ANALYSIS OF INDETERMINATE

STRUCTURES

Indeterminate Structure
Why we study indeterminate structure
Most of the structures designed today are statically
indeterminate
Reinforced concrete buildings are almost always statically
indeterminate since the columns & beams are poured as
continuous member through the joints & over the supports
Indeterminacy also occurs due to added supports/members
Indeterminate structures are more stable compared to
determinate structure or in another word safer
Generally, the Indeterminate structures are found more
economical
Number of unknown reactions or internal forces
Number of equilibrium equations
Indeterminate Structure

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Comparison of Determinate & Indeterminate Structures

Determinate Structure Indeterminate Structure

Deflection Considerable compared to Generally smaller than
indeterminate structure determinate structure
P P
4

PL3 1 PL3
48EI 192EI

High moment caused thicker Less moment, smaller cross

member & more material needed section & less material needed
Stress

P P
2
1
PL PL
4 8
3

Comparison of Determinate & Indeterminate Structures

Determinate Structure Indeterminate Structure

Support will not develop the Will develop horizontal force &
Stability in case of over load

horizontal force & moments that moment reactions that will hold
necessary to prevent total collapse the beam
No load redistribution Has the tendency to redistribute
its load to its redundant supports
When the plastic hinge formed When the plastic hinge formed
certain collapse for the system the system would be a
determinate structure
P P

Plastic Hinge Plastic Hinge

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 Comparison of Determinate & Indeterminate Structures

Determinate Structure Indeterminate Structure

No effect & no stress would be Serious effect and stress would
e
Temperatur
developed in the beam be developed in the beam
P P

No effect & no stress would be Serious effect and stress would

Displacement

developed be developed
Differential

P P

Advantages of Indeterminate Structures Cont

Redistributes its load to its redundant supports in cases of faulty
design or due to overloading/EQ/ Wind
Due to load redistribution structure remains stable and collapse is
prevented
Due to overloads Plastic hinge starts at supports and
subsequently at mid-span
Structure behaves as hinged beam (three hinges two at supports
and one at mid-span)
Due to plastic hinge formation More Deflection But no sudden
collapse (due to horizontal reactions and plastic moment reaction at
plastic hinge locations)
In case of Simply supported beam Only one plastic hinge (at mid-
span), since two plastic hinges already exist (hinge & Roller)
Due to roller support No horizontal reaction at supports
More Vertical deflection Sudden Collapse of beam
In case of Indeterminate structures Slender/thinner members are
sufficient to carry required loads, due to increased stability
Saving in cost

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Advantages of Indeterminate Structures:
For a given loading reduction in maximum stress and
deflection as compared to statically determinate
For beam with concentrated load at mid span, stresses &
Deflection are compared as

Disadvantages of Indeterminate Structures

Analysis is more complex
Due to thinner members, it becomes more costly to
construct the supports and joints
Problem of differential support settlement, thermal
stresses, fabrication errors High stresses

Methods of Analysis
While analyzing the indeterminate structures we need to
satisfy:
(i) equilibrium of forces,
(ii) compatibility of displacements, and
(iii) force-displacement response for material (assumed
linear elastic)

Two different approaches to satisfy above three requirements

(i) Force or Flexibility method
(ii) Displacement or Stiffness method.

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 Force Method
Unknowns are Forces Called as Force Method
Based on Compatibility of structure also referred as
Compatibility Method or Method of consistent displacements
Unknown forces are determined by satisfying the
(i) compatibility and then satisfying
(ii) force-displacement requirement
After determination of redundant forces/Reactions
Other reactions are determined by equilibrium equations
Now it is possible to analyze the whole structure

Displacement Method
Displacements are considered as Unknowns
Unknown Displacements are determined by
(i) writing force-displacement relations for members and
(ii) satisfying the force equilibrium requirements
After determination of displacements structure may be
analyzed by using the
(i) compatibility and
(ii) force-displacement-equations.
Now it is possible to analyze the whole structure

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Force Method of Analysis
Analysis Of Propped Cantilever using Force Method :

Steps Involved
(i) Determination of Degree of Static indeterminacy
No. of unknown forces
Ax, AY and MA at support A and
BY at support B
No. of available equations of eqm = 3
Static Indeterminacy = 1
Need for one additional equation

(ii) Identification of Redundant

Any one force (out of four) may be considered as redundant,
provided after removing that force structure must be stable, for
example neither Ax nor Ay can be considered as redundant as
they make structure unstable.
Two possibilities for redundant:
(a) Moment at A, MA Makes beam as simply supported
(b) Vertical Reaction at B, By Makes beam as Cantilever
(iii) Analyze the structure (after temporarily removing the
redundant force to make the structure stable and Determinate)
and determine the deflection (translation or slope) in the
direction of redundant
(iv) Determine the displacement due to redundant force
(unknown) only (no other external loads)
(v) Use compatibility condition and Principle of superposition to
determine the unknown redundant force.

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Beam With One Redundant Force
Choice of Redundant Force : Two Choices (ensuring stable structure)
Choice 1: Considering the Vertical Reaction at B, By as Redundant Force

= +

Due to removal of reaction at B beam becomes cantilever (stable and determinate)

Let due to the applied load, P Deflection at B is B (in downward direction)
Now, determine the displacement at B due to redundant force only (no other load)
Let the deflection due to Unit load (in the direction of Redundant force) is fBB
(first letter Location where deflection is specified, second letter where unknown reaction is applied)

Then the deflection due to unknown reaction By will be (in upward direction)
(upward disp +ve)

Here, fBB is called Flexibility Coefficient Deflection due to unit load

For the compatibility requirement Net Deflection at B must be zero

i.e. (Def due to applied loads + Def due to Redundant force) = 0

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Choice 2: Considering the Moment at A, MA as Redundant Force

Due to removal of Moment reaction at A beam becomes

Simply supported (stable and determinate)
Let due to the applied load, P Rotation at A in clockwise
direction is A
Let the direction of unknown moment, MA is also clockwise
Let due to the Unit clockwise Moment at A, rotation at A is AA
(first letter where deflection is specified, second letter where unknown reaction is applied)
Rotation at A due to unknown moment MA will be MAAA (Clockwise)
Since for the compatibility requirement, net rotation at B = 0
A 0
AA
A M A AA 0 MA (clockwise +ve)
AA

Maxwell Reciprocal Theorem

The displacement of a point B on a structure due to a unit load acting at
point A is equal to the displacement of point A when the unit load is
acting at point B, that is fBA = fAB

Proof of Theorem

Determination of Deflection at B due to real unit load acting at A i.e. fBA

Determine the BM expression in the beam due to Real Unit (given) load
acting at A, say it is mA
In order to determine deflection at B, apply a Virtual unit load at B
Determine the BM expression in the beam due to Virtual Unit load acting at
B, say it is mB
mB mA
f BA dx
Deflection at B due to real unit load acting at A , EI

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Determination of Deflection at A due to real unit load acting at B i.e. fAB

Determine the BM expression in the beam due to Real Unit load acting at
B, say it is mB
In order to determine deflection at A, apply a Virtual unit load at A
Determine the BM expression in the beam due to Virtual Unit load acting at
A, say it is mA
mA mB
Deflection at A due to real unit load acting at B , f AB dx
EI
Comparing above two relations, we get,
mB mA mA mB
f BA dx E I dx f AB
EI
f BA f AB
The displacement of a point B on a structure due to a unit load acting at point A is
equal to the displacement of point A when the unit load is acting at point B.

Analysis of Continuous Beam

Degree of Indeterminacy = 2
Need to consider two redundant forces
Considering Reaction at B, By and
Reaction at C, Cy as redundant forces

Net Defection at B = 0
(due to ext loads + reaction By +
Reaction Cy)

B BB BC 0
Net Defection at B = 0
(due to ext loads + reaction By +
Reaction Cy)

C CB CC 0

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 In terms of flexibility coefficients

B B y f BB C y f BC 0

C B y f CB C y f CC 0

Solving above two equations, the value

of By and Cy may be determined

Analysis of Continuous Beam using Method of Consistent

Deformation

Choosing the reactions at B and C as redundant

B B y f BB C y f BC 0
C B y f CB f BC C y f CC 0
Now to determine fBB, fBC and fcc there is a need to determine deflection in cantilever
beam at points B and C due to unit loads applied at B and C

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 Deflection and Slopes in Cantilever Beams

Determination of deflection in the cantilever beam at distance x

from support due to concentrated load P acting at distance a
from the support is given as (from Table front cover back)
Deflection and slope at distance x ( a) due to
concentrated load applied at free
Px 2
vx x 3a ;
6 EI
Px
x x 2a
2 EI
Deflection and Slope at x a
Pa 3
vmax ;
3EI
Pa 2
max
2 EI

If load is applied at free end

Maximum Deflection and slope (at x a L) will be
PL3
vmax ;
3EI
PL2
max
2 EI
Determination of Slope and Deflection at
distance x from support (x>a) for load
applied at distance a from support (< L)

Slope at x L will be
equal to slope at x a
Pa 2
max
2 EI
Deflection at x= L will be equal to deflection at x = a plus additional
deflection due to rotation of segment between x = a to x = L

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 Pa 3 Pa 2
y va a x a x a
3 EI 2 EI
Pa 2
2a 3x a
6 EI
Pa 2
3x a for a x L
6 EI

From the above relations, we have

Px 2 2
B 3a x 10 5 3 7.5 5 729.17 (downward)
6 EI 6 EI EI
Pa 2 2
C 3x a 10 7.5 3 10 7.5 2109.38 (downward)
6 EI 6 EI EI

Px 2 1 52
f BB 3a x 3 5 5 41.67 (upward)
6 EI 6 EI EI
Px 2 2
f CC 3a x 1 10 3 10 10 333.33 (upward)
6 EI 6 EI EI
Pa 2 2
f BC f CB 3x a 1 5 3 10 5 104.17 (upward)
6 EI 6 EI EI
Substituting above values in equations of consistent deformation
B B y f BB C y f BC 0 729.17 41.67 B y 104.17 C y 0
C B y f CB C y f CC 0 2109.38 104.17 B y 333.333 C y 0

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Solution of above equations gives;
B y 7.68 kN (upward ) ; C y 3.93 kN (upward )
From Statics, we get;
Ay 1.61 kN ( downward ) ; M A 2.70 kN (Clockwise )

Analysis of Frame

Degree of Indeterminacy of Frame = 1.

Considering the horizontal reaction at A as Redundant.
For compatibility requirement,

Ax f AA 0
Determine the function for Moment M due to given loads in the
(determinate) frame required to determine horizontal displacement at A as

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 Determine the function for Moment m due to virtual unit load
in the (determinate) frame required to determine horizontal
displacement at A as

L 6 9
Mm 1 1 2 9112.3
0 1 x dx 225 x 25 x 6 3 x dx EI
2
. dx
0
EI EI 0
EI 0

fAA = Horizontal Displacement at A due to unit load applied at A

L L 6 9
Mm mm 1 1 2 2 180
f AA
0
EI
. dx 0 EI dx EI 1x 1 x dx
0
6 x 6 x dx
EI 0 3 3 EI

9112.5 180
Ax f AA 0 Ax 0 Ax 50.63 kN
EI EI

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Analysis of Trusses using the method of Consistent Deformation
Determine the force in the member AC of the truss shown in Figure.

Determination of Indeterminacy Indeterminacy = b+r-2j = 6+3 24 = 1

Since, force is required in the member, AC, it is better to assume member AC
as Redundant.
To make the Truss Determinate, Cut the member AC.
Let the force in member AC is FAC, for the compatibility requirement,
AC FAC . f AC AC 0
AC = displacement between A and (in the absence of member AC)
due to given real loads
f AC AC = displacement between A and (in the absence of member AC)
due to given virtual unit load along AC

The displacement AC in the truss (determinate due to cut in AC)

may be determined as
nN L
AC
AE
where N are the forces in members due to given loads, n are the forces in
the truss due to virtual unit force along AC (i.e. where the displacement is required)

Member Length N n NnL n2 n2 L

AB 2.4 +2 -0.8 -3.84 +0.64 1.536
BC 1.8 0 -0.6 0.0 +0.36 0.648
CD 2.4 +2 -0.8 -3.84 +0.64 1.536
DA 1.8 +1.5 -0.6 -1.62 +0.36 0.648
DB 3.0 -2.5 +1.0 -7.5 +1.0 3.000
AC 3.0 0 +1.0 0.0 +1.0 3.000
Sum -16.8 10.37
nN L nn L
AC FAC . f AC AC 0 FAC . 0 16.8 10.37 FAC 0 FAC 1.62 kN
AE AE

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Additional Remarks on Flexibility (Force) Method)
In general, f R f R ........ f R 0
1 11 1 12 2 1n n

2 f 21 R1 f 22 R2 ........ f 2 n Rn 0
.
n f n1 R1 f n 2 R2 ........ f nn Rn 0

f11 f12 .... f1n R1 1

f f 22 .... f 2 n R2
21 2


n
f n1 fn2 f nn Rn

f R
Note that, in above matrices,
f ij f ji i.e. f12 f 21 etc
due to Maxwells Theorem of Reciprocal displacements (or Bettis Law)
Flexibility matrix is symmetric.
Due to symmetric it is beneficial so solve large equations in computer.

Analysis of Symmetric Structures

Analysis of a Determinate/ indeterminate structure may be simplified if
(i) Structure is symmetric,
(ii) Deflected shape is symmetric and
(iii) Loading is either symmetric or Anti-symmetric
Symmetric structure as well as Loadings are symmetric i.e. mirror image
Supports need not necessarily be exactly symmetric
For example in simply supported beams, one is Pin and other Roller Symmetric
For Frames, one end Pin and other Roller is not symmetric.

If a structure is symmetric and loading is also symmetric half of the structure

need to be analyzed displacements same at symmetric points.

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If a structure is symmetric and loading is anti-symmetric half of the structure need
to be analyzed Displacements at symmetric points will be opposite in direction.

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