EN130: Structural Analysis

Homework 7
Due Wednesday April 21, 2005

Division of Engineering
Brown University|

1. Recall the Salginotabel Bridge (d=90m, h=13m) from the previous problem set.
The bridge was designed to carry a live load of 350 kg/m2, which when multiplied
by the width of 3.5 m, gives 12 kN/m. In designing the bridge, the live load must
be applied in the worst case scenario. Although distributing the live load
uniformly over the bridge gives rise to the highest axial forces, higher internal
moments may be generated if the span is only partially loaded. To simplify the
analysis, we represent the distributed live load by 3 equal concentrated loads, each
separated by a distance equal to the quarter span. The magnitude P of these loads
is equal to the load over a quarter span, multiplied by a reduction factor of 0.9,
due to the more severe effects of a concentrated load. Thus,
P=0.9×(12kN/m)×(90m/4)=244 kN
a. Calculate and plot the internal moments due to the live load when the
bridge is partially loaded with a single load P at quarter span

b. Calculate and plot the internal moments due to the live load when the
bridge is partially loaded with a single load P at midspan.

c. Which of these two live load situations gives the highest moment when the
7500kN dead load of the bridge is included? You can use the estimate for
the moments due to dead load arrived at in problem 3a of problem set 6.

d. To compare the performance of a three- and a two-hinged bridge, suppose

this bridge had been built without the central hinge. The material is
concrete (E=30GPa) and the cross section is shown below. Use the Excel
Arch solver to find the deflections and moments due to the 7500kN dead
load (assume it to be uniformly distributed) Which has the higher
maximum moment?

0.18 m=t

tb3 4 m=b
I=
3

4m
2. The pinned portal frame shown below is subjected to a lateral load P due to wind.
An estimate of the deformed shape is shown in dashed lines. The deformed shape
appears to have an inflection point near the midpoint of the cross beam. At such a
point, the internal moment must be zero. (why?)

P
B C
L

A D

a. To approximately analyze a pinned frame subject to a horizontal load, a

hinge is often assumed at the crossbeam midpoint. Find the base reactions
and the moment diagram for the members of the pinned frame.

P Assumed Hinge

B C
L/2 L/2

A D

b. If the frame is fixed at the base, rather than hinged, the deflection might
looks something like the dotted line shown below. In addition to an
inflection point near the crossbeam midpoint, there are also inflection
points in the columns. Assuming these to lie at the midpoint of each
member, find the reactions and draw the internal moment distributions in
the members of the fixed-base frame. Which frame has higher moments?
P
B C
L

A D

P
B C
L/2 L/2

h/2

Assumed Hinges

h/2

A D