General

 In this method the degree of static

indeterminacy of the structure is determined and
the redundants are identified. A coordinate is
assigned to each redundant. Thus,Aq1, Aq2…,
Aqn are the redundants at the coordinates 1,2,
… n. If all the redundants are removed, the
resulting structure known as primary-structure,
is statically determinate.
From the principle of superposition the total
displacement at any point in statically indeterminate
structure is the sum of the displacements in the
basic structure due to the applied loads and the
redundants. This is known as the compatibility
condition.
Flexibility Matrix – Formalized

Flexibilities of Prismatic Members

▪ Flexibility for Beam Member
▪ Flexibility for Truss Member
▪ Flexibility for Plane Frame Member
▪ Action Transformation matrix
▪ Transformation from member flexibility matrix to
assembled system flexibility matrix
▪ Solution of System flexibility equations
▪ Determination of member forces, joint
displacements and support reactions
 Consider a truss member having cross sectional area A, Young’s
modulus of material E, and length of the member L. Let the member
be subjected to axial tension force AM as shown in Figure below.
Under the action of constant axial force AM, the displacement
(elongation) is given by 𝐴𝑀 𝐿
𝛥=
𝐸𝐴
 The flexibility is the displacement of the member due to a unit
𝑳
axial load (AM =1), i.e, 𝒇𝒎 =
𝑬𝑨

 Therefore, the flexibility for an individual truss member is

given by:

𝐿𝑖
𝑓𝑚𝑖 =
𝐸𝑖 𝐴𝑖
 Consider a cantilever beam member shown in Figure (a) below
having length L, and has a constant flexural rigidity EI. To
determine the flexibility matrix, the coefficients must be determined
by applying unit loads to the free end.

 Figure (a)
For the cantilever beam member shown in Figure (b) below, using
the beam-deflection formula, the displacements (translational and
rotational) due to applied load P at the free end is given by:
The flexibility coefficient is obtained by subjecting the beam to
unit load (P=1) and computing the following displacements.
i.e.
Moreover, for the beam member shown in (c) below, using the
beam-deflection formula, the displacements (translational and
rotational) due to applied moment M at the free end is given
by:
Similarly, the flexibility coefficients are given by (subjecting
the beam to unit moment, M=1);

Therefore, the flexibility matrix for beam member is

For a plane frame member, as with the beam, the plane is defined
to be a principal plane of bending. If axial strains are to be
neglected, the member flexibility matrix is the same as that for a
beam. However, if axial strains are to be considered, the member
flexibility matrix is
 The flexibility matrix fMi for an individual member relates the
end-displacements DMi to the corresponding end-actions AMi
as follows:

 For the whole structure with n elements (arranged in matrix

form), the structure flexibility equation (unassembled
flexibility equation) is given by as follows:
where:

AMi : individual member action

DMi : individual displacement in member i
fMi : flexibility coefficient for individual member
The structure flexibility equation in compact form is called
unassembled flexibility equation and can be written more concisely as:

Where fM represents a diagonal matrix of submatrices fMi.

The matrix fM as the flexibility matrix for the unassembled structure

because it consists of a collection of member flexibility matrices
arranged in a diagonal pattern. The size of fM depends upon the
number of members and the order of a typical submatrix fMi.
  The relationship between member versus structure actions (AM and
As) related through equilibrium equations are expressed in matrix
form, the result is

 Where

BMS : is an action transformation matrix

AS, AJ, and AQ : structure, joint and redundant-actions respectively
AM : is member end actions

The action transformation matrix BMS relates AM to As for the released structure.
Remark: The action transformation matrix, BMS are found by
elementary principles of static equilibrium. For this reason, it is called
the equilibrium (or statics) matrix. It is determined by calculating the
member end actions of the primary structure for unit values of forces
corresponding to AJ and redundant forces AQ. In the determination of
BMS apply a unit value acts once at a time and make all the other
actions are zero.
 The structure displacement equation and given by
 Ds  =  BMS   f M  BMS  As 
T

  Ds  =  f S  As 

Where

 f S  =  BMS   f M  BMS 
T

The unassembled flexibility matrix fM is transformed to the

assembled flexibility matrix fs for the whole structure.
 The assembled flexibility matrix fs partitioned into submatrices
pertaining to the joint loads AJ, the redundant actions AQ, and their
corresponding displacements, DJ and DQ. This partitioning may be
in terms of joint and redundant displacements:

 Ds  =  f S  As 
 DJ   f JJ f JQ   AJ 
  Ds  =   =   
D   f fQQ   AQ 
 Q   QJ
 f JJ A J  + f JQ  A Q  = DJ  (1)

f QJ  A J  + f QQ  A Q  = DQ  (2)

Since the displacements at the redundant DQ are known, then,

the redundant action AQ can be determined from equation (2)
and is given by:

 AQ  =  fQQ  (DQ  −  fQJ   AJ )

−1
 Once the redundant actions AQ have been found, then the joint
displacement DJ can be determined by substituting AQ into
equation (1).

 This combination of effects can be stated in equation form and

the member forces are given by:

 AM  =  AMF  +  BMJ  AJ  +  BMQ   AQ 

  AM  =  AMF  +  BMS  AS 