CIVE1144

Beams using Force Method (Lesson 4)

• Statically indeterminate beams

• Superposition
• Analysis of statically indeterminate structures using Force Method
• Advantage and disadvantage of Force Method
 Statically Indeterminate Structures
A structure is classified as statically indeterminate when the number
of unknown reactions exceeds the number of equilibrium equations
available for its analysis. For example,

The number of reactions: 4

The number of equilibrium
equations: 3
The degree of indeterminacy
is 4-3=1

Advantages: Increase the stability of the structures

 Complexity of analysis
The reactions can not be solely determined by the equilibrium
equations. For example:
F = 1 kN and L = 2 m , To find XA, YA,
MA and YB?

+
F x  0: XA  0 (1)

+ F y  0 : YA  YB  F
YA  YB  1 (2)
L
+ MA  0: M A  YB L  F 
2
0
M A  2YB  1 (3)
 Complexity of analysis
The reactions can not be solely determined by the equilibrium
equations. For example:
F = 1 kN and L = 2 m , To find XA, YA,
MA and YB?

+
F x  0: XA  0 (1)

+ F y  0 : YA  YB  F
YA  YB  1 (2)
L
+ MA  0: M A  YB L  F 
2
0
M A  2YB  1 (3)

Could we find solutions from other

equilibrium equations such as  M B  0 ?
2YA  M A  1
The above equation can be found by 2x(2)-(3)!
 Principle of Superposition
The total displacement or stress at a point in a structure subject to several
loadings can be determined by adding together the displacement or stresses
caused by each of the loads acting separately.
F1 F2 F1
A A
∆ = ∆1

+
F2
A
∆2

  1   2
Application of Superposition
F

A
=
B

YB
Application of Superposition
F

A
=
B

YB
Application of Superposition
Compatibility equation:
 B1   B 2  0

Note: To analyse a statically

indeterminate structure using
the Force Method, the sub-
structure for superposition
should be a statically
determinate structure.
Deflection of the sub-structure
Compatibility equation:
 B1   B 2  0
For sub-structure 1:

 B1  1   2
L
 1  1 
2
3 2
L L
F   F 
  2
  2 L

∆2 3EI 2 EI 2
5FL3

48EI
Deflection of the sub-structure
Compatibility equation:
 B1   B 2  0
For sub-structure 1:
5FL3
 B1 
48EI
For sub-structure 2:
YB L3
B2 
3EI
Deflection of the sub-structure
Compatibility equation:
 B1   B 2  0
For sub-structure 1:
5FL3
 B1 
48EI
For sub-structure 2:
YB L3
B2 
3EI
Thus,
5FL3 YB L3
 0
48EI 3EI
5
YB  F  0.31kN (4)
16
Determine reaction forces
F = 1 kN and L = 2 m , To find XA, YA,
MA and YB?

+
F x  0: XA  0 (1)

+ F y  0 : YA  YB  F
YA  YB  1 (2)
L
+  M A  0 : M A  YB L  F  2  0
M A  2YB  1 (3)
5
YB  F  0.31kN (4)
16
Substituting (4) into (2) and (3),
YA  0.69kN
M A  0.38kNm
 Moment diagram
For segment AC: 0  x1  1m

M
V
x1
0.38kNm
+ M  0: 0.38  0.69 x1  M  0
M  0.38  0.69 x1

when x1  0 (at Point A) :

0.31kNm M  0.38kNm
when x1  1m (at Point C) :
M  0.31kNm
 Moment diagram
For segment BC: 0  x2  1m
V

M
x2

0.38kNm
+ M  0: M  0.31x2  0
M  0.31x2

when x2  0 (at Point B) :

0.31kNm M 0
when x2  1m (at Point C) :
M  0.31kNm
 Superposition – another choice
F
MA MA
A
A  0 =
B
 Superposition – another choice
F
MA
A
A  0 =
B
 Superposition – another choice
Compatibility equation:
  A1   A2  0
A  0
For sub-structure 1:
FL2
 A1 
16 EI
For sub-structure 2:
M AL
 A2 
3EI
Thus,
FL2 M A L
  0
16 EI 3EI
3
M A  FL  0.38kNm (4)
16
More examples on superposition

Compatibility equation:
 B1   B 2  0
Example
Draw the moment diagram for the
beam. The support at B settles 40mm.
Take E=200GPa, I=500(106)mm4.
Example – equilibrium equations
From the free-body diagram, we
have

+ F y  0:

YA  YB  YC  100 ----(1)

+ M A  0:

8YB  16Yc  100  4  0

YB  2Yc  50 ----(2)

We need another equation to determine

those three reactions.
Example – compatibility equation
With reference to point B and
using units of meters, we require
 B1   B 2  0.04
Example – substructure 1
With reference to point B and
using units of meters, we require
 B1   B 2  0.04
For substructure 1: a=12m, b=4m,
L=16m, x=8m and P=100kN
Pbx 2
x  B1  ( L  b2  x 2 )
6 LEI
5866.67

EI
b a
L
Example – substructure 2
With reference to point B and
using units of meters, we require
 B1   B 2  0.04
For substructure 1:
5866.67
 B1 
EI
For substructure 2:
PL3 YB 163
 B2  
48EI 48EI
85.33YB

EI
Example – substructure 2
With reference to point B and
using units of meters, we require
 B1   B 2  0.04
For substructure 1:
5866.67
 B1 
EI
For substructure 2:
85.33YB
 B2 
EI
Thus,
5866.67 85.33YB
  0.04
EI EI
YB  21.875kN -----(3)
 Example – Reactions
As previous, the two equations
coming equilibrium equations are:
YA  YB  YC  100 ----(1)

YB  2Yc  50 ----(2)

One equation from the compatibility

equation is
YB  21.875kN ----(3)

Substituting (3) back to (2) and (1),

we have
 64.06kN  21.875kN  14.06kN
Yc  14.06kN
YA  64.06kN
Example – Moment diagram
when 0  x  4m (segment AD):

DD

+ M  0:
 64.04x  M  0
D
M  64.04 x
M  0 when x  0
M  256.3kNm when x  4m

256.3kNm
Example – Moment diagram
when 4m  x  8m (segment DB):

DD

+ M  0:
D  64.04 x  100  ( x  4)  M  0
M  35.96x  400
M  256.3kNm when x  4m
M  112.3kNm when x  8m
112.3kNm

256.3kNm
 Example – Fixed end moments
Calculate the reaction moments at both fixed ends?
F
A B

L/2 L/2
 Example – Fixed end moments
Calculate the reaction moments at both fixed ends?
F F
A B
=
MA
MB
 Example – Fixed end moments
Calculate the reaction moments at both fixed ends?
F F
A B
=
MA
MB
=

+
MA

+
MB
 Example – Fixed end moments
Calculate the reaction moments at both fixed ends?
F Compatibility equation:
A B
  A1   A2   A3  0 ----(1)

 B1   B 2   B3  0 ----(2)
=

θA1 θB1

θA2
+
MA θB2

+
θA3 MB
θB3
 Example – Fixed end moments
Calculate the reaction moments at both fixed ends?
Compatibility equation:
F
A B   A1   A2   A3  0 ----(1)

 B1   B 2   B3  0 ----(2)
=

For sub-structure 1:
F FL2 FL2
 A1   B1 
16EI 16EI
θA1 θB1 For sub-structure 2 with MA:

+
M AL M AL
 A2   B2 
MA θA2 3EI 6 EI
θB2
For sub-structure 3 with MB:

+  A3 
M BL
 B3 
M BL
3EI
6 EI
θA3 MB
θB3
 Example – Fixed end moments
Calculate the reaction moments at both fixed ends?
Substituting those values into compatibility equations
F
FL2 M A L M B L
A B    0 ----(3)
16EI 3EI 6 EI
FL2 M A L M B L
  0 ----(4)
=

16EI 6 EI 3EI
F
Using (3)×2+(4), we obtain
FL
θA1 θB1 MA 
8

θA2
+ Similarly using (4)×2+(3), we obtain
MA θB2 FL
MB  
8
+
θA3 MB
θB3
High degree of indeterminacy
F

The number of unknown reactions: 6

The number of available equilibrium equations: 3
The degree of indeterminacy: 6-3=3
 Superposition
F F
A B C D E A B C D E
= +

E+
B
+
A C D A B C D E A B C D E

RB RC RD
 Compatibility equations
F F
A B C D E A B C D E
= +
∆B1 ∆C1 ∆D1

∆B2 ∆C2 ∆B3 ∆C3 ∆C4 ∆D4

∆D2 ∆D3 ∆B4
E+
B
+
A C D A B C D E A B C D E

RB RC RD

Compatibility equations:
  B1   B 2   B3   B 4  0
 C1  C 2  C 3  C 4  0
  D1   D 2   D3   D 4  0
In general, the total number of compatibility equations is equal to the degree of indeterminacy.
Summary for the Force Method
Step 1: Determine the degree of statically indeterminacy n to which the
structure is indeterminate.
Step 2: Specify the n unknown redundant reaction forces or moments that
must be removed from the structure in order to make it statically
determinate and stable structure.
Step 3: Write compatibility equations for the displacement or rotation at
each point where there is a redundant reaction force or moment.
Step 4: Determine all deflections or rotations in the compatibility equations
using the provided table. Solve for the unknown redundant
reaction forces or moments.
Step 5: Combining with equilibrium equations solves all other unknown
reaction forces or moments.
Step 6: Draw the shear force or bending moment diagram.
Conclusion
The nature of the Force Method is to determine the redundant reaction
forces (unknowns) by satisfying the compatibility and force-displacement
requirements.

Advantage: The Force Method is straightforward and easily understood.

Disadvantage: The Force Method becomes extremely complicate for a

statically indeterminate structure with high degree of indeterminacy.

In the next week, we will introduce one of the Displacement Methods: the
slope-deflection Method.
 Activities
• Solve problems 10-2, 10-3, 10-6, 10-7, 10-9, 10-10, 10-13, 10-17 of Hibbeler,
Structural Analysis