ENERGY UNDER SEVERAL LOADS

 The strain energy of a structure subjected to several loads

will be considered in terms of loads and the resulting
deflections.
 Consider an elastic beam AB subjected to two concentrated
loads P1 and P2. The strain energy of the beam is equal to the
work of P1 and P2 as they are slowly applied at C1 and C2.

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Energy under several loads

 Let assume ONLY P1 is applied to the beam. C1 and C2 are
deflected and the deflection are proportional to the load P1.
Results in deflection x11 and x21.
 x11=11P1 x21=21P1 (eq.1)
 11 and 21 are constants called influence coefficients which
represent the deflection of C1 and C2.

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1
 Energy under several loads
 Let assume ONLY P2 is applied to the beam. C1 and C2 are
deflected and the deflection are proportional to the load P2.
Results in deflection x12 and x22.
 x12=12P2 x22=22P2 (eq.2)
 12 and 22 are constants called influence coefficients which
represent the deflection of C1 and C2.

 The deflections of x1 and x2 of C1 and C2 when both loads

are applied as:
 x1=x11+x12=11P1+ 12P2 (eq.3)
 x2=x21+x22=21P1+ 22P2 (eq.4)
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Energy under several loads

 To compute the work done by P1 and P2.
 Assume P1 is applied first at C1. From eqn.1, expression of
the work P1 given as:
 0.5P1(x11)=0.5P1(11P1)= 0.511P12 (eq.5)
 *note that P2 does not work while C2 moves through x21
because its does not been applied.

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2
 Energy under several loads
 Now slowly apply P2 at C2
 From eqn.2, expression of the work P2 as
 0.5P2(x22)=0.5P2(22P2)= 0.522P22 (eq.6)
 as P2 applied at C2 the point of P1 moves through x12 from
C’1 to C1 and the load P1 does its work.
 Since P1 is fully applied during displacement(fig), work is
equal to: P1x12=P1(12P2)= 12P1P2 (eq.7)

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Energy under several loads

 Adding eqn.5,6 and 7, the strain energy under loads P1 and
P2 given as:
 U=0.5(11P12+ 212P1P2+ 22P22
 However if load P2 had first applied to the beam and then
load P1, the strain energy of the beam given as:
 U=0.5(22P22+ 221P2P1+ 11P12
 work done is shown as:


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