Stiffness Method Step-by-Step Reviewer

1 Assign members from left to right

2 Assign joints from left to right
Tip: Assign a global axis whose origin is at the structure's lower left

3 Specify "A" Joint and "B" Joint for each member

Tip: As much as possible, assign far and near ends that will generate positive values for ΔX and ΔY

A B

2
4 Assign the degrees of freedom
1
Note: Number the arrows at each joint that1 can displace 1
Translation along 'X' axis is numbered first for each joint
2
Start from lowest numbered joint that will translate
Specify each member with a number enclosed in a square
3
Specify each node (joint) with a number enclosed
2 in a circle

3 4
 3 4

5 Generate your tables and matrices

Tables
Table 1: Joint Coordinates Table
Joint X-Coor Y-Coor
This is optional. You can solve for ΔX and ΔY directly from your figure

Table 2: Member Incidence Table

Member A-Joint √( 〖∆𝑋〗 ^2+ 〖∆𝑌〗 ^2 )
B-Joint
This may be optional but is highly encouraged because it gets confusing sometimes

Table 3: Member length and orientation

Member ΔX ΔY L cosθ sinθ AE AE/L

ΔX Xjb - Xja This is simply the length of the member's X component. X-coordinate
ΔY Yjb - Yja Follows ΔX
L Member length
cosθ ΔX/L
sinθ ΔY/L
Tip: You can drag-copy these fromulae

Table 4: Destination Schedule: Relative Degrees of Freedom

Member A-'x' dir A-'y' dir B - 'x' dir B-'y' dir
This is important as you will use this for almost the entire problem
A-'x' dir Simply means your assigned translation in the 'x' direction for the A Joint of a me
Ex:
M2 1 2 0 0
Matrices
Member Stiffness Matrix
Follows the form:
A"x" A"y" B"x" B"y" Note:
cos²θ cosθsinθ -cos²θ -cosθsinθ A"x" A"x", A"y"…
K = AE/L cosθsinθ sin²θ -cosθsinθ -sin²θ A"y" cosθ and sinθ
-cos²θ -cosθsinθ cos²θ cosθsinθ B"x" Tip: Do not factor out AE/L
-cosθsinθ -sin²θ cosθsinθ sin²θ B"y"

Do this matrix for EACH MEMBER

Structure Stiffness Matrix

Always a square matrix that follows the number of your RDOF
Ex:
1 2
1
S= 2

This is generated by summing the member stiffness matrices wrt RDOF

Ex:
For S [1,1], sum all the [1,1] elements from the Member Stiffness Matrices
Tip: You can check your Table 4 to easily locate which members have an RDOF of a specific num
Ex: From the 1st workbook, only members M2, M3, M6 and M7 have an RDOF of 1
this means you only have to sum the [1,1] elements of these members

Inverse of the Structure Stiffness Matrix

Just inverse the previous matrix using "MINVERSE"
Use ctrl+shift+ENTER

Joint Load Matrix �=𝑃𝑆^(−1)

Generate a vertical matrix with the corresponding joint loads
Note: Only joints with RDOF will be considered
If the joint load does not follow the global axis, resolve into components
Ex:
Joint RDOF Load
1 -50
J2
2 -86.6
The sign convention of the loads follow the global axis

Displacement Matrix
Formula:
 mmult(inverse of S, joint load)
ctrl+shift+ENTER

You should have your vertical matrix with the corresponding displacements of the RDOF
DOF Displcement
1
2

Member Nodal Displacement Matrix: [v] Matrix

DOF Member1 Member2 Member3
A - 'x'
A - 'y'
B - 'x'
B - 'y'
this is one matrix

Procedure:
For each member, determine the displacements of its RDOF from the Displacement Matrix
Ex:
For member 2, from Table 4, its RDOF are the following:
M2 1 2 0 0

Therefore the [v] matrix of this member should be:

(from [d] matrix)
(from [d] matrix)
[v] 0
0

Member Forces in Global Coordinates: [F] Matrix

DOF Member1 Member2 Member3
A - 'x'
A - 'y'
B - 'x'
B - 'y'

Formula: [F] = [k][v]

Use: mmult(k,v) for each member
ctrl+shift+ENTER
Note: This matrix will generate the reactions

Solving for Axial Forces of Each Member

Since the forces generated from [F] matrix follow the global axis, we need to transform them using th

TRANSFORMATION MATRIX
 cosθ sinθ 0 0
T= -sinθ cosθ 0 0 This matrix will transform both the A-
0 0 cosθ sinθ but since A and B ends are numericall
0 0 -sinθ cosθ from the Transformation Matrix
t= cosθ sinθ
-sinθ cosθ

Formula: [Q] = [t][F]

Premultiply [F] by [t] for each member

Note: Only the 'B' end of [F] will be used
Use mmult([t],[F])

Done! :)

%%Prepared by Engr. Dario%%

values for ΔX and ΔY

ΔX will be 16' - 0
ΔY will be 12' - 0
X component. X-coordinate of B joint subtracted by X-coordinate of A joint

ection for the A Joint of a member

 from Table 4
from Table 3
Do not factor out AE/L

ve an RDOF of a specific number

and M7 have an RDOF of 1
of these members

Note:
Joint loads on supports are not
considered UNLESS the support
is free to translate due to
the said load

Ex:

or

If a point load on a support

is inclined and the support
 is free to translate in one
direction, then the load component
for that direction will be considered
ts of the RDOF
Ex:

P Py
only Py
will be considered

Px

… This is a vertical matrix. Each member is independent

om the Displacement Matrix

… This is a vertical matrix. Each member is independent

d to transform them using the transformation matrix

ix will transform both the A-end and B-end of a member
A and B ends are numerically equal, we will only adapt the lower 2x2 matrix
Transformation Matrix

This sub-matrix will generate Axial forces that follow the convention:
Tensile Force is positive
Example 1: Determine the member forces and support reactions of the given structure using matrix formulation of stiffness method

2
1
1 1

2
AE=300 000kN
3
2

3 4

Solution:
STEP 1: Solve for the displacements along the relative degrees of freedom

TABLE 1 JOINT COORDINATE TABLE

JOINT X-COOR Y-COOR
J1 0 12
J2 10 12
J3 10 0
J4 19 0

TABLE 2 MEMBER INCIDENCE TABLE

MEMBER A-JOINT B-JOINT
1 J1 J2
2 J2 J3
3 J2 J4

TABLE 3 MEMBER LENGTH, ORIENTATION AND AE/L

Xjb - Xja Yjb - Yja sqrt(ΔX^2+ΔY^2) ΔX/L ΔY/L GIVEN
MEMBER ΔX(m) ΔY(m) LENGTH(m) COSθ SINθ AE
1 10 0 10 1 0 300000
2 0 -12 12 0 -1 300000
3 9 -12 15 0.6 -0.8 300000

TABLE 4 DESTINATION TABLE (RELATIVE DEGREES OF FREEDOM)

MEMBER A-"x" direction A-"y" direction B-"x" direction B-"y" direction
M1 0 0 1 2
M2 1 2 0 0
M3 1 2 0 0

TABLE 5 MEMBER STIFFNESS MATRIX

A"x" A"y" B"x" B"y"
cos²θ cosθsinθ -cos²θ -cosθsinθ A"x"
K = AE/L cosθsinθ sin²θ -cosθsinθ -sin²θ A"y"
 -cos²θ -cosθsinθ cos²θ cosθsinθ B"x"
-cosθsinθ -sin²θ cosθsinθ sin²θ B"y"

TABLE 5A MEMBER 1
0 0 1 2
30000 0 -30000 0 0
K1= 0 0 0 0 0
-30000 0 30000 0 1
0 0 0 0 2

TABLE 5B MEMBER 2
1 2 0 0
0 0 0 0 1
K2= 0 25000 0 -25000 2
0 0 0 0 0
0 -25000 0 25000 0

TABLE 5C MEMBER 3
1 2 0 0
7200 -9600 -7200 9600 1
K3= -9600 12800 9600 -12800 2
-7200 9600 7200 -9600 0
9600 -12800 -9600 12800 0

TABLE 6 STRUCTURE STIFFNESS MATRIX

1 2
S= 37200 -9600 1
-9600 37800 2

TABLE 6A [INVERSE] STRUCTURE STIFFNESS MATRIX minverse(S matrix), ctrl+shift+enter

1 2
S-1= 2.877E-05 7.306E-06 1
7.306E-06 2.831E-05 2

TABLE 7 JOINT LOAD MATRIX

Joint RDOF Load
1 -50
2
2 -86.6

TABLE 8 DISPLACEMENT MATRIX mmult(s-1,jt load), ctrl+shift+enter

RDOF DISPLACEMENT
1 -0.0020710502 m
2 -0.0028169863 m

*END OF STEP 1*

STEP 2: Solve for Member Forces

TABLE 9 [v] MATRIX: MEMBER NODAL DISPLACEMENT

DOF M1 M2 M3
 A 'x' 0 -0.00207105 -0.0020710502
A 'y' 0 -0.00281699 -0.0028169863
B 'x' -0.00207105 0 0
B 'y' -0.00281699 0 0

TABLE 10 [F] MATRIX: MEMBER FORCES IN GLOBAL COORDINATES mmult(k[member],v matrix),ctrl+shift+enter

DOF M1 M2 M3
A 'x' 62.13150685 0 12.1315068493
A 'y' 0 -70.4246575 -16.175342466
B 'x' -62.1315068 0 -12.131506849
B 'y' 0 70.42465753 16.1753424658

TABLE 11 TRANSFORMATION MATRIX ON "B" END TRANSFORMATION MATRIX

1 0 cosθ sinθ
T1
0 1 T= -sinθ cosθ
0 -1 0 0
T2
1 0 0 0
0.6 -0.8
T3
0.8 0.6

TABLE 12 [Q] MATRIX: AXIAL FORCES OF EACH MEMBER mmult(tb,Fmember b end)

Q1 -62.13 COMPRESSION
Q2 -70.42 COMPRESSION
Q3 -20.22 COMPRESSION

75 PASSED
70 FIALED
on of stiffness method

AE/L
30000
25000
20000
rl+shift+enter

0 0
0 0
cosθ sinθ
-sinθ cosθ
if B end, tension is positive