On the asymptotic boundary conditions of an anisotropic beam via virtual work principle

In this research, an efficient and effective method is proposed to derive the boundary conditions of an anisotropic beam in the asymptotic sense. We first set up the constrained virtual work by introducing the Lagrange multiplier on the displacement prescribed boundary. The macroscopic beam and microscopic cross-section equations with the boundary conditions are simultaneously obtained by taking the asymptotic expansion on the displacement vector. In this way, the three-dimensional characteristics of the beam are asymptotically smeared into the macroscopic beam equations and the beam boundary conditions. The boundary conditions obtained are then compared to those from the decay analysis method. The beam bending slope boundary condition obtained in the frame work of variational principle is different from the well-known average condition. This new boundary condition is more accurate than the average one for a sandwich beam. This is further demonstrated and discussed via the examples of a cantilever beam loaded at the end.