CHAPTER-3

Statically Indeterminate
Structures
CONTENTS

3.1 Introduction
3.2 Statically Indeterminate axial members
3.3 Statically Indeterminate torsional members
3.4 Statically indeterminate beams
 Objectives
At the end of this lesson students are able to
— Identify statically determinate and indeterminate structures and
their degree of statically indeterminacy.
— Solve statically indeterminate axial members, torsional members
and beams using different methods
3.1 Introduction
Ø Statically determinate structures : These are structures in which their
reactions and internal forces can be determined solely from free-body
diagrams and equations of equilibrium.
Example:
— Axially Loaded Bars
— Torsional Shafts
— Beams
Ø Statically Indeterminate structures: These are structures in
which their reactions and internal forces cannot be found by statics alone.
Example:
— Axially Loaded Bars
— Torsional Shafts
— Beams
Ø Any type of structure is classified as statically indeterminate if the
number of unknown reactions exceeds the available number of
equilibrium equations (No. of unknown. Reactions > No. of equilibrium.
Eqns.)
Ø The additional support reactions that are not needed to keep the
structure in stable equilibrium are called redundants.
Ø The number of these redundants is referred to as degree of
indeterminacy

Statically Indeterminate beams of (a) 1st degree (b) 2nd degree (c) 3rd degree
Method of solving Statically Indeterminate Structures
Ø The analysis of a statically indeterminate structure involves setting up
and solving:
i) Equilibrium Equations - Relate the loads acting on the structure to
the unknown forces (which may be reactions or internal forces)
ii) Compatibility Equations - Express conditions on the displacements
of the structure
iii) Force-displacement relations - Expressions that use the dimensions
and properties of the structural members to relate the forces and
displacements of those members.
Ø For the relatively simple structures, the above method of analysis is
adequate.
Ø However, more formalized approaches are needed for complicated
structures.
Ø There are two commonly used methods which are used in the analysis
of complicated statically indeterminate structures.
1) Superposition Method (Force method or Flexibility method)
2) Displacement method (Stiffness method)
3.2 Statically Indeterminate Axial
Members
Ø Consider an axial prismatic bar AB which is attached
to rigid supports at both ends and is axially loaded by a
force P at an intermediate point C.
Ø The reactions RA and RB cannot be found by statics
alone, thus this is a type of statically indeterminate
problem of first degree
Ø The reactions at the supports can be calculated as
follows
(a) Equilibrium Equation:

Ø Using the free body diagram the equilibrium equation is expressed as

åF vert = 0, R A - P + RB = 0……… (i)

(b) Compatibility Equation:

Ø Since the bar is fixed on both sides, the total deformation is zero
d AB = 0 ……….. (ii)
(c) Force-displacement relations:

Ø The deformations of segment AC and BC due to their corresponding internal

forces is
RAa RB b
d AC =
EA
d CB = -
EA
……….. (iii)
Ø By combining the force-displacement relations with the equation of compatibility
R A a RB b
d AB = d AC + d CB = - =0
EA EA
………… (iv)
b
Ø R A = RB
a
Ø Substituting eqn.(iv) in eqn.(i), the reactions RA and RB obtained as

b
RA = P
L
a
RB = P
L
Example 3.1:

1. As shown in Fig. 3.1a, a rigid horizontal bar is supported by a hinge at A and by two steel
cables BD and CE, which are of equal length, L = 0.8 m, and cross-sectional area, A =
140 mm2. Calculate the stress in each cable due to a force of 40 kN, applied as shown in
the figure. Assume that the yielding stress is 250 MPa and that E = 200 Gpa.

Fig 3.1
Example 3.2:

2. The steel rod shown in the fig. has a diameter of 5 mm. It is fixed to the wall at A,

and before it is loaded, there is a gap of 1 mm between the wall at B’ and the rod.
Determine the reactions at A and B’ if the rod is subjected to axial force of P = 20 KN
as shown. Neglect the size of the collar at C. Take E = 200GPa.
Example 3.3:

3. A horizontal rigid bar AB is pinned at end A and supported by two wires (CD and EF) at points D
and F (See Fig.). A vertical load P acts at end B of the bar. The bar has length 3b and wires CD and
EF have lengths L1 and L2, respectively. Also, wire CD has diameter d1 and modulus of elasticity E1;
wire EF has diameter d2 and modulus E2.

a) Obtain formulas for the allowable load P if the allowable stresses in

wires CD and EF, respectively, are σ1 and σ2. (Disregard the weight of the bar itself.

b) Calculate the allowable load P for the following conditions: Wire CD is

made of aluminium with modulus El = 72 GPa, diameter dl = 4.0 mm, and

length Ll = 0.4 m. Wire EF is made of magnesium with modulus E2 = 45

GPa, diameter d2 = 3.0 mm, and length L2= 0.30 m. The allowable stresses in

the aluminium and magnesium wires are σl = 200 MPa and σ2 = 175 MPa ,

respectively.
 Method of Super Position (Force or Flexibility Method)
It is also possible to solve statically indeterminate problems by writing the
compatibility equation using the principle of superposition
Example 3.4:
4. Using method of super position, determine the reactions at A and B for the steel
bar and loading shown in Fig., assuming a close fit at both supports before the loads
are applied
3.3 Statically Indeterminate torsional members
Ø Statically Indeterminate torsional members can be analysed by supplementing the
equilibrium equations with compatibility equations pertaining to the rotational
displacements.

Ø Thus, the general method for analysing statically indeterminate torsional members is
the same as statically indeterminate bars with axial loads.

Ø The steps used include :

Step 1: write equations of equilibrium, obtained from free-body diagrams of the
given physical situation
Step 2: write equations of compatibility, based upon physical conditions pertaining to
the angles of twist
Step 3: relate the angles of twist to the torques by torque-displacement relations,
TL ……….. (i)
f=
GJ
Ø Consider a composite bar AB shown in Fig.(a). The bar is attached to
a fixed support at end A and loaded by a torque T at end B.

Ø Furthermore, the bar consists of two parts: a solid bar and a tube
(Figs.(b) and (c), with both the solid bar and the tube joined to a rigid
end plate at B.

Ø When the torque T is applied to the composite bar, the end plate
rotates through a small angle Φ (Fig. (c) and torques T1 and T2 are
developed in the solid bar and the tube, respectively (Figs. (d) and (e).

Ø From equilibrium we know that the sum of these torques equals the
applied torque, and so the equation of equilibrium is
(a) Equilibrium Equation:

Ø From equilibrium we know that the sum of these torques equals the applied load, and so
the equation of equilibrium is

T1 + T2 = T ………. (ii)

(b) Compatibility Equation:

Ø Considering the rotational displacements φ1 and φ2 of both the solid bar and the tube
respectively. These angles of twist must be equal because the bar and tube are securely
joined to the end plate and rotate with it

f1 = f 2 ………… (iii)
(c) Force-displacement relations:
Ø The angles φ1 and φ2 are related to the torques T1 and T2 by the torque-displacement
relations, which in the case of linearly elastic materials are obtained from the eqn.(i)
as

f1 =
T1L
f2 =
T2 L ……….. (iv)
G1 J1 G2 J 2
Ø When the preceding expressions for φ1 and φ2 are substituted into Eq. (iii), the
equation of compatibility becomes
T1L TL
= 2
G1 J1 G2 J 2

GJ
………… (v)
T1 = 1 1 T2
G2 J 2
Ø Substituting eqn.(v) in eqn.(ii), the torques T1 and T2 obtained as

æ G1 J 1 ö æ G2 J 2 ö
T1 = T çç ÷÷ T2 = T çç ÷÷
è G1 J 1 + G2 J 2 ø è G1 J 1 + G2 J 2 ø
Example 3.5:

5. A solid circular bar ABCD with fixed supports is acted upon by torques T0 and 2T0
at the locations shown in the figure. Obtain a formula for the the reactive torques TA
and TD at the ends.
Example 3.6:

6. A hollow steel shaft ACB of outside diameter 50 mm and inside diameter 40 mm is

held against rotation at ends A and B (see figure). Horizontal forces P are applied at
the ends of a vertical arm that is welded to the shaft at point C. Determine the
allowable value of the forces P if the maximum permissible shear stress in the shaft is
45 MPa.
 3.4 Statically indeterminate beams
Types of Statically Indeterminate Beams
Statically indeterminate beams are usually identified by the arrangement
of their supports as:
(a) Propped cantilever beam
— a beam that is fixed at one end and simply supported at the other
(b) Fixed end beam
— has fixed supports at both ends
(c) Continuous beam
— has more than one span and is continuous over an interior support.
Method of analyzing Statically Indeterminate Beams

Three common methods are used in solving statically indeterminate beams

a) Using differential equations of the deflection curve

b) Method of super position (Force or Flexibility Method)

c) Moment -Area Method

a) Using differential equations of the deflection curve

Procedures:
1. Using free body diagram write the equilibrium equation and express it in terms of the
redundant reactions.

2. Express the bending moment M(x) at any given point of length L of the beam in terms
of the distance x, the given load, and the unknown reactions.

3. Integrate in x and obtain expressions for angular rotation, θ and deflection, y which
contain two additional unknowns, namely the constants of integration C1 and C2

4. Apply boundary and other conditions to evaluate the unknown quantities. The
unknowns consist of the redundant reactions as well as the constants of integration.
Example 3.7:
7. A propped cantilever beam AB of length L supports a uniform load of
intensity q. Determine all the support reactions.
Example 3.8:
8. A fixed-end beam AB of length L supports a triangularly distributed load of
maximum intensity q0 (see figure). Using method of integration obtain the
reactions of the beam at the supports.
b) Method of superposition (Force or Flexibility Method)
Procedures:

— Identify the degree of static indeterminacy and select the redundant reactions.

— write equations of equilibrium that relate the other unknown reactions to the redundants and

the loads.

— Next, by assuming that both the original loads and the redundants act upon the released

structure, find the deflections in the released structure by superposing the separate deflections
due to the loads and the redundants. The sum of these deflections must match the deflections
in the original beam. However, the deflections in the original beam (at the points where
restraints were removed) are either zero or have known values.
— Finally write equations of compatibility (or equations of superposition)
expressing the fact that the deflections of the released structure (at the points
where restraints were removed) are the same as the deflections in the
original beam (at those same points).
Example 3.9:
9. A two-span continuous beam ABC supports a uniform load of intensity q, as
shown in Figure. Each span of the beam has length L. Using the method of
superposition, determine all reactions for this beam.

A) B)
Example 3.10:
10. For the beam and loading shown, determine the reaction at the fixed support C
using superposition method.
c) Moment Area Method
Example 3.11:
11. Determine the reaction at the supports for the prismatic beam and loading
shown using moment-area method