Application of the Principal of Virtual Displacements to Lumped-Parameter Models

A virtual displacement is an arbitrary, infinitesimal, imaginary change of configuration

of a system, consistent with all displacement constraints on the system.

Virtual displacements are not a function of time.

The virtual work is the work of the forces acting on a system as the system undergoes
a virtual displacement.
N

W = Q i q i
i=1

The generalized force,

Qi

is the quantity that multiplies the virtual displacement,

forming the virtual work term

q i

, in

W i

The Principle of Virtual Displacements (PVD)

For any arbitrary virtual displacements of a system, the combined virtual work of real forces
and inertia forces must vanish.

W =W

real
forces

+ W inertial =0
forces

Important:
Draw two diagrams when solving problem using PVD
Kinematics of displacement
Free body diagram.

Application of the Principle of Virtual Displacements to Continuous Models: AssumedModes Method

An admissible function is a function that satisfies the geometric boundary conditions

of the system under consideration and possesses derivatives of order at least equal to
that appearing in the strain energy expression.

An assumed mode

x) is an admissible function that is selected by the user for

the purpose of approximating the deformation of a continuous system.

v ( x , t )= ( x ) q v (t )

Any admissible function may be employed as t he shape function but a shape that can
be expected to be similar to the shape of deformation should be chosen.
W

real
forces

=W cons +W nc =0

W cons V [change potential energy ]

By P.V.D

W real + W inertial

=0

W =W nc V + W inertial=0
forces

The strain energy in a bar undergoing axial deformation or bending is

L
1
V axial = AE(u ' )2 dx
2 0
L

1
V bending= EI (v ' ' )2 dx
20