STRUCTURAL MECHANICS

Lecture 17 : Strain Energy

Introduction

When a structure is loaded it deforms. As a consequence the applied force does work which
is stored in the structure in the form of strain energy (called elastic potential energy in first
year course). A spring is the classic example of this.

Knowing a structure's strain energy characteristics allows deflections resulting from applied
force to be calculated. Consequently strain energy can be used as a structural analysis tool.

Strain energy is associated with all the main forms of loading: direct (axial) tension or
compression, bending, torsion and shear. For many structures one type of strain energy is
dominant e.g. bending for slender beams, direct (axial) for pin-jointed frames, torsion for coil
springs (coil springs dealt with separately later) and shear with deep beams (bending also
applies). Each type of loading will be considered separately.

Strain energy calculation assume linear-elastic behaviour.

Direct load (axial tension or compression)

Increase in load by δP will cause increase in extension δe.

Work done by load during extension = average load × extension

δP
= (P + ) δe = Pδe since P >> δP = gain in strain energy of bar δU
2

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 δσ δ P/A
Now E = = for load increment
δε δ e/L

LdP
∴ δe =
EA

PLδ P
Hence δU =
EA

∴ going from load 0 to P results in strain energy UD stored in bar of:

P
L P2 L
UD =
EA ∫ PdP =
0
2 EA

Note: derivation assumes that e small enough that L can be taken as constant and equal to
original unstressed length i.e. L + e ≅ L since L >> e.

If P gives stress σ, then P = σA and:

σ 2 AL σ 2V
UD = =
2E 2E

where V is the volume of the bar.

σ2
∴ specific strain energy (strain/unit volume) U D =
2E

Note: same results can be obtained by considering area under the load/extension graph.

Work done = strain energy gain UD

= area under graph

Pe f
=
2

P2 L PL
= since e f =
2 EA EA

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Bending

Consider a short length of beam of length δs

Work done by M on beam segment = strain energy in beam segment δUM

1
= Mθ
2

δs
Now θ =
R

Mδ s
∴ δU M =
2R

M E
Now =
I R

M 2δ s
∴ δU M =
2 EI

∴ over a length of beam L:

L
M2 M 2L
UM = ∫0 2 EI ds =
2 EI
if M constant along length L

Note: Expression can also be derived by considering the bending stress distribution down
the beam section, calculating the strain energy in a layer at any level and then
integrating over the depth of the section.

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Torsion

Consider short length δs of a shaft.

Application of torque T causes A to move to A' and rotation of one end of segment relative to
other end of δθ

Work done by T on segment = strain energy in shaft segment δUT

1
= Tδθ
2

T Gθ
Now for a shaft : = (First year statics : G = modulus of rigidity, J = polar
J L
second moment of area)

Tδ s
∴ δθ =
JG

T 2δ s
∴ δU T =
2 JG

∴ over length of shaft L :

L
T2 T 2L
UT = ∫0 2 JG ds =
2 JG

π R4 π (Ro 4 -Ri 4 )
Note: Solid shaft J = , Hollow shaft J =
2 2

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Shear

Consider a small block taken from a beam:

Force acting upwards on right hand face = τδ yδ z

∴ work done by force whilst increasing from 0 to τδ yδ z

1
= strain energy in block δUs = τδ yδ z × γ δ s
2

Now τ = Gγ (First year statics)

τ2
∴ δUs = δsδyδz
2G

τ2
∴ specific strain energy (energy/unit volume) U S =
2G

S
Cannot simply relate beam shear force S to τ using τ = because τ varies down beam
A
depth (parabolic distribution for rectangular beam). Necessary to introduce a shape factor K
to allow for this.

L
S2 KS 2 L
Gives for a beam of length L, U s = K ∫ ds = if S constant along length L.
0
2 AG 2 AG

For a rectangular beam, K = 1.2.

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Strain Energy Example 1 (Direct - Axial)

A B
Find the vertical displacement of C
2.236m
1m (∆mm), if for all the members, E =
200kN/mm2 and A = 100mm2.

E D C
2m 2m
2kN

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