Chapter 4

Two-Dimensional Problems in Elasticity

Yalew Mekonnen Fenta (PhD)

4.1. Introduction
 Two approaches are possible in the solution of elasticity problems.
 We may solve initially for either the three unknown displacements
or the six unknown stresses.
 In the former method, the equilibrium equations are written in terms of
strain by expressing the six stresses as functions of strain.
 The strain–displacement relationships are then used to form three equations
involving the three displacements u, v, and w.
 The boundary conditions for this method of solution must be specified as
displacements.
 In most structural problems the object is usually to find the distribution of
stress in an elastic body produced by an external loading system.
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4.2. Two-Dimensional Problems
 For the reasons discussed in Chapter 3, we shall confine our actual analysis to
the two-dimensional cases of plane stress and plane strain.
 The appropriate equilibrium conditions for plane stress are given by Eq. (3.3);
that is,

 and the stress–strain relationships obtained from Eqs. (3.28) and (3.30)

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 For plane strain (εz = 0):

 By substituting and rearranging, we have:

 Similarly,

 Also

 From Eq. (3.3),

(4.1)
 and
(4.2)
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4.3. Stress Functions
 The solution of problems in elasticity presents difficulties, but the procedure may
be simplified by the introduction of a stress function.
 For a particular two-dimensional case, the stresses are related to a single function
of x and y such that substitution for the stresses in terms of this function
automatically satisfies the equations of equilibrium no matter what form the
function may take.
 For simplicity, let us consider the two-dimensional case for which the body
forces are zero. The problem is now to determine a stress–stress function
relationship that satisfies the equilibrium conditions of (see Eqs. (3.3))
(4.3)

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 For the stress function giving stresses which satisfy the compatibility equations,
(4.4)
 The English mathematician Airy proposed a stress function f defined by the
equations
(4.5)
 Clearly, substitution of Eqs. (4.5) into Eq. (4.3) verifies that the equations of
equilibrium are satisfied by this particular stress–stress function relationship.
 Further substitution into Eq. (4.4) restricts the possible forms of the stress
function to those satisfying the biharmonic equation:

(4.6)

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4.4. Displacement
 Having found the components of stress (for the case of plane stress) are used to
determine the components of strain.
(4.7)
 And
(4.8)
 The displacements follow from Eqs. (3.16) and (3.17). The integration of Eqs. (3.16)
yields solutions of the form,
(4.9)
(4.10)
 in which a, b, and c are constants representing movement of the body as a whole or
rigid body displacements.
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 Of these, a and c represent pure translatory motions of the body, while b is a
small angular rotation of the body in the xy plane.
 If we assume that b is positive in a counterclockwise sense, then in Fig. 4.1, the
displacement v’ due to the rotation is given by

 which, since b is a small angle, reduces to

 Similarly,

Fig. 4.1:
Displacements Produced by
Rigid Body Rotation
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4.5. Bending of an end-loaded Cantilever
 The portion of the stress function giving shear stress follows from the equilibrium
condition relating x and τxy (see the first of Eqs. (3.3)).
 The appropriate stress function for the cantilever beam shown in Fig. 4.2 is then
(4.11)
 where A and B are unknown constants.

Fig 4.2:
Bending of an End-Loaded
Cantilever

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 Hence,

(4.12)

 Substitution for in the biharmonic equation (Eq. (4.6)) shows that the form of
the stress function satisfies compatibility for all values of the constants A and B.
 The actual values of A and B are chosen to satisfy the boundary condition,
namely τxy = 0 along the upper and lower edges of the beam, and the resultant
shear load over the free end is equal to P.
 From the first,

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 Giving

 Form the second,

 or

 The stresses follow from Eqs. (4.12):

(4.13)
 We now proceed to determine the displacements corresponding to the stress
system of Eqs. (4.13).
 Applying the strain–displacement and stress–strain relationships, Eqs. (3.16),
(3.17), and (3.30) in which y = z = 0, we have
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 (4.14)
(4.15)
(4.16)
 Integrating Eqs. (4.14) and (2.16) and noting that εx and εεy are partial derivatives
of the displacements, we find
(4.17)
 where f1(y) and f2(x) are unknown functions of x and y. Substituting these values of
u and v in Eq. (4.16),

 Separating the terms containing x and y in this equation and writing

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 we have

 The term on the right-hand side of this equation is a constant, which means that
F1(x) and F2(y) must be constants; otherwise, a variation in either x or y destroys
the equality.
 Ding F1(x) by C and F2(y) by D gives
(4.18)
 and

 so that
and
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 Therefore, from Eq. (4.17),
(4.19)
(4.20)
 The constants C, D, F, and H are now determined from Eq. (4.18) and the
displacement boundary conditions imposed by the support system.
 Assuming that the support prevents movement of the point K in the beam cross-
section at the built-in end, u = v = 0 at x =l, y =0, and from Eqs. (4.19) and (4.20),

 If we now assume that the slope of the neutral plane is zero at the built-in end,
then v/x = 0 at x = l, y = 0 and, from Eq. (4.20),

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 It follows immediately that

and, from Eq. (4.18),

 Substitution for the constants C, D, F, and H in Eqs. (4.19) and (4.20) now
produces the equations for the components of displacement at any point in the
beam:
(4.21)
(4.22)
 The deflection curve for the neutral plane is
(4.23)
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 The shear strain at any point in the beam is given by

 and is obviously independent of x. Therefore, at all points on the neutral plane,

the shear strain is constant and equal to

 which amounts to a rotation of the neutral plane, as shown in Fig. 4.3.

 The deflection of the neutral plane due to this shear strain at any section of the
beam is therefore equal to

 and Eq. (4.23) may be rewritten to include the effect of shear as

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 (4.24)
 Let us now examine the distorted shape of the beam section, which the
analysis assumes is free to take place. At the built-in end, when x = l, the
displacement of any point is, from Eq. (4.21),
(4.25)

Fig 2.7:
Rotation of Neutral Plane Due to Shear
in an End-Loaded Cantilever

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