16.21 Techniques of Structural Analysis and
Design
Spring 2003
Unit #6 - Boundary value problems in linear
elasticity
Figure 1: Schematic of generic problem in linear elasticity
? Equations of equilibrium ( 3 equations, 6 unknowns ):
σ
ji,j
+ f
i
= 0 (1)
? Compatibility ( 6 equations, 9 unknowns):
?
?u
i
?
(2)?
ij
=
1
2 ?x
j
+
?u
j
?x
i
1
? Constitutive Law (6 equations, 0 unknowns) :
σ
ij
= C
ijkl
?
kl
(3)
? Boundary conditions of two types:
ˉ
– Traction or natural boundary conditions: For tractions t imposed
on the portion of the surface of the body ?B
t
:
n
i
σ
ij
= t
j
= t
ˉ
j
(4)
– Displacement or essential boundary conditions: For displacements
ˉu imposed on the portion of the surface of the body ?B
u
, this
includes the supports for which we have ˉu = 0:
ˉu
i
= u
i
(5)
One can prove existence and uniqueness of the solution ( the ?elds: u
i
(x
j
), ?
ij
(x
k
), σ
ij
(x
k
))
in B.
2