On the large deflections of linear viscoelastic beams

The quasi-static response and the stored and dissipated energies due to large deflections of a slender inextensible beam made of a linear viscoelastic material and subjected to a time-dependent inclined concentrated load at the free end are investigated. The beam cross-section is considered prismatic, the self-weight is disregarded and the material is initially stress free. The set of four first-order non-linear partial integro-differential equations obtained from geometrical compatibility, equilibrium of forces and moments, and linear viscoelastic constitutive relation is numerically solved using a one-parameter shooting method combined with a fourth-order Runge–Kutta algorithm. An analytical expression is derived to divide the energy supplied by the external load into conserved and dissipated parts. For the case study presented, a three-parameter solid linear viscoelastic constitutive model is employed and a step load is applied. The variables are made non-dimensional, so four parameters govern the problem: the ratio between the final and initial relaxation moduli, the load magnitude, the angle of inclination and the unloading time. A finite-element model is also performed to compare and validate the analytical and numerical formulations. Results are presented for encastré curvature and tip displacement versus time, geometrical configuration, load versus tip displacement, total work done by the external force, stored and dissipated energies versus time, energy per unit length along arc length for three times and versus time for two beam sections.