RECTANGULAR FRAMES

APPROXIMATEMETHODSOF ANALYSIS OF

Introduction:
can be
analysisof staticallyindeterminatestructuresusing the Force and Displacement methods
The satisfied in
conditions of the structure is exactly
considered as Exact as the Compatibility and Equilibrium
shown that the response of most common
such an analysis.However,Experimentalinvestigationshave
by the force and displacement methods
types of structures underservice loads can be reliably predicted
provided an accurate analytical model of the structure is used.

Exact analysis of Indeterminate Structures involves:

is time consuming.
1) Computation of Deflectionsand solution of Simultaneous equations, which
2) Depends on the relative sizes (c/s area and Ml) of the members of the structure.

Because of the difficultiesassociated with the exact analysis the preliminary designs of indeterminate
structuresare often basedon the approximateanalysis, in which the internal forces are estimated by
makingcertainassumptionsabout the Deformationsand /or about the distribution of forces between
the members of the structures,thereby avoidingthe need of computing deflections.

Approximate Analysis;

1) It is convenient to use in the planning phase of projects, when several alternative designs are usually
evaluated to achieve economy.
2) The resultsof this analysiscan be usedto estimatethe sizes of various structural elements needed
to initiate exact analysis.
3) It can be usedto roughlycheck the resultsof exact analysis,which due to its complexity can be
prone to errors.
•4) Knowledge and understandingof this approximatemethods used by the original designers (prior to
1960) are usually helpful in restoration and rehabilitation undertaking.

It is to be noted that in approximateanalysis,a specific method must be employed for the analysis
of a
particular type of structurefor a particular type of loading (i.e. not general).

Assumptions for Approximate Analysis:

To- determine the- reactions and internal forces on an indeterminate structure, the
equations of
equilibrium must be supplementedby additionalequations, whose number must be equal
to the degree
of indeterminacy of the structure.

In approximate analysis,these additionalequationsare established by using engineering judgment

to
make simplifying assumptionsabout the response of the structure.
The total number of assumptions must be equal to the degree of indeterminacy of the structure.
Each assumption should provide independentrelationship between the unknown reactions and /or
internal forces.
Theequationsbased on the simplifying assumptions are then solved in conjunction with equilibrium
equationsof the structure to determine the approximate values of its reactions and internal forces.

Two types of Assumptions are usually employed in Approximate Analysis;

1) Assumptionabout the location of points of Inflexion;

• A qualitative sketch of the deflected shape of the structure is used to assume the location of
the points of inflexion. (i.e. points where the curvature of the elastic curve changes sign or
becomes zero)
• Asthe Bending moment is zero at the points of inflexion, internal hinges are inserted in the
indeterminate structure at the assumed locations of inflexion points to obtain a simplified
determinate structure.
• Each of the internal hinges assumed will provide one Conditional Equation; hence the
number of inflexion points assumed should be equal to the degree of indeterminacy of the
structure.
• The inflexion points should be selectedsuch that the resulting determinate structure must
be statically and geometrically stable.
• This simplified structure is then analyzedto determine the approximate values of the
reactions and internal forces of the original indeterminate structure.
2) Assumption about Distribution of Forces among Members and [or Reactions;
• Assumptions about the distribution of forces among the members and [or
reactions of the
structures are made.
• The Numberof.such assumptionsrequiredfor the
analysis of the structure must be
the degree of indeterminacy of the structure. equal to
• Each assumptionmust provide an
independentequation. relating the
unknown member
The equations based on these
assumpti6ns:a•ré•then solved
equilibrium equations to determirfeits simultaneously with the
app-roximatereactions and
internal forces.
Theabovet.wo assumptionscan either be used
otheror individually or they can
with of assumptionsusing be combined with
engineering each
judgment of the
structural
APPROXIMATEANALYSIS
FOR VERilCAL LOADS

The procedurefor
approximate
loadsessentialinvolves rectangular building
making three assürnptions frames subjected
about the behaviour vertical (gravity)
Estimatingthe location of.each girder of
of two inflectién points the frame.
the girder and the involves making two
third assumption based assumptions about
on the experience the behaviour
negligiblysmall in from exact of
rectangular frames subjected analysis that, axial forces
to gravity loads are
only.
Assumptions:
1. The inflection points are located at 1/1CP of the span from each end of the
girder.
2. The girder axial force is zero.

Justification:

From the FBD of girder BE and its deflected shape, it can be c

observed that there exists two inflection points near both
ends of the girder.
These inflection points develop because the columns and the
adjacent girder connected to the ends of the girder BE offer B H
partial resistance against rotation by exerting -ve moments
MBEand MEBat the ends.
The exact location of these points depends on the relative
Stiffnesses of the frame members and can be found by exact
analysis.
However, by examining the two extreme conditions of the rotational restraint at the girder ends, the
region where these inflexion points can be located along the girder length can be established;

8 0.2111 0.2111 O.IL

point of inflexion 0.11
Point of inflexion Point of inflexion

Jf the Girder ends are free to rotate (simply

supported), the zero BM and thus the
inflexion points would
On the other hand if the girder ends are
completely fixed against rotation,
the inflexion points
at a distance of 0.211 L from each end
of the girder. will•occur •
Therefore,when the girder ends are
partially restrainedagainst
occur somewhere within a distance rotation, the inflexion-
of 0.211 L fromeach end. would
Thus, for the purpose of approximate
analysis, the assumption that the inflection points:
about halfwaybetweenthe two are
extremes i.e., at a distanceof
0.1 L from each end of

Outcome: 0.1 L 0.8 L 0.1 L

The effect of these w/m
assumptions is that, the
of each girder can be middle 0.8 L
considered as simply
the two end portions supported on
of the girder, each of
which is of
length0.1 L The girder is now statically determinate.
By making 3 assumptions about the behaviour of each girder, the total no. of assumptions is equal to
the degree of indeterminacy of the frame and thereby making the entire frame statically determinate.

APPROXIMATE ANALYSIS FOR LATERAL LOADS:

Two methods are commonly used for approximateanalysis of rectangular frames subjected to lateral
loads.

1. The Portal method.

2. The Cantilever method.
P B c
Behaviour of a portal frame with fixed supports:

This method is considered to be suitable for the analysis

Inflection points
of relatively low building frames, h
For the frame shown the degree of indeterminacyis three.
Therefore, three assumptions are required for analysts.
From the deflected shape of the frame it can be observed
that an inflection point exists near the mtddieof each
member of the frame.
P B c
It is reasonable to assume that, the inflection potntsoccurs
at the midpoints of the members.
As the BM at the inflection points must be zero, internal
hinges are inserted at the midpotnts of the three frame v
members to obtain statically determinate frame.
To determine the six reactions;
A 'horizontalsection x-x IS passed through the hinges E and G,
Cutting the frame into three parts (AE. EBFCG and GD ).
Equilibriumequations (and conditional equations If any) are
applied to the three portions of the frame.
•i)Considering the Equilibnum of the portion EBFCG; P B
TM,F.O ; Vext+PYh/2 -O

VtzePh/2L or +Ph/2LC 1.
TV=O; EVE

2.

z o; Htxh/2 VtxiJ2zO OR

ve Ph/2L
YH=O ; HG p O

'i) Considering the Equilibriumof the h/

portion EA.
iV=o ;
— + Ph/2L 5.

iH=o; -HA + HE = O
6.

i MA =O•, + HE*h/2- MA-o OR P/2 h/2= Ph/4

MA = Ph/4 7.

iii) Considering the Equilibrium of the portion GD;

iH=o ;
8.

.vo Ph/2Lt 9.

IMD -O; + Hdh/2- MD-O OR MD2+ P/2 x h/2 = Ph/4

MD =Ph/4 10.

It is observed that the horizontal reactions at the supports i.e., HA and HDare equal, indicating that the shears in the
two columns of the f4rame also be equal to each other.

Development of the portal method of analysis:

Consider a two storey three bay building frame; the frame contains six girders and eight columns.
The degree of static indeterminacy of the frame is
From the qualitative sketch of the deflected shape of the frame it
can be observedthat an inflection poiht exists near the middle of
each member.
In this method it is assumed that these inflegtion points are
located at the •midpointof each member, and therefore, an
internal hinge is.inserted at the middle of each member.
gy inserting internal hirige at the middle of each member, 14
equations of condition is obtained. Thus, the degree of
indeterminacy of the simplified frame is 18-14=4.
Therefore 4 more additional assumptiöns are to' be made. tb.
render the frame statically' determinate a•nd•
approximate •analysis
carried out.
It is furtherassumed that, ihe. fiame is mage-eup of a seriés.of
portal frames, with each intértpr.•colümn:of pthe.orfgihal fr.ame
representing two portal legs.
It is found that,. when a portål trame •with jnternal hinges at
midpoints of its members is subjected to laterål•löads,
equal
shear develops in the two legs of the frame.
Ll/2 11/2 12/2
As an interior column of the original frame represents LJ2 3/2 L
two portal
legs, whereas, the exterior column represents only
one leg, it is
reasonableto assume that, the shear in the interior
columns is
twice as much as the shear in the exterior column
of that storey.
This assumption can be used to express shears
in the other three
columns in terms of that in the first column.
Thus, for the entire frame thit awumvtm mere (teo eræ.e.rn rwr:e that
for approvimate

Assumptions;

According}y,the avoumvtion•.made portal method ate z

I) An infiection potnt located at the of each memberof the

2) On each storey of the frame, interiorcolumns as muchfez as enernrcc/urnrts

Procedure

Draw a '*Vetchof the simplified frame obtained insertir€an irRÜnd hingeat the midpoint of each
member of the frame,
2. Determine Column shears, for each story of the frame;
• Paw a horizontal section through a" the colurnnbasesof tre story, cutting the frame into two
portions.
• Assume that, the shears in interior columns are twice of that the exterior columns.
• Determine the column shears by app}yingthe equationof h«izmtal equilibrium to the
FED of the upper portion of the frame.
3. Determine column end moments;
• Draw the FBÜ% of a!! the membersand joints of the frarne,showingthe external loads and
column end shears computed in the previous step.
• Determine the momentsat the ends of each columnby the equations of conditioh that
the EM at the mid height (Internal hinge) is zero.
By appmng the equation of condition Mir = O and
O
to the FBD of the column AB of height h, it is found
that the,
moments at the two ends of the column are
equal in sense
and magnitude.
• The magnitude of the column end
moments (MC)= SCx h/2.
• Determine the moments for
all the columns of the frame.
4. Determine the Girder Axial
forces, Moments and Shears;
• Proceedingfrom the top
story of the frame to the
Momentsand Shears at the ends bottom, compute the
of the girders of Axial%rces,
the far left joint of the story each-successive story by
and working across to at
the right ;
 • Apply the equilibrium equations, i FF 0 and M: 0 to the FBD of the joint to compute
the axial force and moment respectively, at the left (adjoining) end of the girder on the
right side of the joint.
• Considering the FBD of the girder, determine the shear at the left end of the girder by
applying the equation of condition that the BM at the midpoint (internal hinge) of the
girder is zero.
• By applying the equilibrium equations (i FF 0, FF 0 and 0) to the FBD of the girder
compute Axial force, Moment and Shear respectively at the right end.
• The Axial forces and the Shears at the ends of the girder are equal and opposite,
whereas, the two moments must be equal to each other in both magnitude and
direction.
steps repeated until the
• Next, select the joint to the right of the girder and the above
story have been determined.
Axial forces, Moments and Shears in all the girders of the
the one considered previously, repeat the
• Starting at the far left joint of the story below
Shears in all the girders of the
above similar steps until the Axial forces, Momentsand
frame have been determined.
5. Determine Column Axial Forces;
equilibrium equation FF Osuccessivelyto the FBDof
• Starting at the top story, apply the
the columns of the story.
each joint to determine the Axial forces in
successive story, working from top to bottom, until the
• Similar procedure is repeatedfor each
frame have been determined.
Axial forces in all the columnsof the
and momentsat the lower ends of the bottom-story columns represent
6. Realizing that the forces
the three equations of equilibrium for the entire frame to check the
the support reactions, use
results.

•Summary:
.1. 'Determine the column shears by applying Fx=0to the FBDof the upper portion of the frame.
Determine the Column end moments by applying the equation of condition (at the internal hinge)
MHZOto the FBDof the Columns.
3. Proceeding from the top; apply the equilibrium equations Fx=Oand M=Oto the FBDof the joint to
compute Axial Force (Q) and Moment (M)'qt the left end of the girder.
4. Consideringthe FBDof the girder to the •right of the above joint and by-applying the equation of
condition (at thé internal hinge) MH=Qttie shear (S) at the girder left end is computed.
5. ApÅlythe equilibriumequations 6=0, fy=o; and to the FBDof the girder, the Shear force,
Axialforce and Moment at the right end of the girder is determined.(at the ends of the girder Shear
and Axial force must be equal in magnitude•andopposite in direction. whereas, the two end moments
willbe equal in both magnitude and direction):
6. Select the joint next to the one previouslyselécted and repeat the above steps.
7. Equilibriumequations Fx=Oand M=Oat the right end joint can be used to check the calculations.
8. Starting at the far left joint of the story below the one considered previously, repeat the above steps
to determine Shear force, Axialforce and Moment. in all the girders of the frame.
9: Starting at the top story, Applythe equilibrium equation Fy=0successively to the FBDof each joint
to determine the column axialforce.
10. The above step is repeated for successive stories and the column axial forces in all the columns of the
frame are determined.
ILLUSTRATION: 60

Analyze the frame approximately by portal method.

STEP1. To Determine the Column Shear

The frame is cut by an imaginary section just above c

the support level. 10m
Assuming sheat in the interior columns is twice as that
in the exterior column VBOof the upper portion of
the fame is drawn.
60k
Applying the equation of equilibtium;

or S • IS KN

STEP 2. To Determine the Column End Moments

s
Assuming inflexion points occur at mid span of the
columns and girders, Internal hinges are introduced at
=120kNwm
mid points of each element, SN-tSkN S.=1SkN
Apptying the equilibrium equation = O, NtR=60k
gives the shear Soot the top of the column
2
•o
: Kao; sea-SAO kN 3

Knowing that. moment at the internal hinge =O Me=120kN-m

A Sao-i5kN
Equation of condition O,gtves
sss=30kN s.3=1S0
O MAO= 60 (3)
and

Similar steps are followed to obtain the column end shear force •andmoments in all the columns

STEP3 ro Deterrine.the A€ta/Force oneiGiråer end moment

The FBI) of AIL the yoints ave drawm

NiEF=60kN-m

S0A=15kN
Wo=60khOn
Stg=30kN
Stet2kN

Moa=60kN •m

„ SAo=iSkN
S«e30kN

QA0Zi2kN
proceeding from the top left joint (D), applying the equations of equilibrium Fx= 0 and M = 0 yields;
iFx=O•, -SDA+QDE+60=O OR QDE=45kN
iM=O•, NADA-MOE= o OR MOE= 60 kN-m

For equilibrium, at the left end of the girder DE, the axial force and moment are equal and opposite i.e.,
QDE= 45 kN -5
= 60 kN-m

STEP 4. To Determine the Axial Force, Shear force and Girderend moment
= O, is used to find the shear force
Considering the FBD6t the girder DE, the condition equation M44D
at the left end of the girder ;
OR - MOE/5= - 60/5 - 12 kN
i M? D =O•, + MDE+
Thus, 12kN
the girder, Apply Fx= 0
To find axial force at right end of
iFx=0; QD€-QED=O OR QED= 12kN
QED=
end of the girder, Apply M = 0
To find moment at right MED= -60 + 12x 10 = 60 kN-m
- 10 O OR
i O; +
MED= 60 kN-m
end of the girder, Apply Fy- 0
To find shear at right
SO -O OR so = SD€=12kN
i 6=0;
= 12kN
the girder Axialforce
STEP5. To determine
the next adjoining joint (E), Apply the equation of equilibrium Fx = 0 pnd M = 0 ;
Consider the FBD of
QD€-SEB-QEf = OOR = 45-30 = 15 kN
i Fx=o; +
QEF 15 kN
OR 60- 120=-60
i M -O; - MED+
= 60 kN5
force
STEP6. To determine the girder shear
consider the FBD of the girder EF, with the axial force QEFand moment MEEcalculated in the previotß.
step, applied in the opposite directions at the left end of the girder EF.
Apply the condition equation Ms = 0 to the left half of the girder EF, to obtain the
shear force So;
OR 12 kN
= 12 kNl
Fx = 0, yields ;
i Fx=O; QE€-QF€=OOR = 15kN
QEF 15
and FY= O, gives the girder shear force at the right end
6=0; OR - 12kN
% = 12kNt
i M -O; + Mg - SEFx10 + OR
ME = 60 kN-m

STEP 6. To determine the column AxialForces.

Considering the FBD of the upper most joint D, the shear in the girder SOEis applied in the opposite
direction at the joint D.
Applying the equation of equilibrium FY= O gives the axial force in the column at thejopint ;
i Fy=o; *Sot-QDAZOOR
= 12 kNV
This axial force at the joint is applied in the opposite directionat the top of the column AD as
QDA=12kNt
From the FBD of the column and applyingthe equationof equilibrium FY = Ogives the column axial
force at the lower end of the column as;
i Fy=o; +QDA-QQo=O OR 040
an = 12 kNV
Similarty, the FBD of joint E is considered and equation of equilibrium O is applied;
ZFy=O-, QC -O +12-12+Qæ=O OR QEB=O
QC = O, at the top end of the column, and from equilibriumof the column, the axial force at the lower
end of the column BE is also zero.
Ozz=O
Considering the FBD of the joint F, the shear in the girder SEEis applied in the opposite direction at the
joint F:
- AppJying theéquation of equilibrium % = O gives the axial force in the column at the jopint ;
+S+-Qæ=O OR = 12 kN
QC = 12kN
This axial force at the joint is applied in the opposite directionat the top of the column AD as

From the FBD of the column and applying the equatidn of equilibrium FY= O gives the column axial
-förce åt•thelower end of the column as;
EFy=O; +Qa-Qc=O OR
0-0 = 12kN 1
60kN•
columns AD, BE
The forces at lower ends of the
reactions at the supports.
and CF represents the

60kN-m 120kN- 60kN-m C 15kN

A 15kN B 30kN
20-60-120-60=0
i MA-O; +60*8-12 x
12kN
12kN
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