2101-310 Structural Analysis I 1 - 31

Beam Structure

A beam structure is a structure that consists of flexural or beam members being
connected by beam rigid joints. The geometry of the beam structure is represented
by a straight line and the beam is subjected only to transverse loadings (in-plane
moments and forces normal to the axis of the beam). For a given statically stable
beam structure that consists of j joints and m members, we obtain

n
m
= 2m

n
j
= 2j


and, therefore, the degree of static indeterminacy of the beam is given by



DI = r
a
+ 2m 2j n
c



Remark: In the determination of r
a
, components of the support reactions in the
direction parallel to the beam axis must be ignored since there is no internal axial
force in any beam members.



Example 4: Determine the degree of static indeterminacy (DI) of the following statically
stable beam structures.






Structure I







Structure II





Structure III
2101-310 Structural Analysis I 1 - 32







Structure I
r
a
= 1(2) + 2(1) = 4
2 beam members m = 2
3 joints j = 3
1 hinge + 1 shear release n
c
= 2
DI = r
a
+ 2m 2j n
c
= 4 + 2(2) 2(3) 2 = 0
Structure is statically determinate
Structure is also externally, statically determinate









Structure II
r
a
= 1(2) + 3(1) = 5
4 beam members m = 4
5 joints j = 5
1 hinge joint n
c
= 2 1 = 1
DI = r
a
+ 2m 2j n
c
= 5 + 2(4) 2(5) 1 = 2
Structure is statically indeterminate
Note that the free end is considered as a joint










Structure III
r
a
= 3(1) + 2(2) = 7
4 beam members m = 4
5 joints j = 5
No internal release n
c
= 0
DI = r
a
+ 2m 2j n
c
= 7 + 2(4) 2(5) 0 = 5
Structure is statically indeterminate


2101-310 Structural Analysis I 1 - 33



Frame Structure

A frame structure is a structure that consists of frame members being connected
by frame rigid joints. This type of structures can resist both transverse and
longitudinal loadings. For a given statically stable frame structure that consists of j
joints and m members, we obtain

n
m
= 3m

n
j
= 3j


and, therefore, the degree of static indeterminacy of the frame is given by



DI = r
a
+ 3m 3j n
c






Example 5: Determine the degree of static indeterminacy (DI) of the following statically
stable frame structures.












Structure I Structure II











Structure III Structure IV
2101-310 Structural Analysis I 1 - 34



Structure I
r
a
= 1(3) + 1(1) = 4
3 frame members m = 3
4 joints j = 4
1 partially moment releases joint n
c
= 1
DI = r
a
+ 3m 3j n
c
= 4 + 3(3) 3(4) 1 = 0
Structure is statically determinate
Structure is also externally, statically determinate





Structure II
r
a
= 1(2) + 1(1) = 3
7 frame members m = 7
6 joints j = 6
No internal release n
c
= 0
DI = r
a
+ 3m 3j n
c
= 3 + 3(7) 3(6) 0 = 6
Structure is statically indeterminate
r
a
= 3, n
et
= 3, n
cr
= 0 r
a
= n
et
+ n
cr
= 3
Structure is also externally, statically determinate





Structure III
r
a
= 2(3) + 1(2) = 8
7 frame members m = 7
8 joints j = 8
1 shear release n
c
= 1
DI = r
a
+ 3m 3j n
c
= 8 + 3(7) 3(8) 1 = 4
Structure is statically indeterminate





Structure IV
r
a
= 2(3) + 1(2) = 8
4 frame members m = 4
5 joints j = 5
1 hinge joint n
c
= 3 1 = 2
DI = r
a
+ 3m 3j n
c
= 8 + 3(4) 3(5) 2 = 3
Structure is statically indeterminate


2101-310 Structural Analysis I 1 - 35



Compound Structure

A compound structure is a structure that consists of more than one type of
members, e.g. axial members, beam members, and frame members. For a given
compound structure that consists of j
t
pinned joints, j
b
beam rigid joints, j
f
frame
rigid joints, j
c
compound joints, m
t
truss members, m
b
beam members, m
f
frame
members, we obtain
n
m
= m
t
+ 2m
b
+ 3m
f

n
j
= 2j
t
+ 2j
b
+ 3j
f
+ 3j
c
and, therefore, the degree of static indeterminacy of the compound structure is
given by


DI = r
a
+ [m
t
+ 2m
b
+ 3m
f
] [2j
t
+ 2j
b
+ 3j
f
+ 3j
c
] n
c



Example 6: Determine the degree of static indeterminacy (DI) of a compound
structure shown below. Assume that a portion AB is subjected only to transverse
loading and that a portion BC is subjected only to joint loads.














D
E
A
B
C
Compound joints

Solution The portions AB, BC, and CDE can be considered as a beam structure, a
truss structure and a frame structure, respectively, and the joints B and C are
compound joints. Therefore, we obtain

r
a
= 1(2) + 1(3) + 1(1) = 6
9 truss members + 2 beam members + 2 frame members m
t
= 9, m
b
=
2, m
f
= 2
4 pinned joints + 2 beam joints + 2 frame joints + 2 compound joints j
t
=
4, j
b
= 2,
j
f
= 2, j
c
= 2
No internal release n
c
= 0
DI = 6 + [9 + 2(2) + 3(2) ] [2(4) + 2(2) + 3(2) + 3(2)] 0 = 1
Structure is statically indeterminate

2101-310 Structural Analysis I 1 - 36



It is remarked that although the bending moment is fully released and there is no axial
force transferring to the beam at the compound joint B, no additional equation is
provided at this joint since there is only one beam member and it cannot resist axial
force. Similarly, although the bending moment is fully released at the compound joint
C, no additional equation is provided at this joint since there is only one frame
member.





Example 7: Determine the degree of static indeterminacy (DI) of a four story structure
with bracing system as shown in the figure below. Assume that bracing members can
resist only the axial force.



Compound joints




















Solution The structure consists of two types of structural members: the frame
members and the axial members (bracings). Therefore, we obtain

r
a
= 4(3) = 12
12 truss members + 28 frame members m
t
= 12, m
b
= 0, m
f
= 28
6 frame joints + 14 compound joints j
t
= 0, j
b
= 0, j
f
= 6, j
c
= 14
No internal release n
c
= 0
DI = 12 + [12 + 2(0) + 3(28) ] [2(0) + 2(0) + 3(6) + 3(14)] 0 = 48
Structure is statically indeterminate


2101-310 Structural Analysis I 1 - 37



Investigation of Static Stability of Structures

Stability of Structures

Proper and sufficient constraints must be provided to the entire structure in terms
of supports to prevent the rigid body displacement
Prevent rigid translations
Prevent rigid rotations

No development of rigid body displacement at any parts of the structure when
subjected to any actions
Proper arrangement of members to prevent internal instability
Not too many internal releases
Recall of Terms and Definitions

A statically stable structure is a structure that can resist any actions without
the development of the rigid body displacement (mechanism) on the entire
structure or within any parts of the structure.

A statically unstable structure is a structure that is not statically stable or, in
the other word, a structure that exhibits the rigid body displacement
(mechanism) for the entire structure or within any parts of the structure when
subjected to a particular action

An externally, statically unstable structure is a statically unstable
structure with the development of the rigid body displacement on the
entire structure.

An internally, statically unstable structure is a statically unstable
structure with the development of the mechanism only on certain parts of
components of the structure.
Theorems for Stability Analysis

Lemma 1 If the degree of static indeterminacy of a given structure is less
than zero, i.e. DI < 0, then the structure is statically unstable.

Lemma 2 A given structure is statically unstable if and only if there exists at
least one pattern of a rigid body displacement developed within the structure
under a particular action.

Lemma 3 A given structure is statically stable if and only if there is no
development of a rigid body displacement in any parts of the structure under
any actions.

Remarks

Lemma 1
Used to deduce static instability of the structure if DI < 0
No conclusion of static stability of the structure if DI 0

2101-310 Structural Analysis I 1 - 38



Lemma 2 & Lemma 3
Both Lemmas are equivalent
Used to check stability of the structure if DI 0
To deduce static instability of the structure find at least one
mechanism
To deduce static stability of the structure no development of
mechanisms

Mechanism of the entire structure (Fig5-Fig6)
Insufficient number of constraints or
Improper constraints

Mechanism of the portion of the structure (Fig7-Fig8)
Too many internal releases
Improper arrangement of members




Example 8: Use Lemma 1 to deduce the static stability of the structures shown in Fig.5-
Fig.8.




Truss structure in Fig5

r
a
= 1(1) + 1(1) = 2
9 truss members m = 9
6 joints j = 6
DI = r
a
+ m 2j = 2 + 9 2(6) = -1 < 0
Lemma 1 the structure is statically unstable







Frame structure in Fig6

r
a
= 3(1) = 3
3 frame members m = 3
4 joints j = 4
No internal release n
c
= 0
DI = r
a
+ 3m 3j - n
c
= 3 + 3(3) 3(4) - 0 = 0
Lemma 1 No conclusion on static instability



2101-310 Structural Analysis I 1 - 39



Beam structure in Fig7

r
a
= 1(2) + 2(1) = 4
2 beam members m = 2
3 joints jn = 3
2 hinges n
c
= 2
DI = r
a
+ 2m 2j - n
c
= 4 + 2(2) 2(3) - 2 = 0
Lemma 1 No conclusion on static instability





Frame structure in Fig8

r
a
= 2(3) + 1(1) = 7
5 frame members m = 5
6 joints j = 6
1 hinge1 n
c
= 1
DI = r
a
+ 3m 3j - n
c
= 7 + 3(5) 3(6) - 1 = 3
Lemma 1 No conclusion on static instability





Example 9: Investigate the static stability of truss structures shown in the figures below.
The structure I is obtained by adding the truss members a and b to the structure I and
the structure III is obtained by adding the truss member c to the structure I.


a b







Structure I Structure II


c





Structure III
2101-310 Structural Analysis I 1 - 40



Structure I

First, the degree of static indeterminacy is determined as follow:

r
a
= 1(2) + 2(1) = 4

m = 11

j = 8

DI = 4 + 11 2(8) = -1 < 0

Therefore, by Lemma 1, the structure is statically unstable.
Structure II

First, the degree of static indeterminacy is determined as follow:

r
a
= 1(2) + 2(1) = 4

m = 13

j = 8

DI = 4 + 13 2(8) = 1 > 0

Thus, static stability of the structure cannot be concluded from the Lemma1.
However, by investigating all parts of this structure, there exists a pattern of rigid
body displacement as shown in the figure below. Therefore, the Lemma 2 deduces
that the structure is statically unstable.











Structure III

First, the degree of static indeterminacy is determined as follow:

r
a
= 1(2) + 2(1) = 4

m = 12

j = 8

DI = 4 + 12 2(8) = 0

Thus, static stability of the structure cannot be concluded from the Lemma 1.
However, by investigating all parts of this structure, there is no development of rigid
body displacement within any parts of the structure. Therefore, the Lemma3
deduces that the structure is statically stable and, in addition, the structure is
statically determinate, i.e. DI = 0.

2101-310 Structural Analysis I 1 - 41



Example9: Investigate the static stability of frame structures shown in the figure below.
The structure II and structure III are obtained by adding the horizontal member to the
structure I with the location of the hinge a being above or below the added member.



a












Structure I Structure II Structure III

Structure I

First, the degree of static indeterminacy is determined as follow:

r
a
= 2(3) = 6

m = 4

j = 5

n
c
= 4

DI = 6 + 3(4) 3(5) 4 = -1 < 0

Therefore, by the Lemma1, the structure is statically unstable.

Structure II

First, the degree of static indeterminacy is determined as follow:

r
a
= 2(3) = 6

m = 7

j = 7

n
c
= 4

DI = 6 + 3(7) 3(7) 4 = 2 > 0

Thus, the stability of the structure cannot be concluded from the Lemma1. However,
by investigating all parts of this structure, there exists a pattern of rigid body
displacement as shown in the figure below. Therefore, the Lemma 2 deduces that
the structure is statically unstable.


2101-310 Structural Analysis I 1 - 42


















Structure III

First, the degree of static indeterminacy is determined as follow:

r
a
= 2(3) = 6

m = 7

j = 7

n
c
= 4

DI = 6 + 3(7) 3(7) 4 = 2 > 0

Thus, the stability of the structure cannot be concluded from the Lemma1. However,
by investigating all parts of this structure, there is no development of mechanisms
within any parts of the structure. Therefore, the Lemma3 deduces that the structure
is statically stable and, in addition, the structure is statically indeterminate with the
degree of static indeterminacy equal to two.


Remarks: The installation of the horizontal member plays a vital rule to the static
stability of the structure; misplacement of this member leads to the development of
the rigid body displacement and, therefore, the instability of the structure.