ME340B – Elasticity of Microscopic Structures – Wei Cai – Stanford University – Winter 2004

Lecture Note 1a. Betti’s Theorem and Reciprocity

Chris Weinberger and Wei Cai

c All rights reserved

January 1, 2004

Betti’s Theorem
Consider a linear elastic body with two sets of equilibrating tractions and body forces
applied to it. Let u(1) be the displacement field in response to traction force t(1) and body
force b(1) . Let u(2) be the displacement field in response to traction force t(2) and body force
b(2) . Under the assumptions of linear elasticity theory, the Betti’s Theorem states,
Z Z Z Z
(1) (2) (1) (2) (2) (1)
t · u dS + b · u dV = t · u dS + b(2) · u(1) dV (1)
S V S V

and in component form

Z Z Z Z
(1) (2) (1) (2) (2) (1) (2) (1)
ti ui dS + bi ui dV = ti ui dS + bi ui dV (2)
S V S V

Proof
(1) (2) (2) (1)
First, lets establish the fact that σij eij = σij eij . This is because,
(1) (2) (1) (2)
σij eij = Cijkl ekl eij
(2) (1) (2) (1)
σij eij = Cijkl ekl eij
Cijkl = Cklij

Integrating this identity over the volume of the solid, we have

Z Z
(1) (2) (2) (1)
σij eij dV = σij eij dV (3)
V V

The left hand side can be re-written as,

Z Z
(1) (2) (1) (2)
σij eij dV = σij uj,i dV
V
ZV
(1) (2) (1) (2)
= [σij uj ], i − σij,i uj dV
V

1
From equilibrium condition,
(1) (1)
σij,i + bj = 0 (4)

we have,
Z Z
(1) (2) (1) (2) (1) (2)
σij eij dV = [σij uj ],i + bj uj dV
V V

Applying Gauss’s Theorem on the first term, we have,

Z Z Z
(1) (2) (1) (2) (1) (2)
σij eij dV = σij uj ni dS + bj uj dV
V S V

Noticing the definition of traction force,

(1) (1)
tj = σij ni (5)

we obtain,
Z Z Z
(1) (2) (1) (2) (1) (2)
σij eij dV = tj uj dS + bj uj dV
V S V

Similarly, the right hand side of Eq. (3) can be written as,
Z Z Z
(2) (1) (2) (1) (2) (1)
σij eij dV = tj uj dS + bj uj dV
V S V

Therefore,
Z Z Z Z
(1) (2) (1) (2) (2) (1) (2) (1)
tj uj dS + bj uj dV = tj uj dS + bj uj dV
S V S V

which is Betti’s Theorem.

Reciprocity of Green’s function

Betti’s Theorem can be used to prove the reciprocity of Green’s function,

Gij (x, x0 ) = Gji (x0 , x) (6)

Proof
Consider a specific situation onto which we will apply the Betti’s Theorem. Let b(1) be
a concentrated body force F at point x(1) . Let b(2) be a concentrated body force H at
point x(2) . We would like to show that the contribution of the traction integral from Betti’s
theorem is zero, however they cannot be set to zero identically since the body must be in
equilibrium. Let’s consider a body that has a displacement restraints over part of the surface

2
such that ui = 0 on S ∗ , where S ∗ is a subsection of the total surface S. Let’s also further
assume that there are no other tractions on S. In this case,
(1)
ui (x) = Gij (x, x(1) )Fj
(1)
bi (x) = Fi δ(x − x(1) )
(2)
ui (x) = Gij (x, x(2) )Hj
(2)
bi (x) = Fi δ(x − x(2) )
(1) (2)
tj = tj = 0 on S − S ∗
(1) (2)
uj = uj = 0 on S ∗
(7)

Applying Betti’s Theorem and noting that the surface integrals are zero, we get,
Z Z
(1) (2)
Fi δ(x − x )Gij (x, x )Hj dV (x) = Hj δ(x − x(2) )Gji (x, x(1) )Fi dV (x) (8)
V V

Using the property of δ function, we have,

Fi Hj Gij (x(1) , x(2) ) = Fi Hj Gji (x(2) , x(1) ) (9)

This condition must be true for arbitrary forces F and H. Therefore,

Gij (x1 , x2 ) = Gji (x2 , x1 ) (10)

which is the reciprocity of Green’s function.