1.

Least Work Method

The term virtual work is derived from the concept of work itself. Virtual means imaginary, not
real. The term virtual is used to indicate that the displacement or rotation does not exist in
reality but is assumed so that various possible equilibrium positions can be visualized to select
the correct one. Virtual work is the product of force or couple and virtual displacement or
virtual rotation.

Principle of virtual work

The principle of virtual work states that for a system of initially stationary rigid bodies, the
algebraic summation of virtual work done by all effective forces causing virtual displacement
consistent with geometrical conditions will be zero.

To analyze the system using principle of virtual work, following steps may be followed as
guiding framework:

i. Study the geometry and points of action of active and reactive forces and moments
ii. Give the system a virtual rotation/displacement. There may be more than one
location where displacement/rotation can be applied. This displacement must be
consistent with geometrical conditions and geometry of the deformed condition
should be addressed properly.
iii. Discard the effects of forces producing zero work
iv. Calculate the virtual displacement/rotation of other known forces/moments
corresponding to the virtual displacement/rotation of unknown ones
v. Compute the non-zero work done due to each component of effective
forces/moments
vi. Take the algebraic summation of above work done and determine the unknown
component of forces/moment

Example 2.1

Using the method of virtual work, determine the reaction at supports A and B of the
transversely loaded beam shown in figure below.

Solution

1
 Hold the beam at B and push the entire beam AB at A, upward. Thereby virtual displacements
will occur at A, C, and D, by an amount AA1, CC1, and DD1 respectively. Applying the
principle of virtual work

𝑅 ∗𝛿 + 15 ∗ (−𝛿 ) + 20 ∗ (𝛿 ) + 𝑅 ∗ 0 = 0 … … 𝑖

From similar triangles 𝐴𝐴 𝐵 and 𝐷𝐷 𝐵

𝛿 𝛿
=
11 2
11
𝛿 = 𝛿
2
Similarly from ∆𝐶𝐶 𝐵 and ∆𝐷𝐷 𝐵

𝛿 𝛿
=
8 2
𝛿 = 4𝛿

Substituting in equation (i)

11
𝑅 ∗ 𝛿 − 15 ∗ 4𝛿 − 20 ∗ 𝛿 =0
2
𝑅 = 14.55𝑘𝑁

Fixing the beam at A and pushing the beam upwards at B, use the principle of virtual work

𝑅 ∗𝛿 + 20 ∗ (−𝛿 ) + 15 ∗ (−𝛿 ) + 𝑅 ∗ 0 = 0 … … 𝑖𝑖

From similar triangles 𝐴𝐶𝐶 and 𝐴𝐵𝐵

𝛿 𝛿
=
3 11
11
𝛿 = 𝛿
3
Similarly from ∆𝐷𝐷 and ∆𝐴𝐶𝐶

𝛿 𝛿
=
9 3

2
 𝛿 = 3𝛿

Substituting in equation (ii)

11
𝑅 ∗ 𝛿 − 20 ∗ 3𝛿 − 15 ∗ 𝛿 =0
3
𝑅 = 20.45𝑘𝑁

Example 2.2

Two beams AC and CD are hinged internally at C and simply supported at A and D. When it
is subjected to transverse loading as shown in the figure, find the reaction at third support B.
use the principle of virtual work.

Solution

Keep supports at A and D fixed and pull at the point of internal hinge C. the virtual
displacements at B, C, P, Q are 𝛿 , 𝛿 , 𝛿 and 𝛿 , respectively. ∆𝐶𝐶 𝐷, ∆𝐵𝐵 𝐷 and ∆𝑄𝑄 𝐷
are similar

𝛿 𝛿 𝛿
= =
7 4.5 2
7 2
𝛿 = 𝛿 𝑎𝑛𝑑 𝛿 = 𝛿 ……𝑖
4.5 4.5
Again, ∆𝐴𝑃𝑃 and ∆𝐴𝐶𝐶

𝛿 𝛿
=
3.5 5
3.5
𝛿 = 𝛿
5

3
Putting the value of 𝛿 from equation (i)

3.5 7
𝛿 = ∗ 𝛿
5 4.5
Using the principle of virtual work

𝑅 ∗0−5∗𝛿 +𝑅 ∗𝛿 −6∗𝛿 +𝑅 ∗0 =0

3.5 7 2
𝑅 𝛿 −5 ∗ 𝛿 −6 𝛿 =0
5 4.5 4.5
𝑅 = 8.12𝑘𝑁

Example 2.3

A simply supported beam with overhang on both sides is loaded as shown in figure below.
Using principle of virtual work, determine the support reactions.

Solution

Keeping B fixed, push support C upward. ∆𝐵𝐸𝐸 , ∆𝐵𝐶𝐶 and ∆𝐵𝐷𝐷 are similar,

𝛿 𝛿 𝛿
= =
3 6 7.5
𝛿 7.5
𝛿 = 𝑎𝑛𝑑 𝛿 = 𝛿
2 6
Again, ∆𝐵𝐴𝐴 , ∆𝐵𝐸𝐸 are similar

𝛿 𝛿
=
3 3

4
 𝛿
𝛿 =𝛿 =
2
Using the principle of virtual work

100𝛿 − 300𝛿 + 𝑅 𝛿 − 50𝛿 = 0

𝛿 𝛿 7.5
100 − 300 + 𝑅 𝛿 − 50 𝛿 =0
2 2 6

𝑅 = 162.5𝑘𝑁

𝑅 + 𝑅 = 100 + 300 + 50

𝑅 = 287.5𝑘𝑁

Example 2.4

A simply supported beam is loaded as shown in figure below. Determine the reaction at C using
the virtual work method.

Solution

From the figure, ∆𝐴𝑃𝑃 and ∆𝐴𝐶𝐶 are similar

𝛿 𝛿
=
1.5 8
1.5
𝛿 = 𝛿
8
−(90 ∗ 3) ∗ 𝛿 + 𝑅 ∗ 𝛿 = 0

1.5
−90 ∗ 3 ∗ 𝛿 +𝑅 ∗𝛿 =0
8
𝑅 = 50.625𝑘𝑁

5
Example 2.6

Using method of virtual work, determine the reaction at A of the beam shown below.

Solution

From similar triangles, 𝐴𝐶𝐴 , 𝐵𝐶𝐵 and 𝑃𝐶𝑃

𝛿 𝛿 𝛿
= =
8 5.5 4
5.5 𝛿
𝛿 = 𝛿 𝑎𝑛𝑑 𝛿 =
8 2
Again ∆𝑃𝐶𝑃 𝑎𝑛𝑑 ∆𝐶𝐷𝐷 are similar

𝛿 𝛿
=
3 4
3 3 𝛿
𝛿 = 𝛿 = ∗
4 4 2
𝑅 ∗ 𝛿 − 20 ∗ 𝛿 − (10 ∗ 8) ∗ 𝛿 + 33 ∗ 𝛿 = 0

5.5 𝛿 3 𝛿
𝑅 ∗ 𝛿 − 20 ∗ 𝛿 − 80 ∗ + 33 ∗ ∗ = 0
8 2 4 2
𝑅 = 41.375𝑘𝑁