Introduction to Virtual Work

Virtual Work is a hypothetical concept that is used mainly for derivation and proof.
However it will be seen that this concept can be used as a primary method of analysis.
Consider a structure having external loads W i with equivalent (vector) displacements
i at the joints, and internal forces P j with equivalent displacements e j in the
members. If the loads W i are in equilibrium with the forces P j and the displacements
i are compatible with the displacements e j , then the principle of virtual work states
that:
Wi i = Pj ej
joints

members

If the conditions of equilibrium and compatibility are satisfied, neither of the sets of
forces or displacements need actually exist, but may be only virtual. Combinations of
Virtual forces with real displacements lead to indirect methods of analysis in which
the final equations are transformed into a more easily managed form 1
The key to the solution of statically indeterminate structures is the ability to
determine structural deformations 2. The deflection of a structure may be a design
criterion, those familiar with the design of slabs are usually aware of this. There are 2
basic approaches to the analysis of structural deformations, strain energy and virtual
work. Strain energy is limited to the elastic range, hence the advantage of the Virtual
work method, of being able to deal with conditions other then those within the elastic
range. Virtual work is also considered to be the more powerful of the two methods. It
must be stressed that it is important to qualitatively understand the applications of the
concepts of virtual work to the problem at hand.
Two conditions that must be satisfied in a structure are:
1. The applied forces and the internal forces (reactions) must be in equilibrium.
2. Simultaneously, the structural deformations must be compatible with the type
of supports
The example below will illustrate these two conditions:

1
2

Solving problems in Structures, Croxton and Martin

Understanding structural analysis, 2nd edition, David Brohn

W
A

MA

VA

VC
Load and reaction
equilibrium

Deflected shape compatible

with supports

Virtual States:
The concept of a virtual state is useful in solving certain kinds of problems,
particularly those of deformations. These virtual states need only satisfy one of the
two conditions mentioned previously:
either equilibrium or compatibility.
We will use the previous example to discuss these concepts.
W
A

VIRTUAL FORCE
In this virtual force state there is
equilibrium of forces, since the load is
supported by the moment and vertical
reaction at A. However the deflection
is no longer compatible with the rigid
support at C

MA
VA

VIRTUAL DISPLACEMENT
A state of virtual displacement can be
created by the introduction of a hinge at
A and B, which is compatible with the
support conditions. The introduction of
these two hinges results in a mechanism,
Hence this system satisfies compatibilty
but not equilibrium

The virtual state is an analytical device. Because only one state needs to be satisfied
it is more easily evaluated. When we combine real and virtual states, we can easily
develop theorems of great power and application in the solution of structural
problems 3
Students are referred to the book, Understanding structural analysis, 2nd edition for the
proof of two formulae which are discussed herein after:

Understanding structural analysis, 2nd edition, David Brohn

The following theorems are reproduced from Brohns Understanding structural

analysis:
1. Theorem of VIRTUAL Displacements;
In any structural system the external VIRTUAL work of the applied loads
acting over the VIRTUAL displacement is equal to the internal VIRTUAL
work of the VIRTUAL displacement acting against the internal forces
2. Theorem of VIRTUAL Forces;
In any structural system the external VIRTUAL work of the external
VIRTUAL forces acting over the real displacement is equal to the internal
VIRTUAL work done against the internal VIRTUAL forces by the real
displacement
General equation of VIRTUAL work:
W=actual force in direction of VIRTUAL displacement * VIRTUAL displacement
Refer to examples from Brohn, chapter 5 frame 22 and frame 60
W
18
A

B
Ultimate Mt of R
2Mu for sagging and Mu for hogging

W
A

18

B
1

B C

12

D
B

1=
M

2=
Virtual system of displacements

1
A

MU

MU

D
B

0.556

0.444

2MU
Actual equilibrium system of
internal forces

Virtual work method for deflection (applied at joints);

This method has been covered adequately in Structural Analysis 2 or 3 for
determining the deflection in a structure at a particular point and in a particular
direction.
Remember the formula =nNL/AE (refer to STAN201 or STAN301 notes).

=N/A , = /L and E= / hence E=(N/A)/(/L) and =NL/AE

L
Nn
internal virtual work U= n, therefore U=
dx
AE
0
Example 1 (deflection of truss):
Calculate the vertical component of the deflection, at node 6,
for the truss shown below for the given loading; assume 300W
steel and 50 x 50 x 5 angles for all members
Y

Z
10 kN

10 kN
10 m

10 m

10 m

member
1-2
2-3
3-4
4-5
5-6
6-1
2-6
3-6
3-5

N
14.144
10
14.144
-10
-10
-10
-10
0
-10

n
0.9428
0.666
0.4714
-0.3333
-0.3333
-0.6666
-0.6666
-0.4714
0

deflection =NnL/AE
A=
4.80E-04
E=
2.00E+08
deflection=
5.72

L
14.144
10
14.144
10
10
10
10
14.144
10

NnL
188.61
66.60
94.30
33.33
33.33
66.66
66.66
0.00
0.00
549.49

M^2
mm

10
2

14.14
-9.999

-10

14.14
-9.999

-.0004

-10

-10

1
Z

0.9428

0.6666

-0.6666

-0.4714

-0

-0.3333

-0.6666
1
Z

member
1-2
2-3
3-4
4-5
5-6
6-1
2-6
3-6
3-5

N
14.144
10
14.144
-10
-10
-10
-10
0
-10

n
0.9428
0.666
0.4714
-0.3333
-0.3333
-0.6666
-0.6666
-0.4714
0

deflection =NnL/AE
A=
4.80E-04
E=
2.00E+08
deflection=
5.72

-0.3333
5

L
14.144
10
14.144
10
10
10
10
14.144
10

0.4714

NnL
188.61
66.60
94.30
33.33
33.33
66.66
66.66
0.00
0.00
549.49

M^2
mm

Virtual work method for deflection in rigidly jointed structures, where the loads
are applied at points other then the joints.
Here bending moment and other stress resultants will also be present. Due to the
variable nature of the resultants it becomes necessary to integrate along the length of
the member. The integrands are derived by partial differentiation of the expressions
for strain energy (eg axial force: P2d x / 2EA)
Axial Force:
nNd x / AE
Bending Moment: mMd x / EI
Shear Force:
sSd x / GA
Torque:
tTd x / GJ
(Lower case italics indicate stress resultants due to the unit / virtual load)
Total deflection is given by:
i = pPd x / AE + mMd x / EI + sSd x / GA + tTd x / GJ
The derivation of most of these formulae can be found in Brohn chapter 5, frames 33
to 52.
For rotation a unit moment is used instead of a unit load

Example 1 (eg 6.2 from SPIS)

Show that the midspan deflection of a simply supported beam with a uniformly
distributed load is 5wL4/384EI
= 2 0 L/2 mMd x / EI Where for x <= L/2, M= wL/2*x w*x2/2
m= *x= x/2
w
1
x

= w(Lx2-x3)dx/2EI = 5wL4/384EI
Using table of integration (T6.2, P12, SPIS):
mMdx = Lac
= 5/12*L*(wL2/8)*(1*L/4) = 5wL3/384EI
Example 2 (eg 6.8 from SPIS)
-2wh2

w
B
h

2I
A

C
M

2h

-2h
mH

mV

-1*h
H = [ m H Mdz/2EI] AB + [ m H Mdz/2EI] BC
H = [Lac/2EI] AB + [Lac/2EI] BC
H=
*
+ 0*
H = [0.5*h*(-1h)*(-2wh2)+0]/2EI= wh4/2EI
V=
*
+
*
2
V = [1*h*(-2h)*(-2wh )]/2EI + [1/4*2h*(-2h)*(-2wh2)]/EI
V = 4wh4/2EI+2wh4/EI= 4wh4/EI
assume w=5 kN/m, h=3m, E=200x103N/mm2 and I=328x106mm4
Calculated deflection=4wh4/EI=4*5*3000^4/200E3/328E6= 24.7mm at node 10 vert

Tutorial 1
a) Determine the slope at C, for the frame shown in example above.

-2wh2

w
B
h

2I
A

C
M

2h

1
Mdue to rotation
-1
C = (1*h*(-1)*(-2wh2))/2EI+(1/3*2h*(-1)*(-2wh2))/EI
C = wh3+4wh3/3EI
C = 7wh3/3EI radians
assume w=5 kN/m, h=3m, E=200x103N/mm2 and I=328x106mm4 Ma=90kNm
C = 7*5*3000^3/3/200E3/328E6=0.004802
=================== NODAL POINT COORDINATES ================
Node no. X-coord Y-coord Z-coord Node no. X-coord Y-coord Z-coord
m
m
m
m
m
m
1
0.000
0.000
0.000
2
0.000
1.000
0.000
3
0.000
2.000
0.000
4
0.000
3.000
0.000
5
1.000
3.000
0.000
6
2.000
3.000
0.000
7
3.000
3.000
0.000
8
4.000
3.000
0.000
9
5.000
3.000
0.000
10
6.000
3.000
0.000
===============SECTION PROPERTIES ===================
Section : A Section designation: 305x305x137 H1
A
Ay
Ax
Ixx
Iyy
J
Material
m^2
m^2
m^2 m^4 m^4
m^4
17.40E-3 0.000 0.000 328E-6 106E-6 2.51E-6
Steel:300W
Section : B Section designation: 305x305x240 H1
A
Ay
Ax
Ixx
Iyy
J
Material
m^2
m^2
m^2
m^4 m^4 m^4
30.50E-3 0.000 0.000 642E-6 202E-6 13.0E-6
Steel:300W
=============== NODAL POINT DISPLACEMENTS at SLS =============
Node Lcase X-disp. Y-disp. Z-disp. X-rot. Y-rot. Z-rot.
mm
mm
mm
rad.
rad.
rad.
10
1
3.06 -24.25
0.00 0.0000 0.0000 -0.0047

10

Maximum Deflections for Load Case 1:

X :3.06 mm at node 4
Y :-24.25
Y mm at node 10

10

1
Z

90
Y

62.5

90

90

90

Z
1

40
6

22.5
7

10
8

2.5
9

10

11