Analysis of statically determinate

structures
Prepared by Dr. Xiaodong Huang

Revised by Dr. Sawekchai Tangaramvong

School of Civil, Environmental and Chemical Engineering, RMIT University

Content
• Principle of superposition
• Equilibrium equations
• Application of equilibrium equations
• Determinacy and stability
Principle of Superposition
Statement: The total displacement or internal loading (stress) at a
point in a structure subjected to several external loadings can be
determined by adding together the displacements or internal loadings
(stress) caused by each of the external loads acting separately.

F2
F1 F1


 1

 F2

  1   2
2
Principle of Superposition
Statement: The total displacement or internal loading (stress) at a
point in a structure subjected to several external loadings can be
determined by adding together the displacements or internal loadings
(stress) caused by each of the external loads acting separately.
Two requirements (conditions):
1. The material must behave in a linear-elastic manner, so that Hooke’s
law is valid.
Principle of Superposition
Statement: The total displacement or internal loading (stress) at a
point in a structure subjected to several external loadings can be
determined by adding together the displacements or internal loadings
(stress) caused by each of the external loads acting separately.
Two requirements (conditions):
1. The material must behave in a linear-elastic manner, so that Hooke’s
law is valid.
2. The geometry of the structure must not undergo significant changes
when the loads are applied, i.e., small displacement theory applies.
F2
F1
F1 F2
 Equilibrium Equations
A structure or one of its members is in equilibrium when it maintains a
balance of force and moment. In 3D cases, this requires the force and moment
equations of equilibrium be satisfied along three independent axes as

F  Fy  0  Fz  0
Fz
x 0 Fy
Mz
M x 0 M y 0 M z 0 My
Fx
Mx
In 2D cases, there are in general three equations of equilibrium for a given
structure or member:

F
Fy
x 0 F y 0 M  0
M Fx
 Application of equilibrium
equations
In 2D cases, there are in general three equations of equilibrium for a given
structure or member:

F x 0 F y 0 M  0
Three equilibrium equations (simultaneous equations) can determine three reaction
forces (unknowns).

10N 8.67N
30o
+
F x  0: Ax  5  0
MA Ax  5N
Ax A 5N B
1m + F y  0: Ay  8.67  0

Ay Ay  8.67 N

+ M A  0 : M A  8.67 1  0
M A  8.67 Nm
When all the reaction forces in a structure can be determined strictly from
equilibrium equations, the structure is referred to as statically determinate.
Application of equilibrium
equations
80kN/m

B C 25kN
A
5 4
3
E
D

3m 1.5m 3m 1m
Application of equilibrium
equations
180kN 80kN/m
80kN/m

Ax Cx
A B C
B C 25kN
A
3m 5 Ay By Cy
4
Cy
3
E 25kN
D Cx Dy
C 5 4
3m 1.5m 3m 1m Dx 3 E
Dx Ex
D
D
Ey
Dy
 Application of equilibrium
equations
180kN 80kN/m
80kN/m

Ax Cx
A B C
B C 25kN
A
3m 5 Ay By Cy
4
Cy
3
E 25kN
D Cx Dy
C 5 4
3m 1.5m 3m 1m Dx 3 E
Dx Ex
D
D
For member CD: Ey
+ F  0:
+  M C  0 : Dx  0 x  Cx  0
Dy

For member DE: For member ABC:

+ F  0:

3
+ F  0:
x
E x  25   Dx  0 E x  15kN
5  x
Ax  C x  0 Ax  0kN
4
+ MD  0 : E y  4  25   3  0
5
E y  15kN
+ M A  0 : C y  4.5  180  3  By  3  0

+  Fy  0 :
4 B y  187.5kN
E y  25   Dy  0 Dy  5kN
5
+  Fy  0 :
For member CD: Ay  By  180  0 Ay  7.5kN
+  Fy  0 : Dy  C y  0 C y  5kN
 Determinacy
MA C
A A B
Ax B

E
Ay D

Statically determinate structures: number of reactions (r) = equilibrium equations (3n)

(n – the number of members)
Statically indeterminate structures: number of reactions (r) > equilibrium equations (3n)
degree of indeterminacy = r – 3n

10N 8.67N
+
F x  0: Ax  5  0

MA
30o Ax  5N
A C
F
5N
Ax B + y  0: Ay  C y  8.67  0

Ay Cy + M A  0 : M A  C y  0.5  8.67 1  0

Ay ; C y ; M A  ?
Examples – beams and frames
Reactions: r = 3
Equations: 3n=3
So, statically determinate structure

Reactions: r = 4
Equations: 3n=3
So, statically indeterminate structure
and degree of indeterminacy is 1
Reactions: r=6
Equations: 3n=3
So, statically indeterminate structure
and degree of indeterminacy is 3

Reactions: r = 5
Equations: 3n=3
So, statically indeterminate structure
and degree of indeterminacy is 2
Examples – beams and frames

Reactions: r=9
Equations: 3n=3x2=6
So, statically indeterminate structure
and degree of indeterminacy is 3

The conclusion is same

as the above!!!

Reactions: r = 11
Equations: 3n=3x3=9
So, statically indeterminate structure
and degree of indeterminacy is 2

The conclusion is same

as the above!!!
Examples – Articulated structures
Reactions: r=7
Equations: 3n=3x2=6
So, statically indeterminate structure
and degree of indeterminacy is 1

Reactions: r=7
Equations: 3n=3x2=6
So, statically indeterminate structure
and degree of indeterminacy is 1
Examples – Frames with internal loop

Reactions: r=11
Equations: 3n = 3x2=6
So, statically indeterminate structure
and the degree of indeterminacy is 5
Examples – Frames with internal loops

Reactions: r=20
Equations: 3n = 3x3=9
So, statically indeterminate structure
and the degree of indeterminacy is 11
 Examples – Frames with internal loop

Reactions: r=17
Equations: 3n = 3x2=6
So, statically indeterminate structure
and the degree of indeterminacy is 11

The conclusion is same as

the above one!!!
Statically determinate and
indeterminate structures
A statically indeterminate structure can be made statically determinate by
introducing pin connections or releasing some constraints, e.g.

Reactions: r=4
Equations: 3n = 3x1=3
So, statically indeterminate structure
and the degree of indeterminacy is 1

OR

r=6 and 3n=3x2=6 r=3 and 3n=3x1=3

 Stability of structures
When we design a structure, all members must be properly held or constrained
by their supports. In other words, the structure must be stable to sustain any
external loadings and the following situations must be avoided.
1) Reaction forces are less than the total number of equilibrium equations (r < 3n)

P P P

r=2
3n = 3x1 = 3
A A A r<n
So unstable.
 Stability of structures
When we design a structure, all members must be properly held or constrained
by their supports. In other words, the structure must be stable to sustain any
external loadings and the following situations must be avoided.
1) Reaction forces are less than the total number of equilibrium equations (r < 3n)

r=8
3n = 3x3 = 9
r<n
So unstable.
 Stability of structures
When we design a structure, all members must be properly held or constrained
by their supports. In other words, the structure must be stable to sustain any
external loadings and the following situations must be avoided.
1) Reaction forces are less than the total number of equilibrium equations (r < 3n)
2) All reaction forces are parallel.

Unstable!
 Stability of structures
When we design a structure, all members must be properly held or constrained
by their supports. In other words, the structure must be stable to sustain any
external loadings and the following situations must be avoided.
1) Reaction forces are less than the total number of equilibrium equations (r < 3n)
2) All reaction forces are parallel.
3) All reaction forces are concurrent at a point.

Unstable!
 Summary: Stability and Determinacy
Reactive forces are all parallel
Unstable structures
(bad design)

Structures

Stable structures
(possible good design)
 Summary: Stability and Determinacy
Reactive forces are all parallel
Unstable structures Support reactions are concurrent at one point
(bad design) o

Structures

Stable structures
(possible good design)
 Summary: Stability and Determinacy
Reactive forces are all parallel
Unstable structures Support reactions are concurrent
(bad design)
r < 3n

Structures

The total number of reactions r = 2

Stable structures
(possible good design) The number of members n = 1
 Summary: Stability and Determinacy
Reactive forces are all parallel
Unstable structures Support reactions are concurrent
(bad design)
r < 3n

Structures

Statically determinate structures

r = 3n
Stable structures
(possible good design)

r = 3, n = 1, 3 = 3(1)
 Summary: Stability and Determinacy
Reactive forces are all parallel
Unstable structures Support reactions are concurrent
(bad design)
r < 3n

Structures

Statically determinate structures

r = 3n
Stable structures
(possible good design) Statically indeterminate structures
r > 3n, degree of indeterminacy = r - 3n

r = 4, n = 1, 4 > 3(1)
Statically indeterminate to the first degree
 Activities
• Solve problems 2-9, 2-11 to 2-16 of Hibbeler, Structural Analysis