List of Symbols

A area

b width
C carryover fac tor, torsional rigidity

c distance from neutral axis to outer fiber

D distribution factor, flexural rigidity of plate

[D] elastic ity matrix

d diameter, distance
E modulus of elastic ity in tension or c ompression

Es modulus of plastic ity or secant modulus

Et tangent modulus

e dilatation, distanc e, ec centric ity

{F} nodal force matrix of bar and beam finite elements

F body force per unit volume, c onc entrated force

f coefficient of friction
{f} displacement function of finite element

G modulus of elastic ity in shear

g acc eleration of gravity (9.81 m/s2)

h depth of beam, height, membrane deflec tion, mesh width

I moment of inertia of area, stress invariant

J polar moment of inertia of area, strain invariant

K bulk modulus, spring constant of an elastic support, stiffness factor, thermal

conductivity, fatigue factor, strength coefficient, stress conc entration fac tor

[K] stiffness matrix of whole structure

k constant, modulus of elastic foundation, spring c onstant

[k] stiffness matrix of finite element

L length, span

M moment
Mxy twisting moment in plates

m moment caused by unit load

N fatigue life (c ycles), forc e

n fac tor of safety, number, strain hardening index

l, m, n direction c osines
P concentrated force
p distributed load per unit length or area, pressure, stress resultant

Q first moment of area, heat flow per unit length, shearing forc e
{Q} nodal force matrix of two-dimensional finite element

R radius, reaction
S elastic section modulus, shear center

r radius, radius of gyration

r, polar coordinates

s distance along a line or a curve

T temperature, twisting c ouple or torque

t thickness
U strain energy

Uo strain energy per unit volume

U* complementary energy
V shearing forc e, volume

v velocity
W weight, work

u, v, w components of displacement
Z plastic section modulus

x, y, z rec tangular coordinates

angle, coefficient of thermal expansion, form fac tor for shear

numerical factor, angle

shear strain, weight per unit volume or specific weight, angle

deflec tion, finite differenc e operator, variational symbol, displac ement

{} nodal displacement matrix of finite element

change of a func tion

normal strain

angle, angle of twist per unit length, slope

Poissons ratio

axial load factor, Lam constant

potential energy
density (mass per unit volume), radius

normal stress
shear stress

total angle of twist

stress function
 angular velocity

stream func tion