
: B C
A D
0.667-1+ RAY =0
RAY= 0.333 kN
0.333 kN 1 kN 0.667 kN
 F E

EXAMPLE 1 A
B C D

Solution:
• Virtual Forces n 0.333 kN 1 kN 0.667 kN

@ pt. D: -0.943 kN
0.667+RDEsin(45)=0
RDE= -0.943 kN 45°
0.667 kN D
@ pt. D:
-(-0.943)cos(45)- RDC =0
RDC= 0.667 kN 0.667 kN

@ pt. C: 1 kN

RCE-1=0
RCE= 1 kN 0.667 kN C 0.667 kN
@ pt. C:
0.667-RCB=0
RCB= 0.667 kN
1 kN
 F E

-0
. 94
3

EXAMPLE 1
1 kN kN

45° B C
A D
0.667 kN 0.667 kN

Solution:
• Virtual Forces n 0.333 kN 1 kN 0.667 kN

@ pt. E:
E
-1-(-0.943)cos(45)- REB cos(45)=0 -0.333 kN E
REB= -0.471 kN 45° 45°

@ pt. E: -0.943 kN
-0.471 kN
-(-0.471)sin(45)+(-0.943)sin(45)-R EF =0 1 kN
REF= -0.333 kN
@ pt. F:
-0.334-RFAsin(45)=0 F
-0.334 kN
RFA= -0.471 kN
45°
@ pt. D: -0.471 kN
-(-0.471)cos(45)-REF =0
0.333kN
REF= 0.333kN
 F -0.333 kN E

-0
. 94

kN
kN 3

EXAMPLE 1
1

71
7 1 kN kN
.4 0.333kN

.4
-0

-0
45° B C
A D
0.333 kN 0.667 kN 0.667 kN

Solution:
• Virtual Forces n 0.333 kN 1 kN 0.667 kN

@ pt. A: -0.471 kN

(-0.471)cos(45)+RAB =0
45°
RAB= 0.333 kN A 0.333kN

0.333 kN
 F -0.333 kN E

-0
. 94

kN
kN 3

EXAMPLE 1
1

71
7 1 kN kN
.4 0.333kN

.4
-0

-0
45° B C
A D
0.333 kN 0.667 kN 0.667 kN

Solution:
• Real Forces N 0.333 kN 1 kN 0.667 kN

• The real forces in the members are calculated

using the method of joints (the same F -20 kN E
procedure..) -2
8.
kN 28

kN
84 4
kN
.2

0
28 20 kN 20 kN
-
45° B C
A D
0.333 kN 0.667 kN 0.667 kN

20 kN 20 kN 20 kN 20 kN
 F -0.333 kN E

-0
. 94

kN
kN 3

EXAMPLE 1
1

71
7 1 kN kN
.4 0.333kN

.4
-0

-0
45° B C
A D
0.333 kN 0.667 kN 0.667 kN

Solution:
• Virtual-Work Equation 0.333 kN 1 kN 0.667 kN

• Arrange the data in tabular form:

MEMBER n (kN) N (kN) L (m) nNL (kN2.m) F -20 kN E

AB 0.333 20 3 20 -2
8.
kN 28

kN
BC 0.667 20 3 40 84 4
kN
.2

0
28 20 kN 20 kN
-
CD 0.667 20 3 40 45° B C D
A
0.333 kN 0.667 kN 0.667 kN
DE -0.943 -28.284 4.243 113.20
FE -0.333 -20 3 20
20 kN 20 kN 20 kN 20 kN
EB -0.471 0 4.243 0
BF 0.333 20 3 20
AF -0.471 -28.284 4.243 56.60
CE 1 0 3 60
EXAMPLE 1
MEMBER n (kN) N (kN) L (m) nNL (kN2.m)
AB 0.333 20 3 20
BC 0.667 20 3 40
CD 0.667 20 3 40
DE -0.943 -28.284 4.243 113.20
FE -0.333 -20 3 20
EB -0.471 0 4.243 0
BF 0.333 20 3 20
AF -0.471 -28.284 4.243 56.60
CE 1 0 3 60
EXAMPLE 1
Thus,

= 0.00616 m or 6.16 mm