STATICALLY INDETERMINATE MEMBERS

There are certain combinations of axially loaded members in

which equations of static equilibrium are not sufficient for a
solution. This condition exists in structures where the
reactive forces or the internal resisting forces over a cross
section exceed the number of independent equations of
equilibrium. Such cases are called statically indeterminate
and require the use of additional relations that depend on the
elastic deformations in the member.
STATICALLY INDETERMINATE MEMBERS

The cases are so varied that they can best be described by

sample problems illustrating the following general principles:
1. To a free-body diagram of the structure, or a part of it,
apply the equations of static equilibrium.
2. If there are more unknowns than independent equations
of equilibrium, obtain additional equations from the
geometric relations between the elastic deformations
produced by the loads. To define these relations clearly,
you will find it helpful to draw a sketch that exaggerates
the magnitudes of the elastic deformations.
The short concrete post in the figure below is reinforced
axially with six symmetrically placed steel bars, each 600
mm2 in area. If the applied load P is 1000 kN, compute the
stress developed in each material. Use the following moduli
of elasticity: for steel, Es = 200 GPa; for concrete, Ec = 14
GPa.
  geometric relations of deformations:
Pco Lco PL
 co   st   st st
Aco Eco Ast Est

Aco Eco
Pco  Pst
Ast Est

Ast  6(600)  3600 mm 2

Aco  300(300)  3600  86400 mm 2

86400  14 
Pco    Pst Pco  1.68Pst  (2)
Fy  0   3600  200 
Pst  Pco  1000 kN  (1)
 solve for the stresses:
 substitute (2) to (1):
Pst 373.134(1000)
Pst  1.68Pst  1000 kN  st    st  103.65 MPa
Ast 3600
Pst  373.134 kN
Pco 626.866(1000)
Pco  626.866 kN  co    co  7.25 MPa
Aco 86400
In the preceding problem, assume the allowable stresses to
be ss = 120 MPa and sc = 6 MPa. Compute the maximum
safe axial load P that may be applied.

P
P allowable  st  120 MPa  geometric relations of deformations:
allowable  co  6 MPa Pco Lco PL  co Lco  st Lst
 co   st   st st  
P Aco Eco Ast Est Eco Est
Eco 14
 co   st   st  co  0.07 st
Est 200

 assume steel yields first:

 co  0.07(120)  co  8.4 MPa not good!

 assume concrete yields first:

Fy  0  
6  0.07( st )  st  85.714 MPa OK!
Pst  Pco  P
 use  co  6 MPa ;  st  85.714 MPa
P
  P A
A
 st Ast   co Aco  P
 st Ast   co Aco  P
85.714(3600)  6(86400)  P
120(3600)  6(86400)  P
P  826,970 N
P  950, 400 N
A copper rod is inserted into a hollow aluminum cylinder.
The copper rod projects 0.005 in. as shown. What maximum
load P may be applied to the bearing plate? Use the data in
the following table:
  geometric relations of deformations:

 cu Lcu  al Lal
 cu   al  0.005    0.005
Ecu Eal
Ecu  Lal 
 cu    al  0.005 
Lcu  Eal 
17  106  10 
   al  0.005 
10.005  10  10 6

 cu  1.6992 al  8495.75

 assume copper yields first:

20000  1.6992 al  8495.75
Fy  0    al  6770.39 psi OK!
Pcu  Pal  P
 use  cu  20000 psi ;  al  6770.39 psi
 cu Acu   al Aal  P

20000(2)  6770.39(3)  P

P  60,311 lb
A horizontal bar of negligible mass, hinged at A and
assumed rigid, is supported by a bronze rod 2.0m long and
a steel rod 1.0m long. Using the data in the accompanying
table, compute the stress in each rod.
  geometric relations of deformations:
 st  br
   st  0.375 br
0.6 1.6
Pst Lst P L
 0.375 br br
Ast Est Abr Ebr
Pst (1.0) P (2.0)
 0.375 br
600(200) 300(83)
Pst  3.6145Pbr  (2)

 substitute (2) to (1):

δst
3.6145Pbr (0.6)  Pbr (1.6)  50000(2.4)
δbr
Pbr  31,841.22 N Pst  115,090.08 N
M A  0 
 solve for the stresses:
Pst (0.6)  Pbr (1.6)  50000(2.4)  (1)
Pbr 31,841.22
 br    br  106.14 MPa
Abr 300
Pst 115,090.08
 st    st  191.82 MPa
Ast 600
A rigid block of mass M is supported by three symmetrically
spaced rods as shown below. Each copper rod has an area
of 900 mm2; E = 120 GPa; and the allowable stress is 70
MPa. The steel rod has an area of 1200 mm2; E = 200
GPa; and the allowable stress is 140 MPa. Determine the
largest mass M which can be supported.
 W
 geometric relations of deformations:

δcu = δst Pcu Lcu PL  cu Lcu  st Lst

 cu   st   st st  
Acu Ecu Ast Est Ecu Est
Pcu Pst Pcu Ecu Lst 120  240 
 cu   st     st
Est Lcu 200  160 
 cu  0.90 st

 assume copper yields first:

70  0.90( st )  st  77.778 MPa OK!
 use  cu  70 MPa ;  st  77.778 MPa
Fy  0  
2 cu Acu   st Ast  W
2 Pcu  Pst  W
2(70)(900)  77.778(1200)  W
2 cu Acu   st Ast  W
W  219,333 N

W 219,333
m  m  22,358 kg
g 9.81
THERMAL STRESSES

It is well-known that changes in temperature cause bodies to

expand or contract, the amount of linear deformation, dT,
being expressed by the relation
dT = aL(DT)
where: a = coefficient of linear expansion
L = length
DT = temperature change
THERMAL STRESSES

If a temperature deformation is permitted to occur freely, as

by the use of expansion joints, no loads or stress will be
induced in the structure. But in some cases it may not be
feasible to permit these temperature deformations; the result
is that internal forces are created to resist them. The
stresses caused by these internal forces are known as
thermal stresses.
THERMAL STRESSES

A general procedure for computing the loads and stresses

caused when temperature deformation is prevented is
outlined in these steps:
1. Imagine the structure relieved of all applied loads and
constraints so that temperature deformations can occur
freely. Represent these deformations on a sketch, and
exaggerate their effect.
2. Now imagine sufficient loads applied to the structure to
restore it to the specified conditions of restraint.
Represent these loads and corresponding load
deformations on the sketch for step 1.
THERMAL STRESSES

A general procedure for computing the loads and stresses

caused when temperature deformation is prevented is
outlined in these steps:
3. The geometric relations between the temperature and
load deformations on the sketch give equations that,
together with the equations of static equilibrium, may be
solved for all unknown quantities.
A steel rod 2.5 m long is secured between two walls. If the
load on the rod is zero at 20°C, compute the stress when
the temperature drops to -20°C. The cross-sectional area of
the rod is 1200 mm2, a = 11.7 mm/(m·°C), and E = 200
GPa. Solve, assuming (a) that the walls are rigid and (b)
that the walls spring together a total distance of 0.500 mm
as the temperature drops.
A steel rod 2.5 m long is secured between two walls. If the load on the rod is zero at 20°C, compute the stress
when the temperature drops to -20°C. The cross-sectional area of the rod is 1200 mm2, a = 11.7 mm/(m·°C),
and E = 200 GPa. Solve, assuming (a) that the walls are rigid and (b) that the walls spring together a total
distance of 0.500 mm as the temperature drops.
δT δT

P P

δP δP
0.5 mm
 geometric relations of deformations:  geometric relations of deformations:

T   P  T   P  0.500
L L
 L( T )   L ( T )   0.500
E E
   ( T ) E  (2500)
11.7  106 (2500)(40)   0.500
 11.7  106 (40)(200000) 200000

  93.6 MPa   53.6 MPa

A rigid block weighing 12 kips is supported by three rods
symmetrically placed as shown. Assuming the block to
remain horizontal, determine the stress in each rod after a
temperature rise of 100°F. The lower ends of the rods are
assumed to have been at the same level before the block
was attached and the temperature changed. Use the data in
the following table:
temperature rise = 100°F
  tst   st   tbr   br

Pst Lst P L
 st Lst ( T )    br Lbr ( T )  br br
Ast E st Abr Ebr
Fy  0  
Pst (2) Pbr (3)
2 Pst  Pbr  12000  (1) 6.5  106 (2)(100)   10  10 6
(3)(100) 
0.75(29  106 ) 1.5(12  106 )

 substitute (2) to (1): Pst  1.8125Pbr  18487.5  (2)

2(1.8125Pbr  18487.5)  Pbr  12000  solve for the stresses:

Pbr  5400 lb Pbr 5400 lb Pst 8700 lb
 br    st  
Abr 1.5 in 2 Ast 0.75 in 2
Pst  8700 lb
 br  3600 psi  st  11600 psi
(compression ) (tension )
A steel rod with a cross-sectional area of 0.25 in2 is stretched
between two fixed points. The tensile load at 70°F is 1200 lb.
What will be the stress at 0°F? At what temperature will the
stress be zero? Assume a = 6.5 x 10-6 in/(in·°F) and E =
29 x 106 psi.  geometric relations of deformations:
δT
L
T   P  L( T ) 
E
P    ( T ) E
 6.5  106 (70)(29  106 )
δP   13,195 psi (tension )

P 1200 lb  stress at 0 °F:

i    4,800 psi
A 0.25 in 2   4,800  13,195   17,995 psi (tension )
(tension )

  4,800 psi (compression )  temperature the stress will be zero:

T f  70  F  25.47  F
4,800  6.5  106 ( T )(29  106 )
T  25.47  F T f  95.47  F