CivE 205 Mechanics of Solids II

Part 5:
Strain Energy _ An Introduction

Department of Civil & Environmental Engineering

University of Waterloo

A. Al-Mayah
Spring 2014

p. 5.2

Part 5: Strain Energy

When an elastic body is deformed through the action of external forces,

recoverable energy is stored within the body in the form of strain energy.
Since the energy is related to the deformation (strain) of the material, it is
called strain energy.
External Work=Internal Energy (Energy conservation)
dW =Work done by P through a small
displacement d
P
P1
dW= Pd=dU
K

where U is internal stored energy.

1
Total work

=U total

internal energy.

For linear spring, the strain energy

Examples
Uniaxial state of stress (Strain)

(Note: Ignore the effect of gravity)

AL=Total volume of Material

Total Wrok W=Total Strain Energy U

= strain energy/unit volume=strain energy density i.e.

Department of Civil & Environmental Engineering

University of Waterloo

CivE 205 Mechanics of Solids II

Part 5: Strain Energy

p. 5.3

For a state of Pure Shear Stress (one plane)

G
1

Volume=dV

(Total strain energy in dV volume)

Strain Energy density
3D state of stress: For an element of volume (dV) under loading, there are 6
stress components x, y , z, xy , yz, and xz and strain components x, y , z, xy,
yz, and xz.
y
y
Strain Energy (Assuming material obyes
xy
Generalized Hookes law):
yz
xy
x

yz
(

z
)

xz

xz

And the strain energy density

(

i.e. the general case represents a linear addition (superposition) of the 6 separate
effects.
Department of Civil & Environmental Engineering
University of Waterloo

CivE 205 Mechanics of Solids II

p. 5.4

Part 5: Strain Energy

Principal Stresses-Principal Strains

2
y

Strain energy desnisty is a scalar quantity

Independent of the orientation of xyz axes
Easier to deal with strain energy using
principal directions

1
x
3

For an element aligned with principal directions of z

stress and strains (1,2, and 3)
Stresses: 1, 2 , 3 (No shear stresses)
Strains : 1, 2 , 3 (No Shear strains)

The strain energy density

(

Substituting Hookes law in the equation (No shear)

(

((

) ,

),

)) strain energy density

Two parts can be recognized: First part associated with volume change only, the
second associated with distoration only

Department of Civil & Environmental Engineering

University of Waterloo

CivE 205 Mechanics of Solids II

Part 5: Strain Energy

p. 5.5

Consider 1, 2 , 3 to be the sum of two stress states:

2

2- ave

ave

ave

1- ave

+
3- ave
(iii)

ave

(i)

(ii)

Where ave=( 1+ 2+ 3)/3=average normal stress

a) The average stress acting in state (ii) causes only changes in volume but no
distortion at any orientation of axes:
By Hookes law
(

Strain energy density for state (ii);

(

)
(

)
(

uv= Volumetric strain energy density

Bulk Modulus

**

Resistance against change in volume (i.e.

=Ke where e is volume change/per unit volume which is called Dilatation (

Department of Civil & Environmental Engineering

University of Waterloo

CivE 205 Mechanics of Solids II

p. 5.6

Part 5: Strain Energy

b) Stress state (iii) results in no volume change i.e. the sum of its assocaited
normal strains=0
Proof: (Hookes law)
(

)(

As 3 ave = 1+ 2+ 3
Therefore stress state (iii) produces only Distortion
Its associated Energy distortion (ud) is calculated as follows:
Total u=uv+ud

( (

Therefore ud=u-uv Hence:

[(

) )

)(

) ]

ud = Strain energy density for distortion

The strain energy of distortion depends only on differences between principal
stresses.
This equation is important in the development of theries of failure to be
discussed
Note:
Department of Civil & Environmental Engineering
University of Waterloo

CivE 205 Mechanics of Solids II