Virtual Work Truss Example

Loads to Truss Joints

Steven Vukazich
San Jose State University
 Example Using the Principle of Virtual Work

1200 kN
D E 300 kN Consider the idealized
truss structure with a pin
support at A and a roller
4m support at C. The truss is
subjected to applied loads
A B at D and E.
C
𝛿"#
𝛿"$
Find the vertical and the
3m 3m horizontal displacement of
point B using the Principle
For all truss members use: of Virtual Work
A = 25 cm2
E = 210 GPa
 Virtual System to Measure 𝛿"#

D E

1. Remove all loads from the

structure;
4m 2. Apply a unit, dimensionless
virtual load in-line with the
A B real displacement, 𝛿"# , that we
C want to find;
1 3. Perform a truss analysis to find
all truss member virtual axial
3m 3m forces, FQi
 Find Support Reactions

D E

4m

Ax A
C
B
1
Ay Dy
+ % 𝑀' = 0 3m 3m

Dy = -0.5
 Find Support Reactions

D E

4m

Ax A
C
B
1
Ay Dy
3m 3m
+ % 𝐹- = 0

+
% 𝐹. = 0
Ay = -0.5
 Virtual System Support Reactions

D E

4m

A
C
B
0.5 1 0.5
3m 3m
 FBD of Joint A
𝜃
5
4
3

FQAD
A

FQAB
0.5
 FBD of Joint A

𝜃
5
4 4

𝐹2'3 3
+ % 𝐹- = 0
5
3
𝐹2'3
5
A

FQAB
0.5

FQAD = 0.625
 FBD of Joint A

𝜃
5
4 4

𝐹2'3 3
5 +
% 𝐹. = 0
3
𝐹2'3
5
A

FQAB
0.5

FQAB = – 0.375
 Virtual System Results
on a FBD of the Entire Truss

D (0.375) E Virtual truss

member forces, FQi

(0.5)
(– 0.5)
4m

A
C
(– 0.375) B (0)
0.5 0.5
1
B
3m 3m Tension is Positive
 Step 2 –Real Analysis
1200 kN
D E 300 kN

4m

A B C

3m 3m

1. Place all of the loads on the structure;

2. Perform a truss analysis to find all truss member real
axial forces, FPi
 Use Equilibrium to Find Support Reactions
1200 kN
D E 300 kN

4m

Ax A
C
B
Ay Dy
+ % 𝑀' = 0 3m 3m

Dy = 800 kN
Use Equilibrium to Find Support Reactions
1200 kN
D E 300 kN

4m

Ax A
C
B
Ay Dy
+ % 𝐹- = 0 3m 3m

Ay = 400 kN
Use Equilibrium to Find Support Reactions
1200 kN
D E 300 kN

4m

Ax A
C
B
Ay Dy
+ 3m 3m
% 𝐹. = 0

Ax = - 300 kN
 FBD Showing Known Support Reactions
1200 kN
D E 300 kN

4m

A
C
300 kN B
400 kN 800 kN
3m 3m
 Show Results on FBD of Entire Truss

1200 kN

D (–300 kN) E 300 kN

(–800 kN)
(–800 kN)
4m Real truss member
forces, FPi
3 kN A
C
(600 kN) B (0)
400 kN 800 kN

3m 3m Tension is Positive
 Step 3 – Use the Principle of Virtual
Work to Find 𝜹𝑩𝒗
1200 kN
D E 300 kN

4m Total number of truss members = 7

For all truss members use:

A B C A = 25 cm2
E = 210 GPa
𝛿"#

3m 3m From Step 2 – real

@ analysis
𝐹<; 𝐿;
1 ⋅ 𝛿"# = % 𝐹2; From Step 1 –virtual
𝐴; 𝐸;
;AB
analysis
 Use a Table to Organize Virtual
Work Calculations
Member A (cm2) E (GPa) L (m) FQ FP (kN) UQ (cm)

AD 25 210 5 0.625 – 500 – 0.2976

AB 25 210 3 – 0.375 600 – 0.1286
BD 25 210 4 – 0.5 – 800 0.3048
DE 25 210 3 0.375 – 300 – 0.06429
BE 25 210 5 – 0.625 1000 – 0.5952
BC 25 210 3 0 0 0
EC 25 210 4 0.5 – 800 – 0.3048
Total – 1.086
Sample Calculation
100 cm
𝐹<'3 𝐿'3 −500 kN 5 m
𝐹2'3 = 0.625 m = −0.2976 cm
𝐴'3 𝐸'3 100 mmK
25 cmK 210 kN/mm K
cmK
 R𝐞𝐬𝐮𝐥𝐭𝐬 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝜹𝑩𝒗
@
𝐹<; 𝐿;
1 ⋅ 𝛿"# = % 𝐹2; = −0.1086 cm
𝐴; 𝐸;
;AB

1200 kN
Negative sign indicates that
D E deflection is in the opposite
direction of the virtual force
300 kN

4m 𝛿"# = 1.086 cm downward

A B C
0.1086 cm

3m 3m
 Virtual System to Measure 𝛿"$

D E

1. Remove all loads from the

structure;
4m 2. Apply a unit, dimensionless
virtual load in-line with the
A B real displacement, 𝛿"# , that we
C want to find;
1 3. Perform a truss analysis to find
all truss member virtual axial
3m 3m forces, FQi
 Find Support Reactions

D E
+ % 𝑀' = 0

4m

Ax A
C
B + % 𝐹- = 0
1
Ay Dy
3m 3m

+
% 𝐹. = 0
Ax = -1
 Virtual System Support Reactions

D E

4m

A
C
1 1 B

3m 3m
 FBD of Joint A
𝜃
5
4
3
+ % 𝐹- = 0
FQAD
A
+
1 FQAB % 𝐹. = 0
 Show Results on FBD of Entire Truss

D (0) E Virtual truss

member forces, FQi

4m

(0)
A
(0)
1 C
1 (1.0) B (0)

B
3m 3m Tension is Positive
 Step 2 –Real Analysis
1200 kN
D E 300 kN

4m Real system
is the same
A B C as the previous
analysis
3m 3m

1. Place all of the loads on the structure;

2. Perform a truss analysis to find all truss member real
axial forces, FPi
 Show Results on FBD of Entire Truss

1200 kN

D (–300 kN) E 300 kN

(–800 kN)
(–800 kN)
4m Real truss member
forces, FPi
3 kN A
C
(600 kN) B (0)
400 kN 800 kN

3m 3m Tension is Positive
 Step 3 – Use the Principle of Virtual
Work to Find 𝜹𝑩𝒉
1200 kN
D E 300 kN

For all truss members use:

4m A = 25 cm2
E = 210 GPa
A B C

𝛿"$

3m 3m From Step 2 – real

_ analysis
𝐹<; 𝐿;
1 ⋅ 𝛿"$ = % 𝐹2; From Step 1 –virtual
𝐴; 𝐸;
;AB
analysis
 Use a Table to Organize Virtual
Work Calculations
Member A (cm2) E (GPa) L (m) FQ FP (kN) UQ (cm)

AD 25 210 5 0 – 500 0
AB 25 210 3 1.0 600 0.3429
BD 25 210 4 0 – 800 0
DE 25 210 3 0 – 300 0
BE 25 210 5 0 1000 0
BC 25 210 3 0 0 0
EC 25 210 4 0 – 800 0
Total 0.3429
Sample Calculation
100 cm
𝐹<'" 𝐿'" 600 kN 3 m
𝐹2'" = 1.0 m = 0.3429 cm
𝐴'" 𝐸'" 100 mmK
25 cmK 210 kN/mm K
cmK
 R𝐞𝐬𝐮𝐥𝐭𝐬 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝜹𝑩𝒉
@
𝐹<; 𝐿;
1 ⋅ 𝛿"$ = % 𝐹2; = 0.3429 cm
𝐴; 𝐸;
;AB

1200 kN Positive so deflection is in the

D E same direction of the virtual
force
300 kN
4m 𝛿"$ = 0.3429 cm to the right
A B C

0.3429 cm
3m 3m
Results for Deflection at Point B

1200 kN
D E 300 kN

4m

A B C
1.086 cm
0.3429 cm
3m 3m