Virtual Work Truss Example

Temperature and Fabrication Errors

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

Consider the idealized truss

D E structure from the previous
example. Truss members AD
and DE increase in
4m temperature 40℃. Member
CE decreases in temperature
A 𝛿/0 30℃. In addition, member BE
C is fabricated 0.5 cm too short.
B
3m 3m
Find the vertical
For all truss members use: displacement of point B using
A = 25 cm2 the Principle of Virtual Work
E = 210 GPa
𝛼& = 12×10+, /℃
 Virtual System to Measure 𝛿/0

D E

1. Remove all loads (if any) from

the structure;
4m 2. Apply a unit, dimensionless
virtual load in-line with the
A B real displacement, 𝛿/0 , 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
+ 1 𝑀3 = 0 3m 3m

Dy = -0.5
 Find Support Reactions

D E

4m

Ax A
C
B
1
Ay Dy
3m 3m
+ 1 𝐹7 = 0

+
1 𝐹8 = 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

𝐹;3< 3
+ 1 𝐹7 = 0
5
3
𝐹;3<
5
A

FQAB
0.5

FQAD = 0.625
 FBD of Joint A

𝜃
5
4 4

𝐹;3< 3
5 +
1 𝐹8 = 0
3
𝐹;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 – Use the Principle of Virtual
Work to Find 𝛿/0
D E

4m For all truss members use:

A = 25 cm2
A 𝛿/0
E = 210 GPa
C
𝛼& = 12×10+, /℃
B
3m 3m
From Step 1–
FM FGHIJ virtual analysis
1 ⋅ 𝛿/0 = 1 𝐹;& 𝛼& ∆𝑇& 𝐿& + 1 𝐹;& ∆𝐿&BCDE
&KL &KL
 Use a Table to Organize Virtual
Work Calculations
Member 𝜶×𝟏𝟎𝟔 /℃ ∆𝑻 ℃ ∆fabr (cm) L (m) FQ UQ (cm)

AD 12 40 0 5 0.625 0.15
AB 12 0 0 3 – 0.375 0
BD 12 0 0 4 – 0.5 0
DE 12 40 0 3 0.375 0.054
BE 12 0 –0.5 5 – 0.625 0.3125
BC 12 0 0 3 0 0
CE 12 –30 0 4 0.5 – 0.072
Total 0.4445

Sample Calculations
100 cm
𝐹;3< ∝3< ∆𝑇3< 𝐿3< = 0.625 12×10+, /℃ 40℃ 5 m = 0.15 cm
m
𝐹;/X ∆𝐿BCDE3< = −0.625 −0.5 = 0.3125 cm
 R𝐞𝐬𝐮𝐥𝐭𝐬 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝜹𝑩𝒗

Positive sign indicates that

D E deflection is in the same
direction of the virtual force

4m 𝛿/0 = 0.4445 cm upward

A
C
0.4445 cm B

3m 3m