Structural Mechanics

(CSE 20201)

Lecture 2

Dr. Songye ZHU

Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering
The Hong Kong Polytechnic University
Lecture 2: Outline
• Equilibrium (Review of statics)
– Equilibrium
– External Loads
– Support Reactions
– Free-body diagram (FBD)
– Equations of Equilibrium
– Internal Forces

CSE20201 Structural Mechanics: Lecture 2 2

Chapter 2 Statics
• Statics is the branch of mechanics which studies the law of
equilibrium of bodies under the action of force system
– Statics is all about equilibrium

CSE20201 Structural Mechanics: Lecture 2 3

2.1 Equilibrium

– What will happen to the structure?

– Does it move? Why not?
• Supports provide reactions EQUILIBRIUM
• All the forces/moments reach balance

FAx

FAy
FBy
CSE20201 Structural Mechanics: Lecture 2 4
2.1 Equilibrium

• Newton’s Laws of Motion

– First Law
• A body persists its state of rest or of uniform motion unless acted
upon by an external unbalanced force

– Second Law
• The net external force on a body is equal to the mass of that body
times its acceleration

– Third Law
• To every action there is an equal and opposite reaction

CSE20201 Structural Mechanics: Lecture 2 5

2.1 Equilibrium

• Newton’s first law of motion

F1 F2

F1 F2

F3

F2

F1

CSE20201 Structural Mechanics: Lecture 2 6

2.2 External Loads
– The design loading for a structure is often specified in
codes

Dead Load Live Load

• Self-weights of the • Wind load
columns, beams, • Snow load
girders, floor slabs, • Earthquake load
roofing, walls etc
• Temperature load
• Transportation load
• etc

CSE20201 Structural Mechanics: Lecture 2 7

2.2 External Loads
– Several types
• Concentrated force/load
• Distributed load
• etc

T M

Uniform Load

CSE20201 Structural Mechanics: Lecture 2 8

2.3 Support Reactions
• Reactions - If the support prevents translation in a given direction, then a force must be
developed on the member in that direction. Likewise, if rotation is prevented, a couple
moment must be exerted on the member.
For 2D problem

CSE20201 Structural Mechanics: Lecture 2 9

2.3 Support Reactions

Line Diagram

Pin (Hinge)
support

Roller support

Fixed support

CSE20201 Structural Mechanics: Lecture 2 10

2.4 Equations of Equilibrium

• For equilibrium (from Newton’s first law of motion)

– balance of forces
– balance of moments

∑F=0
∑ MO = 0

CSE20201 Structural Mechanics: Lecture 2 11

2.4 Equations of Equilibrium

• For 3D problem

• For 2D problem

Any point on the body

CSE20201 Structural Mechanics: Lecture 2 12
2.3 Equations of Equilibrium

• For 2D problem, variations of eqn’s

1. a c
b
a is any point on the body

2. y
line through a & b is not perpendicular to x-axis
x

3.
line through a & b is not perpendicular to y-axis

4.
points a, b & c are not collinear

CSE20201 Structural Mechanics: Lecture 2 13

2.5 Free-body Diagram (FBD)

Why?
To apply the equilibrium equations it How?
is necessary to draw FBD of the
Step 1. Choose
complete structure or its members
which body or combination of bodies is to be
shown on the free-body diagram

What?
A careful prepared drawing or
sketch that show a “Body of
Interest”, separated from all
interacting bodies is known as a
FREE BODY DIAGRAMS (FBD)
Step 2. Prepare
a drawing or sketch of this isolated body with
All important dimensions
All forces acting on this body
Unknown forces are assumed to act in
directions shown on FBD
Step 3. Solve
unknowns through simultaneous equations of
equilibrium

CSE20201 Structural Mechanics: Lecture 2 14

2.5 FBD

Important Notes on FBD

• FBD can be applied to the entire structure, a
part of the structure, a member or a part of
the member.
– any “body” in equilibrium
• For each FBD, we have at most three
independent equations, can solve at most
three unknowns
• A negative value for an unknown indicates
that the actual direction is opposite to that
assumed

CSE20201 Structural Mechanics: Lecture 2 15

2.5 FBD
Important Notes on FBD
• All “external” forces should be shown in FBD
• “Internal” forces should NOT be shown

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Exercise - FBD

• Draw complete free-body diagrams for the

bodies specified in the following

CSE20201 Structural Mechanics: Lecture 2 17

Exercise - FBD
• Draw complete free-body diagrams for the body
AB

CSE20201 Structural Mechanics: Lecture 2 18

Exercise - FBD
• Draw complete free-body diagrams for the body
BC, the body D and both of them

CSE20201 Structural Mechanics: Lecture 2 19

Exercise - FBD
• Draw complete free-body diagrams for the body
AB

CSE20201 Structural Mechanics: Lecture 2 20

Exercise - FBD

• Draw complete free-body diagrams for the

bodies specified in the following: ABCD, EFG

E
G
F

CSE20201 Structural Mechanics: Lecture 2 21

Example 2-1

Given: structures with load

Find: unknown reactions

5 kN
4
3
θ
A B

8m 4m

CSE20201 Structural Mechanics: Lecture 2 22

Example 2-1
Solution
• Resolution of force
cos θ = 4/5, sin θ = 3/5
Components of a force are given by
a triangle

• FBD
– Unknown support reactions

CSE20201 Structural Mechanics: Lecture 2 23

Example 2-1
Solution (cont’d)
• Equations of equilibrium
→+ Σ Fx = 0 R1 + 3 = 0
↑+ Σ Fy = 0 R2 + R3 + 4 = 0
+ Σ MA = 0 4 * 8 + R3 * 12 = 0

3 equations from FBD, 3 unknowns (R1, R2, R3)

• Solve Unknowns
R1 = -3 kN Ans.
R2 = -8/3 kN Ans.
R3 = -4/3 kN Ans.
Negative signs indicate that the actual forces
act in the opposite direction
CSE20201 Structural Mechanics: Lecture 2 24
Example 2-1
Solution (cont’d)
• Check balance

CSE20201 Structural Mechanics: Lecture 2 25

 Example 2-2

• Finding the reaction forces Equations of equilibrium

A B

FBD
R3 A B

CSE20201 Structural Mechanics: Lecture 2 26

Example 2-3

• Finding the reaction forces

Distributed loadings produce a resultant force

having a magnitude equal to the area under the load diagram,
having a location that passes through the centroid of this area

CSE20201 Structural Mechanics: Lecture 2 27

 Example 2-3

6 x 10 kN Equations of equilibrium

FBD 60 kN

R3

R2
R1

CSE20201 Structural Mechanics: Lecture 2 28

 Example 2-4

• Finding the reaction forces Equations of equilibrium

F=½x10x5 kN
FBD

R3

10/3

CSE20201 Structural Mechanics: Lecture 2 29

Example 2-7 (Trapezoidal Loads)

• Finding the reaction forces

TDL
UDL (10-4)X10/2 kN
4X10 kN

CSE20201 Structural Mechanics: Lecture 2 30

Example 2-8

• Portal Frame

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Example 2-8

• Arch

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2.6 Internal Forces

• Now, you have a tool. Can you use it to analyse the

force inside a cantilever beam?

2kN

5m 5m

CSE20201 Structural Mechanics: Lecture 2 33

2.6 Internal Resultant Forces
Primary Structural Action

CSE20201 Structural Mechanics: Lecture 2 34

2.6 Internal Resultant Forces

• The method of sections

is used
• For coplanar loads
– Normal force, N
– Shear force, V
– Bending moment, M M
N
Forces acting on each side of M
V
a cut are equal & opposite N

CSE20201 Structural Mechanics: Lecture 2 35

2.6 Internal Resultant Forces

• Fixed connection • Pin connection

Fy
Fy
Fx
Fx Fy
Fy
M
Fx
Fx
M No moment transfer

CSE20201 Structural Mechanics: Lecture 2 36

Example 2-9
Find the internal force at section C

2kN

A
C B

5m 5m

2kN
Vc Vc
Nc Nc

Mc Mc

CSE20201 Structural Mechanics: Lecture 2 37

2.6 Summary

• Analysis Procedure
1. External Loads
2. Free Body Diagram
• FBD of entire structure, sub-structure or each member
• Assume a direction for each unknown force & moment
– Support reactions or internal resultant forces
3. Equations of Equilibrium
4. Solve equations for unknowns

CSE20201 Structural Mechanics: Lecture 2 38

 The End
of the Session
CSE20201 Structural Mechanics: Lecture 2 39