Lecture #6

Classification of structural analysis problems.

Statical determinacy
CLASSIFICATION OF STRUCTURAL ANALYSIS PROBLEMS
Structures

Constrained (fixed) Unconstrained (free)

External loads are
balanced by constraint External loads are
forces balanced by inertia forces

2
CLASSIFICATION OF STRUCTURAL ANALYSIS PROBLEMS
Structures

Constrained (fixed) Unconstrained (free)

a) stable (immovable) a) stable (invariable)

b) unstable (movable) b) unstable (variable)

3
CLASSIFICATION OF STRUCTURAL ANALYSIS PROBLEMS

Kinematically unstable structures could not be

analyzed by methods of structural mechanics.
They represent mechanisms and are studied by
engineering mechanics.

Before starting the force analysis, one should

check if the structure kinematically stable or not.
The reason of instability could be internal or external.

internally deficient externally deficient

4
CLASSIFICATION OF STRUCTURAL ANALYSIS PROBLEMS

Instability could be instantaneous and permanent.

Usually, structures which are unstable
instantaneously, could be analyzed as geometrically
nonlinear problems, but this is a special part of
structural mechanics science.

5
CLASSIFICATION OF STRUCTURAL ANALYSIS PROBLEMS
Three basic equations
This is not only the sum of
Equilibrium
forces or moments, but applies
equations
for elementary volume as well

Physical law, expresses

Constitutive
the relation between
equations
stress and strain

Solid body should

Compatibility
remain continuous
equations
while being deformed 6
CLASSIFICATION OF STRUCTURAL ANALYSIS PROBLEMS
Two basic nonlinearities

Geometrical Equilibrium conditions depend on

nonlinearity displacement values

Physical Plastic effects are taken into

nonlinearity account (nonlinear Physical law)

Geometrical Could be represented by 2nd order

nonlinearity terms in Cauchy’s relations
7
CLASSIFICATION OF STRUCTURAL ANALYSIS PROBLEMS

Question #1: is problem stable or not?

We must determine which science to use for analysis,
and should we consider the geometrical nonlinearity.

… and if structural analysis could be

applied for a given problem, we get …

Question #2: is structure statically determinate or

not?
The answer is required to choose the proper method
of structural mechanics.
8
CLASSIFICATION OF STRUCTURAL ANALYSIS PROBLEMS

The structure is statically determinate if internal

forces in all members and all constraint forces
could be determined using equations of
equilibrium only.

statically determinate

statically indeterminate 9
EXAMPLES OF TRUSSES USED IN BRIDGES

10
CLASSIFICATION OF STRUCTURAL ANALYSIS PROBLEMS

Statically determinate Statically indeterminate

Equilibrium equations could Equilibrium equations could
be directly solved, and thus be solved only when
forces could be calculated coupled with physical law
in an easy way and compatibility equations
Stress state depends only Stress state depends on
on geometry & loading rigidities
Not survivable, moderately Survivable, widely used in
used in modern aviation modern aviation
(due to damage tolerance (due to damage tolerance
requirement) property)
Easy to manufacture Hard to manufacture
11
METHODS TO CLASSIFY THE PROBLEM

To analyze the structure for kinematic stability and

static determinacy, three methods are used:
Is the yes Use structural classification, to
structure
find both stability and determinacy
simple?
no Use kinematic analysis, to check for
stability and suppose the determinacy. This
is necessary but not sufficient method

Is the yes Use statical analysis, which is

structure sufficient to confirm the results of
stable? kinematic analysis 12
BASIC DEFINITIONS

• Rod (AC, CB, CD) – bar which works only in

tesion/compression. Wires and columns are partial
cases.
• Disk (ABD) – any general bar, excluding rods.
• Node (A, C, D) – joint of rods, including nodes at
supports.
• Hinge (none at this figure) – hinge between disks.

13
BASIC DEFINITIONS

Degrees of freedom (DOF) – independent

parameters which determine the position of the
member.

Disk has 3 DOFs in plane and 6 DOFs in space.

Node has 2 DOFs in plane and 3 DOFs in space.

Each type of support constrains certain number of

DOFs.

14
STRUCTURAL CLASSIFICATION

Two approaches are used:

composition and decomposition.

Members satisfying structural rules for planar systems:

• node of two not collinear rods;
• disk connected by three rods, not parrallel and not
crossing in one point;
• disk connected by a hinge and a rod which do not pass
through the hinge.

Members satisfying structural rules for spatial systems:

• node of three rods not liying in one plane;
• disk connected by six rods, neither two of them are
collinear.
15
KINEMATICAL ANALYSIS

Number of DOFs in system is calculated.

Formulas for trusses:

a) for 2d: i  r  c  2 n
b) for 3d: i  r  c  3 n
i – degree of indeterminacy;
r – number of rods;
c – number of constrained DOFs (or number of DOFs for
free body if structure is free);
n – number of nodes.
16
KINEMATICAL ANALYSIS

Formulas for general structures:

a) for 2d: i  r  c  2 h  2 n  3 d
b) for 3d: i  r  c  3 h  3 n  6 d
i – degree of indeterminacy;
r – number of rods;
c – number of constrained DOFs (or number of DOFs for
free body if structure is free);
h – number of hinges which are not nodes;
n – number of nodes;
d – number of disks.
17
KINEMATICAL ANALYSIS

Results of kinematical analysis:

i < 0 – unstable problem;

i = 0 – statically determinate problem;
i > 0 – statically indeterminate problem.
If kinematical analysis shows that problem is
stable, the result should be checked by statical
analysis.

18
STATICAL ANALYSIS

• Matrix of coefficients A(m,n) of static equilibrium

equations is calculated.
• The single condition is that
rang(A)=min(m,n)
• Despite the simplicity of formulation, statical
analysis is most complex and comprehensive.
• Statical analysis is sufficient by itself, but is usually
used as a last step for complex problems.

19
STATICAL ANALYSIS - EXAMPLE

Kinematical analysis supposes that structure is once

statically indeterminate:
i  r  c  2 h  2 n  3 d 
 3  4  20  20  3 2  1
20
STATICAL ANALYSIS - EXAMPLE

Statical analysis claim that structure is not stable!

21
STATICAL ANALYSIS - EXAMPLE

22
METHODS TO CLASSIFY THE PROBLEM

To analyze the structure for kinematic stability and

static determinacy, three methods are used:
Is the yes Use structural classification, to
structure
find both stability and determinacy
simple?
no Use kinematic analysis, to check for
stability and suppose the determinacy. This
is necessary but not sufficient method

Is the yes Use statical analysis, which is

structure sufficient to confirm the results of
stable? kinematic analysis 23
TOPIC OF THE NEXT LECTURE

Energy concepts.
Calculation of displacements

All materials of our course are available

at department website k102.khai.edu
1. Go to the page “Библиотека”
2. Press “Structural Mechanics (lecturer Vakulenko S.V.)”
24