ANALYSIS OF INDETERMINATE STRUCTURES

CHAPTER
!1
TWO
 Advantages
1. Smaller Stresses

!2
 Advantages
2. Greater Stiffnesses

!3
 Advantages
3. Redundancies

-Statically indeterminate structures, if properly designed, have the capacity for redistributing
loads when certain structural portions become overstressed or collapse in cases of overloads
due to earthquakes, tornadoes, impact (e.g., gas explosions or vehicle impacts), and other such
events.

!4
 Disadvantages
1. Stresses due to Support Settlements

!5
 Disadvantages
2. Stresses due to Temperature Changes

!6
 PROBLEM 1
What is the vertical displacement of the truss system shown?

!7
 The Elastic Curve
The deflections to be considered throughout this text apply only to structures having linear
elastic material response. Under this condition, a structure subjected to a load will return to its
original undeformed position after the load is removed. The deflection of a structure is caused by
its internal loadings such as normal force, shear force, or bending moment. For beams and
frames, however, the greatest deflections are most often caused by internal bending, whereas
internal axial forces cause the deflections of a truss.

!8
 The Elastic Curve
Before the slope or displacement of a point on a beam or frame is determined, it is often helpful
to sketch the deflected shape of the structure when it is loaded in order to partially check the
results. This deflection diagram represents the elastic curve or locus of points which defines the
displaced position of the centroid of the cross section along the members.

!9
The Elastic Curve

!10
The Elastic Curve

!11
 PROBLEM 2
Sketch the qualitative deflected shape of the loaded beams shown.

!12
 Classical Methods
Geometric Methods: Force Methods:
1. Direct/ Double Integration Method
1. Superposition Method

2. Area Moment Method

3. Conjugate Beam Method

Displacement Methods:
1. Slope Deflection Method

Energy Methods: 2. Moment Distribution Method

1. Virtual Work Method

2. Castigliano’s Theorem
Other Methods:
1. Three Moment Equation

2. Column Analogy Method

!13
 Double Integration Method
EIy” = Moment Equation
EIy’ = Slope Equation + C1
EIy = Deflection Equation + C1x + C2

For non-prismatic sections, I will be a denominator of the equation.

For homogeneous sections, E can be taken as constant.

!14
 Double Integration Method
Abrupt Change from Span to Span

w
EI
2EI
L2
L1

A B C
 Double Integration Method
Abrupt Change within a Span

w
EI
2EI
L2
L1

A B C
 Double Integration Method
Gradual Change within a Span

w
d
2d
b
b
L
A B
 Double Integration Method
Combination

w
2EI EI 2EI
 PROBLEM 3
Determine the maximum deflection of the beam shown.

d b
L
A B A B
ELEVATION PLAN

!19
 PROBLEM 4
Determine the deflection at B. E = 20 x 103 ksi.

4 kips/ft 1 kip/ft

5”
10”
k=1 4”
4”
12’
A B
 Area Moment Method
Theorem 1: The change in slope between any two points on the elastic curve equals the area of
the M/EI diagram between these two points.

Conventions:

CCW Rotation, (+)

CW Rotation, (-)
 Area Moment Method
Theorem 2: The vertical deviation of the tangent at a point (A) on the elastic curve with respect to
the tangent extended from another point (B) equals the “moment” of the area under the M/EI
diagram between the two points (A and B). This moment is computed about point A (the point on
the elastic curve), where the deviation tA/B is to be determined.

Conventions:

Deviation is above tangent, (+)

Deviation is below tangent, (-)

 Area Moment Method
Area Moment Method is dependent on the moment diagram. For non-prismatic sections, modify
first the moment diagram before the application of the theorems.

 Area Moment Method

Abrupt Change

w
EI
2EI
L2
L1
A B C
 Area Moment Method
Gradual Change

L
A B

For this course only, each segment may be treated as trapezoidal for expediency.
 Conjugate Beam Method
Theorem 1: The slope at a point in the real beam is numerically equal to the shear at the
corresponding point in the conjugate beam.

Theorem 2: The displacement of a point in the real beam is numerically equal to the moment
at the corresponding point in the conjugate beam.

The conjugate beam is loaded with the real beam’s M/EI diagram. This loading is assumed to
be distributed over the conjugate beam and is directed upward when M/EI is positive and
downward when M/EI is negative. In other words, the loading always acts away from the
beam. 

Conjugate Beam Method
 Superposition Method
The total deflection/ slope is the summation of the deflection/ slope due to a simplified load
assumed to be acting one at a time. For non-prismatic sections, formulas and coefficients of
moment/ shear/ deflection should be available; otherwise, SPM cannot be used.
 Three-Moment Equation

where:

ML , MC , MR = internal moments at the end, center, and right, (+) bottom fibers in tension, (-)
bottom fibers in compression

DL , DC , DR = support settlements at the end, center and right, (+) upward, (-) downward

LL , LR = length of left and right segments

IL , IR = moment of inertia of left and right segments

QML, QMR = static moment of area taken about left/ right end of the moment diagram and about
the left/ right span assumed to be simply supported
 Three-Moment Equation
Notes:
1. Consider two spans at a time.

2. Consider overlap for continuity.

3. Fixed ends are transformed into imaginary spans

Notes for Indeterminate Beams:

1. Construct equilibrium table and plot Simple Beam Reactions (SBR), Couple Reactions
(caused by residual moment) (CR), Shear (V) and True Reaction (TR).

2. V = SBR + CR.

3. TR = Sum of Vsupport

Additional Notes:
1. Gradual Section - INAPPLICABLE

2. Abrupt Change from Span to Span - APPLICABLE

3. Abrupt Change within a Span - APPLICABLE, PROVIDED THAT THE CONDITIONS AT

CHANGE OF MOMENT OF INERTIA IS GIVEN (DEFLECTION, MOMENT)