A PRESENTATION ON STATICALLY INDETERMINATE

STRUCTURES

By

Mala Babagana Gutti

B.Eng. Student, Department of Civil and Water Resources Engineering,

University of Maiduguri, Maiduguri, Nigeria

Email: malabgutti@gmail.com

January, 2017
 CONTENTS
• Introduction.
• Structure.
• Analysis.
• Stable and Unstable Structures.
• Support Types/Components.
• Statically Determinate Structures.
• External Determinacy.
• Internal Determinacy.
• Determinacy of Beams.
• Statically Indeterminate Structures.
• Externally Indeterminacy.
• Internally Indeterminacy.
• Difference Between Determinate and Indeterminate Structures.
• Methods of Analyzing Indeterminate Structures.
• Problems and Their Solutions Involving Indeterminate Structures.
• References.
Introduction

Before beginning to analyze a structure, it is important to know what kind of structure it is.

Different types of structures may need to be analyzed using different methods. For example,

structures that are determinate may be completely analyzed using only static equilibrium, whereas

indeterminate structures require the use of both static equilibrium and compatibility relationships

to find the internal forces. In addition, real structures must be stable. This means that the structure

can recover static equilibrium after a disturbance. There is no point analyzing a structure that is

not stable.

Any structure is designed for the stress resultants of bending moment, shear force,

deflection, torsional stresses, and axial stresses. If these moments, shears and stresses are evaluated

at various critical sections, then based on these, the proportioning can be done. Evaluation of these

stresses, moments and forces and plotting them for that structural component is known as analysis.

Determination of dimensions for these components of these stresses and proportioning is known

as design.

What is a structure?

Structure is an assemblage of a number of components like slabs, beams, columns, walls,

foundations and so on, which remains in equilibrium. It has to satisfy the fundamental criteria of

strength, stiffness, economy, durability and compatibility, for its existence. It is generally classified

into two categories as Determinate structures and Indeterminate structures or Redundant

structures.
Analysis

Determinate structures are analyzed just by the use of basic equilibrium equations. By this analysis,

the unknown reactions are found for the further determination of stresses. Redundant or

indeterminate structures are not capable of being analyzed by mere use of basic equilibrium

equations. Along with the basic equilibrium equations, some extra conditions are required to be

used like compatibility conditions of deformations etc. to get the unknown reactions for drawing

bending moment and shear force diagrams.

Stable and Unstable Structures

A stable structure is one that will not collapse when disturbed. Stability may also be defined as

"The power to recover equilibrium ". In general, there are many ways that a structure may become

unstable, including buckling of compression members, yielding/rupture of members, or nonlinear

geometric effects like P-Delta; however, for linear structural analysis, the main concern is

instability caused by insufficient reaction points or poor layout of structural members. An

internally stable structure is one that would maintain its shape if all the reactions supports were

removed. A structure that is internally unstable may still be stable if it has sufficient external

support reactions.

An unstable structure generally cannot be analyzed. Therefore, it is useful to know if a

structure is stable or unstable before a structural analysis is conducted. There are four main ways

that a structure may be geometrically unstable. These apply only to linear geometric stability and

not to instability caused by buckling, member yielding or nonlinear geometry.

In the equations above, r is equal to the total number of reaction components as follows:

1. Roller (r) = 1

2. Pin (r) = 2

3. Fixed (r) = 3

For multiple reaction points, (r) is the sum of all the components for all the reaction points in the

structure.

Statically Determinate Structure

When the equations of equilibrium are sufficient to determine the forces and stresses in a structure,

we say that this Structure is statically determinate.

External Determinacy

The ability to calculate all of the external reaction component forces using only static equilibrium.

A structure that satisfies this requirement is externally statically determinate. A structure for

which the external reactions component forces cannot be calculated using only equilibrium is

externally statically indeterminate.

If a structure is externally determinate, then all of the reactions may be calculated using equilibrium

alone. To calculate external determinacy, the following equations are used:

• Statically unstable externally

r=3+ec

• Statically determinate externally

• Statically indeterminate externally

where r is the number of reaction components, and ec is the number of equations of

condition. Both of these are described in detail below.

• The degree of indeterminacy is given by the following equation:

r−(3+ec)

Internal Determinacy

The ability to calculate all of the external reaction component forces and internal forces using only

static equilibrium. A structure that satisfies this requirement is internally statically determinate.

A structure for which the internal forces cannot be calculated using only equilibrium is internally

statically indeterminate.

If a structure is internally determinate, then all of the reactions and internal forces may be

calculated using equilibrium alone. Internal determinacy is generally much more important than

external determinacy in structural analysis. To calculate internal determinacy, the following

equations are used:

• Statically unstable

3m+r<3j+ec

• Statically determinate

3m+r=3j+ec

• Statically indeterminate
 3m+r>3j+ec

where m is the total number of members in the structure, r is the number of reaction

components, j is the total number of joints in the structure, and ec is the number of

equations of condition. The meaning of r and ec are the same as for External determinacy

above. The definition of members and joints will be discussed below.

The degree of indeterminacy is given by the following equation:

3m+r−(3j+ec)

Determinacy of Beams

For a coplanar (two-dimensional) beam, there are at most three equilibrium equations for each

part, so that if there is a total of n parts and r reactions, we have;

r = 3n, statically determinate.

r> 3n, statically indeterminate.

Statically Indeterminate Structure

A structure is termed as statically indeterminate, if it cannot be analyzed from principles of statics

alone, i.e. A statically indeterminate structure may be classified as:

1. Externally indeterminate.

2. Internally indeterminate.

3. Both externally and internally indeterminate, (example: trussed beams, continuous trusses).

A beam, subjected only to transverse loads, with more than two reaction components, is statically

indeterminate because the equations of equilibrium are not sufficient to determine all the reactions.
Externally Indeterminate Structures

A structure is usually externally indeterminate or redundant if the reactions at the supports cannot

be determined by using three equations of equilibrium, i.e. In the case of beams subjected to

vertical loads only, two reactions can be determined by conditions of equilibrium.

Internally Indeterminate Structures

A truss is statically determinate internally if the total number of members

m = 2j – 3

where j= number of joints.

A truss having more than (2j – 3) members is statically indeterminate or redundant, the degree of

indeterminacy or redundancy being equal to the number of extra members.

Redundancy and Degree of Indeterminacy

Indeterminate structures effectively have more unknowns than can be solved using the three

equilibrium equations (or six equilibrium equations in 3D). The extra unknowns are called

redundants.

The degree of indeterminacy is equal to the number of redundants. An indeterminate structure with

2 redundants may be said to be statically indeterminate to the second degree.

Difference Between Determinate and Indeterminate Structures

1. Determinate Structures Equilibrium conditions are fully adequate to analyze the structure; while

Indeterminate Structures Conditions of equilibrium are not adequate to fully analyze the structure.
2. Determinate Structures Bending moment or shear force at any section is independent of the

material property of the structure; while Indeterminate Structures Bending moment or shear force

at any section depends upon the material property.

3. Determinate Structures The bending moment or shear force at any section is independent of the

cross-section or moment of inertia; while Indeterminate Structures The bending moment or shear

force at any section depends upon the cross-section or moment of inertia.

4. Determinate Structures Temperature variations do not cause stresses; while Indeterminate

Structures Temperature variations cause stresses.

5. Determinate Structures No stresses are caused due to lack of fit; while Indeterminate Structures

Stresses are caused due to lack of fit.

6. Determinate Structures Extra conditions like compatibility of displacements are not required to

analyze the structure; while Indeterminate Structures Extra conditions like compatibility of

displacements are required to analyze the structure along with the equilibrium equations.

Method of Analyzing Indeterminate Structures

1. Member Flexibility.

2. Direct Stiffness Method.

• Member Stiffness Relations.

• System Stiffness Relation.

3. Moment Distribution Method.

4. Principle of Superposition;
• Compatibility Equation and Solution.

• Force-displacement Relations.

5. Slope Deflection Method.

6. Force Method.

7. Integration Method.
Problems and Their Solutions Involving Indeterminate Structures
EXAMPLE 1:

Find the stress at point B and C in the diagram below; given that Young Modulus,
E=70GPa and the area of wire, A=7.069mm2.
2m

1m 1m

A
C
B

1000N

Solution;

Free Body Diagram

FB FC

A C
B
FA 1000N
Therefore, since it is an indeterminate structure we can use the equilibrium
equations as well as employ compatibility equations;

∑Fy = 0 : FB+FC -1000N = 0

∑Fx = 0 : No Force

∑MA = 0 : 1m×FB+2m×FC-2m×1000N = 0

1m×FB+2m×FC = 2000N.m ...................... 1.

Deformation Characteristics

ΔB ΔC

ΔC = 2 ΔB

change in length is given by =

ΔC = and ΔB =

Thus, =

since both wires have the same Length, Area and Modulus , we cancel out A, E
and L, we are now left with;

FC = 2FB .................................. 2.

Substitute equation 2 into 1, we have;

1m×FB+2m×(2FB) = 2000N.m

5FB = 2000N

FB = 400N
and since FC = 2FB

then, FC = 2(400)N

FC = 800N

Now we can find the stress;

δB = = = 56.59 N/mm2.
.

similarly, δC = 2δB = 113.2 N/mm2.

Find the reactions at point A and C.

B
A C
1000N

12m 18m

Solution ;

Free body diagram;

RA 1000N RC

∑Fy = 0 : No Force

∑Fx = 0 : - RA- RC + 1000N = 0

RA + RC = 1000N

∑MA = 0 : No Moment

Compatibility Equations;

The overall change in length is zero.

δAC = δAB + δAC

We all know that change in length is given by;

+ = 0
Since the material is having a constant cross section all through, then A and E are
the same ,so we cancel them out:

+ = ..................... 1.

Now, if we can cut a section between A and B.

RA PAB

Thus, PAB = RA

And if we cut another section between B and C.

RA 1000N PBC

considering the statics that was found earlier above,

RA + RC = 1000N

RC = PBC = RA - 1000N

Therefore, substitute the value of PBC into equation 1;

RA(12)+(RA - 1000)(18) = 0

RA!12 + 18% = 18000

RA= 600N

RA + RC = 1000N

600 + RC = 1000N

RC = 400N

600N 1000N 400N

12m 18m
 EXAMPLE 3:

Use compatibility of displacement to find the reactions at A and B in the diagram

50KN
6m 6m
A B
C

Solution;

Principle of Superposition
50KN
MA 6m 6m
A
B
C

RA RB
II
50KN

ΔB1

+
ΔB2

Therefore, ΔB2 × RB.

Compatibility Equation = ΔB1 + ΔB2 × RB = 0 ..................... 1.

ΔC
6ɵc = ΔB1

(
ΔB1 = ΔC + (6m) ɵc where ɵc =
( )
* ( + !,%* + !,%( -
ΔB1 = + (6) = + (6) = -
* ) ( ) * ) ( ) )

ΔB2

* .!.(%* +/,
ΔB2 = = = +
* ) * ) )

Substitute ΔB1 and ΔB2 into Equation 1

ΔB1 + ΔB2 × RB = 0
- +/,
− + × 23 =
) )
- 9000 + 576 × 23 =

+/, 23 = -
-
23 = = 15.63KN +
+/,
 50KN
6m 6m
MA
A B
C
RA RB = 15.63KN

Equilibrium;

∑MA = 0 → MA - 50(6) + 15.63(12) = 0

MA = 112.4 KN +

∑Fy = 0 → RA - 50 + 15.63 = 0

RA = 34.37 KN +
 References
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[3] "Matrix Force method" (PDF). IUST. Retrieved 29 December 2012.

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