STATICALLY

“ INDETERMINATE BEAMS

ENGR. ANICETO C. NERI JR.

BSCE 1994, MSU-IIT
Faculty, CE Dep’t., USTP-CDO
A beam is statically indeterminate if the number of support reactions exceeds
the number of independent equilibrium equations. In general, two equilibrium
equations are available for a beam supporting lateral loads (∑Fy = 0 and
∑MA = 0, A being an arbitrary point).1 Hence, a statically determinate beam
has two support reactions, which is the minimum number needed to keep the
beam in equilibrium. Additional reactions, being nonessential for equilibrium,
are known as redundant reactions. The number of redundant reactions is
called the degree of indeterminacy of the beam.
1We assume that the axial force in the beam is zero, so that ∑Fx is automatically satisfied.
Method 1: Double Integration Method
Recall that in the method of double integration, we derived the equation for
the elastic curve of the beam by integrating the differential equation EIv’’ = M
two times, resulting in

Eq. (1)

In a statically indeterminate beam, each redundant reaction represents an

additional unknown. However, there is also an additional constraint
associated with each redundancy, which, when substituted into Eq. (1),
provides an extra equation.
Sample Problem
The beam in Fig. (a) has three Solution:
supports. Calculate all the Equilibrium Equations:

support reactions due to the F y 0 +

R A  R B  R C  6000  0
6000-lb force.
1

M C 0 +

 R A (24)  R B (12)  6000 (6)  0

2R A  R B  3000 2

RA RB RC
 6000 3) @ x  24 , y  0
M R 24  R B 12 
3 3

 10006   C1 24 
3
A B 0 A 
C 6 6
12 6 6
96R A  12R B  C1  9000 4

RA RB RC
x Subtract 3 from 4: (Eliminate C1)
96R A  12R B  C1  9000 4
M  R A x  R B x  12  6000 x  18 -
2
24R A  C1  0 3
RAx R B x  12
2
2
EIy '    3000 x  18  C1 72R A  12R B  9000 5
2 2
3
R x 3
R B x  12 3
Combine 1, 2, and 5:
EIy  A   1000 x  18  C1 x  C 2
6 6 RA  R B  R C  6000
Boundary Conditions: 2R A  RB  3000
1) @ x  0, y  0 ; C 2  0 72R A  12R B  9000
2) @ x  12, y  0 RC = 2437.5
RA = -562.5 RB = 4125
R A 12 
3

0  C1 12  ; 24R A  C1  0 3
6
Sample Problem
Find the reactive couple acting Solution:
on the propped cantilever beam Equilibrium Equations:

at B. F y 0 +
R A  R B  1604   0
R A  R B  640 1

MB
M B 0 +

 R A (8)  MB  1604 (6)  0

8R A  MB  3840 2

RA RB
 M 3) @ x  8, y  0
160 lb/ft MB
R A 8  204 
3 4
20 4
A
0   8  C1 8
B 6 3 3
4 ft 4 ft 256
R A  8C1  25,600 4
3
x
Subtract 3 from 4: (Eliminate C1)
RB 256
RA R A  8C1  25,600 4
2
- 3
M  R A x  80 x  4  80 x 2 35,840
3 ( 32R A  C1  )8 3
RAx 80 x  4
2
80 3 3
EIy '    x  C1 3520
2 3 4
3 R A  410 C1  
R x 3
20 x  4 20 4 3
EIy  A   x  C1 x  C 2
6 3 3
Boundary Conditions: From 1: R B  230 ;  R B  230 lb 
1) @ x  0, y  0 ; C 2  0 From 2: MB  560 ;  MB  560 lb  ft (CW)
2) @ x  8, y '  0
R 8  804 
2 3
80 3 35,840
0 A   8  C1 ; 32R A  C1  3
2 3 3 3
Thank you for watching!!!
 STATICALLY
“ INDETERMINATE BEAMS

ENGR. ANICETO C. NERI JR.

BSCE 1994, MSU-IIT
Faculty, CE Dep’t., USTP-CDO
Method 2: Moment Area Method
The moment-area method is well suited for deriving the compatibility
equations for statically indeterminate beams. If the total number of support
reactions is n, the degree of static indeterminacy of the beam is n-2. A total
of n equations are available for computing the support reactions: two
equilibrium equations and n-2 compatibility equations to be obtained from
the moment-area theorems.
Sample Problem
The beam in Fig. (a) has three Solution:
supports. Calculate all the Equilibrium Equations:

support reactions due to the F y 0 +

R A  R B  R C  6000  0
6000-lb force.
1

M C 0 +

 R A (24)  R B (12)  6000 (6)  0

2R A  R B  3000 2

RA RB RC
 6000

A B 1
12 6 6
C tB / C  Area of MDBC  x B
EI
tB/C
1 1 1 
RB  12 12R 4   6 36 ,000 2 
EI  2 
C
tA/C RA RC 2 
12RC 288R C  216,000

12RA EI

1
tA /C  Area of MD AC  x A
EI
1 1 
- 36000
1 2
12 12R A 8   12 12R C 16 
 2
 
EI  1 
 6 36,000 14 
 2 
576R A  1,152R C  1,512,000

EI
 6000

A B
C
12 6 6

RB
RA RC
12RC
12RA

- 36000
 R & P: Combine 1, 2, and 3:
tB / C t R A  R B  R C  6000
 A /C
12 24 2R A  R B  3000
2t B / C  t A / C RA  R C  1875
 288R C  216,000  576R A  1,152R C  1,512,000 RA = -562.5 RB = 4125 RC = 2437.5
2  
 EI  EI

R A  R C  1875 3
Sample Problem
Find the reactive couple acting Solution:
on the propped cantilever beam Equilibrium Equations:

at B. F y 0 +
R A  R B  1604   0
R A  R B  640 1

MB
M B 0 +

 R A (8)  MB  1604 (6)  0

8R A  MB  3840 2

RA RB
tA/B = 0
160 lb/ft MB
Combine 1, 2, and 3:
A B R A  RB  640 1
4 ft 4 ft
8R A  MB  3840 2
64 128
4RA RB RA  R B  24MB  5120 3
RA 3 3
4RB
R A  410 R B  230 MB  560

- MB

0 1 - 1280
t A /B  Area of MD AB  x A
EI
1 1 8 1  16  1 
0 4 4R    4 4R    4 1280 3   4 M 6 
EI  2 
A B B
3 2  3  3 
64 128
RA  R B  24MB  5120 3
3 3
Thank you for watching!!!