Method of Virtual Work for beams and frames

Vertical Displacement
Method of Virtual Work for beams and frames

Slope
Notes:

Applied Force for Deflection: assume downward direction (+)

Applied Moment for Slope: assume clockwise direction (+)

Calculated Values:

+𝐲 means downward deflection

−𝐲 means upward deflection
+𝛉 means downward slope
−𝛉 means upward slope

Positive value means that the assumed direction is same as the true
direction of the slope and deflection of the beam.
Problem 1: A cantilever beam having a span of 4 m. carries a concentrated
load of 15 kN at the free end. Assuming EI is constant. Compute the slope
and deflection at the free end using virtual work method. (Besavilla, Page
523)

15 kN

4m
 15 kN
60 kN ∙ m x
Actual Load
4m
15 kN
M = 15x − 60

1 kN
4 kN ∙ m x
Virtual load for deflection
4m
1 kN
m = x− 4

1 kN ∙ m x 1 kN ∙ m

Virtual load for slope

4m
m = −1
Deflection at free end:

1 L
y= Mm dx
EI 0
1 4
y= (15x − 60)(x − 4) dx
EI 0
𝟑𝟐𝟎
𝐲= 𝐤𝐍∙ 𝐦𝟑
𝐄𝐈

Slope at free end:

1 L
θ= Mm dx
EI 0
1 4
θ= (15x − 60)(−1) dx
EI 0
𝟏𝟐𝟎
𝛉= 𝐤𝐍∙ 𝐦𝟐
𝐄𝐈
Problem 2: A cantilever beam has a span of 4 m. It carries a uniform load of
8 kN/m. Compute the slope and deflection at the free end. (Page 521)
(Besavilla, Page 521)

8 kN/m

4m
 x
64 kN ∙ m 8 kN/m

Actual Load
4m
32 kN M = −4x 2 + 32x − 64

1 kN
4 kN ∙ m x
Virtual load for deflection
4m
1 kN
m = x− 4

1 kN ∙ m x 1 kN ∙ m

Virtual load for slope

4m
m = −1
Deflection at free end:

1 L
y= Mm dx
EI 0
1 4 2
y= (−4x + 32x − 64 )(x − 4) dx
EI 0
𝟐𝟓𝟔
𝐲= 𝐤𝐍∙ 𝐦𝟑
𝐄𝐈

Slope at free end:

1 L
θ= Mm dx
EI 0
1 4 2
θ= (−4x + 32x − 64 )(− 1) dx
EI 0
𝟐𝟓𝟔
θ= 𝐤𝐍∙ 𝐦𝟐
𝟑𝐄𝐈
Problem 3: A cantilever beam shown carries a concentrated load of 20 kN at
point C. Compute the slope and deflection at the free end using virtual work
method. (Besavilla, Page 525)

20 kN

2 m, 2EI 2 m, EI
 20 kN
80 kN ∙ m x
Actual Load
2 m, 2EI 2 m, EI
20 kN
M = 20x − 80

1 kN
4 kN ∙ m x
Virtual load for deflection
2 m, 2EI 2 m, EI
1 kN
m = x− 4

1 kN ∙ m x 1 kN ∙ m

Virtual load for slope

2 m, 2EI 2 m, EI
m = −1
Deflection at free end:
1 L
yc = Mm dx
EI 0
1 4
1 2
yc = 20x − 80 (x − 4) dx + (20x − 80)(x − 4)
2EI 0 EI
dx
1,120 160 2
yc = +
6EI 3EI
𝟐𝟒𝟎
𝐲𝐜 = 𝐤𝐍∙ 𝐦𝟑
𝐄𝐈

Slope at free end:

1 L
θc = Mm dx
EI 0
4
1 2 1
θc = (20x − 80)(−1) dx + (20x − 80)(−1)
2EI 0 EI
dx
60 40 2
θc = +
EI EI
𝟏𝟎𝟎
𝛉𝐜 = 𝐤𝐍∙ 𝐦𝟐
𝐄𝐈
Problem 4: A beam having a span AB equal to 9 m has an overhang of BC
equal to 3m. It carries a uniform dead load of 30 kN/m along the span AB
and a concentrated load of 54 kN at C. The beam is supported by a hinge at A
and roller at B. Compute the slope and deflection at the free end using virtual
work method. (Besavilla, Page 515)

54 kN
30 kN/m

9m 3m
 54 kN
30 kN/m

x Actual Load
9m 3m M = 117x + 207 x − 9
117 kN 207 kN −15x 2 + 15 x − 9 2

1 kN

x Virtual load for deflection

9m 3m 1 4
1 4 m= − x+ x− 9
kN kN 3 3
3 3

1 kN ∙ m

x Virtual load for slope

9m 3m 1 1
1 1 m= − x+ x− 9
kN kN 9 9
9 9
Deflection at free end:

1 L
y= Mm dx
EI 0

9
1 1
y= 117x − 15x 2 − x dx +
EI 0 3

12
1 1 4
[117x + 207(x − 9) − 15x 2 + 15 x − 9 2] − x+ x− 9 dx
EI 9 3 3

486 1275.75
y= −
EI EI
𝟕𝟖𝟗.𝟕𝟓
𝐲= − 𝐤𝐍∙ 𝐦𝟑
𝐄𝐈
Slope at free end:

1 L
θ= Mm dx
EI 0

9
1 1
θ= 117x − 15x 2 − x dx +
EI 0 9

12
1 1 1
[117x + 207(x − 9) − 15x 2 + 15 x − 9 2] − x+ x− 9 dx
EI 9 9 9

243 425.25
θ= −
EI EI
𝟏𝟖𝟐.𝟐𝟓
𝛉= − 𝐤𝐍∙ 𝐦𝟐
𝐄𝐈
Problem 5: A cantilever beam having a span of 5 m. carries a concentrated
load of 20 kN located 3 m from the support. Assume constant EI. Compute
the slope and deflection 4 meters from the support using virtual work
method.

20 kN

3m 2m
 20 kN
60 kN ∙ m x
Actual Load
3m 2m
20 kN
M = 20x − 60 − 20 x − 3

1 kN
4 kN ∙ m x

Virtual load for deflection

4m 1m
1 kN m = x− 4 − x− 4

1 kN ∙ m x 1 kN ∙ m
Virtual load for slope
4m 1m
m = −1 + x − 4 o
Deflection of the beam 4 m from the support:

1 L
y= Mm dx
EI 0
1 3 1 4
y= (20x − 60)(x − 4) dx + [20x − 60 − 20 x − 3 ](x − 4) dx +
EI 0 EI 3
5
1
20x − 60 − 20 x − 3 [x − 4 − x − 4 ]
EI 4
𝟐𝟕𝟎
𝐲= 𝐤𝐍∙ 𝐦𝟑
𝐄𝐈
Slope of the beam 4 m from the support:

1 L
y= Mm dx
EI 0
1 3 1 4
y= (20x − 60)(−1) dx + [20x − 60 − 20 x − 3 ](−1) dx +
EI 0 EI 3
5
1
20x − 60 − 20 x − 3 [−1 + x − 4 𝑜]
EI 4
𝟗𝟎
𝐲= 𝐤𝐍∙ 𝐦𝟐
𝐄𝐈