Principle of Virtual Work

Introduction

Principle of virtual work, according to Cornelius Lanczos:

The given mechanical systems will be in equilibrium if, and only if, the total virtual work of all the impressed forces vanishes.

Cornelius Lanczos [1]

Virtual Work and Generalized Forces

It is also important to note that the virtual displacements are reversible.

References

[1]

C. Lanczos, The variational principles of mechanics. Courier Corporation, 2012, pp. 74–77.