Chapter 1 - Structural Idealization & Support Reactions

TYPES OF STRUCUTRES

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Chapter 1 - Structural Idealization & Support Reactions

SUPPORTS
Pin or Hinge Support

A pin or hinge support is represented by the symbol

HB
Prevented:
Allowed:

VB

or

HB

VB

Horizontal translation and vertical translation

Rotation

Roller Support

A roller support is represented by the symbol

or

VB
Prevented:
Allowed:

VB

Vertical translation
Horizontal translation and Rotation

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Chapter 1 - Structural Idealization & Support Reactions

Fixed Support

A fixed support is represented by the symbol

MB

HB

or HB
VB

Prevented:
Allowed:

MB B

Horizontal translation, Vertical translation and

Rotation
None

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Chapter 1 - Structural Idealization & Support Reactions

EQUILIBRIUM OF STRUCTURES
A structure is considered to be in equilibrium if it remains at rest when
subjected to a system of forces and moments. If a structure is in equilibrium,
then all its members and parts are also in equilibrium.
For a structure to be in equilibrium, all the forces and moments (including
support reactions) acting on it must balance each other. For a plane
structure subjected to forces in its own plane, the conditions for equilibrium
can be expressed by the following equations of equilibrium:

Fx 0,

Fy 0, M z 0

The third equation above states that the sum of moments of all forces about
any point in the plane of the structure is zero.
Equations of Condition
Sometimes internal hinges are present within a structure. An internal hinge
cannot transmit moment. Therefore the bending moment at a hinge is zero.
The condition that the moment is zero at a hinge provides an additional
equation for analyzing the structure. Such equations are commonly called
equations of condition.

(a)

(b)

(c)

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Chapter 1 - Structural Idealization & Support Reactions

Determinate and Indeterminate Structures

A structure is externally determinate if the support reactions can all be
obtained by statics, i.e.
No. of Support Reactions = No. of Equations (incl. Equilibrium & Conditions)

A structure which is not determinate is called indeterminate.

Degree of Statical Indetermincy = No. of Support Reactions No. of Equations

FREE-BODY DIAGRAMS
1. Free-body diagrams make use of the concept that if a whole structure is
in equilibrium, any part of it is also in equilibrium.
2. Free-body diagrams can be constructed for various parts of a structure,
and also for the entire structure.
3. When drawing a free-body, it is important to indicate on it all possible
forces acting in the given structure at the cuts.
4. Internal forces common to two free-bodies (on opposite sides of the
cut) should be denoted as equal in magnitude but opposite in
direction.
5. Free-body Diagrams are very useful in finding the support reactions and
determining the internal forces in structures. The use of free-body
diagram is an important tool in structural analysis and stress analysis.

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Chapter 1 - Structural Idealization & Support Reactions

Original Structure

P3

1
D

P1

P2

C
1

A
B

Free-body diagram of the

structure to the left of 1-1

P3
D

P1

P2

VD

HA

VA

MD
H

Free-body diagrams of
the individual elements

P3
D

P1
HA

P2

B HB

VB

VB

MD
H

VD

HB B

Note the equal but opposite directed representation of

the connecting forces at B.

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Chapter 1 - Structural Idealization & Support Reactions

Original Structure
(A three-hinge arch)

Free-body Diagram
for the whole structure

P1 a

P1 a

P2

P2

B
H

H
A

C
L

VB

P1 a
1
1

HB
HB

B
H

HA VA

P2

VC H
C

Free-body Diagrams of
arch segments

HA VA

C
L

P1 a
V1

H1

HB

B
H1

VC H
C

Free-body Diagrams to
analyze internal forces
at section 1-1

V1
HA

A
VA
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Chapter 1 - Structural Idealization & Support Reactions

Example 1
Beam ABCD has a pinned support at A and a roller support at C. It carries
two concentrated loads of 20 kN each and a uniformly distributed load of 4
kN/m over the right hand half as shown. Determine the reactions.

20 kN
20 kN
4 kN/m
A
B
3m

C
1.5m 1.5m

D
3m

Solution:

20 kN
20 kN
4 kN/m
A
B

HA

X = 0,

VA

3m

V
1.5m 1.5m C 3m

HA = 0

Take moment about A,

20*3 + 20*9 + 4*(4.5)*(4.5 + 4.5/2) Vc*6 = 0
Vc = 60.25 kN
Y = 0, 20 + 20 + 4*4.5 = VA + VC
VA = -2.25 kN, (-ve sign indicates VA acts in opposite direction)
VA = 2.25 kN ()

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Chapter 1 - Structural Idealization & Support Reactions

Example 2
Find the support reactions for the simple beam shown.

5
40 kN

50 kN

D
B

C
2.5m

5m

2.5m

Solution:

5
40 kN

40 kN

HA

50 kN
30 kN

3
D

VA

VD
5m

2.5m

2.5m

Resolve the 50 kN inclined external load into horizontal and vertical

components as shown.
X = 0,

HA = 30 kN

Take moment about A,

40*5 + 40*7.5 VD*10 = 0
VD = 50 kN
Y = 0, 40 + 40 = VA + VD
VA = 30 kN

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Chapter 1 - Structural Idealization & Support Reactions

Example 3
Determine the truss reaction forces.

30 kN

30 kN

5m

20 kN
B
5m

5m

5m

5m

Solution:

30 kN

5m

30 kN
20 kN

A
HA

B
VA

X = 0,

5m

5m

5m

5m

VB

HA = 20 kN

Take moment about A,

30*10 + 30*15 20*2.5 VB*20 = 0
VB = 35 kN
Y = 0, 30 + 30 = VA + VB
VA = 25 kN

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Chapter 1 - Structural Idealization & Support Reactions

Example 4
Determine the support reactions for the frame shown.

20 kN

25 kN

4m

4m

10 kN

5 4
3

A
12 m

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Chapter 1 - Structural Idealization & Support Reactions

Solution:

20 kN

20 kN

5 4
3
25 kN

15 kN

4m

C
B

4m

10 kN

A
HA

VA

VE

12 m
Resolve the 25 kN inclined external load into horizontal and vertical
components as shown.
X = 0, HA + 10 = 15 kN
HA = 5 kN
Take moment about A,
10*4 + 20*12 15*8 VE*12 = 0
VE = 13.3 kN
Y = 0, 20 + 20 = VA + VE
VA = 26.7 kN

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Chapter 1 - Structural Idealization & Support Reactions

Example 5
Find the reactions for the cantilever beam shown.

6 kN

4 kN/m
4 kNm

1.5m 1.5m 1.5m 1.5m

Solution:

6 kN
4 kNm

MA

HA

VA

X = 0,

4 kN/m

1.5m 1.5m 1.5m 1.5m

HA = 0 kN

Y = 0, 6 + 4*1.5/2 = VA
VA = 9 kN
Take moment about A,
6*1.5 + 4*(1.5/2)*(6 - 1.5*1/3) 4 MA = 0
MA = 21.5 kNm

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Chapter 1 - Structural Idealization & Support Reactions

Example 6
Determine the support reactions for the frame shown.

8 kN/m
3 kN/m
C
12m

3 kN/m

A
8m

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Chapter 1 - Structural Idealization & Support Reactions

Solution:

5 kN/m
3 kN/m

3 kN/m
C
12m

3 kN/m

A
HA

MA
VA

X = 0,

8m

HA = 3*12 kN = 36 kN

Y = 0, 3*8 + 5*8/2 = VA
VA = 44 kN
Take moment about A,
3*12*6 + 3*8*4 + 5*(8/2)*(8*2/3) MA = 0
MA = 418.7 kNm

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Chapter 1 - Structural Idealization & Support Reactions

Example 7
Determine the support reactions at the support A, D and F. Joints C and E
are internal hinges.
10 kN
4 kN/m
A

D
B
2.5m

C
2.5m

E
2m

4m

2m

Solution:
10 kN
4 kN/m
A

MF

D
B

VA
2.5m

VF

VD
2.5m

2m

2m

HF

4m

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Chapter 1 - Structural Idealization & Support Reactions

Break the beam into three free-body diagrams, namely ABC, CDE and EF.

10 kN
A

HC

HC C

VA

VC

E H
E

VD

4 kN/m

HE
E

MF
H

VF

Consider free-body diagram ABC,

X = 0,

HC = 0 kN

By symmetry, VA = VC = 10/2 = 5 kN
Remember the internal forces at hinge C of ABC and CDE are equal and
opposite. This also applies to hinge E.
Consider free-body diagram CDE,
X = 0,

HC = HE = 0 kN

Take moment about E,

VC*4 = VD*2
VD = 5*4/2 = 10 kN
Y = 0,

VC + VE = VD,

VE = 10 - 5 = 5 kN

Consider free-body diagram, EF.

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Chapter 1 - Structural Idealization & Support Reactions

X = 0,

HE = HF = 0 kN

Y = 0,

VE + VF = 4*4,

VF = 16 - 5 = 11 kN

Take moment about F,

VE*4 + MF 4*4*2 = 0
MF = 4*4*2 5*4 = 12 kNm

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Chapter 1 - Structural Idealization & Support Reactions

Example 8
Determine the support reactions at A, C, G and H. Joints D and F are
internal hinges.

150 kN
120 kN

5 4

A
B
5m

D
5m

10 kN/m

2m 3m

F
3m

G
2m

6m

Solution:
Resolve the inclined external load into vertical and horizontal components.
120 kN

120 kN

HA

VA
5m

VC
5m

10 kN/m

90 kN

2m 3m

3m

F
2m

G
VG

VH
6m

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Chapter 1 - Structural Idealization & Support Reactions

Break the beam into three free-body diagrams, namely ABCD, DEF and
FGH.
120 kN

90 kN

HD

VD D

HF
F VF

120 kN
C

A
H

B
VA

VD

HD

HF

VF

10 kN/m
F

VC

G
VG

H
VH

Consider the free-body FGH first,

X = 0, HF = 0
Consider the free-body DEF,
By symmetry, VD = VF = 120/2 = 60 kN
X = 0,

HD = HF +90 = 0 + 90 = 90 kN.

Consider the free-body ABCD,

X = 0, HA = HD , HA = 90 kN.
Take moment about A,
120*5 + 60*12 = VC*10,
Y = 0,

VA + VC = 120 + 60 , VA = 48 kN.

Consider the free-body FGH ,

Take moment about H,
60*8 + 10*8*4 = VG*6,
Y = 0,

VC = 132 kN.

VG = 133.3 kN.

VG + VH = 10*8 + 60 ,

VH = 6.7 kN.

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Chapter 1 - Structural Idealization & Support Reactions

Tutorial 1 (Support Reactions)

Determine the support reactions for the following structures.
Q1.

10 kN
2 kN/m

B
2m

D
2m

1m

3m

D is an internal hinge

Q2.

200 kN

B
C

10.4m

B is an internal hinge

1.6m

30 kN/m

D
12 m

6m

6m

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Chapter 1 - Structural Idealization & Support Reactions

Q3.

2 kN

4 kN/m
A
B
1m

C
1m

3m

2m

Q4.

250 kN
40 kN/m
D

3m

3m

6m

C is an internal hinge

Q5.

5 kN/m

5 kN/m
A

B
2m

C
2m

D
2m

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Chapter 1 - Structural Idealization & Support Reactions

Q6.

10 kN/m
C

3m

3m

30 kN

3m

3m

B, D & F are internal hinges

Q7.

40 kN/m

20 kN/m
B

F
12 m

D is an internal hinge

A
3m

G
5m

5m

3m

Q8.
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Chapter 1 - Structural Idealization & Support Reactions

2 kN/m
B

6m

4m

C is an internal hinge

3 kN/m

A
3m

3m

Q9.

60 kN

6 kN/m

30 kN
D

5m

B & E are internal hinges

A
3m

3m

3m

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Chapter 1 - Structural Idealization & Support Reactions

Q10.

10 kN 20 kN
6 kNm

B
C

4m

2 kN/m

C is an internal hinge

F
2m

1m

1m

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