5.

ANALYSIS OF INDETERMINATE
STRUCTURES BY FORCE METHOD

5.1 ANALYSIS OF INDETERMINATE STRUCTURES

BY FORCE METHOD - AN OVERVIEW
5.1 ANALYSIS OF INDETERMINATE STRUCTURES BY FORCE
METHOD - AN OVERVIEW
5.2 INTRODUCTION
5.3 METHOD OF CONSISTENT DEFORMATION
5.4 INDETERMINATE BEAMS
5.5 INDETRMINATE BEAMS WITH MULTIPLE DEGREES OF
INDETERMINACY
5.6 TRUSS STRUCTURES
5.7 TEMPERATURE CHANGES AND FABRICATION ERRORS

5.2 INTRODUCTION
5.2 Introduction
While analyzing indeterminate structures, it is necessary to satisfy (force)
equilibrium, (displacement) compatibility and force-displacement relationships
(a) Force equilibrium is satisfied when the reactive forces hold the structure in
stable equilibrium, as the structure is subjected to external loads
(b) Displacement compatibility is satisfied when the various segments of the
structure fit together without intentional breaks, or overlaps
(c) Force-displacement requirements depend on the manner the material of the
structure responds to the applied loads, which can be linear/nonlinear/viscous
and elastic/inelastic; for our study the behavior is assumed to be linear and elastic

5.2 INTRODUCTION (Contd)

Two methods are available to analyze indeterminate structures, depending on
whether we satisfy force equilibrium or displacement compatibility conditions They are: Force method and Displacement Method

Force Method satisfies displacement compatibility and force-displacement

relationships; it treats the forces as unknowns - Two methods which we will be
studying are Method of Consistent Deformation and (Iterative Method of)
Moment Distribution

Displacement Method satisfies force equilibrium and force-displacement

relationships; it treats the displacements as unknowns - Two available methods
are Slope Deflection Method and Stiffness (Matrix) method

5.3 METHOD OF CONSISTENT DEFORMATION

Solution Procedure:

(i) Make the structure determinate, by releasing the extra forces

constraining the structure in space
(ii) Determine the displacements (or rotations) at the locations of released
(constraining) forces
(iii) Apply the released (constraining) forces back on the structure (To
standardize the procedure, only a unit load of the constraining force is applied
in the +ve direction) to produce the same deformation(s) on the structure as
in (ii)
(iv) Sum up the deformations and equate them to zero at the position(s) of
the released (constraining) forces, and calculate the unknown restraining
forces

Types of Problems to be dealt: (a) Indeterminate beams; (b) Indeterminate

trusses; and (c) Influence lines for indeterminate structures

5.4 INDETERMINATE BEAMS

5.4.1 Propped Cantilever - Redundant vertical reaction released
(i) Propped Cantilever: The structure is indeterminate to the first degree; hence
has one unknown in the problem.
(ii) In order to solve the problem, release the extra constraint and make the
beam a determinate structure. This can be achieved in two different ways,
viz., (a) By removing the vertical support at B, and making the beam a
cantilever beam (which is a determinate beam); or (b) By releasing the
moment constraint at A, and making the structure a simply supported beam
(which is once again, a determinate beam).

5.4 INDETERMINATE BEAMS (Contd)

(a) Release the vertical support at B:
y
x

L/2

P
B

B
B

L/2

B
+

C
L

RB

BB=RB*fBB
Applied in +ve
direction

The governing compatibility equation obtained at B is,

B + 'BB = 0

B ( RB ) ( f BB ) 0

RB B / f BB

From earlier analyses,

B P ( L / 2) 3 /(3EI ) [ P ( L / 2) 2 /( 2 EI )] ( L / 2)
PL3 /(24 EI ) PL3 /(16 EI )
(5 / 48)( PL3 / EI )
f BB L3 /(3EI )
R BB [(5 / 48)( PL3 / EI )] /[ L3 /(3EI )] (5 / 16) P

fBB = displacement per unit load (applied in +ve direction)

5.4 INDETERMINATE BEAM (Contd)

5.4.2 Propped cantilever - Redundant support moment released
L/2

P
L

(b) Release the moment constraint at a:

P

A
A

+M

B
A=MAAA
Redundant MA applied

Primary structure

Governing compatibility equation obtained at A is,

( M ) ( ) , = rotation per unit moment
A

AA

AA

M A A
AA

From known earlier analysis,

AA

PL2
(16 EI )

[under a central concentrated

load]
AA (1)[ L /(3EI )]

This is due to the fact that +ve moment causes a ve rotation

M A [ PL2 /(16 EI)] /[ L/(3 EI)]
(3 / 16) PL

5.4.3 OVERVIEW OF METHOD OF

CONSISTENT DEFORMATION
To recapitulate on what we have done earlier,
I. Structure with single degree of indeterminacy:
P
A

B
RB

(a) Remove the redundant to make the structure determinate (primary

structure)
P
A

Bo

(b) Apply unit force on the structure, in the direction of the redundant,
and find the displacement

fBB

(c) Apply compatibility at the location of the removed redundant

B0 + fBBRB = 0

5.5 INDETERMINATE BEAM WITH MULTIPLE DEGREES

OF INDETERMINACY
w/u.l
A

RB

B0

RC

RD

C0

D0

(a) Make the structure determinate (by releasing the supports at B, C and
D) and determine the deflections at B, C and D in the direction of removed
redundants, viz., BO, CO and DO

(b) Apply unit loads at B, C and D, in a sequential manner and

determine deformations at B, C and D, respectively.

A
B
fBB

fCB

fDB

A
B
fBC

fCC

1 fDC

A
B
fBD

fCD

D
fDD

(c ) Establish compatibility conditions at B, C and D

BO + fBBRB + fBCRC + fBDRD = 0
CO + fCBRB + fCCRC + fCDRD = 0
DO + fDBRB + fDCRC + fDDRD = 0

5.4.2 When support settlements occur:

w / u. l.
A

D Support settlements

Compatibility conditions at B, C and D give the following equations:

BO + fBBRB + fBCRC + fBDRD = B
CO + fCBRB + fCCRC + fCDRD = C
DO + fDBRB + fDCRC + fDDRD = D

5.5 TRUSS STRUCTURES

80 kN
60 kN

80 kN

60 kN

D
A

D
B

Primary structure

(a) (a) Remove the redundant member (say AB) and make the structure
a primary determinate structure
The condition for stability and indeterminacy is:
r+m>=<2j,
Since, m = 6, r = 3, j = 4, (r + m =) 3 + 6 > (2j =) 2*4 or 9 > 8 i = 1

5.5 Truss Structures (Contd)

(b)Find deformation ABO along AB:

ABO = (F0uABL)/AE
F0 = Force in member of the primary structure due to applied load
uAB= Forces in members due to unit force applied along AB
(c) Determine deformation along AB due to unit load applied along AB:
u2 L
f
AB
AB, AB
AE

(d) Apply compatibility condition along AB:

ABO+fAB,ABFAB=0
(d) Hence determine FAB

(e) Determine the individual member forces in a particular member

CE by
FCE = FCE0 + uCE FAB
where FCE0 = force in CE due to applied loads on primary structure
(=F0), and uCE = force in CE due to unit force applied along AB (= u AB)

5.6 TEMPERATURE CHANGES AND FABRICATION

ERROR
Temperature changes affect the internal forces in a structure
Similarly fabrication errors also affect the internal forces in a
structure
(i) Subject the primary structure to temperature changes and fabrication
errors. - Find the deformations in the redundant direction
(ii) Reintroduce the removed members back and make the deformation
compatible