A cantilever beam is a type of structural element that is supported at one end and free to move or deflect at the other end. It is commonly used in construction and engineering to support loads and resist bending forces.
Virtual work is a method used to analyze the behavior of a cantilever beam under external loads. It involves calculating the work done by the external forces and comparing it to the work done by the internal forces within the beam.
Virtual work is used to calculate the deflection of a cantilever beam by considering the work done by the external loads and the work done by the internal forces. By equating these two values, the deflection at any point along the beam can be determined.
The virtual work method for cantilever beams makes the following assumptions: the beam is made of a linear elastic material, the deflections are small, and the external loads are applied gradually.
The virtual work method allows for a quick and accurate analysis of the deflection and stress in a cantilever beam. It also allows for the consideration of complex loading conditions and can be easily extended to analyze more complex structural systems.
