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Direct Displacement Method

The direct displacement method is used to analyze indeterminate structures. It involves restraining all degrees of freedom, applying unit displacements corresponding to each degree of freedom to calculate member end forces, establishing equilibrium equations for each degree of freedom, solving the equations to determine the unknown displacements, and using the displacements to calculate the final member end forces and reactions. The method is illustrated on a simple structure with one degree of kinematic indeterminacy.

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955 views5 pages

Direct Displacement Method

The direct displacement method is used to analyze indeterminate structures. It involves restraining all degrees of freedom, applying unit displacements corresponding to each degree of freedom to calculate member end forces, establishing equilibrium equations for each degree of freedom, solving the equations to determine the unknown displacements, and using the displacements to calculate the final member end forces and reactions. The method is illustrated on a simple structure with one degree of kinematic indeterminacy.

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Tewodros Abate
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© © All Rights Reserved
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Direct Displacement Method

Introduction

The direct displacement method is another technique that can be used to


analyze indeterminate structures. This method can be generalized and is
commonly used in structural analysis software.
In this method, all degrees of freedom of a structure are restrained, i.e.
"locked", and the member fixed end forces are calculated due to any
applied loads on the member. As in moment distribution, each degree of
freedom is then independently released, i.e."un-locked", and the member
end forces are determined due to an application of a unit displacement that
corresponds to each degree of freedom. This displacement can either be a
rotation or a translation. The actual member end forces are then calculated
by satisfying equilibrium conditions at each of the degrees of freedom.
The steps required to complete an analysis based on the direct
displacement method are illustrated in the following simplified example
(more detailed examples are given below):
Given a structure:

i) Determine the kinematic degree of indeterminacy, i.e. the number


of degrees of freedom.
The kinematic degree of freedom is the number of independent joint
displacements (rotations and translations).
This sample problem has two degrees of kinematic indeterminacy since
the structure can undergo rotations at both joints B and C.

However, the moment at Joint C is determinate. However, since the


moment at C is zero, modified stiffness can be utilized for member BC.
Modified stiffness is used by not including the rotation at C as an
unknown reaction. This reduces the kinematic indeterminacy of the
structure to only one.

The figures below show the kinematic degree of freedom associated with
a variety of two-dimensional plane structures. For reference, the number
of degrees of static indeterminacy is also listed. Note: axial deformation
is not considered.
Kinemati
Degree of
c Degree
Static
of
Indeterminac
Freedom
y

Structure

a)
**

b)
**

**

a) This problem can also be classified as twice kinematically


indeterminate if the effect of the cantilever portion is considered as joint
loads at the roller support on the far right.
**

b) This problem can also be classified as once kinematically


indeterminate if modified stiffness is used for the beam between the two
rollers in conjunction with the correct fixed end moment at the
intermediate roller. This accounts for the fact that the moment at the roller
on the far right is known.
For more details, see the two-span cantilever example below.
ii) Determine the restraining, i.e. fixed end forces of each member.
In this example, the structure is separated into two sections;

The corresponding sections and their fixed end forces (refer to the Table
of Fixed End Moments or a structural analysis text book for these values),

note: since modified stiffness is being used on member BC the moment


at C is equal to 0 and the moment at B is wl2/8 rather than wl2/12.
iii) Calculate the member end forces due to the application of a unit
displacement in the direction of and at the location of each degree of
freedom. (clockwise rotation is positive in Direct Displacement)

The resulting member end forces on each member due to a unit rotation
at Bare:

and

note: the member end forces are those required to induce a unit rotation at
support B. For derivations, please refer to any structural analysis text.
iv) Determine the equilibrium conditions that correspond to each
degree of freedom.
The equilibrium conditions are found by using statics to sum all forces
that act on a specific degree of freedom. In this example, the sum of the
fixed end moments and those induced due to the unknown degrees of
freedom, X1, at B.
The equation of statics at B is expressed as,
PL/8 - wL2/8 + (4EI/L + 3EI/L)*X1 = 0
Where PL/8 and wL2/8 are the fixed end forces and (4EI/L + 3EI/L) is the
summation of the stiffness coefficients at Joint B, i.e., the moments due to
unit rotation at Joint B. These coefficients need to be multiplied by the
unknown rotation X1, so that equilibrium can be attained. The left hand
side equation is set equal to zero, since there is no external moment
applied at Joint B.
Repeat this step for each degree of freedom. This will yield a number of
equations that equal the number of the unknown displacements.
v) Calculate the unknown displacements.

X1=(wl2/8-PL/8)*L/(7EI)
vi) Utilize the calculated unknowns to determine the member end
forces.
The resulting member end forces are now found by adding a correction
moment to the fixed end moments. These correction forces are equal to
the member end forces corresponding to a unit displacement at the end of
the member, multiplied by the associated displacement X.
In this example;
MAB = -PL/8 + (2EI/L)*X1
MBA = PL/8 + (4EI/L)*X1

YA = P/2 - ( 6(EI)/L2 ) * X1
YB - left = P/2 + ( 6(EI)/L2 ) * X1

MBC = -wL2/8 + (3EI/L)*X1


MCB = 0

YB - right = 5wl/8 - ( 3(EI)/L2 ) * X1


YC = 3wl/8 + ( 3(EI)/L2 ) * X1

vii) Calculate remaining member end reactions.


Use the fixed end moments and any applied loads in conjunction with the
static equations to calculate the remaining member end reactions.

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