same orientation in space as they move. Such loads are called conservative.

A
mechanical system is called conservative if zero net work is done in carrying the
system around any closed path: that is, in arbitrary changing a conguration and
then restoring it. An extension of this study to nonlinear, or nonconservative, pro-
blems is possible.
First, let us set up an expression for the potential of the internal forces (strain
energy of deformation). This potential is equal to the negative work of the internal
forces, i.e., U W
i
. Since the work done by the internal forces, W
i
, is always
negative (because displacements always occur in the opposite direction with respect
to applied internal forces), the strain energy is positive.
The strain energy stored in an elastic body for a general state of stress is given
by [6,7]
U
1
2

V
o
x
c
x
o
y
c
y
o
z
c
z
t
xy
,
xy
t
xz
,
xz
t
yz
,
yz

dV. 2.51
The integration extends over the entire body volume V. Based upon the assumptions
of Kirchhoffs small-deection plate bending theory, the stress components o
z
. t
xz
.
and t
yz
may be omitted. Thus, introducing the generalized Hookes law, the above
expression reduces to the following form, involving only stresses and elastic con-
stants,
U

V
1
2E
o
2
x
o
2
y
2vo
x
o
y

1 v
E
t
2
xy
!
dV. 2.52
Substituting for the stress components from Eq. (2.10) into Eq. (2.52) and integrat-
ing it over the thickness of the plate, we obtain
U
1
2

A
D
o
2
w
ox
2
!
2

o
2
w
oy
2
!
2
2v
o
2
w
ox
2
o
2
w
oy
2
21 v
o
2
w
oxoy
!
2
2
4
3
5
dA 2.53
or alternatively
U
1
2

A
D
o
2
w
ox
2

o
2
w
oy
2
!
2
21 v
o
2
w
ox
2
o
2
w
oy
2

o
2
w
oxoy
!
2
2
4
3
5
8
<
:
9
=
;
dA 2.54
where A is the area of the plate middle surface.
We can also rewrite the expression (2.53) for the strain energy in terms of the
bending and twisting moments, and the corresponding curvatures by the use of Eqs
(2.13). As a result, for plates of a constant thickness the strain energy is
U
1
2

A
M
x

x
M
y

y
2M
xy

xy

dA. 2.55
Small-Deflection Plate Bending Theory 37