Analysis of Statically Indeterminate
Structures Using the Force Method
Steven Vukazich
San Jose State University
Statically Indeterminate Structures
At the beginning of the course, we learned that a stable
structure that contains more unknowns than independent
equations of equilibrium is Statically Indeterminate.
Advantages Disadvantages
• Redundancy (several members • Connections are often more
must fail for the structure to expensive;
become unstable); • Finding forces and deflections
• Often maximum stresses is using hand analysis is much
certain members are reduced; more complicated.
• Usually deflections are
reduced.
Steps in Solving an Indeterminate
Structure using the Force Method
Determine degree of Indeterminacy
Let n =degree of indeterminacy Define Primary Structure
(i.e. the structure is indeterminate to the nth and the n Redundants
degree)
Chapter 3
Solve for the n
Define the Primary Define the n Solve for the n
Relevant
Problem Redundant Relevant Deflections
Deflections in
Problems in each Redundant
Primary Problem
Problem
Chapters 3,4,5 then 7 or 8
Chapters 3,4,5 then 7 or 8
Use the Equations Construct
Write the n Solve the n of Equilibrium to
Compatibility Internal Force
Compatibility solve for the
Equations at Diagrams
Equations to find the remaining
Relevant Points (if necessary)
n Redundants unknowns
Chapters 3,4,5
Chapter 3
Force Method of Analysis
Consider the beam
w P
A B EI C
D
E Beam is stable
FBD X=5
w P
MA 3n = 3(1) = 3
Ax A B C D E Statically Indeterminate
Ay Cy Dy to the 2nd degree
Define Primary Structure and Redundants
• Remove all applied loads from the actual structure;
• Remove support reactions or internal forces to define a primary structure;
• Removed reactions or internal forces are called redundants;
• Same number of redundants as degree of indeterminacy
• Primary structure must be stable and statically determinate;
• Primary structure is not unique – there are several choices.
Primary Structure Redundants
A B C D E MA Cy
Cy Dy
A B C D E
MQ Cy
A B Q C D E
Define and Solve the Primary Problem
• Apply all loads on actual structure to the primary structure;
• Define a reference coordinate system;
• Calculate relevant deflections at points where redundants were
removed.
y P
w
EI
E x
A B C D
Δ# Δ"
Define and Solve the Redundant Problems
• There are the same number of redundant problems as degrees of indeterminacy;
• Define a reference coordinate system;
• Apply only one redundant to the primary structure;
• Write the redundant deflection in terms of the flexibility coefficient and the
redundant for each redundant problem.
• Calculate the flexibility coefficient associated with the relevant deflections for
each redundant problem;
y
Δ## Δ"# Redundant
Problem 1
x
A C EI D E
B
Cy
Δ## = 𝐶' 𝛿##
y
𝛿## 𝛿"# Δ"# = 𝐶' 𝛿"#
x
A B C EI D E
1
Define and Solve the Redundant Problems
y
Δ#" Δ"" Redundant
Problem 2
x
A B C EI D E
Dy
Δ#" = 𝐷' 𝛿#"
y
𝛿#" 𝛿"" Δ"" = 𝐷' 𝛿""
x
A B C EI D E
1
Compatibility Equations
Compatibility at Point C
Δ# + Δ## + Δ#" = 0
Compatibility at Point D
Δ" + Δ"# + Δ"" = 0
Compatibility Equations in terms of
Redundants and Flexibility Coefficients
∆# + 𝐶' 𝛿## + 𝐷' 𝛿#" = 0
Solve for Cy and Dy
∆" + 𝐶' 𝛿"# + 𝐷' 𝛿"" = 0
y
w P The Force
Indeterminate x Method is
Problem
A B EI C E Based on the
D
Principle of
y
= w P
Superposition
Primary
EI
Problem E x
A B C Δ# Δ"
D
+ y
Δ## Δ"#
Redundant
Problem 1 x
A B C EI D E
+ y Cy
Δ#" Δ""
Redundant
Problem 2
x
A B C EI D E
Dy
Example Problem
y P
For the indeterminate beam
subject to the point load, P,
x find the support reactions at
C
A EI B A and C. EI is constant.
𝐿 𝐿
FBD 2 2
Beam is stable
y P
MA
X=4
x
Ax A EI
B C
3n = 3(1) = 3
Ay Cy
𝐿 𝐿 Statically Indeterminate
2 2
to the 1st degree
Define Primary Structure and Redundant
• Remove all applied loads from the actual structure;
• Remove support reactions or internal forces to define a primary structure;
• Removed reactions or internal forces are called redundants;
• Same number of redundants as degree of indeterminacy
• Primary structure must be stable and statically determinate;
• Primary structure is not unique – there are several choices.
Primary Structure Redundant
Cy
A B C
C
A B MA
Define and Solve the Primary Problem
• Apply all loads on actual structure to the primary structure;
• Define a reference coordinate system;
• Calculate relevant deflections at points where redundants were
removed.
y P
A
𝜃/ EI C
x From
B Tabulated
Solutions
𝐿 𝐿
2 2
𝑃𝐿2
+ Counter-clockwise
𝜃/ = −
rotations positive 16𝐸𝐼
Define and Solve the Redundant Problem
• There are the same number of redundant problems as degrees of indeterminacy;
• Define a reference coordinate system;
• Apply only one redundant to the primary structure;
• Write the redundant deflection in terms of the flexibility coefficient and the
redundant for each redundant problem.
• Calculate the flexibility coefficient associated with the relevant deflections for
each redundant problem;
MA
y
A 𝜃// B EI C
Redundant Problem
x 𝜃// = 𝑀/ 𝛼//
L From Tabulated
y Solutions
1 A 𝛼// B EI C
x 𝐿
𝛼// =−
L 3𝐸𝐼
Compatibility Equation at Point A
Compatibility at Point A
𝜃/ + 𝜃// = 0
Compatibility Equation in terms of
Redundant and Flexibility Coefficient
𝜃/ + 𝑀/ 𝛼// = 0
𝑃𝐿2 𝐿
− + 𝑀/ − =0
16𝐸𝐼 3𝐸𝐼
Solve for MA
2
3
𝑃𝐿 3𝐸𝐼 𝑀/ = − 𝑃𝐿
𝑀/ =
16𝐸𝐼
−
𝐿
16
Free Body Diagram
y P
MA
x
3
Ax A EI
B C 𝑀/ = − 𝑃𝐿
16
Ay Cy
𝐿 𝐿
2 2
3
𝑃𝐿 y P
16 Can now use
equilibrium
x equations to find
Ax A EI
B C
Ay Cy the remaining
𝐿
three unknowns
𝐿
2 2
Find Remaining Unknowns
3
𝑃𝐿 y P
16 Can now use
equilibrium
x equations to find
Ax A EI
B C
Ay Cy the remaining
𝐿
three unknowns
𝐿
2 2
+
: 𝐹= = 0
Ax = 0
5
+ : 𝑀/ = 0 𝐶' = 𝑃
16
11
+ : 𝐹' = 0 𝐴' = 𝑃
16
Draw V and M Diagrams of the Beam
y P
3
𝑃𝐿
16 x
C
11
A EI B
𝑃 5
16 𝑃 11 𝐿
𝐿 𝐿 16 𝑀@ − 𝑀/ =
16
𝑃
2
2 2
11 3 11 5
𝑃 𝑀@ = − 𝑃𝐿 + 𝑃𝐿 = 𝑃𝐿
16 16 32 32
V 5 +
− 𝑃
5 16
𝑃𝐿
M 32
0 +
3𝑃𝐿
−
16
Superposition of Primary and Redundant Problems
Indeterminate Primary Redundant
Problem P = Problem P + 3
16
𝑃𝐿 Problem
3 C C C
𝑃𝐿 B
16 A B A B A
𝐿 𝐿 5 1 1 3 3
11 𝑃 𝑃 𝑃 𝑃 𝑃
𝑃 2 2 16 2 2 16 16
16
11 1 3
𝑃 𝑃 𝑃
16 2 16
V 5
− 𝑃
1
− 𝑃
16 2
1
5 𝑃𝐿
𝑃𝐿 4
32
M 0 0 0 0
3 3
3 − 𝑃𝐿 − 𝑃𝐿
− 𝑃𝐿 16 32
16
