Use of the Principle of Least Work and Castigliano's Second Theorem 2a

P 2b

Determine the elongation of the frame between the points where the two loads are applied For simplicity consider one quarter of the frame a u b there is no shear stress at the cut because of symmetry and no normal force, N, because of symmetry and

F = P/2

M0

Fy = 0
N N

We don't know the value of the internal moment M0, so this problem is statically indeterminant. From the Principle of Least Work

U =

U M0 = 0 M 0

for arbitrary M 0
U= 1 2 M ( x ) dx 2 EI

Here, we keep only the strain energy due to bending

M (s) =

P s M0 2

u
M (u ) = Pb M0 2

F = P/2

Pb M0 2

M0
Thus,

M ( s ) M ( u ) 1 1 U M (s) ds + M (u ) du = 0 = EI 0 M 0 EI 0 M 0 M 0
b a

which gives

1 Ps 1 Pb M 0 ( 1) ds + M 0 ( 1) du = 0 EI 2 EI 2 0 0
b a

Pba Pb 2 + M 0b + M 0a = 0 4 2

Thus, we obtain

Pb ( 2a + b ) M0 = 4 ( a + b)

Now that we have the moment we can find the displacement F u a b

F = P/2

s
F

M0
Note that

U = U ( F , M 0 ( F ))
U F = F U + M 0 M 0 F

But we have

M0

Thus, even though M 0 = M 0 ( F )

we can treat M0 as if it was a constant

when differentiating the strain energy

1 U= 2 EI

( Fs M 0 )
0
b

1 ds + 2 EI

( Fb M 0 )
0
a 0

du

1 U F = = F EI

1 ( Fs M 0 ) sds + EI 0

( Fb M ) bdu
0

1 Fb3 M 0b 2 = + Fab 2 M 0 ab EI 3 2
Placing in the expressions for F and M0 in terms of P

Pb3 ( 4a + b ) F = 24 EI ( a + b )
We need to double this result since this is only the elongation of one side, giving

Pb3 ( 4a + b ) P = 2 F = 12 EI ( a + b )