Structural Analysis

Lecture
Force (Flexibility)
Method of
Structural analysis
 Analysis of Structures
The objective of analyzing a structure is to
determine the unknown support reactions
(external forces) and its internal forces (such as
bending moment and shear force at any point in
the structure).
If the structure is statically determinate, these
can be determined using equations of
equilibrium.
However, if the structure is statically
indeterminate, analysis cannot be merely by
considering equilibrium.
The geometrical relations also should be used.
 Analysis of Structures
Basically there are two approaches in the
analysis of structures, namely, the
Flexibility (Force) method and the Stiffness
(Displacement) method.
Depending on the problem, one approach
could be more appropriate than the other.
 Force (Flexibility) Method
In the Force (Flexibility Method), Redundants
are the unknowns of the structure.
In this method, first the Redundants are
determined using geometrical relations.
Once all the redundants are found, the external
support reactions and internal forces can be
determined using equations of equilibrium.
The method is applicable only for statically
indeterminate structures.
Application of the Force method

The following steps may be used in the

application of the method:
1.Find the degree of statical indeterminacy
of the structure. Identify the redundants.
R1
R
2
R

Rn
Application of the Force method
2. Introduce releases to make the structure
statically determinate. The number of
releases required is equal to the degree
of statical indeterminacy.
Note:
The selection of releases is not unique and many
combinations are possible. However as a general
criterion, the releases (redundants to be released)
should be so selected that the resulting structure is
easy to analyse.
Application of the Force method
3. When the external loads act on the released
structure, there will be inconsistencies in
displacements and rotations at releases.
These are called errors in the released
structure.
Determine these errors or displacements and
rotations at the releases due to external loads.
D1

D D2
D
3
Once the errors are identified, we have to
correct them to get the original structure.
 Sign-convention
There is no restriction in the selection of a sign
convention for the redundants and the
corresponding displacements.
However, the following is recommended:
Bending moments and corresponding rotations
Hogging +ve
End moments and corresponding rotations
Clockwise +ve
Reactions and corresponding displacements
Upward and left to right +ve
Application of the Force method
4. In order to find the redundants present at the
releases, which will eleminate the errors of the
releases, find correcting displacements/rotations
at releases due to unit values of redundants
separately.
These displacements/rotations are called
flexibility coefficients.
f11 f12 f1n
F f 21 f 22 f 2 n
f 31 f 32 f nn
Application of the Force method
5. Find the redundant forces using the
principle of superposition, with the
condition that the errors at each of the
releases should vanish.
This will lead to a set of simultaneous
equations in which the unknowns are the
redundants.
The solution of the set of simultaneous
equations will give the unknown
redundants.
Application of the Force method
Application of the Force method
{R} is the column matrix of Redundants,
with dimensions (n x 1).
{D} is the column matrix of Displacements,
(errors) due to loadings, computed in
step-3 with dimensions (n x 1).
Solving the matrix equation, the unknown
matrix {R} can be obtained.
Application of the Force method
Once the redundant forces and moments
are known, the internal forces (bending
moment and shear force etc. at any point
in the structure) and the external forces
(reactions) can be obtained by equations
of equilibrium.
 Example
1
 Solution
1
Solution

Possible
1
released
structures
 Solution

1
 Solution

1
 1
Solution
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1
 Solution
1
 Solution
1
 Solution

1
 Solution
1
 Solution
1
 Solution
1
 Solution
1
Solution
1
 Solution
1
Solution

1
Solution
Example
Solution m=2;n=3;r=0;s=6
i=3(m-n)-r+s=3
Solution - Determination of column
matrix of displacements (errors)
Solution - Determination of flexibility
coefficients
Solution - Determination of flexibility
coefficients
Solution - Determination of flexibility
matrix and inverse flexibility matrix
Solution - Determination of
Redundants using matrix equation
Bending Moment Diagram
Example
Solution Degree of statical
indeterminacy
Solution - Determination of column
matrix of displacements (errors)
Solution - Determination of
flexibility coefficients
Solution - Determination of
Redundants using matrix equation