2.

5 Weak form and variational method

In order to discuss the relation between the weak form and the variational method, let us consider the
one dimensional Laplace problem governed by

d2 u
+ f¯(x) = 0, for 0 < x < 1 (120)
dx2
subjected to the boundary condition
du
u(0) = ū, and t(1) ≡ (1) = t̄. (121)
dx
Due to the weighted residual method, it follows that
∫ 1 ( 2 ) ( )
d u du
w(x) − 2 − f¯(x) dx + w(1) (1) − t̄ = 0 (122)
0 dx dx

under the conditions w(0) = 0 and u(0) = ū. Applying the integration by parts to the first integral in
the above equation, we have the weak form
∫ 1 ∫ 1
dw du
dx − w(x)f¯(x)dx − w(1)t̄ = 0 (123)
0 dx dx 0

where w(0) = 0 and u(0) = ū.

On the other hand, the potential energy U for the one dimensional Laplace problem is given by
∫ 1 { ( )2 }
1 du
U= − f¯(x)u(x) dx − u(1)t̄ (124)
0 2 dx

The first variation of U , δU , can be written as

∫ 1( )
du d(δu)
δU = − f¯(x)δu dx − δu(1)t̄ = 0 (125)
0 dx dx

where δu(0) = 0 since u(0) = ū is given at x = 0. Eq.(125) has to be solved under the condition of
δu(0) = 0 and u(0) = ū.
From the comparison between eqs.(123) and (125), the weak form gives the same equations as the
variational method, if the weight function w is replaced by δu.

Problem 2.5.1 Show that the weak form and the variational method are identical for the beam
problem governed by
EIu0000 − f¯ = 0 for 0 < x < 1 (126)
subjected to the boundary condition

u = u0 = 0 at x = 0 (127)
Q = −EIu000 = Q̄ and M = −EIu00 = M̄ at x = 1 (128)

Hint The weighted residual is evaluated by

∫ 1
w(EIu0000 − f¯)dx − w0 (1)(M (1) − M̄ ) + w(1)(Q(1) − Q̄) = 0 (129)
0

where w = w0 = 0 and u = u0 = 0 at x = 0.
In the variational method, the potential energy is given by
∫ 1( )
EI 00 2 ¯
U= (u ) − f u dx − (−u0 (1))M̄ − u(1)Q̄ (130)
0 2

where u(0) = u0 (0) = 0 (δu(0) = δu0 (0) = 0).

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