Lecture 9
Summary of the force method
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Basic Conditions in Structural Analysis
1. Equilibrium equations: force
2. Compatibility conditions: displacements
3. Constitutive relation: force – displacement
relation
It is associated with material properties and
geometric dimension
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The stiffness and flexibility of a structure is
defined as
Force = Stiffness Displacement
Displacement = Flexibility Force
For axially loaded bars:
EA L
P= = P
L EA
Stiffness Flexibility
For general cases:
{Displacement} = [Flexibility] {Force}
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Procedures of the flexibility method
1. Determine the degree of indeterminacy of the
structure;
2. Select some (redundant) supports and release
them, and consider the reaction forces
corresponding to the released supports as
external forces (redundant force). The released
structure (primary structure) must be statically
determinate and stable;
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Example: Selection of redundant forces (released structure)
X2
X1
Released Structure 1
Original Structure
X1 X2
Released Structure 2
X2 X2
X1
X1
Unstable
Released Structure 3
3. Calculate the displacement along the general
coordinate i, Di under the external forces;
4. Calculate the displacement along the general
coordinate i, fij due to the unit redundant force j –
flexibility matrix [f];
5. Build the simultaneous equations of compatibility
according to the original structure configuration;
n1 = Dn1 + f nn X n1
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6. Solve for the redundant forces:
X = f (− D)
−1
7. Use the equilibrium equations to solve the
remaining unknown reaction forces;
8. The final internal forces are the results of the
superposition of effects of the external loadings on
the released structure and the effect of the
redundant forces.
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Displacement calculation
The principle of virtual work is used to calculate the
displacement, in both determinate and indeterminate cases. A
unit virtual load is applied properly along with the direction
of the displacement required.
1) In the released structure, the displacement due to external
loadings and the flexibility matrix are obtained by the unit
load theorem.
2) After the reactions and internal forces are obtained, the
displacement of the indeterminate structure can also be
obtained by the unit load theorem. In the case, the unit virtual
load is applied to a released structure that satisfies the
requirement of equilibrium.
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3) In the general case:
Nu N M M VV
Dj = dx + u dx + u dx
EA EI GAr
T1 + T2 T − T2
+ ( ) N u dx + ( 1 ) M u dx − FRuc
2 h
only bending moments are considered for beam members,
while only axial forces are considered for truss members.
4) The implementation of the unit load theorem needs the
integration along element members. The diagram
multiplication is usually employed.
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Why indeterminate?
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Another example
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Redundancy
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Statically determinate beam Statically indeterminate beam
wL2/12 wL2/12
wL2/24
wL2/8
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Advantages and disadvantages of
indeterminate structures
Advantages
✓ Smaller stress
✓ Smaller deformation (Larger stiffness)
✓ Redundancies
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Statically determinate beam
Statically indeterminate beam
Disadvantage: Stresses may be developed in statically
indeterminate structures due to support settlements,
temperature changes or fabrication errors.
Expansion Joints are
set at the bridge
end(s) to release the
stress due to
daily/seasonal
temperature
variations.
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