Lecture 7

2-D formulation
Plane theory of elasticity
Print version Lecture on Theory of Elasticity and Plasticity of
Dr. D. Dinev, Department of Structural Mechanics, UACEG
7.1

Contents
1

Plane strain

Plane stress

Plane strain vs. plane stress

Airy stress function

Polynomial solution of 2-D problem

General solution strategy

14

7.2

Plane strain

Plane strain
Introduction
Because of the complexity of the field equations analytical closed-form solutions to full
3-D problems are very difficult to accomplish
A lot of problems into the area of engineering can be approximated by 1-D or 2-D strain
or stress state
rods, beams, columns, shafts etc.
Retaining walls, disks, plates, shells
7.3

Plane strain

Problem definition
Consider an infinitely long prismatic body
If the body forces and surface tractions have no components on z-direction the deformation
field can be reduced into
u = u(x, y)
v = v(x, y)
w=0
This deformation is called as a state of plane strain in the (x, y)-plane
Thus all cross-sections will have same displacements
7.4

Plane strain
Field equations
The strain-displacement relations become
xx =

v
u
, yy =
,
x
y

xy =

1
2

u v
+
y x

u
v

zz = xz = yz = 0
In matrix form

xx
x
yy =
0

2xy

The St.-Venants compatibility equation is

2 xy
2 xx 2 yy
+
=
2
y2
x2
x y
7.5

Plane strain
Field equations
The stress-strain relations are
xx = ( + 2)xx + yy
yy = xx + ( + 2)yy
zz = xx + yy
xy = 2xy
xz = yz = 0
2

 In matrix form

xx
+ 2
yy

zz =

xy
0

0
xx
0
yy
0
xy
2

+ 2

7.6

Plane strain
Field equations
The equilibrium equations are reduced to
xx xy
+
+ fx = 0
x
y
xy yy
+
+ fy = 0
x
y
In matrix form


xx
xy

xy
yy

"

fx
fy


=

0
0

7.7

Plane strain
Field equations
The Naviers displacement equilibrium equations are


u v
2
u + ( + )
+
+ fx = 0
x x y


u v
2 v + ( + )
+
+ fy = 0
y x y
2

where 2 = x2 + y2 - Laplacian operator

The Beltrami-Michell stress equation is
2 (xx + yy ) =

1
1

The surface tractions (stress BCs)are


 
tx
xx
=
ty
xy

xy
yy

fx fy
+
x
y



nx
ny


7.8

Plane stress

Plane stress

Problem definition
3

 Consider an arbitrary disc which thickness is small in comparison to other dimensions

Assume that there is no body forces and surface tractions in z-directions and the surface of
the disc is stress free
Thus imply a stress field
xx = xx (x, y)
yy = yy (x, y)
xy = xy (x, y)
zz = xz = yz = 0
7.9

Plane stress
Field equations
The Hookes law

xx
yy 1

zz = E
xy

0
xx
0
yy
0
xy
1+

Relation between normal strains

zz =

(xx + yy )
1
7.10

Plane stress
Field equations
Strain-displacement equations

xx
x
yy
0

zz =
0

2xy

u
0

v

z
w
0

yz = zx = 0
St.-Venants compatibility equation is
2 xy
2 xx 2 yy
+
=
2
y2
x2
x y
7.11

Plane stress
Field equations
Equilibrium equations - same as in plane strain

" # 
  
xx xy
fx
0
x
+
=

xy yy
f
0
y
y
7.12

Plane
stress to strain
Plane
strain to stress

E
1 2

E(1+2)
(1+)2

1+

Plane stress
Field equations
The Naviers displacement equilibrium equations are


u v
E
+
+ fx = 0
2 u +
2(1 ) x x y


E
u v
2 v +
+
+ fy = 0
2(1 ) y x y
The Beltrami-Michell stress equation is
2 (xx + yy ) = (1 + )
The surface tractions (stress BCs)are

 
tx
xx
=
ty
xy

xy
yy

fx fy
+
x
y



nx
ny

7.13

Plane strain vs. plane stress

Plane strain vs. plane stress

Summary
The plane problems have identical equilibrium equations, BCs and compatibility equations
The similar equations show that the differences are due to different constants involving
different material constants
The field equations of plane stress can be obtained from equations of plane strain by following substitution
When = 0 plane strain plane stress
7.14

Airy stress function

Airy stress function

The Method
A popular method for the solution of the plane problem is using the so called Stress functions
It employs the Airy stress function and reduce the general formulation to a single equation
in terms of a single unknown
The general idea is to develop a stress field that satisfies equilibrium and yields a single
governing equation from the compatibility equations.
The obtained equilibrium equation ca be solved analytically in closed-form
7.15

Airy stress function

The Method
Assume that the body forces are zero
The Beltrami-Michell stress compatibility equations are
2 (xx + yy ) = 0
Equilibrium equations are
xx xy
+
=0
x
y
xy yy
+
=0
x
y

The stress BCs are



tx
ty


=

xx
xy

xy
yy



nx
ny

7.16

Airy stress function

The Method
The Beltrami-Michell equation can be expanded as
2 xx 2 yy 2 xx 2 yy
+
+
+
=0
x2
x2
y2
y2
The equilibrium equations are satisfied if we choose the representation
xx =

2
,
y2

yy =

2
,
x2

xy =

2
x y

where = (x, y) is an arbitrary form called an Airy stress function

Substitution of the above expressions into the Beltrami-Michell equations lied to
4
4
4
+
2
+
=0
x4
x2 y2 y4
7.17

Airy stress function

The Method
George Biddell Airy (1801-1892)
7.18

Airy stress function

The Method
The previous expression is a biharmonic equation. In short notation
2 2 (x, y) = 0
Thus all equations of the plane problem has been reduced to a single equation in terms of
the Airy stress function (x, y).
This function is to be determined in the 2-D region R bounded by the boundary S
Appropriate BCs are necessary to complete a solution
7.19

Polynomial solution of 2-D problem

Polynomial solution of 2-D problem

The Method
The solution with polynomials is applicable in Cartesian coordinates and useful for problems with rectangular domains
Based on the inverse solution concepts - we assume a form of the solution of the equation
2 2 (x, y) = 0 and then try to determine which problem may be solved by this solution
7.20

Polynomial solution of 2-D problem

The Method
The assumed solution is taken to be a general polynomial and can be expressed in the
power series

(x, y) =

Cmn xm yn

m=0 n=0

where Cmn are constants to be determined

The method produces a polynomial stress distribution and not satisfies the general BCs
We need to modify the BCs using St.-Venant principle- with statically equivalent BCs
The solution would be accurate at points sufficiently far away from the modified boundary
7.21

Polynomial solution of 2-D problem

Example 1
Lets use a trial solution- first order polynomial
(x, y) = C1 x +C2 y +C3
The solution satisfies the biharmonic equation
Go to the stress field
xx =

2
= 0,
y2

yy =

2
= 0,
x2

xy =

2
=0
x y

Question
What this solution mean?
7.22

Polynomial solution of 2-D problem

Example 2
Use a higher order polynomial
(x, y) = C1 y2
The solution also satisfies the biharmonic equation
The stress field
xx =

2
= 2C1 ,
y2

yy =

2
= 0,
x2

xy =

2
=0
x y
7.23

Polynomial solution of 2-D problem

Example 2
The solution fits with the uniaxial tension of a disc
The boundary conditions are
xx (`, y) = t
yy (x, h) = 0
xy (`, y) = xy (x, h) = 0
The constant C1 can be obtained from the BCs

7.24

Polynomial solution of 2-D problem

Example 3
Pure bending of a beam - a comparison with the MoM solution

7.25

Polynomial solution of 2-D problem

Review of the beam theory

la Speedy Gonzales
Assumptions

Long beam- h  `
Small displacements- u  h and v  h
Small strains- xx  1
Bernoulli hypothesis- yy 0 and xy 0

7.26

Polynomial solution of 2-D problem

Review of the beam theory
Displacement field
u(x, y, z) = y
v(x, y, z) = v(x, y)
Because xy = 0, thus
=

v
x

The final displacements are

v
x
v(x, y, z) = v(x, y)
u(x, y, z) = y

7.27

Polynomial solution of 2-D problem

Review of the beam theory

Strain field
xx = y

2v
x2

Compatibility equation
1
d
d
d2v
= =

= 2
r
ds
dx
dx
The strain field can be expressed
xx = y
Hookes law
xx = Exx = yE
7.28

Polynomial solution of 2-D problem

Review of the beam theory

9

 Bending moment
Z

M=
A

xx ydA = EI

Equilibrium equations
dV
= q
dx
dM
= V
dx
7.29

Polynomial solution of 2-D problem

Review of the beam theory
Differential equation
EI

d4v
=q
dx4

4-th order ODE- needs of four BCs

7.30

Polynomial solution of 2-D problem

Example 3- MoM solution

MoM solution
7.31

Polynomial solution of 2-D problem

Example 3- Elasticity solution

Elasticity solution
7.32

Polynomial solution of 2-D problem

Example 3- Elasticity solution
Strong BCs
yy (x, c) = 0,

xy (x, c) = 0,

xy (`, y) = 0
7.33

10

Polynomial solution of 2-D problem

Example 3- Elasticity solution
Weak BCs- imposed in a weak form (using the St.-Venant principle)
Z c
c

Z c

xx (`, y)dy = 0,

xx (`, y)ydy = M
7.34

Polynomial solution of 2-D problem

Example 3- Elasticity solution
Based on the MoM solution (linear xx distribution) we try a following solution
(x, y) = A1 y3
The function satisfies 4 (x, y) = 0
The stress functions are
xx = 6A1 y

yy = 0

xy = 0

satisfies yy (x, c) = 0

satisfies xy (x, c) = 0, xy (`, y) = 0

This trial solution fits with the BCs

7.35

Polynomial solution of 2-D problem

Example 3- Elasticity solution
The constant A1 is obtained from the weak BC at x = `
Z c
c

Z c
c

xx (`, y)dy 0
xx (`, y)ydy = 4c3 A1 = M,

A1 =

M
4c3

Thus the Airy stress function is

(x, y) =

M 3
y
4c3

Corresponding stresses are

xx =

3M
y
2c3

yy = 0
xy = 0
7.36

Polynomial solution of 2-D problem

Example 3- Elasticity solution
Strain field-by the Hookes law
3M
y
2Ec3
3M
yy =
y
2Ec3
xy = 0
xx =

Displacement field- by strain-displacement equations

3M
xy + f (y)
2Ec3
3M 2
v=
y + g(x)
4Ec3
u=

The functions f (y) and g(x) have to be determined from the definition of the shear strain
7.37

11

Polynomial solution of 2-D problem

Example 3- Elasticity solution
The definition of the shear strain gives
xy =

3M
1 f (y) 1 g(x)
x+
+
3
4Ec
2 y
2 x

This result can be compared with the shear strain obtained from the constitutive relations
xy = 0

1 g(x) 1 f (y)
3M
x+
+
=0
4Ec3
2 x
2 y
7.38

Polynomial solution of 2-D problem

Example 3- Elasticity solution
The equation can be partitioned into
f (y)
= 0
y
g(x)
3M
=
x + 0
x
2Ec3
where 0 is an arbitrary constant
Integration of the above equation gives
f (y) = uo + y0
3M
g(x) = 3 x2 + x0 + v0
4c E
The constants u0 , v0 and 0 express the rigid-body motion of the beam

7.39

Polynomial solution of 2-D problem

Example 3- Elasticity solution
The back substitution into the displacement field gives
3M
xy
2c3 E
3M
3M
v(x, y) = v0 + x0 + 3 x2 + 3 y2
4c E
4c E
The constants can be found from the essential BCs
u(x, y) = u0 + y0

7.40

Polynomial solution of 2-D problem

Example 3- Elasticity solution

The essential BCs are concentrated at points of beam ends
u(`, 0) = 0

v(`, 0) = 0

v(`, 0) = 0

u0 = 0
3M`2
+ v0 `0 = 0
4c3 E
3M`2
+ v0 + `0 = 0
4c3 E
7.41

12

Polynomial solution of 2-D problem

Example 3- Elasticity solution
The constants are
u0 = 0
0 = 0
v0 =

3M`2
4c3 E

Displacement field can be completed as

3M
xy
2c3 E
3M
v(x, y) = 3 (x2 + y2 `2 )
4c E
u(x, y) =

7.42

Polynomial solution of 2-D problem

Example 3- Elasticity solution

Vector plot of the displacement field
7.43

Polynomial solution of 2-D problem

Example 3- Elasticity solution
Elasticity solution
M
xy
EI
M 2
v(x, y) =
(x + y2 `2 )
2EI
u(x, y) =

MoM solution
M
xy
EI
M 2
v(x) =
(x `2 )
2EI
u(x) =

where I = 32 c3
Note
It is convenient to use a computer algebra system for the mathematics (Maple, Mathematica etc.)
7.44

13

Polynomial solution of 2-D problem

Example 3
General conclusion
7.45

General solution strategy

General solution strategy

Selection of the polynomial order

Step 1- Determine the maximum order of polynomial using MoM arguments
Example 1

Normal loading-q(x) xn
Shear force- V (x) xn+1
Bending moment- M(x) xn+2
Stress- xx xn+2 y
Airy function- xn+2 y3
Maximum order= n + 5
7.46

General solution strategy

Example 2

Shear loading-n(x) xm
Shear force- V (x) xm
Bending moment- M(x) xm+1
Stress- xx xm+1 y
Airy function- xm+1 y3
Maximum order= m + 4
7.47

14

General solution strategy

Selection of the polynomial order
Step 2- Write down a polynomial function (x, y) that contains all terms up to order
max(m + 4, n + 5)
(x, y) = C1 x2 +C2 xy +C3 y2 +C4 x3 + . . .
7.48

General solution strategy

Selection of the polynomial order
May use the Pascals triangle for the polynomial
1
x

x2
x3
x4
x5

x3 y
x4 y

y2

xy
x2 y

xy2
x 2 y2

x 3 y2

y3
xy3

x2 y3

y4
xy4

y5

And constants
C1
C4
C8
C13

C2
C5

C9
C14

C3
C6

C10
C15

C7
C11

C16

C12
C17

C18

The first three terms have no physical meaning (zero stress field)
7.49

General solution strategy

Selection of the polynomial order
Step 3 Compatibility condition
2 2 (x, y) = 0
Step 4 Boundary conditions- strong and weak. Lead to a set of equations for Ci
Step 5 Solve all equations and determine Ci
Other types of solution
Fourier series method
......
7.50

General solution strategy

The End
Any questions, opinions, discussions?
7.51

15