Department of Civil Engineering

CVL242: Structural Analysis

Course Coordinator: Prof. Sahil Bansal

Lecture 2: Free Body Diagram

Prof. Sahil Bansal, IIT Delhi 1
Equations of Equilibrium
• For the general 3D cases, 6 equations:

 Fx = 0  Fy = 0  Fz = 0

 M x =0  M y =0  M z =0
• For planar structures, reduces to 3 equations:

 Fx = 0 ,  F y = 0 ,  M o = 0

Perpendicular
to the plane
containing the
forces

Prof. Sahil Bansal, IIT Delhi 2

Support Types and Joints (2D)

Roller Support

Prof. Sahil Bansal, IIT Delhi 3

Support Types and Joints (2D)

Pin Support

Prof. Sahil Bansal, IIT Delhi 4

Support Types and Joints (2D)

Fixed Support

Prof. Sahil Bansal, IIT Delhi 5

Support Types and Joints (2D)

Pin Joint

Prof. Sahil Bansal, IIT Delhi 6

Support Types and Joints (2D)

Rigid Joint

Prof. Sahil Bansal, IIT Delhi 7

Free Body Diagram (FBD)
• The Equations of Equilibrium should only be applied to the FBD of the
structures or the FBDs of its member(s).
• FBD of a structure is formed by removal of all the supports and replaced them by
the corresponding reactions.

Prof. Sahil Bansal, IIT Delhi 8

Sign Convention

Prof. Sahil Bansal, IIT Delhi 9

Example 1

Prof. Sahil Bansal, IIT Delhi 10

Example 2

Prof. Sahil Bansal, IIT Delhi 11

Example 3

Prof. Sahil Bansal, IIT Delhi 12

Example 4

Prof. Sahil Bansal, IIT Delhi 13

Example 5

Prof. Sahil Bansal, IIT Delhi 14

Example 6

Prof. Sahil Bansal, IIT Delhi 15

Example 7

Prof. Sahil Bansal, IIT Delhi 16

Example 8

Prof. Sahil Bansal, IIT Delhi 17

Example 9

Prof. Sahil Bansal, IIT Delhi 18

Example 10

Prof. Sahil Bansal, IIT Delhi 19

Example 11

Prof. Sahil Bansal, IIT Delhi 20

Example 12
Example 13
Example 14
You need to be able to…
❑ Identify support types and corresponding reactions.

❑ Draw free-body diagrams.

❑ Write and solve equilibrium equations to solve for unknown

forces and moments.

❑ Draw the axial force, shear force and bending moment diagram.

Prof. Sahil Bansal, IIT Delhi 24