ABSTRACT
Energy methods are very important in the branch of engineering science known as structural mechanics. Such methods can be used for calculating the deflections of thin curved beams and frameworks. The methods can be used for statically determinate structures and also statically indeterminate structures considering both the elastic and plastic analyses of these components. The biggest breakthrough with energy methods is their applications in the finite element method, where they are used to analyse large and complex shapes in both solid and fluid mechanics. This chapter shows to: appreciate the method of minimum potential, state and appreciate the principle of virtual work, state and appreciate the principle of complementary virtual work. It also shows to: state and appreciate Castigliano's first and second theorems, determine the strain energy stored in a rod under axial loading, define resilience, define plastic neutral axis, load factor and shape factor.
