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Structural Analysis Methods Explained

This document discusses structural analysis of framed structures. It outlines five key elements: 1) basic mechanics, 2) finite element mechanics, 3) formulation of structural equations, 4) equation solving methods, and 5) solution interpretation. Two main types of analysis are described: linear analysis and nonlinear analysis, including geometrically and materially nonlinear analysis. Examples are provided for geometrically nonlinear analysis, including a two-member truss subjected to an axial load and a horizontal cable with an applied midpoint load.

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Cipriano Irasmo Da Silva
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82 views4 pages

Structural Analysis Methods Explained

This document discusses structural analysis of framed structures. It outlines five key elements: 1) basic mechanics, 2) finite element mechanics, 3) formulation of structural equations, 4) equation solving methods, and 5) solution interpretation. Two main types of analysis are described: linear analysis and nonlinear analysis, including geometrically and materially nonlinear analysis. Examples are provided for geometrically nonlinear analysis, including a two-member truss subjected to an axial load and a horizontal cable with an applied midpoint load.

Uploaded by

Cipriano Irasmo Da Silva
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd

1.

Introduction

Purpose of this course


To calculate the responses including internal forces (axial, shear, moment) distribution
and displacements (deflections) of framed structures.

Five elements of structural analysis


1. Basic mechanics:
(a) stress-strain relationships
(b) equilibrium equations
(c) compatibility equations
2. Finite element mechanics, or member force-deformation relationships

M1(α1) M2 (α2 )
EI

L
Stiffness methods: forces in terms of displacements through stiffness
coefficients

⎧ M 1 ⎫ 2 EI ⎡2 1 ⎤ ⎧α 1 ⎫
⎨ ⎬= ⎨ ⎬
⎩M 2 ⎭ L ⎢⎣1 2⎥⎦ ⎩α 2 ⎭

Flexibility methods: deformations in terms of forces through flexibility


coefficients

⎧α 1 ⎫ L ⎧ 2 − 1⎫⎧ M 1 ⎫
⎨ ⎬= ⎨ ⎬⎨ ⎬
⎩α 2 ⎭ 6 EI ⎩− 1 2 ⎭⎩M 2 ⎭

3. Formulation of structural (global) equations


Meaning of structural equations:
Stiffness methods: equilibrium equations
Flexibility methods: compatibility equations (consistent deformation)
4. Equation solving
Gauss elimination, decomposition methods, etc.
5. Solution interpretation
Member forces diagrams such as axial, shear and moment diagrams
Deformed shapes
1
Types of analysis (see also Sec 8.1 of textbook)
Linear analysis
Nonlinear analysis:
Geometrically nonlinear analysis (second-order analysis, P-Delta effects)

P P
1
V V V ∆ ≅ ∆L ×
P
1−
PE

h Vh 3
∆L =
3 EI

π 2 EI
V V V PE =
4h 2
Vh Vh Vh + P ∆
P P

Materially nonlinear analysis


σ

elastic

Nonlinear analysis due to change in boundary conditions (such as contact problems)

P (∆ )

Considering a ball subjected to a load P, the contact area will increase as the load
increases.

2
Example of geometrically nonlinear analysis:
A simple example, two-member truss, illustrating the geometrically nonlinear analysis is
as follows.

L ∆
L′
h−∆
θ θ′

Solution:

For a displacement ∆ , we have L′ = (h − ∆ ) 2 + ( L cosθ ) 2 . Knowing

L − L'
ε= and the stress-strain relationship σ = f (ε ) , we can first obtain the stress
L
corresponding to this displacement and then the axial force F = σA . Finally, the equilibrium
equation states that P = 2F sin θ ′ , where sin θ ′ = (h − ∆ ) / L′ . It shall be noted that the
equilibrium equation is written for the deformed configuration, which is the main feature of
geometric nonlinear analysis. With different stress-stain relationships, the P − ∆ curves are
of different shapes but all the curves pass through (0,0), (h,0)and (2h,0).

Plim
Pi

∆i h 2h ∆

Another famous example related to geometric nonlinear analysis is a horizontal cable


fixed at both ends and with a pretention T. Assume the length of the cable is 2L and the cable
is subjected to a vertical load P applied at the midpoint. Assuming T is much larger than P,
calculate the vertical deflection at the loaded point.

3
T T
θ
v L′
L
P

Solution:
The equilibrium equation for the deformed configuration is:

2(T + ∆F ) sin θ = P

where ∆F is the increment of the tension since T is much larger than P, ∆F much be very
small compared with T. Also, sin θ ≈ v / L ; hence,

v PL
2T =P v=
L 2T
P
The relation v α is what we will expect
T

Different levels of analysis

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