CE3155 Structural Analysis

Degrees-of-Indeterminacy &
Degrees-of-Freedom

A/Prof. Pang Sze Dai

Dept of Civil & Environmental Engineering

1 Introduction to Structural Analysis

1 Degrees-of-Indeterminacy
• when all the forces in a structure can be determined strictly from
equilibrium equations, the structure is referred to as statically
determinate.
• structures with more unknown forces than available equilibrium
equations are called statically indeterminate.
We will learn how to solve statically indeterminate structures in the
Chapters on "Force Method" and "Displacement Method"

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1 Introduction to Structural Analysis

Planar (2D) Truss

What are the assumptions made for an ideal truss?
Degrees-of-indeterminacy (doi)
= # unknown forces – # equil. eqs.
= (b + r) – 2j
where
b = number of members;
r = number of external reactions
j = number of joints
Example
b = , r = 3, j =
doi = (b + r) – 2j = (9 + 3) – 2x6 = 0
Statically determinate

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1 Introduction to Structural Analysis

Examples

b = 16, r = 3, j = 8 b= ,r= ,j=

doi = (b + r) – 2j = (16+3) – 2x8 = 3 doi = (b + r) – 2j = ( + ) – 2x = 0
Statically indeterminate Statically determinate

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1 Introduction to Structural Analysis

Planar (2D) Frame

• for a planar (2D) frame, there are at most 3 equilibrium equations

for each part of structure being considered:
Fx 0
Fy 0
M0 0

• Hence, if n is the total number of parts considered, and r the

number of force and moment reaction components,
If r = 3n, statically determinate
If r > 3n, statically indeterminate
• Degrees-of-indeterminacy (doi) = (r – 3n)

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1 Introduction to Structural Analysis

(1) All supports must be cut to

Examples release the support reactions!
Beams Compound Beams

r = 3, n = 1 r = 6, n = 2
Degrees-of-indeterminacy = 3 – 3(1) = 0 Degrees-of-indeterminacy = 6 – 3(2) = 0
(2) Parts connected by pins must be cut!

r = 5, n = 1 r = 10, n = 3
Degrees-of-indeterminacy = 5 – 3(1) = 2 Degrees-of-indeterminacy = 10 – 3(3) = 1

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1 Introduction to Structural Analysis

Examples (2) Parts connected by pins must be cut!

Pin-connected structures

r = 7, n = 2 r = 10, n = 2
Degrees-of-indeterminacy = 7 – 3(2) = 1 Degrees-of-indeterminacy = 10 – 3(2) = 4

r = 9, n = 3 r = 9, n = 3
Degrees-of-indeterminacy = 9 – 3(3) = 0 Degrees-of-indeterminacy = 9 – 3(3) = 0

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1 Introduction to Structural Analysis

Examples
Frames

(3) Closed loop must be cut!

r = 9, n = 2
Degrees-of-indeterminacy = 9 – 3(2) = 3

Does not contain closed loop

r = 9, n = 1
Degrees-of-indeterminacy = 9 – 3(1) = 6

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1 Introduction to Structural Analysis

Exercises

r= ,n= r= ,n=
Degrees-of-indeterminacy = – 3( ) = Degrees-of-indeterminacy = – 3( ) =

r= ,n= r= ,n=
Degrees-of-indeterminacy = – 3( ) = Degrees-of-indeterminacy = – 3( ) =
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1 Introduction to Structural Analysis

2 Degrees-of-Freedom
• The degrees-of-freedom in a structure can be regarded as the
possible components of displacements of the nodes including
those at the supports.

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1 Introduction to Structural Analysis

Planar (2D) Truss

• In 2D pin-jointed frame, there are effectively 2 possible
components of displacement for each node which does not
constitute a support; they are 2 components of translation H & V.
• At each roller support, there is an additional degree-of-freedom
due to the release of one restraint.

Degree-of-freedom (dof)
= # displacement components at nodes +
# displacement components at supports
= dn + ds
Example
dn = 4x2, ds = 1
dof = 8 + 1 = 9

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1 Introduction to Structural Analysis

Examples

dn = 6x2, ds = 1 dn = 3x2, ds = 1
dof = 12 + 1 = 13 dof = 6 + 1 = 7

b = 16, r = 3, j = 8 b = 7, r = 3, j = 5
doi = (16+3) – 2x8 = 3 doi = (7+3) – 2x5 = 0

What is the relationship between dof and doi?

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1 Introduction to Structural Analysis

Planar (2D) Frame

• In 2D rigid-jointed frames, there are effectively 3 possible

components of displacement for each node which does not
constitute a support; they are 1 rotation and 2 components of
translation , H & V.
• At each pinned support, there is 1 degree-of-freedom due to the
release of the rotational restraint
• At each roller support, there are 2 degrees-of-freedom due to the
release of the rotational restraint and a translational restraint.

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1 Introduction to Structural Analysis

Examples
Frames

dn = 4x3 = 12, ds = 3 dn = 4x3 = 12, ds = 3

Degrees-of-freedom = 12 + 3 = 15 Degrees-of-freedom = 12 + 3 = 15

Degrees-of-indeterminacy = 3 Degrees-of-indeterminacy = 6

What is the relationship between dof and doi?

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1 Introduction to Structural Analysis

Examples
Pin-connected structures

dn = 4, ds = 1 dn = 7, ds = 1
Degrees-of-indeterminacy = 4 + 1 = 5 Degrees-of-indeterminacy = 7 + 1 = 8
Degrees-of-indeterminacy = 1 Degrees-of-indeterminacy = 4

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1 Introduction to Structural Analysis

3 Stability
Members of a structure must be properly held or constrained
by their supports.
The following are two situations where the conditions for proper
constraint have not been met:

Partial Constraints.
No. of equilibrium equations > no. of reactive forces

# equilibrium eqns. = 3
# reactive forces = 2
∑Fx = 0 cannot be satisfied

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1 Introduction to Structural Analysis

Improper Constraints.
Support reactions are concurrent at a point.

# equilibrium eqns. = 3
# reactive forces = 3
∑M0 = 0 cannot be satisfied

Reactive forces are all parallel.

# equilibrium eqns. = 3
# reactive forces = 3
∑Fx = 0 cannot be satisfied

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1 Introduction to Structural Analysis

For a coplanar structure having n members or components with r

unknown reactions:

r < 3n unstable
r ≥ 3n unstable if member reactions are concurrent or parallel
or
some of the components form a collapsible
mechanism

If a structure is unstable, it does not matter whether it is

statically determinate or not.

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1 Introduction to Structural Analysis

Examples

Reactions are non-concurrent Reactions are concurrent.

and non-parallel. The member is unstable.
r – 3n = 3 – 3(1) = 0
The member is stable.

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1 Introduction to Structural Analysis

Exercises – Stability

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