MULTISTORY RIGID FRAMES

FOR LATERAL LOAD:

CANTILEVER
METHOD

CANTILEVER METHOD

 The cantilever method, a second

procedure for estimating forces
in laterally loaded frames, is
based on the assumption that a
building frame behaves as a
cantilever beam. In this method
we assume that the cross
section of the imaginary beam is
composed of the cross-sectional
areas of the columns.

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 CANTILEVER METHOD

 For example, the cross section of the imaginary

beam (cut by section A-A) consists of the four
areas A1, A2, A3, and A4. On any horizontal
section through the frame, we assume that the
longitudinal stresses in the columns—like those
in a beam—vary linearly from the centroid of
the cross section. The forces in the columns
created by these stresses make up the internal
couple that balances the overturning moment
produced by the lateral loads. The cantilever
method, like the portal method, assumes that
points of inflection develop at the middle of all
beams and columns.

CANTILEVER METHOD
 The cantilever method is based on the
following three assumptions:
1. A hinge is placed at the center of each
girder, since this is assumed to be a point of
zero moment.
2. A hinge is placed at the center of each
column, since this is assumed to be a point
of zero moment.
3. The axial stress in a column is proportional
to its distance from the centroid of the
cross-sectional areas of the column at a
given floor level. Since stress is equal to
force per area, then in the special case of
the column having equal cross sectional
areas, the force in a column is also
4proportional to its distance from the

centroid of the column area.

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 CANTILEVER METHOD

 To analyze a frame by the cantilever method, we

carry out the following steps:
1. Locate the Neutral axis of each storey by using
Varignon’s Theorem.
̅ = ̅ + ̅ + ̅ +. . . + ̅
2. Cut free bodies of each story together with the
upper and lower halves of the attached columns.
The free bodies are cut by passing sections
through the middle of the columns (midway
between floors). Since the sections pass through
the points of inflection, only axial and shear
forces act on each column at that point.

CANTILEVER METHOD

 To analyze a frame by the cantilever method, we

carry out the following steps:
3. Evaluate the axial force in each column at the
points of inflection in a given story by drawing a
stress diagram for that storey. Since we consider
the frame as a Cantilever beam, one side of the
frame if subjected to tension, while the other
side is subjected to compression.
4. Using the stress diagram, make a relation among
the axial forces. It can be seen that the stress
diagram can be expresses in similar triangles,
thus we can use the ratio and proportion of
right similar triangles.
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 CANTILEVER METHOD

 To analyze a frame by the cantilever method, we

carry out the following steps:
5. Determine each of the axial forces by expressing
the axial forces in terms of only one axial force.
6. Take a moment about the neutral axis of the
storey. Remember that the summation of
moments about the neutral axis will always be
equal to zero. By this, we can now determine the
values of each of the axial forces.

CANTILEVER METHOD

 To analyze a frame by the cantilever method, we

carry out the following steps:
7. Evaluate the shears in the girders by considering
vertical equilibrium of the joints. The shear in
the girders equals the difference in axial forces
in the columns. Start at an exterior joint and
proceed laterally across the frame.
8. Compute the moments in the girders. Since the
shear is constant, the girder moment equals

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 CANTILEVER METHOD

 To analyze a frame by the cantilever method, we

carry out the following steps:
9. Evaluate the column moments by considering
equilibrium of joints. Start with the exterior
joints of the top floor and proceed downward.
10. Establish the shears in the columns by dividing
the sum of the column moments by the length
of the column.
11. Apply the column shears to the joints and
compute the axial forces in the girders by
considering equilibrium of forces in the x
direction.
9

CANTILEVER METHOD
Example:
1. Use the cantilever method to estimate the forces in the laterally
loaded frame shown. Assume that the area of the interior columns
is twice as large as the area of the exterior columns.
• First solve for the location of the centroid
̅ = ̅ + ̅ + ̅ + ̅
6 ̅ = 0′ + 2 24′ + 2 48′ + 72′
̅ = 36
• Ratio and Proportion (similar triangle from the stress diagram)
= = =
36′ 12′ 12′ 36′
• I will express each axial force in terms of force over area

= 2 = 2 =
36′ 12′ 12′ 36′

10

5
 CANTILEVER METHOD
Example:
1. Use the cantilever method to estimate the forces in the laterally
loaded frame shown. Assume that the area of the interior columns
is twice as large as the area of the exterior columns.
• I will express each axial force in terms of
(2 )(12 ) 2
= =
( )(36 ) 3
(2 )(12 ) 2
= =
( )(36 ) 3
(2 )(36 )
= =
(2 )(36 )
• Summation of Moment at Neutral Axis
. . = 0 +↷
2 2
− 36 − 12 − 12 − 36 + 4 6 = 0
3 3
=3 11

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CANTILEVER METHOD
Example:
1. Use the cantilever method to estimate the forces in the laterally
loaded frame shown. Assume that the area of the interior columns
is twice as large as the area of the exterior columns.
• Solving for the axial forces:
= 3 11
2 2(3 11)
= = = 2 11 = 0.181
3 3
2 2(3 11)
= = = 2 11 = 0.181
3 3
= = 3 11
• We can now solve for the internal shear and axial forces, and the
internal moments of the beams and girders of the frames by the
same process we used in the Portal Method.

12

6
 CANTILEVER METHOD
Example:
1. Use the cantilever method to estimate the forces in the laterally
loaded frame shown. Assume that the area of the interior columns
is twice as large as the area of the exterior columns.
• Solving for the other internal forces and moment by isolating
point A:
= 0.273 ( )
= = 0.273
= 0.273 12 = 3.276
= = 3.276 = 3.276
3.276
= = = 0.546 = 3.454
6′ 6′
=4 − = 4 − 0.546 = 3.454 ( ) = 3.276 = 0.273

= 0.546
= 0.273
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CANTILEVER METHOD
Example:
1. Use the cantilever method to estimate the forces in the laterally
loaded frame shown. Assume that the area of the interior columns
is twice as large as the area of the exterior columns.
• Solving for the other internal forces and moment by isolating point B:
= 3.454 ( )
= 0.181 ( )
= 0.273
= 3.276 = 0.273 = 0.454
= 3.454 =2
= 3.276 = 5.448
= 0.273 + 0.181 = 0.454
= 8.724 = 1.454
= 0.454 12 = 5.448
= 5.448 + 3.276 = 8.724 = 0.181
8.724
= = = 1.454
6′ 6′
14
= 3.454 − 1.454 = 2 ( )

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 CANTILEVER METHOD
Example:
1. Use the cantilever method to estimate the forces in the laterally
loaded frame shown. Assume that the area of the interior columns
is twice as large as the area of the exterior columns.
• Solving for the other internal forces and moment by isolating point C:
= 0.454
= 5.448
=2 ( ) = 0.273
= 0.454
= 0.181
= 0.546
=2

= 0.454 − 0.181 = 0.273 = 5.448 = 3.276

= 8.724
= 0.273 12 = 3.276 = 1.454
= 5.448 + 3.276 = 8.724 = 0.181
8.724
= = = 1.454
6′ 6′
15
= 2 − 1.454 = 0.546 ( )

CANTILEVER METHOD
Example:
1. Use the cantilever method to estimate the forces in the laterally
loaded frame shown. Assume that the area of the interior columns
is twice as large as the area of the exterior columns.
• Solving for the other internal forces and moment by isolating point D:
= 0.273
= 3.276
= 0.546 ( )
= 0.273

= 0.546
= = 0.546
= 0.546 6 = 3.276 = 3.276
= 3.276
= 0.546
= 0.181

16

8
 CANTILEVER METHOD
Example:
1. Use the cantilever method to estimate the forces in the laterally
loaded frame shown. Assume that the area of the interior columns
is twice as large as the area of the exterior columns.
• For checking, we can perform the three equations of equilibrium in
point D. All must be equal to zero.
• = 0 +↑
− = 0.273 − 0.273 = 0
= 0.273
• = 0 +→
− = 0.546 − 0.546 = 0 = 0.546

• = 0 +↷ = 3.276
− = 3.276 − 3.276 = 0 = 3.276
= 0.546
• We can now proceed with the second cut. = 0.181

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CANTILEVER METHOD
Example:
1. Use the cantilever method to estimate the forces in the laterally
loaded frame shown. Assume that the area of the interior columns
is twice as large as the area of the exterior columns.
• For the second cut, we still have the same areas of the column, hence
we can still use the ratio of the axial stresses and forces.
(2 )(12 ) 2
= =
( )(36 ) 3
(2 )(12 ) 2
= =
( )(36 ) 3
(2 )(36 )
= =
(2 )(36 )
• Summation of Moment at Neutral Axis
. . = 0 +↷
2 2
− 36 − 12 − 12 − 36 + 4 18 + 8(6′) = 0
3 3
= 1.364
18

9
 CANTILEVER METHOD
Example:
1. Use the cantilever method to estimate the forces in the laterally
loaded frame shown. Assume that the area of the interior columns
is twice as large as the area of the exterior columns.
• Solving for the axial forces:
= 1.364
2 2(1.364)
= = = 0.909
3 3
2 2(1.364)
= = = 0.909
3 3
= = 1.364
• We can now solve for the internal shear and axial forces, and the
internal moments of the beams and girders of the frames.

19

CANTILEVER METHOD
Example:
1. Use the cantilever method to estimate the forces in the laterally
loaded frame shown. Assume that the area of the interior columns
is twice as large as the area of the exterior columns.
• Solving for the other internal forces and moment by isolating point H:
= 0.273
= 0.546
= 3.276 = 0.273
= 1.364
= 0.546
= 3.276 = 13.092
= 0.273 − 1.364 = 1.091 = 6.91
= 1.091 12 = 13.092 = 9.816 = 1.091
= 13.092 − 3.276 = 9.816 = 1.636
9.816 = 1.364
= = 1.636
6
= 8 + 0.546 − 1.636 = 6.91
20

10
 CANTILEVER METHOD
Example:
1. Use the cantilever method to estimate the forces in the laterally
loaded frame shown. Assume that the area of the interior columns
is twice as large as the area of the exterior columns.
• Solving for the other internal forces and moment by isolating point G:

= 8.724
= 0.181 − 1.091 − 0.909 = 1.819
= 1.454 = 1.819 12 = 21.828 = 0.181
= 0.181 ( ) = 13.092 + 21.828 − 8.724 = 26.196 = 8.724 = 1.454
= 1.091 26.196
= = 4.366 = 1.091 = 21.828
= 6.91 6
= 6.91 = 3.998
= 13.092 = 6.91 + 1.454 − 4.366 = 3.998 ( )
= 13.092 = 1.819
= 0.909 ( )
= 26.196 = 4.366
= 0.909

21

CANTILEVER METHOD
Example:
1. Use the cantilever method to estimate the forces in the laterally
loaded frame shown. Assume that the area of the interior columns
is twice as large as the area of the exterior columns.
• Solving for the other internal forces and moment by isolating point F:

= 8.724
= 0.909 − 0.181 − 1.819 = 1.091
= 1.454 = 1.091 12 = 13.092
= 0.181
= 0.181 ( ) = 21.828 + 13.092 − 8.724 = 26.196
= 1.819 26.196 = 8.724 = 1.454
= = 4.366 = 1.819
= 3.998 6 = 13.092
= 3.998 + 1.454 − 4.366 = 1.086 ( ) = 3.998 = 1.086
= 21.828
= 21.828 = 1.091
= 0.909 ( )
= 26.196
= 4.366
= 0.909

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11
 CANTILEVER METHOD
Example:
1. Use the cantilever method to estimate the forces in the laterally
loaded frame shown. Assume that the area of the interior columns
is twice as large as the area of the exterior columns.
• Solving for the other internal forces and moment by isolating point E:

= 3.276
= 0.546
= 0.273
= 0.273 ( )
= 0.546
= 1.091 = 1.091
= 1.086 = 3.276
= 1.086
= 13.092
= 1.364 = 13.092
= 9.792
= 1.632
= 1.364
= 1.086 + 0.546 = 1.632
= 1.632 12 = 9.792

23

CANTILEVER METHOD
Example:
1. Use the cantilever method to estimate the forces in the laterally
loaded frame shown. Assume that the area of the interior columns
is twice as large as the area of the exterior columns.

• For checking, we can perform the three equations of equilibrium

in point E. All must be equal to zero.
• = 0 +↑
− − = 1.364 − 1.091 − 0.273 = 0 = 0.273
= 0.546
• = 0 +→ = 1.091
+ − = 0.546 + 1.086 − 1.632 = 0 = 3.276
= 1.086
• = 0 +↷
= 13.092
− − = 13.092 − 3.276 − 9.792 − 0.024 ≈ 0 = 9.792
= 1.632
• Remember that it is difficult to avoid discrepancies in both Portal = 1.364
and Cantilever Method since they are just both “estimations”

24

12
 CANTILEVER METHOD
Example:
1. Use the cantilever method to estimate the forces in the laterally
loaded frame shown. Assume that the area of the interior columns
is twice as large as the area of the exterior columns.
• For the last cut, we still have the same areas of the columns, hence we
can still use the ratio of the axial stresses and forces.
(2 )(12 ) 2
= =
( )(36 ) 3
(2 )(12 ) 2
= =
( )(36 ) 3
(2 )(36 )
= =
(2 )(36 )
• Summation of Moment at Neutral Axis
. . = 0 +↷
2 2
− 36 − 12 − 12 − 36 + 4 32 + 8 20
3 3
+ 8(8′) = 0
25 =4

CANTILEVER METHOD
Example:
1. Use the cantilever method to estimate the forces in the laterally
loaded frame shown. Assume that the area of the interior columns
is twice as large as the area of the exterior columns.
• Solving for the axial forces:
=4
2 2(4)
= = = 2.667
3 3
2 2(4)
= = = 2.667
3 3
= =4
• We can now solve for the internal shear and axial forces, and the
internal moments of the beams and girders of the frames.

26

13
 CANTILEVER METHOD
Example:
1. Use the cantilever method to estimate the forces in the laterally
loaded frame shown. Assume that the area of the interior columns
is twice as large as the area of the exterior columns.
• Solving for the other internal forces and moment by isolating point I:
= 1.364
= 1.636
= 9.816 = 1.364
=4 = 1.636
= 9.816
= 31.644
= 1.363 − 4 = 2.637 = 6.907
= 2.637 12 = 31.644 = 21.828 = 2.637
= 31.644 − 9.816 = 21.828 = 2.729
21.828 =4
= = 2.729
8
= 8 + 1.636 − 2.729 = 6.907
27

CANTILEVER METHOD
Example:
1. Use the cantilever method to estimate the forces in the laterally
loaded frame shown. Assume that the area of the interior columns
is twice as large as the area of the exterior columns.
• Solving for the other internal forces and moment by isolating point J:

= 26.196
= −0.909 + 2.637 + 2.667 = 4.395
= 4.366 = 4.395 12 = 52.74
= 0.909 ( ) = 0.909
= 52.74 + 31.644 − 26.196 = 58.188
= 2.637 = 26.196 = 4.366
58.188
= = 7.274 = 2.637
= 6.907 8 = 52.74
= 31.644 = 6.907 + 4.366 − 7.274 = 3.999 ( ) = 6.907 = 3.999
= 31.644 = 4.395
= 2.667 ( ) = 58.188
= 7.274
= 2.667

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14
 CANTILEVER METHOD
Example:
1. Use the cantilever method to estimate the forces in the laterally
loaded frame shown. Assume that the area of the interior columns
is twice as large as the area of the exterior columns.
• Solving for the other internal forces and moment by isolating point K:

= 26.196
= 2.667 − 0.909 − 4.395 = 2.637
= 4.366 = 2.637 12 = 31.644
= 0.909 ( ) = 0.909
= 31.644 + 52.74 − 26.196 = 58.188
= 4.395 58.188 = 26.196 = 4.366
= = 7.274 = 4.395
= 1.086 8 = 31.644
= 52.74 = 3.999 + 4.366 − 7.274 = 1.091 ( ) = 3.999 = 1.091
= 2.667 ( ) = 52.74
= 58.188 = 2.637
= 2.667 = 7.274

29

CANTILEVER METHOD
Example:
1. Use the cantilever method to estimate the forces in the laterally
loaded frame shown. Assume that the area of the interior columns
is twice as large as the area of the exterior columns.
• Solving for the other internal forces and moment by isolating point L:

= 9.79
= 1.632 = 1.364
= 1.632
= 1.364 ( )
= 2.637 = 2.637 = 9.792
= 1.091 = 1.091
= 31.644 = 31.644 = 21.852
=4 ( ) = 2.723
=4
= 1.632 + 1.091 = 2.723
= 31.644 − 9.792 = 21.852

30

15
 CANTILEVER METHOD
Example:
1. Use the cantilever method to estimate the forces in the laterally
loaded frame shown. Assume that the area of the interior columns
is twice as large as the area of the exterior columns.
• Solving for the other internal forces and moment by isolating point K:

• For checking, we can perform the three equations of equilibrium in point

L. All must be equal to zero. = 1.364
• = 0 +↑ = 1.632
− − = 4 − 1.364 − 2.637 = 0 = 2.637 = 9.792
• = 0 +→ = 1.091
+ − = 1.091 + 1.632 − 2.723 = 0 = 31.644 = 21.852

• = 0 +↷ = 2.723
− − = 31.644 − 9.792 − 21.852 = 0 =4

31

CANTILEVER METHOD
Example:
1. Use the cantilever method to estimate the forces in the laterally
loaded frame shown. Assume that the area of the interior columns
is twice as large as the area of the exterior columns.
• Solving for the reactions:

• For P: • For N:
= 2.729 = 7.274
=4 = 2.667
= 21.828 = 58.188
• For O: • For M:
= 7.274 = 2.723
= 2.667 =4
= 58.188 = 21.852

32

16
 CANTILEVER METHOD
Example:
2. Use the cantilever method to estimate the forces in the laterally
loaded frame shown. Assume that the area of the interior columns
is as large as the area of the exterior columns.

33

CE SPE5:
EARTHQUAKE ENGINEERING

MODULE VI:
MULTISTORY RIGID FRAMES
FOR LATERAL LOAD:
CANTILEVER METHOD

IRCVillapando

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