STRUCTURAL ANALYSIS

CE 309
M ODUL E 3 : A N A LYSIS O F I N DE TERMINATE ST R U CTU R ES
LECTURE 17
Degrees of indeterminacy
Indeterminacy of structures can be of 2 types.
Static Indeterminacy force related
Kinematic indeterminacy displacement related
 Static Indeterminacy
If the number of independent static equilibrium equations are not sufficient for
finding all the external and internal forces (support reactions and member
forces) in a structural system, then the system is said to be statically
indeterminate . 3-3 = 0,
determinate

A B
A
B
3-3 = 0,
determinate

6-3 =3,
4-3 = 1, indeterminate
indeterminate
 Closed/truss structures
Though these structures are determinate i.e. all the
reactions can be found with the available equations of
equilibrium, internal forces in all the members
cannot be found.
So, these structures are statically determinate externally
and statically indeterminate internally.

Formula to check the internal indeterminacy

nj = m-r
n = number of degrees of freedom at joints,
3-3 =0, j = no. of joints, m = no. of members and
determinate r = no. of reactions.
Kinematic indeterminacy
Kinematic indeterminacy of a structure is equal to the number of independent
components of joint displacements with respect to a specified axes

A B

2 components of
displacements.
Deflection and rotation 2 components of
displacements.
2 rotations at supports

Though the above structures are statically determinate,

these structures are have kinematic indeterminacy of degree 2.
Example

In general the above structure can have 6 degrees of freedom at 2 unsupported joints.
But, since axial rigidity is very high, i.e. axial deformations are neglected in general, the total
number of independent displacements are 3. So, the degree of kinematic indeterminacy is 3.
Solving indeterminate structures
Indeterminate structures can be solved by using compatibility methods.
Compatibility can be achieved in terms of geometry or deformations.

C
A B
L L

B
C
C=2B
Example problems
Find the reactions at the all the supports in the beam shown below

10 kN 25 kN

1m 0.5

2m 1m 1m
 Procedure for 2 span beam
10 kN 25 kN

A
B C

Deflected shape
of actual structure

Deflected shape
of determinate
structure

Deflected shape
of reaction
structure RB
Slope at A due to applied loads
10 kN 25 kN

AL

ACL= Moment of M/EI diagram

between A & C about C

ACL

AL= ACL/3
12.075/EI
10.83/EI

1m 1m 0.5m 0.5m
Slope at A due to Reaction

ACR

AR

RB ACR= Moment of M/EI diagram

between A & C about C
RB*2*1/3EI
AR= -ACR/3

-
 Net slope at A
A= AL- AR

A
AB = Moment of M/EI diagram
about between A and B about B
AB

Also, AB = A *2

11.66/EI 12.075/EI Equating the above 2 values,

10.83/EI + reaction at B can be found.

-
RB*2/3EI
 Theorem of Three moments
w/length

A B A B
L L

wL2/24
wL2/24 + wL2/12
=wL2/8
wL2/12 wL2/12

wL2/8
+

- wL2/12
 Theorem of Three moments
W @ L/2
w
A B
A B
L L

wL/8
wL/8 + wL/8=
wL/4
wL/8 wL/8

+ wL/4

- wL/8
Theorem of Three moments
So BM diagram of any indeterminate structure can be drawn by considering BM of
determinate simply supported beams added with BM diagram of end moments/reactions
Loading

L1 L2

BM of SS structure
Fig. 1 Area S1 Area S2
+
x- 1 x- 2
BM of reactions
Fig. 2 MA MC
- MB
 Theorem of Three moments
A1 A2 Eqn 1

Fig. 3 A B C
Eqn 2
x1 x2

B CB
Fig. 4 B
AB

Equating these 2 equations

Eqn 3
Theorem of Three moments
Comparing figures 1 and 2 with 3

Substituting equations 4 & 5 in 3

Theorem of Three moments
Theorem of Three moments - Example
Find the support reactions and draw the BM of the continuous beam.
Solution
Solution

RA

RC

RB
BM diagram

In kN-m
Example
Find the support reactions of the fixed beam using theorem of three moments

w/length

A B
L
Example
Analyse the following continuous beam using theorem of three moments and draw the BM
diagram w kN/m

L/2 L L L/2