5.

3 Castiglianos theorem on deflection

for linear load-deflection relations
For this case complementary strain energy is
equal to strain energy and we get
qj = xj =

U
Pj

and

j =

U
M j

j =

U
T j

For general case

xi =

N N
kV V
M M
T T
U
dx +
dx +
dx +
dx
=
EA Fi
GA Fi
EI Fi
GJ Fi
Fi

i =

N N
kV V
M M
T T
U
dx +
dx +
dx +
dx
=
EA M i
GA M i
EI M i
GJ M i
M i

N N
kV V
M M
T T
U
dx +
dx +
dx +
dx
i =
=
EA M i
GA M i
EI M i
GJ M i
M i

Procedure
Write an expression for each of the
internal actions (axial force, bending
moment, shear force, and torque) in each
member of the structure in terms of
external loads.
Take derivatives of strain energy to get
deflections and/or rotations

Example

M = ( Px + 0.5wx 2 )

M
= x
P

L
1
1 PL3 wL4
M M
2
3
( Px + 0.5wx )dx =
yA =
dx =
+

3
8
EI
P
EI
EI

0
0
L

What displacement will we get if we differentiate with

respect to w?

From 2005 qualifying exam

Caution: Note that ABCD

is in the horizontal plane
perpendicular to the
direction of F!

Solution
Member CD acts like cantilever beam with end load
L

M = Fx

U CD

M 2 dx F 2 L3
=
=
2 EI
6 EI
0

Member BC has in addition torque FL

U BC

T 2 L F 2 L3 F 2 L3 F 2 L3
=
+
=
+
2GJ 6 EI
2GJ 6 EI

Member AB has the end force plus a clockwise moment

FL plus torque FL
F 2 L3 F 2 L3
+
M = Fx FL U AB =
3EI 2GJ
Altogether
2 F 2 L3 F 2 L3
+
U=
GJ
3EI

U 4 FL3 2 FL3
=
+
yD =
F
GJ
3EI

How can we solve

this problem as easily
without castigliano?

Dummy load method

1.
2.
3.
4.

When we want to calculate displacements or

rotation at a point where no forces are applied
use the following procedure
Apply a dummy load at the point
Calculate the energy in term of actual forces
plus dummy load
Take derivative with respect to magnitude of
dummy load
Set magnitude of dummy load to zero

Example
What is the rotation at point D?
Add clockwise moment m at point D
Examine contribution of member CD
L

M = Fx + m

U CD =

( Fx + m )

dx

2 EI

U CD
m

m=0

Fxdx FL2
=
=
EI
2 EI
0

Member BC will have the same contribution in

bending and in addition a torque m
(U BC )torsion

(T + m )
=
2GJ

(U BC )torsion
m

m =0

TL FL2
=
=
GJ GJ

Example continued
Member AB
M AB = Fx ( FL m )
(U AB )bending
m

=
m=0

Altogether

Please check!

(U AB )bending

( Fx FL ) dx = FL2
EI

FL2
D =
GJ

2 EI

Fx + m FL ) dx
(
=
2 EI
0
L

Maxwell Reciprocal Theorem

(?James Clerk Maxwell 1831-1879)

If we have two generalized loads Q1 and Q2,

Strain energy will be a quadratic form in both
U = aQ12 + bQ1Q2 + cQ22

Generalized coordinate q2 when only Q1 applies

U
Q2

= bQ1
Q2 = 0

Generalized coordinate q1 when only Q2 applies

U
Q1

= bQ2
Q1 = 0

Instead of measuring rotation due to force may

be more convenient to measure displacement
due to moment

Simple example
What is the rotation of a cantilever beam under
end force?
Requires dealing with bending moment that is function
of location
d 2w
EI 2 = P ( L x)
w(0) = w '(0) = 0
dx
dw P
PL2
2
=
( Lx x / 2) w '( L) =
dx EI
2 EI

Instead calculate displacement at tip due to end

moment (set M=P)
d w
2

=M
dx 2
M 2
w=
x
2 EI
EI

Beware of units!

w(0) = w '(0) = 0

ML2
w( L) =
2 EI

Reading assignment
Section 5.5: What is more difficult about applying Castiglianos
theorem to statically indeterminate structures compared to
statically determinate ones?

Source: www.library.veryhelpful.co.uk/ Page11.htm