Section 8.

8.2 Elastic Strain Energy

The strain energy stored in an elastic material upon deformation is calculated below for a
number of different geometries and loading conditions. These expressions for stored
energy will then be used to solve some elasticity problems using the energy methods
mentioned in the previous section.

8.2.1

Strain energy in deformed Components

Bar under axial load

Consider a bar of elastic material fixed at one end and subjected to a steadily increasing
force P, Fig. 8.2.1. The force is applied slowly so that kinetic energies are negligible.
The initial length of the bar is L . The work dW done in extending the bar a small
amount d is1
dW Pd

(8.2.1)

Figure 8.2.1: a bar loaded by a force

It was shown in 7.1.2 that the force and extension are linearly related through
PL / EA , Eqn. 7.1.5, where E is the Youngs modulus and A is the cross sectional
area. This linear relationship is plotted in Fig. 8.2.2. The work expressed by Eqn. 8.2.1 is
the white region under the force-extension curve (line). The total work done during the
complete extension up to a final force P and final extension is the total area beneath
the curve.
The work done is stored as elastic strain energy U and so
U

1
P2L
P
2
2 EA

(8.2.2)

If the axial force (and/or the cross-sectional area and Youngs modulus) varies along the
bar, then the above calculation can be done for a small element of length dx . The energy
stored in this element would be P 2 dx / 2 EA and the total strain energy stored in the bar
would be

the small change in force during this small extension may be neglected

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Section 8.2

U
0

P2
dx
2 EA

(8.2.3)

force-extension
curve

dW

Figure 8.2.2: force-displacement curve for uniaxial load

The strain energy is always positive, due to the square on the force P, regardless of
whether the bar is being compressed or elongated.
Note the factor of one half in Eqn. 8.2.2. The energy stored is not simply force times
displacement because the force is changing during the deformation.
Circular Bar in Torsion
Consider a circular bar subjected to a torque T. The torque is equivalent to a couple: two
forces of magnitude F acting in opposite directions and separated by a distance 2r as in
Fig. 8.2.3; T 2 Fr . As the bar twists through a small angle , the forces each move
through a distance s r . The work done is therefore W 2 F s T .

F
r

Figure 8.2.3: torque acting on a circular bar

It was shown in 7.2 that the torque and angle of twist are linearly related through Eqn.
7.2.10, TL / GJ , where L is the length of the bar, G is the shear modulus and J is the
polar moment of inertia. The angle of twist can be plotted against the torque as in Fig.
8.2.4.
The total strain energy stored in the cylinder during the straining up to a final angle of
twist is the work done, equal to the shaded area in Fig. 8.2.4, leading to
1
T 2L
U T
2
2GJ

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(8.2.4)

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Section 8.2

Figure 8.2.4: torque angle of twist plot for torsion

Again, if the various quantities are varying along the length of the bar, then the total strain
energy can be expressed as
T2
U
dx
2GJ
0
L

(8.2.5)

Beam subjected to a Pure Moment

As with the bar under torsion, the work done by a moment M as it moves through an
angle d is Md . The moment is related to the radius of curvature R through Eqns.
7.4.36-37, M EI / R , where E is the Youngs modulus and I is the moment of inertia.
The length L of a beam and the angle subtended are related to R through L R , Fig.
8.2.5, and so moment and angle are linearly related through ML / EI .

/2

/2

Figure 8.2.5: beam of length L under pure bending

The total strain energy stored in a bending beam is then

M 2L
1
U M
2
2 EI

(8.2.6)

and if the moment and other quantities vary along the beam,

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Section 8.2

U
0

M2
dx
2 EI

(8.2.7)

This expression is due to the flexural stress . A beam can also store energy due to
shear stress ; this latter energy is usually much less than that due to the flexural stresses
provided the beam is slender this is discussed further below.
Example

Consider the bar with varying circular cross-section shown in Fig. 8.2.6. The Youngs
modulus is 200GPa .
2m

2m

2kN
r 5cm

r 3cm

Figure 8.2.6: a loaded bar

The strain energy stored in the bar when a force of 2kN is applied at the free end is

2 10 3 2 1 1
P2
U
dx
2 EA
22 1011 5 10 2 2 3 10 2 2
0
L

8.2.2

9.62 10 3 Nm (8.2.8)

The Work-Energy Principle

The work-energy principle for elastic materials, that is, the fact that the work done by
external forces is stored as elastic energy, can be used directly to solve some simple
problems. To be precise, it can be used to solve problems involving a single force and for
solving for the displacement in the direction of that force. By force and displacement
here it is meant generalised force and generalised displacement, that is, a
force/displacement pair, a torque/angle of twist pair or a moment/bending angle pair.
More complex problems need to be solved using more sophisticated energy methods,
such as Castiglianos method discussed further below.
Example

Consider the beam of length L shown in Fig. 8.2.7, pinned at one end (A) and simply
supported at the other (C). A moment M 0 acts at B, a distance L1 from the left-hand end.
The cross-section is rectangular with depth b and height h. The work-energy principle
can be used to calculate the angle B through which the moment at B rotates.

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Section 8.2

C
M0

L1

L2

Figure 8.2.7: a beam subjected to a moment at B

The moment along the beam can be calculated from force and moment equilibrium,
M 0 x / L,

M
M 0 1 x / L ,

0 x L1

L1 x L

(8.2.9)

The strain energy stored in the bar (due to the flexural stresses only) is
L

U
0

6 M 02
M2
dx
2 EI
Ebh 3

2
L2
L1 x 2
x 2 M 02 L32

dx
1

L L dx Ebh 3 L2
0 L
1

(8.2.10)

The work done by the applied moment is M 0 B / 2 and so

4M 0 L32
Ebh 3 L2

(8.2.11)

8.2.3

Strain Energy Density

The strain energy will in general vary throughout a body and for this reason it is useful to
introduce the concept of strain energy density, which is a measure of how much energy
is stored in small volume elements throughout a material.
Consider again a bar subjected to a uniaxial force P. A small volume element with edges
aligned with the x, y, z axes as shown in Fig. 8.2.8 will then be subjected to a stress xx
only. The volume of the element is dV dxdydz .
From Eqn. 8.2.2, the strain energy in the element is

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xx dydz 2 dx
2 Edydz

244

(8.2.12)

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Section 8.2

xx

xx

dy
dx

dz

z
volume element

Figure 8.2.8: a volume element under stress

The strain energy density u is defined as the strain energy per unit volume:
u

xx2

(8.2.13)

2E

The total strain energy in the bar may now be expressed as this quantity integrated over
the whole volume,

U udV ,

(8.2.14)

which, for a constant cross-section A and length L reads U A udx . From Hookes
0

law, the strain energy density of Eqn. 8.2.13 can also be expressed as
1
u xx xx
2

(8.2.15)

As can be seen from Fig. 8.2.9, this is the area under the uniaxial stress-strain curve.

Figure 8.2.9: stress-strain curve for elastic material

Note that the element does deform in the y and z directions but no work is associated with
those displacements since there is no force acting in those directions.
The strain energy density for an element subjected to a yy stress only is, by the same
arguments, yy yy / 2 , and that due to a zz stress is zz zz / 2 . Consider next a shear

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Section 8.2

stress xy acting on the volume element to produce a shear strain xy as illustrated in Fig.
8.2.10. The element deforms with small angles and as illustrated. Only the stresses
on the upper and right-hand surfaces are shown, since the stresses on the other two
surfaces do no work. The force acting on the upper surface is xy dxdz and moves
through a displacement dy . The force acting on the right-hand surface is xy dydz and
moves through a displacement dx . The work done when the element moves through
angles d and d is then, using the definition of shear strain,
dW xy dxdz ddy xy dydz ddx dxdydz xy 2d xy

(8.2.16)

and, with shear stress proportional to shear strain, the strain energy density is

u 2 xy d xy xy xy
y

(8.2.17)

xy

dy

xy

dy

dx

dx

Figure 8.2.10: a volume element under shear stress

The strain energy can be similarly calculated for the other shear stresses and, in summary,
the strain energy density for a volume element subjected to arbitrary stresses is
u

1
xx xx yy yy zz zz xy xy yz yz zx zx
2

(8.2.18)

Using Hookes law, Eqns. 6.1.9, and Eqn. 6.1.5, the strain energy density can also be
written in the alternative and useful forms {Problem 4}
u

1
1
xx2 yy2 zz2 xx yy yy zz zz xx
xy2 yz2 zx2
2E
2
E

1 2

1 2

(1 )

2
xx

yy2 zz2 2 xx yy yy zz zz xx

yy zz xx2 yy2 zz2 2 xy2 yz2

2

xx

Solid Mechanics Part I

2
xy

yz2 zx2

2
zx

(8.2.19)

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Section 8.2

Strain Energy in a Beam due to Shear Stress

The shear stresses arising in a beam at location y from the neutral axis are given by Eqn.
7.4.28, ( y ) Q( y )V / Ib( y ) , where Q is the first moment of area of the section of beam
from y to the outer surface, V is the shear force, I is the moment of inertia of the complete
cross-section and b is the thickness of the beam at y. From Eqns. 8.2.19a and 8.2.14 then,
the total strain energy in a beam of length L due to shear stress is
U
V

L
1 V 2 Q2
2
dV 2 2 dA dx
2
2 0 I A b

(8.2.20)

Here V , and I are taken to be constant for any given cross-section but may vary along
the beam; Q varies and b may vary over any given cross-section. Expression 8.2.20 can
be simplified by introducing the form factor for shear f s , defined as
f s ( x)

A Q2
dA
I 2 A b 2

(8.2.21)

so that
L
1 f sV 2
U
dx
2 0 A

(8.2.22)

The form factor depends only on the shape of the cross-section. For example, for a
rectangular cross-section, using Eqn. 7.4.29,
h / 2

1
f s ( x)
2
3
bh / 12 h / 2 b 2
bh

b / 2
b h2

6
2

y dy dz
5

b / 2
2 4

(8.2.23)

In a similar manner, the form factor for a circular cross-section is found to be 10 / 9 and
that of a very thin tube is 2.

8.2.4

Castiglianos Second Theorem

The work-energy method is the simplest of energy methods. A more powerful method is
that based on Castiglianos second theorem2, which can be used to solve problems
involving linear elastic materials. As an introduction to Castiglianos second theorem,
consider the case of uniaxial tension, where U P 2 L / 2 EA . The displacement through
which the force moves can be obtained by a differentiation of this expression with respect
to that force,
dU PL

dP EA
2

(8.2.24)

Casiglianos first theorem will be discussed in a later section

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Section 8.2

Similarly, for torsion of a circular bar, U T 2 L / 2GJ , and a differentiation gives

dU / dT TL / GJ . Further, for bending of a beam it is also seen that dU / dM .
These are examples of Castiglianos theorem, which states that, provided the body is in
equilibrium, the derivative of the strain energy with respect to the force gives the
displacement corresponding to that force, in the direction of that force. When there is
more than one force applied, then one takes the partial derivative. For example, if n
independent forces P1 , P2 ,, Pn act on a body, the displacement corresponding to the ith
force is
i

U
Pi

(8.2.25)

Before proving this theorem, here follow some examples.

Example

The beam shown in Fig. 8.2.11 is pinned at A, simply supported half-way along the beam
at B and loaded at the end C by a force P and a moment M 0 .
L

C
B
L/2

M0

L/2

Figure 8.2.11: a beam subjected to a force and moment at C

The moment along the beam can be calculated from force and moment equilibrium,
Px 2 M 0 x / L,

M
M 0 P( L x),

0 x L/2
L/2 x L

(8.2.26)

The strain energy stored in the bar (due to the flexural stresses only) is
2
L

2M 0 L / 2 2
1
2
U
x dx M 0 P( L x) dx
P
L 0
2 EI

L/2
2
2
2 3
M L
P L 5PM 0 L

0
24 EI
24 EI
3EI

(8.2.27)

In order to apply Castiglianos theorem, the strain energy is considered to be a function of

the two external loads, U U P, M 0 . The displacement associated with the force P is
then

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Section 8.2

PL3 5M 0 L2
U
C

24 EI
P 12 EI

(8.2.28)

The rotation associated with the moment is

5PL2 2M 0 L
U

3EI
M 0 24 EI

(8.2.29)

Example

Consider next the beam of length L shown in Fig. 8.2.12, built in at both ends and loaded
centrally by a force P. This is a statically indeterminate problem. In this case, the strain
energy can be written as a function of the applied load and one of the unknown reactions.
P
A

MA

C
B
L/2

MC

L/2

Figure 8.2.12: a statically indeterminate beam

First, the moment in the beam is found from equilibrium considerations to be

M MA

P
x,
2

0 x L/2

(8.2.30)

where M A is the unknown reaction at the left-hand end. Then the strain energy in the
left-hand half of the beam is
U

1
2 EI

L/2

P
P 2 L3 PM A L2 M A2 L

M
x
dx

2
192 EI
16 EI
4 EI

(8.2.31)

The strain energy in the complete beam is double this:

U

P 2 L3 PM A L2 M A2 L

96 EI
8 EI
2 EI

(8.2.32)

Writing the strain energy as U U P, M A , the rotation at A is

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PL2 M A L
U

EI
M A 8EI

249

(8.2.33)

Kelly

Section 8.2

But A 0 and so Eqn. 8.2.33 can be solved to get M A PL / 8 . Then the

displacement at the centre of the beam is
B

M L2
PL3
PL3
U

A
8 EI
192 EI
P 48EI

(8.2.34)

This is positive in the direction in which the associated force is acting, and so is
downward.

Proof of Castiglianos Theorem

A proof of Castiliglianos theorem will be given here for a structure subjected to a single
load. The load P produces a displacement and the strain energy is U P / 2 , Fig.
8.2.13. If an additional force dP is applied giving an additional deformation d , the
additional strain energy is

dU Pd

1
dPd
2

(8.2.35)

If the load P dP is applied in one step, the work done is P dP d / 2 . Equating

this to the strain energy U dU given by Eqn. 8.2.35 then gives Pd dP .
Substituting into Eqn. 8.2.35 leads to
dU dP

1
dPd
2

(8.2.36)

Dividing through by dP and taking the limit as d 0 results in Castiglianos second

theorem, dU / dP .

P dP
P

d
Figure 8.2.13: force-displacement curve

In fact, dividing Eqn. 8.2.35 through by d and taking the limit as d 0 results in
Castiglianos first theorem, dU / d P . It will be shown later that this first theorem,
unlike the second, in fact holds also for the case when the elastic material is non-linear.

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Section 8.2

8.2.5

Dynamic Elasticiy

Impact and Dynamic Loading

Consider the case of a weight P dropped instantaneously onto the end of an elastic bar. If
the weight P had been applied gradually from zero, the strain energy stored at the final
force P and final displacement 0 would be 12 P 0 . However, the instantaneously
applied load is constant throughout the deformation and work done up to a displacement
0 is P 0 , Fig. 8.2.14. The difference between the two implies that the bar acquires a
kinetic energy (see Eqn. 8.1.19); the material particles accelerate from their equilibrium
positions during the compression.
As deformation proceeds beyond 0 , it is clear from Fig. 8.2.14 that the strain energy is
increasing faster than the work being done by the weight and so there must be a drop in
kinetic energy; the particles begin to decelerate. Eventually, at max 2 0 , the work
done by the weight exactly equals the strain energy stored and the material is at rest.
However, the material is not in equilibrium the equilibrium position for a load P is 0
and so the material begins to accelerate back to 0 .

max

Figure 8.2.14: non-equilibrium loading

The bar and weight will continue to oscillate between 0 and max indefinitely. In a real
(inelastic) material, internal friction will cause the vibration to decay.
Thus the maximum compression of a bar under impact loading is twice that of a bar
subjected to the same load gradually.
Example

Consider a weight w dropped from a height h. If one is interested in the final, maximum,
displacement of the bar, max , one does not need to know about the detailed and complex
transfer of energies during the impact; the energy lost by the weight equals the strain
energy stored in the bar:
wh max

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P max
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(8.2.37)

Kelly

Section 8.2

where P is the force acting on the bar at its maximum compression. For an elastic bar,
P max EA / L , or, introducing the stiffness k so that P k max ,
wh max

1 2
k max ,
2

EA
L

(8.2.38)

which is a quadratic equation in max and can be solved to get

max

w
2hk

1 1
k
w

(8.2.39)

If the force w had been applied gradually, then the displacement would have been
st w / k , the st standing for static, and Eqn. 8.1.39 can be re-written as

2h
max st 1 1

st

(8.2.40)

If h 0 , so that the weight is just touching the bar when released, then max 2 st .

8.2.6

Problems

1. Show that the strain energy in a bar of length L and cross sectional area A hanging
from a ceiling and subjected to its own weight is given by (at any section, the force
acting is the weight of the material below that section)
A 2 g 2 L3
U
6E
2. Consider the circular bar shown below subject to torques at the free end and where the
cross-sectional area changes. The shear modulus is G 80GPa . Calculate the strain
energy in the bar(s).
1m
1m
6kNm
4kNm

r 5cm

r 3cm

3. Two bars of equal length L and cross-sectional area A are pin-supported and loaded by
a force F as shown below. Derive an expression for the vertical displacement at point
A using the direct work-energy method, in terms of L, F, A and the Youngs modulus
E.

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Section 8.2

45o

45o

A
F

4. Derive the strain energy density equations 8.2.19.

5. For the beam shown in Fig. 8.2.7, use the expression 8.2.22 to calculate the strain
energy due to the shear stresses. Take the shear modulus to be G 80GPa . Compare
this with the strain energy due to flexural stress given by Eqn. 8.2.10.
6. Consider a simply supported beam of length L subjected to a uniform load w N/m.
Calculate the strain energy due to both flexural stress and shear stress for (a) a
rectangular cross-section of depth times height b h , (b) a circular cross-section with
radius r. What is the ratio of the shear-to-flexural strain energies in each case?
7. Consider the tapered bar of length L and square cross-section shown below, built-in at
one end and subjected to a uniaxial force F at its free end. The thickness is h at the
built-in end. Evaluate the displacement in terms of the (constant) Youngs modulus E
at the free end using (i) the work-energy theorem, (ii) Castiglianos theorem
F

h
L

8. Consider a cantilevered beam of length L and constant cross-section subjected to a

uniform load w N/m. The beam is built-in at x 0 and has a Youngs modulus E.
Use Castiglianos theorem to calculate the deflection at x L . Consider only the
flexural strain energy. [Hint: place a fictitious dummy load F at x L and set to
zero once Castiglianos theorem has been applied]
9. Consider the statically indeterminate uniaxial problem shown below, two bars joined
at x L , built in at x 0 and x 2 L , and subjected to a force F at the join. The
cross-sectional area of the bar on the left is 2A and that on the right is A. Use (i) the
work-energy theorem and (ii) Castiglianos theorem to evaluate the displacement at
x L.

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