MODULE 5

Unit 2
CLASSICAL METHODS OF STRUCTURAL
ANALYSIS FOR TRANSITIONS
(DEFLECTIONS) AND ROTATIONS OF
STATICALLY DETERMINATE STRUCTURES

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Module 5: PRINCIPLE OF VIRTUAL

WORK
Virtual Work Method for Determinate Beams

Consider a body in equilibrium,

Work Done = Virtual Work

From the principle of conservation of energy, the virtual change in external work is equal
to the virtual change in the internal elements of a body.

𝛿𝑊𝑒 = 𝛿𝑊𝑒𝑡

For rigid bodies, the total work done is equal to zero. For deformable bodies in an elastic
system, the total external work done is equal to the total potential energy in the system.

The application of virtual work can be used for a deformation of a point. The real deflection
Δ of a point in the direction of the applied virtual unit force is equal to the sum of the real
deformations of a body dL over the internal forces caused by the virtual unit force u:

1 ∗ ∆ = ∑ 𝑢 ∗ 𝑑𝐿

Procedure for Analysis:

Step 1: Set-up Virtual Moment, m

 Place a virtual unit load on the beam at the point and directed along the
deflection.
 If the slope is to be determined, place a virtual unit couple moment at the point.
 Establish appropriate x coordinates.
 With the virtual load in place and all the real loads removed from the beam,
calculate the internal moment m, as a function of x.

Step 2: Set-up Real Moment, M

 Using the same x coordinates, determine the internal moment M caused by the
real loads.
 The moment function M should have the same “positive direction” as the moment
function m.

Step 3: Solve Virtual Work Equation

 Apply the equation of virtual work to determine the desired deflection or slope.

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 If the virtual work equation yields a positive value, the deflection or slope is in the
same direction as the virtual unit load or couple, respectively. Negative value
means opposite direction.

For a virtual couple Q = 1,

𝐿
𝑚𝑀
1∗𝜃 =∫ 𝑑𝑥
0 𝐸𝐼

Similarly, for a virtual force P = 1,

𝐿
𝑚𝑀
1 ∗ ∆= ∫ 𝑑𝑥
0 𝐸𝐼

REAL SYSTEM VIRTUAL SYSTEM

P=1

A B A B

Q=1

A B ΔB A B
Real A
External Deflection
Virtual External Force (P) or
(Located at a single point only) Virtual External Couple (Q)

Unit Load Located at point B

Placed downward or clockwise (in

the assumed direction of the
deflection or rotation)

REAL MOMENT VIRTUAL MOMENT

M m

A B A B

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Example 5.1

Given a cantilever beam 5m long with a uniform load w = 5 kN/m. E = 200 GPa and I = 300 x
106 mm4. Determine:

a. The deflection at point B of the beam.

b. The slope at point B of the beam.

Solution:

a. Deflection at point B
Set-up Virtual Moment, m
- Place a unit load at B in the assumed
direction.
- Define coordinate axis, x
- Set-up moment function, m
 Using singularity functions:
𝑚 = −1(𝑥 − 0)1
𝑚 = −𝑥

 Using Method of Sections:

∑𝑀 = 0

0 = 1(𝑥) + 𝑚
𝑚 = −𝑥

Set-up Real Moment, M

- Use the same coordinate axis, x
- Set-up moment function, M
 Using singularity functions:
𝑤
𝑀 = − (𝑥 − 0)2
2
𝑤𝑥 2
𝑀= −
2

 Using Method of Sections:

∑𝑀 = 0

𝑥
0 = 𝑤𝑥 ( ) + 𝑀
2
𝑤𝑥 2
𝑀= −
2

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Virtual work Equation:

𝐿
𝑚𝑀
∆𝐵 = ∫ 𝑑𝑥
0 𝐸𝐼

1 𝐿 −𝑤𝑥 2
∆𝐵 = ∫ (−𝑥) ( ) 𝑑𝑥
𝐸𝐼 0 2
𝐿
1 𝐿 𝑤𝑥 3 𝑤𝑥 4
= ∫ 𝑑𝑥 = |
𝐸𝐼 0 2 8𝐸𝐼 0

𝑘𝑁
𝑤𝐿4 (5 )(5 𝑚)4 (1000𝑚𝑚)3
= = 𝑚
Deflection is positive. Therefore, the
8𝐸𝐼 8(200 𝐺𝑃𝑎)(300 𝑥 106 𝑚𝑚4 )
assumed downwards virtual unit load
∆𝐵 = 6.510 𝑚𝑚 ↓ is correct. Deflection is in the same
direction as the virtual unit load.

b. Slope at point B
Set-up Virtual Moment, m
- Place a unit moment at B in the assumed
direction.
- Set-up moment function, m
 Using singularity functions:
𝑚 = −1(𝑥 − 0)0
𝑚 = −1

 Using Method of Sections:

∑𝑀 = 0

0= 1+𝑚
𝑚 = −1
Set-up Real Moment, M
- Use the same real moment from (a)

Virtual work Equation:

𝐿
𝑚𝑀 1 𝐿 −𝑤𝑥 2
𝜃𝐵 = ∫ 𝑑𝑥 = ∫ (−1) ( ) 𝑑𝑥
0 𝐸𝐼 𝐸𝐼 0 2
Slope is positive. Therefore, the
𝑘𝑁
3 𝐿 assumed virtual unit moment is
𝑤𝑥 (5 𝑚 )(5 𝑚)3 (1000𝑚𝑚)2
= | = correct. Slope is in the same rotation
6𝐸𝐼 0 6(200 𝐺𝑃𝑎)(300 𝑥 106 𝑚𝑚4 )
as the virtual moment.
𝜃𝐵 = 1.736 𝑥 10−3 𝑟𝑎𝑑

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Example 5.2

Given a simply supported beam with overhang. E = 200 GPa and I = 100 x 106 mm4. Determine:

a. The deflection at point A of the beam.

Solution:

c. Deflection at point B
Set-up Virtual Moment, m
- Place a unit load at A in the assumed
direction.
- Define two coordinate axis, x
- Two x-coordinate axes will be used to
simplify the setting up of the moment
function ( x1 and x2 ).
- Determine reactions if needed
𝑅𝐵 = 1.5 𝑘𝑁 ↑
𝑅𝑐 = 0.5 𝑘𝑁 ↓
- Set-up moment function, m
 Using singularity functions:
A-B:
𝑚1 = −1(𝑥1 − 0)1
𝑚1 = −𝑥1

C-B:
𝑚2 = −0.5(𝑥2 − 0)1
𝑚2 = −0.5𝑥2

Set-up Real Moment, M

- Use the same coordinate axes
- Determine reactions if needed
𝑅𝐵 = 23.75 𝑘𝑁 ↑
𝑅𝑐 = 13.75 𝑘𝑁 ↑
- Set-up moment function, M
 Using singularity functions:
A-B:
5/3
𝑀1 = − (𝑥1 − 0)3
6
5𝑥1 3
𝑀1 = −
18

C-B:

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5
𝑀2 = 13.75(𝑥2 − 0)1 − (𝑥2 − 0)2
2
𝑀2 = 13.75𝑥2 − 2.5𝑥2 2

Virtual work Equation:

𝐿
𝑚𝑀
∆𝐴 = ∫ 𝑑𝑥
0 𝐸𝐼

1 3 −5𝑥1 3
∆𝐴 = ∫ (−𝑥1 ) ( ) 𝑑𝑥1
𝐸𝐼 0 18

1 6
+ ∫ (−0.5𝑥2 )(13.75𝑥2 − 2.5𝑥2 2 )𝑑𝑥2
𝐸𝐼 0

1 3 5𝑥1 4
= ∫ 𝑑𝑥1
𝐸𝐼 0 18

1 6
+ ∫ −6.875𝑥2 2 + 1.25𝑥2 3 𝑑𝑥2
𝐸𝐼 0
3 6
𝑥1 5 −6.875𝑥2 3 1.25𝑥2 4
= | + + |
18𝐸𝐼 0 3𝐸𝐼 4𝐸𝐼 0

35 6.875(63 ) 1.25(64 ) 76.5

= − + =−
18𝐸𝐼 3𝐸𝐼 4𝐸𝐼 𝐸𝐼

76.5 𝑘𝑁 − 𝑚3
=−
𝐸𝐼
76.5 (10003 )
=−
200𝐺𝑃𝑎(100 𝑥 106 𝑚𝑚4 )

∆𝐴 = −3.825 𝑚𝑚

∆𝐴 = 3.825 𝑚𝑚 ↑ Computed deflection is negative.

Therefore, deflection is in the opposite
direction as the virtual unit load.

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Self-Assessment Question 5

1. Determine the slope at point D, and the maximum deflection for the beam shown by using the
method of virtual work. EI is constant, E = 200 GPa, I = 500 x 106 mm4.

A B C D
3m 10m 4m

2. Use virtual work method to find the slope at the right end of the beam, and the maximum
deflection of the beam shown in the figure. Take E = 200 GPa and I = 400 x 106 mm4.

A 2m 2m 4m B

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Answer to Self-Assessment Question 5

1. Determine the slope at point D, and the maximum deflection for the beam shown by using
the method of virtual work. EI is constant, E = 200 GPa, I = 500x106 mm4.

A B C D
3m 10m 4m

𝑨𝒏𝒔. 𝜽𝑫 = −𝟎. 𝟎𝟎𝟎𝟕𝟗 𝒓𝒂𝒅, ∆𝒎𝒂𝒙 = 𝟏𝟑. 𝟎𝟔 𝒎𝒎 ↓ 𝒂𝒕 𝟕. 𝟕𝟔𝟖𝒎 𝒇𝒓𝒐𝒎 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒓𝒊𝒈𝒉𝒕 𝒐𝒇 𝑨.

2. Use virtual work method to find the slope at the right end of the beam, and the maximum
deflection of the beam shown in the figure. Take E = 200 GPa and I = 400x106 mm4.

A 2m 2m 4m B

𝑨𝒏𝒔. 𝜽𝑩 = 𝟎. 𝟎𝟎𝟏𝟔𝟔 𝒓𝒂𝒅, ∆𝒎𝒂𝒙 = 𝟑. 𝟖𝟎𝟖 𝒎𝒎 ↓ 𝒂𝒕 𝟒. 𝟐𝟑𝟔𝒎 𝒇𝒓𝒐𝒎 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒓𝒊𝒈𝒉𝒕 𝒐𝒇 𝑨.

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