Approximate Analysis of Statically Indeterminate Structures, CE 3211

Factor Method:
It is an approximate slope deflection method presented in steps using simple instructions by which the desired results can
be obtained without the knowledge of principle of elasticity upon which it is based.
➢ The factor method depends on certain assumptions regarding the elastic action of the structure. But it is possible
to formulate a relatively simple set of rules by which the method can be applied without knowledge of the elastic
principles upon which it is used.
➢ More accurate than Portal and Cantilever methods.
➢ Especially useful when moments of inertia of various members are different.
➢ At any joint the total moments are shared by all the members in proportions to their relative stiffness.
➢ Half the moments get carried over to the far end.
Before applying the factor method, it is necessary to compute the value of stiffness, K = 4EI/L for each girder and column.

10 K = 1/5 = 0.2
10

K = 1/4 = 0.25
K = 1/4 = 0.25
4m

5m

STEPS:
The factor method is applied by carrying out the following six steps:
i. For each joint, compute the girder factor g by the relation g = ∑Kc/∑K, where ∑Kc denotes the sum of the K
values for the columns meeting at that joint and ∑K denotes the sum of the K values for all the members of that joint.
Write each value of g thus obtained at the near end of each of the girders that meet at the joint where it is computed.

0.56 K = 1/5 = 0.2

10 0.56
K = 1/4 = 0.25

K = 1/4 = 0.25

ii. For each joint, compute the column factor c by the relation c = 1- g, where g is the girder factor for that joint as
computed in step-i. Write each value of c thus obtained at the near end of each of the columns that meet at the joint
where it is computed. For the fixed column bases of the first story, take c = 1.
0.56 K = 1/5 = 0.2
0.44

10
0.44

0.56
K = 1/4 = 0.25

K = 1/4 = 0.25
1.00
1.00

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 Approximate Analysis of Statically Indeterminate Structures, CE 3211
iii. From steps (i) and (ii), there is a number at each end of each member of the bent. To each of these numbers, add
half of the number at the other end of the member.
0.28
0.56 K = 1/5 = 0.2
For BA column = 0.5 10

0.50
0.44
0.56

0.44
0.50
For AB column = 0.22 0.28

K = 1/4 = 0.25

K = 1/4 = 0.25
For BC column = 0.26
For CB column = 0.26

1.00
1.00
0.22

0.22
iv. Multiply each sum obtained from step (iii) by the K value for the member in which the sum occurs. For columns,
call this product the column moment factor C. For Girder, call this product the girder moment factor G.
Moment factor for a member:

0.28
0.56 K = 1/5 = 0.2
10

0.235 = 0.25 * 0.94

0.50
0.44
0.56
0.235 = 0.25 * 0.94
0.50
0.44

0.28
C for BA column = (0.44 +0.50)*0.25 = 0.235
C for AB column = (1.00 +0.22)*0.25 = 0.305
K = 1/4 = 0.25

K = 1/4 = 0.25
1.22 * 0.25 = 0.305

1.22 * 0.25 = 0.305

1.00
1.00
0.22

0.22

Moment factor for a member:

0.84 * 0.2 = 0.168

0.28
G for BC girder = (0.56 + 0.28)*0.20 = 0.168 0.56 K = 1/5 = 0.2
10
0.235 = 0.25 * 0.94
0.50
0.44

0.56
0.235 = 0.25 * 0.94
0.50

G for CB girder = (0.56 + 0.28)*0.20 = 0.168

0.44

0.28
0.168 = 0.2 * 0.84
K = 1/4 = 0.25

K = 1/4 = 0.25
1.22 * 0.25 = 0.305

1.22 * 0.25 = 0.305

1.00
1.00
0.22

0.22

v. The column moment factors C from step-iv are actually the approximate relative values for column end moments
for the story in which they occur. The sum of the column end moments in a given story can be shown by statics to

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 Approximate Analysis of Statically Indeterminate Structures, CE 3211
equal the total horizontal shear on that story multiplied by the story height. Hence, the column moment factors C can
be converted into column end moments, by direct proportion, for each story.

0.84 * 0.2 = 0.168

0.28
0.56 K = 0.2
10

0.235 = 0.25 * 0.94

0.50

8.70 = 37.07 * 0.235

0.44
0.56

0.235 = 0.25 * 0.94

8.70 = 37.07 * 0.235
0.50
0.44
0.28
0.168 = 0.2 * 0.84

37.04 37.07* 0.305 = 11.3

37.07* 0.305 = 11.3

1.22 * 0.25 = 0.305

1.22 * 0.25 = 0.305

K = 0.25

K = 0.25
MAB = * C = 37.07* 0.305

1.00
1.00
0.22

MAB = 11.3

0.22
vi. The girder moment factors G from step-iv are actually the approximate relative values for girder end moments for
each joint. The sum of the girder end moments at each joint is equal, by statics, to the sum of the column end moments
at that joint, which can be obtained from step-v. Hence, the girder moment factors G can be converted into girder end
moments, by direct proportion, for each joint.

57.79* 0.168 = 8.7

At a particular Joint (B) 0.84 * 0.2 = 0.168
0.28
0.56 K = 0.2
10
0.235 = 0.25 * 0.94
0.50

8.70 = 37.07 * 0.235

0.44

0.56
0.235 = 0.25 * 0.94
8.70 = 37.07 * 0.235
0.50
0.44

0.28
0.168 = 0.2 * 0.84
8.70 = 57.79 * 0.168
57.79
37.07* 0.305 = 11.3

37.07* 0.305 = 11.3

1.22 * 0.25 = 0.305

1.22 * 0.25 = 0.305

K = 0.25

K = 0.25

MBC = * C = 57.79* 0.168

1.00
1.00
0.22

MBC = 8.7
0.22

Among all the approximate methods, which method is more reliable and why?
The factor method is more accurate than either the portal or cantilever method. Because the portal and cantilever methods
depend on certain stress assumptions that make possible a stress analysis based on the equations of statics. But the factor
method depends on certain assumptions regarding the elastic action of the structure.

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 Approximate Analysis of Statically Indeterminate Structures, CE 3211
Problem: Analyze the following frame by Factor method. This is an exterior frame. The frame spacing is 8m c/c, wind
speed is 100 km/h or wing pressure is 0.472 km/m 2. Wind flow from left to the frame.

F1 2I 2I
Solution:
2I 3I 2I 3m
F1 = 0.472*4*1.5 = 2.832

F2 2I 2I F2 = 0.472*4*(1.5+2) = 6.608

2I 3I 2I 4m

5m 5m

# Computation of the value of stiffness, K = 4EI/L for each girder and each column.
0.4 0.4

0.67
0.67

1.00

0.4 0.4
0.50

0.75

0.50

STEPS 1: Girder factor at a joint

0.63 0.4 0.56 0.4
0.56 0.63
0.67
0.67

1.00

0.75 0.4 0.69 0.4

0.69 0.75
0.50

0.75

0.50

4
 Approximate Analysis of Statically Indeterminate Structures, CE 3211

STEPS 2: Column factor at a joint

0.63 0.4 0.56 0.4
0.56

0.44

0.37
0.37

0.63

0.67
0.67

1.00

0.25
0.25

0.31
0.75 0.4 0.69 0.4

0.25
0.25

0.69

0.31
0.75
0.50

0.75

0.50
1.00
1.00

1.00
STEPS 3: Add half of the number of one end to the number of another end of the member.
0.28 0.32
0.63 0.4 0.56 0.4
0.56

0.13
0.13

0.44

0.37
0.37

0.16

0.63
0.32 0.28
0.67
0.67

1.00

0.25
0.25

0.31

0.19
0.19

0.22

0.35 0.38
0.75 0.4 0.69 0.4
0.25
0.50
0.25

0.69
0.50

0.31
0.50

0.75
0.38 0.35
0.50

0.75

0.50
0.16
1.00
0.13
1.00

1.00
0.13

5
6
1.13*0.50 = 0.565 0.44*0.67 = 0.295 1.13*0.50 = 0.565 0.44*0.67 = 0.295
0.13 0.19 0.13 0.19
1.00 0.50 0.25 0.67 1.00 0.50 0.25 0.67
0.25 0.37 0.25 0.37

0.63
0.28
0.63
0.22

0.75
0.75

0.35
0.35
0.50 0.13 0.50 0.13
0.375 = 0.50 * 0.75 0.335 = 0.67*0.50 0.375 = 0.50 * 0.75 0.335 = 0.67*0.50

1.10*0.4 = 0.44
0.91*0.4 = 0.364

0.4
0.4

0.4
0.4

1.16*0.75 = 0.870 0.53*1.00 = 0.530 1.16*0.75 = 0.870 0.53*1.00 = 0.530

0.16 0.22 0.16 0.22

STEPS 4: Moment factor for a member (Girder)

0.352 = 0.4*0.88

0.428 = 0.4*1.07
0.56
0.56

0.32
0.32
STEPS 4: Moment factor for a member (column)

0.69
0.69

0.38
0.38

1.00 0.75 0.31 1.00 1.00 0.75 0.31 1.00

0.31 0.44 0.31 0.44

0.32
0.32
0.56

0.56

0.38
0.38

0.69
0.69

0.50 0.16 0.50 0.16

0.608 = 0.75 * 0.81 0.600 = 1.00*0.60 0.608 = 0.75 * 0.81 0.600 = 1.00*0.60

0.88*0.4 = 0.352

1.07*0.4 = 0.428
0.4
0.4

0.4
0.4

1.13*0.50 = 0.565 0.44*0.67 = 0.295 1.13*0.50 = 0.565 0.44*0.67 = 0.295

0.13 0.19 0.13 0.19
0.63
0.63

0.28
0.22

0.75

0.75
0.35
0.35

0.440 = 0.4*1.10
0.364 = 0.4*0.91

1.00 0.50 0.25 0.67 1.00 0.50 0.25 0.67

0.25 0.37 0.25 0.37
0.50 0.13 0.50 0.13
0.375 = 0.50*0.75 0.335 = 0.67*0.50 0.375 = 0.50*0.75 0.335 = 0.67*0.50
Approximate Analysis of Statically Indeterminate Structures, CE 3211
7
MAB = 6.351 MBC = 1.047 MAB = 6.351 MBC = 1.047
1.13*0.50 = 0.565 0.44*0.67 = 0.295 1.13*0.50 = 0.565 0.44*0.67 = 0.295
0.13 0.19 0.13 0.19
0.25 0.25

B
B

C
C
1.00 0.50 0.67 1.00 0.50 0.67

A
A
0.25 0.37 0.25 0.37

0.63
0.28
0.63
0.28

0.75
0.75

0.35
0.35
0.50 0.13 0.50 0.13
0.375 = 0.50 * 0.75 0.335 = 0.67*0.50 0.375 = 0.50 * 0.75 0.335 = 0.67*0.50
MBA = 4.215 MCB = 1.189 MBA = 4.215 MCB = 1.189

MCD = 1.189

1.10*0.4 = 0.44
1.10*0.4 = 0.44

0.91*0.4 = 0.364
0.91*0.4 = 0.364

MBE = 5.262
0.4
0.4

0.4
0.4

STEPS 5: Column End Moment

STEPS 5: Column End Moment

MDC = 1.065

MEB = 4.358
MFE = 9.779 MED = 1.882 MFE = 9.779 MED = 1.882
1.16*0.75 = 0.870 0.53*1.00 = 0.530 1.16*0.75 = 0.870 0.53*1.00 = 0.530
0.16 0.22 0.16 0.22

0.352 = 0.4*0.88
0.352 = 0.4*0.88

0.428 = 0.4*1.07
0.428 = 0.4*1.07
0.56

0.56
0.32
0.32

0.69
0.69

0.38
0.38
1.00 0.75 0.31 1.00 1.00 0.75 0.31 1.00

F
F

E
E

0.31 0.44 0.31 0.44

0.32
0.32

D 0.56
D 0.56

0.38
0.38

0.69
0.69

0.50 0.16 0.50 0.16

0.608 = 0.75 * 0.81 0.600 = 1.00*0.60 0.608 = 0.75 * 0.81 0.600 = 1.00*0.60
MEF = 6.834 MDE = 2.130 MEF = 6.834 MDE = 2.130

MCD = 1.065
0.88*0.4 = 0.352
0.88*0.4 = 0.352

1.07*0.4 = 0.428
1.07*0.4 = 0.428

MEH = 4.358
0.4
0.4

0.4
0.4

MGD = 1.189

MEB = 5.262
MIH = 6.351 MHG = 1.047 MIH = 6.351 MHG = 1.047
1.13*0.50 = 0.565 0.44*0.67 = 0.295 1.13*0.50 = 0.565 0.44*0.67 = 0.295
0.13 0.19 0.13 0.19

0.63
0.63

0.28
0.28

0.75
0.75

0.35
0.35

0.440 = 0.4*1.10
0.364 = 0.4*0.91
0.440 = 0.4*1.10
0.364 = 0.4*0.91

1.00 0.50 0.25 0.67 1.00 0.50 0.25 0.67

G
G

I
I

H
H

0.25 0.37 0.25 0.37

0.50 0.13 0.50 0.13
0.375 = 0.50*0.75 0.335 = 0.67*0.50 0.375 = 0.50*0.75 0.335 = 0.67*0.50
MHI = 4.215 MGH = 1.189 MHI = 4.215 MGH = 1.189
Approximate Analysis of Statically Indeterminate Structures, CE 3211