Structural Analysis – Questions and Answers (Set 2)
1. What are the different methods of analysis of truss?
Answer:
Common methods used to analyse trusses are:
• Method of Joints
• Method of Sections
• Matrix (Stiffness) Method
• Flexibility (Force) Method
• Graphical Method
• Virtual Work / Unit Load Method (for deflections)
• Energy Methods (Castigliano’s theorems)
Remarks: Method selection depends on the problem — simple hand calculations use
joints/sections; computer analysis uses stiffness method.
2. Write the generalized formula for finding the deflection at the joint of the truss.
Answer:
Using the unit-load / virtual work approach, the deflection δ at a joint in the direction of a
unit virtual displacement is:
δ = Σ (N_i * N_i^*) L_i / (A_i E_i)
Where N_i = axial force in member i under actual loading, N_i^* = axial force in member i
due to a unit virtual load applied in the required direction, L_i = length of member i, A_i =
cross-sectional area of member i, and E_i = Young’s modulus of member i.
This is the generalized form for pin-jointed trusses (sum over all members).
3. Give the slope–deflection equation for the beam with end span is pin supported.
Answer:
General slope–deflection equations for a prismatic member AB (span L, flexural rigidity EI)
with rotations θ_A and θ_B and relative chord settlement/translation Δ are:
M_AB = (2EI/L) θ_A + (EI/L) θ_B - (6EI/L^2) Δ + M_AB^f
M_BA = (EI/L) θ_A + (2EI/L) θ_B - (6EI/L^2) Δ + M_BA^f
Here M_AB and M_BA are end moments at A and B (positive on the member), and M_AB^f,
M_BA^f are fixed-end moments due to external transverse loads on the member (UDL, point
loads etc.).
If an end is pin-supported (for example B pinned so θ_B = 0 and M_BA = 0), the equations
reduce accordingly by substituting θ_B=0 and/or setting moment = 0 at a true pin.
4. State the conditions when sway occurs in frames.
Answer:
Sway (lateral instability or side-way movement) of frames may occur when:
• Lateral loads (wind, seismic, horizontal thrust) are applied without adequate lateral
resistance.
• Insufficient bracing or diaphragms to transmit lateral forces.
• Asymmetric geometry or stiffness (unequal column heights/stiffness, eccentric loading)
creating unbalanced lateral stiffness.
• Loss or reduction of a supporting element (e.g., column/brace failure) or large foundation
settlement.
• Highly flexible joints or connections that do not provide moment restraint.
5. Define carry over factor.
Answer:
Carry-over factor (in moment distribution) is the fraction of the moment at one end of a
member that is carried over to the other end when the first end is rotated or a moment is
applied. For a uniform prismatic member the usual carry-over factor is 1/2 (i.e., half the
moment is carried over to the other end).
Example: If a moment M is applied at end A of a prismatic member AB, the carried-over
moment at B is (1/2)M.
6. Define distribution factor.
Answer:
Distribution factor (at a joint) is the proportion of an unbalanced bending moment at that
joint which is distributed to a particular connecting member. Numerically for member i at a
joint:
DF_i = K_i / Σ K_j
where K_i = stiffness of member i at the joint (for bending K = EI/L for prismatic members)
and the denominator is the sum of stiffnesses of all members meeting the joint.
7. Write the generalized formula for flexibility method.
Answer:
The flexibility (force) method uses flexibility coefficients to relate redundants (unknown
redundant forces) to displacements. The generalized compact form is:
{δ} = [f] {X} + {δ^0}
Where {δ} are the required compatibility displacements (usually zero), [f] is the flexibility
matrix with elements f_ij (displacement at location i due to unit redundant j), {X} is the
vector of redundant forces to be found, and {δ^0} are the displacements produced by the
external loads when redundants are removed. Enforce compatibility to solve for {X}.
8. State the steps to be done to get the solution by flexibility method.
Answer:
Steps:
1. Select appropriate redundants (cut and choose the minimum set to make the primary
structure statically determinate).
2. Release the redundants to form the primary (statically determinate) structure.
3. Apply unit values of each redundant in turn to compute flexibility coefficients f_ij
(displacements at compatibility points due to unit redundants).
4. Compute displacements δ^0 at the compatibility points due to external loads on the
primary structure.
5. Form compatibility equations: {δ} = [f]{X} + {δ^0} (typically {δ}=0) and solve for
redundant forces {X}.
6. Superpose redundant effects on the primary structure to obtain final internal forces and
reactions.
7. Check results and compute deflections if required.
9. Write the generalized formula for stiffness method.
Answer:
The stiffness (displacement) method relates nodal forces and nodal displacements by the
stiffness matrix:
{F} = [K] {D} + {F^0}
Or commonly written as:
[K]{D} = {F} - {F^0}
Where {F} is the vector of applied nodal forces, [K] is the global stiffness matrix assembled
from member stiffnesses, {D} is the unknown nodal displacement vector, and {F^0} is the
vector of fixed-end forces due to member loads. Solve for {D}, then compute member forces.
10. What is meant by degree of kinematic indeterminacy?
Answer:
Degree of kinematic indeterminacy (DKI) is the number of independent displacement
constraints (or the number of dependent displacement relations) introduced by supports
and connections — in short, the number of independent unknown displacements that must
be specified to remove all rigid-body motions.
Practical way to find it for planar structures:
• For pin-jointed trusses: total possible DOF = 2j (j = number of joints). DKI = total DOF −
number of independent displacements available (after supports).
Example: A simply supported beam with a pin (2 restraints) at A and a roller (1 restraint) at
B provides 3 displacement constraints → DKI = 3 (three support restraints).