ENSTP – ÉCOLE NATIONALE SUPÉRIEURE DES TRAVAUX PUBLICS DE YAOUNDÉ

- SOLID MECHANICS B -
Given the following structure,
a) identify the equivalent isostatic system, the equation of congruence and the solving equation via the force-
based approach;
b) compute the hyperstatic unknown.
Consider that the height of the cross-section of the beams is supposed to be h.

+∆t +∆t

-∆t -∆t

The structure is a fixed hyperstatic structure. The degree of hyperstaticity is 1: notice that the total
elementary degree of constraint given by the two hinges is 4; the structure is made by 1 body so the
degrees of freedom in the plane are 3n = 3; the degree of lability is 0 because the structure is fixed,
not kinematically unstable. Therefore:
3n - v = l - i
leads to degree of hyperstaticity i = 1.
In order to apply the force-based method we need to release the redundant constraining condition
(our hyperstatic unknown) and replace it with the associated constraint reaction, in order to study an
equivalent isostatic structure, out of the initial hyperstatic structure. We need then to impose the
congruence equation required by the real presence of the constraint where we have just released the
hyperstatic unknown X and we need to define a coordinate system for the displacement component
we are seeking.
We decide to release the horizontal constraint condition of the hinge in A with an arbitrary
orientation from left to right, in agreement with our reference system (reported in the figure below);
therefore the congruence equation is the following:
ξA (∆t, M, X) = 0

+∆t +∆t

-∆t -∆t
 ENSTP – ÉCOLE NATIONALE SUPÉRIEURE DES TRAVAUX PUBLICS DE YAOUNDÉ
- SOLID MECHANICS B -

We decide to compute the first hand side of the congruence equation via the Theroem of Virtual
Works, so we need to solve the isostatic structure (real system) and define a proper fictitious system
and solve it, also.
Notice that we can solve the isostatic system by superposition of effects due to the two loads, X and
M, acting separately, so that the analytical expressions of the real diagram of bending moment turns
easier. If we consider X alone acting on the structure, by imposing the cardinal equations of statics,
with respect to the same reference system reported in figure above:
ΣX = X – XD = 0
ΣY = -YA + YD = 0
ΣMD = -YAL – XL = 0
we get the following constraint reactions, due to X alone:
XD = X
YA = -X
YD = X
Therefore YA is oriented opposite with respect to what initially assumed, and below the diagram of
bending moment of the isostatic system is plotted, due to X alone:

Then we consider the contribution due to M acting alone and, by imposing the cardinal equations of
statics, with respect to the same reference system:
ΣX = XD = 0
ΣY = -YA + YD = 0
ΣMD = -YAL + M = 0
we get the following constraint reactions of the real isostatic structure, due to M alone:
XD = 0
YA = M/L
YD = M/L
 ENSTP – ÉCOLE NATIONALE SUPÉRIEURE DES TRAVAUX PUBLICS DE YAOUNDÉ
- SOLID MECHANICS B -

The total constraint reactions of the real structure will be then the sum of the two contributions. But
the distinction on the two distinct contributions is helpful when solving the fictitious system,
because its diagram of bending moment will be equal to the diagram of the bending moment due to
X alone, just found, except for a factor X, since the fictitious system is defined as the real isostatic
structure without the external loads (X and M) and loaded only by a unit point force oriented like X
and applied in the same point. Therefore the study of the fictitious system will be similar to the
study of the real isostatic structure where X is supposed to act alone, and the fictitious diagram of
bending moment, in fact, is the following:

Now we need to define the analytical expressions of the bending moment for the two systems: the
real one and the fictitious. For the real isostatic system the superposition of effects gives:

For the fictitious system it is:

Hence the application of the Theorem of Virtual Works yields:

F* ξA = ξA =

Notice that the thermal distorsion acts in a negative way because it makes the lower fibers shrink,
due to a negative ∆t at the lower fibers, and the higher fibers expand, due to a positive ∆t at the
higher fibers. Also, notice that the diagram of bending moment, where the other thermal distortion
is present, is actually null, so there is no contribution of beam BC to the sum of integrals.
The expression above for ξA needs to be put equal to zero, to satisfy the congruence equation, in
order to find out X.
 ENSTP – ÉCOLE NATIONALE SUPÉRIEURE DES TRAVAUX PUBLICS DE YAOUNDÉ
- SOLID MECHANICS B -
Given the following structure,
c) identify the equivalent isostatic system, the equation of congruence and the solving equation via the force-
based approach;
d) compute the hyperstatic unknown.
Consider that the axial stiffness of beam BD EABD is supposed to satisfy the following relationship with the bending
stiffness EJ of the beams of the structures:
EJ
EABD =
L2

We consider the following isostatic structure, obtained by replacing the redundant single constraint
give by the connecting-rod BD by its constraint reaction (axial force). Notice that we have released
an internal constraint condition, so the reference system which accompanies the congruence will be
in terms of relative displacements ∆ξ and is the following:

XL 2
∆ξBD (∆t, X) = ∆ξBD = −
EABD

Because BD behaves as a kind of translational spring, since it is assigned an axial stiffness EA

different from infinity, and by congruence equation, we want the isostatic structure to have a
relative displacement between section B and section D, ∆ξBD , that will be function of ∆t and X
 ENSTP – ÉCOLE NATIONALE SUPÉRIEURE DES TRAVAUX PUBLICS DE YAOUNDÉ
- SOLID MECHANICS B -

applied on the structure, equal to the displacement of the connecting-rod ∆ξBD , which comes from
the behaviour of a spring under an axial force X.
We suppose positive the expansion of the connecting rod BD, so that the X effect is negative on it
and X on the structure will be in agreement with the reference system.
We decide to determine the first hand side of the congruence equation ∆ξBD (∆t, X) via the Theorem
of Virtual Works. Notice that a longitudinal thermal distorsion λ is present in the isostatic structure
that we are going to study, which implies that we need to consider in the expression of the Theorem
also the contribution due to the product of the diagrams of the axial force, which contains λ:
l
 N* 
∫ N  EA
0
BD
+ λ

We need to define the fictitious system and the diagrams of bending moment and of the axial force
for both the real and the fictitious system. The fictitious system is the real one, without the
hyperstatic unknown X and without the thermal distorsion, loaded only by two point forces F* = 1
oriented like X, at the same points B and D.
Here we report the diagrams for the two systems:

Therefore the Theorem will lead to the following expression for ∆ξBD:

After equating this expression for the displacement of the isostatic structure ∆ξBD with the
expression of the same displacement of the connecting-rod BD, by the congruence equation, we get
the final value of the hyperstatic unknown X:
4 XL3 α∆tL XL 2
+ =−
3 EJ 2 EABD

Therefore X is found to act opposite than what initially assumed, that is X makes the connecting-
rod BD expand.