DEPARTMENT OF CIVIL ENGINEERING, UNIVERSITY INSTITUE OF TECHNOLOGY,

(AUTONOMOUS), RAJIV GANDHI PROUDYOGIKI VISHWAVIDYALAY, BHOPAL-462033

SUBJECT: THEORY OF STRUCTURES-I (CE-3101)
ASSIGNMENT
SHORT ANSWERED QUESTIONS
UNIT-I

1. What are the different types of the strain energies stored in the structure?
2. State the expression of strain energy under the effect of axial force, bending
moment, shear force and torsion.
3. Derive the expressions, from first principles, for strain energy stored in structural
members under direct load and bending.
4. Give the expressions for strain energy due to axial load, B.M., shear and torsion.
Discuss the similarity in the expressions for strain energy in all cases.
5. Explain the behaviour of a bar subjected to (i) a suddenly applied load and (ii) an
impact load.
6. State the advantages of calculating the strain energy of a bar. What is its
application in structural analysis?
7. Two bars are made of the same material and have the same cross-sectional area.
Find the ratio of their lengths, if their strain energies are equal when one is
subjected to a gradually applied load and the other to the same load suddenly
applied.
8. If two bars have the same sectional area and length, and are subjected to the same
load, find the ratio of the strain energies stored in them, if E for one is two and a
half times that of the other.
9. One bar is half as long as the other, and they are made of the same material.
Under the same load, if their strain energies are also in the ratio 1:2, what is the
ratio of their cross-sectional areas.
10. State the Castiglianos theorems of strain energy and explain their application in
the structural analysis.
11. State Castiglianos theorems for strain energy. Write their applications in analysis
of structures.
12. State and explain the principle of virtual work. Discuss its application in structural
analysis.
13. What do you understand by the term redundant frame? Differentiate between rigid
jointed plane frames and pin jointed plane frames.
14. State all the versions of Maxwells theorem of reciprocal displacements. Establish
and prove any one version by unit load method.
15. State and explain the Maxwells theorem of reciprocal deflections with its validity.
16. How is Maxwells theorem related to Bettis theorem?
17. State and explain the steps involved in the consistent deformation method of
analysis.
18. A cantilever of span L is propped at the free end. Calculate the prop reaction, by
using consistent deformation method, if it carries a uniformly distributed load of w
per unit length throughout the span.
UNIT-II

19. Differentiate between statically determinate and statically indeterminate structures.

20. Differentiate between static indeterminacy and kinematic indeterminacy. How does
static and kinematic indeterminacy of a structures are estimated?

DEPARTMENT OF CIVIL ENGINEERING, UNIVERSITY INSTITUE OF TECHNOLOGY,

(AUTONOMOUS), RAJIV GANDHI PROUDYOGIKI VISHWAVIDYALAY, BHOPAL-462033

21. What are the different types of indeterminacy present in structures and how to
calculate the degree of indeterminacy in each case?
22. Define the static and kinematic indeterminacy of structure. How are they
calculated?
23. Explain the terms external indeterminacy, internal indeterminacy and total
indeterminacy.
24. Explain the terms static indeterminacy, kinematic indeterminacy and degree of
indeterminacy.
25. Give two examples each of statically indeterminate and kinematically indeterminate
structures. Calculate the degree of indeterminacy in each of the cases.
26. What are the advantages and disadvantages of indeterminate structures?
27. Indeterminate structures are always better than determinate structures. Comment
on the statement.
28. State the advantages and disadvantages of fixed beams.
29. Find the ratio of the total loads in two identical fixed beams, one carrying a central
concentrated load and the other a uniformally distributed load over the whole span,
if (i) the fixed end moments are equal and (ii) the maximum deflections are equal.
30. State the advantages and disadvantages of continuous beams.
31. Discuss force method of structural analysis and displacement method of structural
analysis.
32. Explain in briefly compatibility method and equilibrium method of analysis of
statically indeterminate structures. Enumerate various methods which are falling
under compatibility & equilibrium methods.
33. Explain, with an example, the general procedure for the analysis of an
indeterminate structure by the force method.
34. Explain, with an example, the general procedure for the analysis of a structure by
the stiffness method.
35. Taking the case of a two-span beam, bring out clearly the differences between the
procedures of analysis using the stiffness and the flexibility method.
36. Define Clapeyrons theorem of three moments. Also write the most general form of
three moment equation with usual notations.
37. Write down the expression of Clapeyrons theorem of three moments for: (i) a
continuous beam with constant EI, (ii) two adjacent spans of a continuous beam
with different moment of inertia I1 and I2, (iii) sinking (displacement) of support case.
38. Write the general three-moment equation and explain the terms used in the
equation with illustrative sketches.
39. Define and explain with the help of sketches the terms flexural rigidity, stiffness,
and distribution factor.
40. What do you understand by rotational stiffness and displacement stiffness of a
beam? Explain briefly.
41. Define the term stiffness of a member. On what does the stiffness of a member
depends?
42. What does the stiffness of a member indicate? Two rods, one of steel and the other
of aluminium, have the same length and cross-section. Will their stiffness be the
same?

DEPARTMENT OF CIVIL ENGINEERING, UNIVERSITY INSTITUE OF TECHNOLOGY,

(AUTONOMOUS), RAJIV GANDHI PROUDYOGIKI VISHWAVIDYALAY, BHOPAL-462033

43. Explain briefly about the rotational stiffness and displacement stiffness of beam.
Distinguish between relative stiffness & absolute stiffness for different case of
support condition of beam.
44. Define rotational stiffness and displacement stiffness of the beam. What would be
the value of rotational and displacement stiffness for a beam in a case if (i) whose
both ends fixed, and in other case if (ii) whose one end fixed and other end hinged.
45. Derive an expression for the fixing moments, when one of the supports of a fixed
beam sinks down by from its original position.
46. What are the causes of side sway? Differentiate between (i) non-sway and sway
type frame, (ii) pure sway and general sway type frame.
Find static indeterminacy and kinematic indeterminacy of beam for general case of
loading as shown in figure (iii).
UNIT-III

47. Why is it important for the analysis of the structure?

48. How does a portal frame identify that whether it is a non-sway type or sway type
portal frame?
49. Differentiate non-sway and sway type portal frames? Distinguish between pure
sway and general sway type portal frames?
MAB = MFAB + 2EI (2A + B + 3AB )
50. Derive the slope-deflection equation:
L
L
51. Find out the ratio of the slope and deflection at the centre of the beam, if fixed end
of a fixed beam of span L settles by an amount .
52. Find the rotation of the hinged end, if the hinged end of a propped cantilever of
span L settles by an amount .
53. Find the shear in the beam, if the hinged end of a propped cantilever (span L and
flexural rigidity EI) undergoes a rotation ().
54. Find the ratio of slope at the end to the slope at centre, if clockwise moment M are
acting at both the ends of a uniform simply supported beam.
55. Enumerate the steps involved in determining the fixed end moments for a beam
with variable moment of inertia using column analogy method.
56. Using column analogy method find the end moments of a fixed beam of length L
with a concentrated load W at a distance a from one end.
UNIT-IV

57. What is the difference between a two hinged arch and three hinged arch.
58. A two hinged semicircular arch of radius R carries a concentrated load W at the
crown. Show that the horizontal thrust at each support is W/. Assume uniform
flexural rigidity.
59. State and prove the cable theorem.
60. Discuss the components and functions of a suspension bridge with diagram.
61. List the components of a suspension bridge.
62. What is the shape of a cable under its own weight?

DEPARTMENT OF CIVIL ENGINEERING, UNIVERSITY INSTITUE OF TECHNOLOGY,

(AUTONOMOUS), RAJIV GANDHI PROUDYOGIKI VISHWAVIDYALAY, BHOPAL-462033

63. Find out the horizontal component of tension in the cable, if a cable of span L and
central dip d is subjected to uniform load w per unit horizontal length.
64. Derive expressions for bending moment and shear force at any section X in a three
hinged stiffening girder.
65. Derive an expression for the change in a suspension cable due to temperature
stress.
UNIT-V

66. What do you understand by influence line diagram? State the significance of ILD
in the analysis of structures.
67. What for the influence lines are required to be plotted for structures? Differentiate
between the bending moment diagram and the influence line diagram for a beam.
State the significance of ILD in the analysis of structures.
68. Explain difference between normal bending moment diagram due to a static
loading and influence line diagram for bending moment due to a moving load.
69. Define absolute maximum shear force and absolute maximum bending moment in
case of rolling/moving loads.
70. Explain the criteria to evaluate maximum bending moment at a section due to a
moving uniformly distributed load smaller than the span of a beam.
71. How will you calculate bending moment at a point for a uniformly distributed load
shorter than span from influence line diagram.
72. How will you calculate absolute bending moment at a point for a uniformly
distributed load shorter than span from influence line diagram.
73. What should be the location of the resultant of a train of loads with respect to the
centre of the span of a beam for evaluation of absolute maximum bending
moment?
74. What is meant by equivalent uniformly distributed load? How is it determined?
75. Construct the ILD for S.F. and B.M. at point C of the beam shown in figure (vii).
State the Muller-Breslau principle and where is it used?