A1 Flexibility method and the stiffness method

Statically indeterminate structures can be analyzed by using the flexibility method or the stiffness
method.

• Flexibility Method
The flexibility method is based upon the solution of equilibrium equations and compatibility
equations. There will always be as many compatibility equations as redundants. It is called the
flexibility method because flexibilities appear in the equations of compatibility. Another name for
the method is the force method because forces are the unknown quantities in equations of
compatibility.

• Stiffness Method
In the stiffness method, displacements (rather than forces) are taken as the unknown quantities.
For this reason, the method is also called the displacement method. The unknown displacements
are obtained by solving equations of equilibrium (rather than equations of compatibility) that
contain coefficients in the form of stiffnesses.

• Analysis of a statically indeterminate bar using the flexibility method

The prismatic bar is attached at both ends to rigid supports and is axially loaded by the force P at
point C .

From the equation of equilibrium,

Ra + Rb - P = 0 . (A1.1)

A second equation must be obtained from the displacements of the bar.

Designate one of the unknown reactions as the statical redundant, or the force that is in excess of
those that can be obtained by statics alone. Choose Ra as the redundant reaction. If Ra can be
determined, then the other reaction Rb can be obtained from eqn (A1.1). When the unknown
reaction Ra is removed from the structure, the effect is to release the support at end A , thereby
producing the statically determinate and stable structure shown in Fig (b). Thus, from the
standpoint of having a structure that is capable of supporting loads, the reaction at end A is not
needed; i.e., it is redundant. The structure that remains after releasing the redundant is called the
released structure or the primary structure.

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Consider the effect of the load P on the displacement of point A in the released structure (Fig.
(b)). This displacement is,

Pb
dP = , (A1.2)
EA

and is positive downward.

Next, consider the effect of the redundant force Ra on the displacement of point A (Fig. (c)).
Note that, although it is an unknown quantity, Ra is now visualized as a load acting on the released
structure. The displacement of point A due to Ra is,

Ra L
dR = , (A1.3)
EA

and is positive upward.

The final displacement d of point A due to both P and Ra acting simultaneously is found by
combining dP and dR . Taking downward displacements as positive,

d = dP - dR .

Because the actual displacement d of point A is equal to zero (Fig. (a)),

d =0, i.e., dR = dP . (A1.4)

Substituting from eqns (A1.2) and (A1.3) into eqn (A1.4),

Ra L Pb Pb
= ,  Ra = . (A1.5)
EA EA L

Thus, the redundant reaction has been calculated from an equation related to the displacements of
the bar (eqn (A1.4)). Knowing the redundant, from eqn (A1.1),

Pb Pa
Rb = P - Ra = P - = .
L L

The flexibility method for analyzing the statically indeterminate bar may be summarized as
follows. First, one of the unknown reactions is selected as the redundant and then released from
the structure by cutting through the bar and removing the support. The released structure, which
is statically determinate and stable, is then loaded separately by the actual load P and by the
redundant itself. Next, the displacements caused by these two quantities are calculated from the
properties of the bar and the material. Then the two displacements are combined into an equation
of compatibility (eqn (A1.4)). The equation of compatibility expresses a condition pertaining to
the original structure, namely, that the displacement d at end A is zero. The equation of
compatibility can be solved for the redundant force Ra . Finally, the remaining unknown force is
found from an equation of equilibrium.

The flexibility method can be used for different types of structures and for structures having many
redundant forces.
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• Analysis of a statically indeterminate bar using the stiffness method

The vertical displacement dc of point C , is taken as the unknown quantity. The axial forces Ra
and Rb in the upper and lower parts of the bar can be expressed in terms of dc . To accomplish
this step assume that point C is moved downward by the distance dc . Then the upper part of the
bar elongates and the lower part shortens by that amount. The axial forces in the two parts are
equal to their respective stiffnesses multiplied by the displacement,

EA EA
Ra = dc , Rb = dc . (A1.6)
a b

In writing eqn (A1.6), it is assumed that dc is positive downward, thereby producing tension in the
upper part of the bar and compression in the lower part.

The next step is to isolate point C in the body as a free body (Fig. (b)). Acting on the free body
are the downward load P , the tensile force Ra in the upper part, and the compressive force Rb in
the lower part.

From equilibrium,

Ra + Rb - P = 0 . (A1.7)

Substituting from eqn (A1.6),

EA EA
dc + dc = P , (A1.8)
a b

which yields,

Pab Pab
dc = = . (A1.9)
EA( a + b) EAL

Hence, from eqn (A1.6),

Pb Pa
Ra = , Rb = . (A1.10)
L L

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The stiffness method for analyzing the statically indeterminate bar may be summarized as follows.
First, select a suitable displacement as the unknown quantity. A displacement will be suitable, if
the forces in the individual parts of the structure can be expressed in terms of that displacement.
Next, the forces are related by an equation of equilibrium (eqn (A1.7)). Then the expressions
giving the forces in terms of the unknown displacement are substituted into the equation of
equilibrium, thereby producing an equation with only the selected displacement as an unknown
(eqn (A1.8)). Note the coefficients of dc in this equation are the stiffnesses. This equation is
solved for the unknown displacement (eqn (A1.9)), and finally, the forces are found from the
displacement (eqn (A1.10)).

When comparing the flexibility and stiffness methods, it is seen that the flexibility method requires
the solution of equations of compatibility for unknown forces whereas the stiffness method
requires the solution of equations of equilibrium for unknown displacements.

Reference:
Gere, J. M. and Timoshenko, S. P., 1991, Mechanics of Materials, Third Edition, Chapman & Hall, London. (GT),
Section 2.3.

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