M.

Vable

Mechanics of Materials: Chapter 2

Strain
Relating strains to displacements is a problem in geometry.

Kinematics

Learning objectives
Understand the concept of strain.

Printed from: http://www.me.mtu.edu/~mavable/MoM2nd.htm

Understand the use of approximate deformed shape for calculating

strains from displacements.

August 2014

2-1

M. Vable

Mechanics of Materials: Chapter 2

Preliminary Definitions
The total movement of a point with respect to a fixed reference coordinates is called displacement.
The relative movement of a point with respect to another point on the
body is called deformation.
Lagrangian strain is computed from deformation by using the original
undeformed geometry as the reference geometry.

Printed from: http://www.me.mtu.edu/~mavable/MoM2nd.htm

Eulerian strain is computed from deformation by using the final

deformed geometry as the reference geometry.

August 2014

2-2

M. Vable

Mechanics of Materials: Chapter 2

Average Normal Strain

Lo

Lf Lo

av = ---------------- = -----Lo
Lo

Lf

Elongations (Lf > Lo) result in positive normal strains. Contractions

(Lf < Lo) result in negative normal strains.
A
xA

Lo

Lf
A1
(xA+uA)

xB

L0 = xB xA

B1
x
(xB+uB)

Lf = ( xB + uB ) ( xA + uA ) = Lo + ( uB u

uB uA
av = -----------------xB xA

Units of average normal strain

Printed from: http://www.me.mtu.edu/~mavable/MoM2nd.htm

To differentiate average strain from strain at a point.

in/in, or cm/cm, or m/m
percentage.

0.5% is equal to a strain of 0.005

prefix: = 10-6.

1000 in / in is equal to a strain 0.001 in / in

August 2014

2-3

M. Vable

Mechanics of Materials: Chapter 2

C2.1
Due to the application of the forces in Fig. C2.1, the displacement of the rigid plates in the x direction were observed as given below.
Determine the axial strains in rods in sections AB, BC, and CD.
u B = 1.8 mm
u C = 0.7 mm
u D = 3.7 mm
x
A
1.5 m

F1

F2

C
F1
2.5 m

Printed from: http://www.me.mtu.edu/~mavable/MoM2nd.htm

Fig. C2.1

August 2014

2-4

D
F2
2m

F3
F3

M. Vable

Mechanics of Materials: Chapter 2

Average shear strain

.
Undeformed grid

Deformed grid

(b)

(a)
Wooden Bar with Masking Tape

Wooden Bar with Masking Tape

B /2

A1

Wooden Bar with Masking Tape

Wooden Bar with Masking Tape

av =
---
2
Decreases in the angle ( < / 2) result in positive shear strain.
Increase in the angle ( > / 2) result in negative shear strain
Units of average shear strain
To differentiate average strain from strain at a point.
rad

Printed from: http://www.me.mtu.edu/~mavable/MoM2nd.htm

prefix: = 10-6. 1000 rad is equal to a strain 0.001 rad

August 2014

2-5

M. Vable

Mechanics of Materials: Chapter 2

C2.2
A thin triangular plate ABC forms a right angle at point A.
During deformation, point A moves vertically down by A. Determine
the average shear strain at point A.
A = 0.008 in
5 in.

A
A

Printed from: http://www.me.mtu.edu/~mavable/MoM2nd.htm

Fig. C2.2

August 2014

2-6

3i
n.

M. Vable

Mechanics of Materials: Chapter 2

Small Strain Approximation

P1

Lf =

Lf

L o + D + 2L o D cos

P2

D 2
D
L f = L o 1 + ----- + 2 ----- cos
Lo
Lo

L0

Lf Lo
= ---------------- =
Lo

D 2
D
1 + ------ + 2 ------ cos 1
L
L
o
o

2.5

cos small = D
--------------Lo

Printed from: http://www.me.mtu.edu/~mavable/MoM2nd.htm

small Eq. 2.6

Eq. 2.5

2.6

% error

1.0

1.23607

19.1

0.5

0.58114

14.0

0.1

0.10454

4.3

0.05

0.005119

2.32

0.01

0.01005

0.49

0.005

0.00501

0.25

Small-strain approximation may be used for strains less than 0.01

Small normal strains are calculated by using the deformation component in the original direction of the line element regardless of the orientation of the deformed line element.
In small shear strain () calculations the following approximation may
be used for the trigonometric functions: tan
sin
cos 1
Small-strain calculations result in linear deformation analysis.
Drawing approximate deformed shape is very important in analysis of
small strains.

August 2014

2-7

M. Vable

Mechanics of Materials: Chapter 2

C2.3
A roller at P slides in a slot as shown. Determine the deformation in bar AP and bar BP by using small strain approximation.
P 0.02 in
P

40

110

Fig. C2.3

Class Problem 2.1

Draw an approximate exaggerated deformed shape.
Using small strain approximation write equations relating AP and BP
to P.
B
30
75
A

Printed from: http://www.me.mtu.edu/~mavable/MoM2nd.htm

P 0.25 mm

August 2014

2-8

M. Vable

Mechanics of Materials: Chapter 2

Strain Components
y
v

u
xx = ------x

yy = v
------y

w
zz = -------z

z
w
z

y
u

v xy = u
------- + -----y x

--2- xy
z

v x

v u
yx = ------- + ------- = xy
x y

w yz = v
------- + ------z y

w
y
---
2 yz
z

Printed from: http://www.me.mtu.edu/~mavable/MoM2nd.htm

w v
zy = -------- + ------- = yz
y z

v
y

--2- zx

z
z

August 2014

w u
zx = -------- + ------x z

w- =
xz = u
------- + ------zx
z x

2-9

M. Vable

Mechanics of Materials: Chapter 2

Engineering Strain
xx

xy

xz

yx

yy

yz

zx

zy

zz

xx

xy

yx

yy

Engineering strain matrix

Plane strain matrix

Strain at a point
xx =

u
lim -------
x 0 x

= u
x

xy = yx = lim u
------- + v
------- = u + v
y x
x 0 y x
y 0

v
yy =
y

Printed from: http://www.me.mtu.edu/~mavable/MoM2nd.htm

zz = w
z

v w
yz = zy =
+
z y
w u
zx = xz =
+
x z

tensor normal strains = engineering normal strains

tensor shear strains = (engineering shear strains)/ 2
Strain at a Point on a Line
xx =

August 2014

2-10

du ( x )
dx

M. Vable

Mechanics of Materials: Chapter 2

C2.4
Displacements u and v in the x and y directions respectively
were measured by Moire Interferometry method at many points on a
body. Displacements of four points on a body are given below. Determine
the average values of strain components xx, yy, and xy at point A
shown in Fig. C2.4.

0.0005 mm

uA = 0

vA = 0

u B = 0.625mm

v B = 0.3125mm

u C = 0.500 mm

v C = 0.5625 mm

u D = 0.250mm

v D = 1.125 mm

0.0005 mm

Printed from: http://www.me.mtu.edu/~mavable/MoM2nd.htm

Fig. C2.4

August 2014

2-11

M. Vable

Mechanics of Materials: Chapter 2

C2.5
The axial displacement in a quadratic one-dimensional finite
element is as given below. The displacements of nodes 1, 2, and 3 are u1,
u2, and u3, respectively
u1
u2
u3
u ( x ) = --------- ( x a ) ( x 2a ) ----- ( x ) ( x 2a ) + --------- ( x ) ( x a )
2
2
2
2a
a
2a
Determine the strain at Node 2.
Node 2

Node 1

x2= a

x1= 0

Printed from: http://www.me.mtu.edu/~mavable/MoM2nd.htm

August 2014

2-12

Node 3
x3= 2a