Deflections - Method of Virtual Work - Deflection of a Truss

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of Virtual Work | Index of Examples | CCE Homepage

Deflections - Method of Virtual Work

Deflection of a Truss
The virtual work method can be used to determine the deflection of trusses. We
know from the principle of virtual work
for trusses that the deflection can be calculated
by the equation
with n equal to the virtual force in the
member and equal to the
change in length of the member. Therefore, the deflection of a truss due to any
condition
that causes a change in length of the members can be calculated. This
change in length can be caused by the applied
loads acting on each member, temperature
changes, and by fabrication errors.
Axial Deformation:
From statics we know how to determine member forces in a truss by using either the
method of joints or the method of
sections. Once these forces are known we can determine
the axial deformation of each member by using the equation:

The equation for the deflection can be modified with this value for

where m is equal to the number of members, n is the force in the member due to the
virtual load, N is the force in the
member due to the applied load, L is the length, A is
the area, and E represents Young's Modulus of Elasticity.
Temperature Changes:
The axial deformation of a truss member of length L due to a change in temperature of

where

is given by:

is
the coefficient of thermal expansion.

The equation for the deflection is then modified with this value for

where j is the number of members experiencing temperature change and n is the force in
the member due to the virtual
load.
Fabrication Errors:
In the case of fabrication errors, the deformation of each member is known. Therefore,
the original equation for
deflection of a truss can be modified.

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Deflections - Method of Virtual Work - Deflection of a Truss

where k is the number of members undergoing fabrication errors and n is the force in
the member due to the virtual load
and is the change in length of the member due to
fabrication errors.
The total deflection of a truss is made up of the sum of all of these cases.

This equation is now used to find the deflection of a truss. Please refer to an
introductory text book on structural
analysis for a complete description of this approach.

problem statement
Using the method of virtual work, determine the vertical deflection at joint G in the
truss below, under the loading
conditions show in figures i), ii), and iii).
The member properties are A=2 in2 and E=29x103 ksi.
The truss is subjected to the following applied loads:

i)

Figure 1 - Truss structure to analyze

And the following fabrication errors are present:

ii)

Figure 2 - Fabrication errors present

NOTE: TO PREVENT ERRORS, CALCULATE THE INFLUENCE OF EACH CASE INDEPENDENTLY

AND
THEN ADD THE RESULTS AT THE END

calculate the support reactions, due to the applied loads

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Deflections - Method of Virtual Work - Deflection of a Truss

Figure 3 - Frame structure with applied loads

Calculate the support reactions (caused by the applied loads) by summing the moments
about A and E: (answers in
Kips)

Check these reactions by summing vertical and horizontal forces:

The resulting system,

Figure 4 - Support reactions due to applied loads

use the method of joints to determine the force in each

member, due to the applied loads
For equilibrium at joint A,

Figure 5 - Joint equilibrium at A

Sum vertical and horizontal forces to determine the force in each member, (Kips)

Remember that in the method of joints, a joint reaction is in the opposite direction to
how the force acts on the member.

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Deflections - Method of Virtual Work - Deflection of a Truss

Therefore, member AB is in compression.

Continue this method for each joint in the structure.
Truss diagram with internal forces due to applied loads,

Figure 6 - Truss member reactions

apply virtual load at G

Apply the virtual load at the point of interest in the desired direction. In this case,
we want to know the deflection at
point G. Therefore, apply a unit load at point G.
Truss with unit load at joint G

Figure 7 - Truss with virtual unit load applied

solve the support reactions due to the virtual load

Following the same procedure used previously, calculate the support reactions (caused
by the virtual load).
The resulting system,

Figure 8 - Support reactions due to virtual unit load

use method of joints to determine virtual force in each

member
Use the method of joints as illustrated in Step 2 to determine the member results due
to the unit virtual load. Add the
results to your existing table:
Truss diagram with internal forces due to virtual load,

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Deflections - Method of Virtual Work - Deflection of a Truss

Figure 9 - Internal forces due to virtual unit load

calculate the deflection

The deflection of the truss can now be determined by completing the equation:

For the case of Axial Deformation

Member

n(k)

AB
BC
CD
DE
AF
BF
CF
FG
CG
CH
GH
DH
HE

-0.67
-0.67
-0.67
-0.67
0.83
0
-0.83
1.33
1
-0.83
1.33
0
0.83

N(k)
-33.33
-33.33
-46.66
-46.66
41.67
-10
-25
53.33
0
-8.33
53.33
-30
58.33

L(in)
48
48
48
48
60
36
60
48
36
60
48
36
60

AE (in2ksi)
58000
58000
58000
58000
58000
58000
58000
58000
58000
58000
58000
58000
58000
Total

nNL/AE
(in-k)
0.0184
0.0184
0.0257
0.0257
0.0359
0
0.0216
0.0589
0
0.0072
0.0589
0
0.0503
0.3209

For the case of Fabrication Error

Member

n(k)

Change in
Length ( )(in)

AB
FG
HE

-0.67
1.33
0.83

+ 0.4
+ 0.6
- 0.3
Sum

n( )(k-in)
-0.268
0.798
-0.249
0.281

Since there were no temperature effects included in this example, the total deflection
at point G is the sum of these two
results.

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Deflections - Method of Virtual Work - Deflection of a Truss

(1 k)( ) = 0.281 in-k + 0.321 in-k = 0.602 in-k

= 0.602 in-k / 1 k = 0.602 in
The positive answer of 0.602 in indicates that the structure will deflect down in
the direction of the virtual load.
Contact Dr. Fouad Fanous for more information.

Last Modified: 08/25/2003 14:45:43

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