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CIRCULAR REFERENCE

11

Christy
10:32
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ENGINEERING with the SPREADSHEET

Copyright 2006 American Society of Civil Engineers
287360914.xls
A

CIRCULAR REFERENCE
The circular reference is intentional in this file.
You will get this error message when you open the file. Click
on the x to cancel this message if it occurs.

In Tools, Options...

set Iterations to 1.

Figure 11-1 The circular reference pop-up flag.

Try different numbers in the highlighted cell and press [F9] (calculate) several times to
see the answer in the "Output" cell quit changing (converge).
Input
1

+
+

0.05*Output

0.0526316

=
=

row 20

Output
1.0526316

The circular reference may be used, at times, to advantage. One example is the
P-delta effect that takes place in columns and slender walls. If a column is already
bent and an axial load is placed on it, it will bend more. This is because the load
times its distance from the centerline at the bowed part of the column creates an
additional moment which bends the column further. In a template, this
relationship becomes a circular reference which will converge in about four iterations.
e
P
L

24 in
100 k
12 ft

29000 k/in2

I
M1 2
L /2
D

MD

50 in4
2603.2 k-ft
6.0 ft
0.032 ft
0.388 in
203.2 k-ft

P
row 30

load eccentricity
load
length of column
modulus of elasticity
moment of inertia
moment at top and bottom of column

row 40
PD

where L /2 = x
h / 371
additional moment

2606.5 k-ft

Try different numbers in the highlighted cell and press [F9] (calculate) several
times to see the answer in the "Output" cell "converge."

row 50

Figure 11-2 Using a circular reference to calculate the P effect.

row 60