STRUCTURAL

CE 382
Structural Analysis
ANALYSIS
As a structural engineer, you will
• Blue text is important course be required to make many
material technical decisions about
structural systems. These
• Green text is important decisions include:
definition material for the
course (1) selecting an efficient, econo-
mical and attractive structural
• Red text is important conclu- form;
sion or caution material for the (2) evaluating structural safety
safety,
course that is, its strength and stiffness;
and
Text in bold is more signi- (3) planning the erection of the
ficant than non-bolded text structure under temporary
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construction loads.

In order to perform structural Force is used to represent

design, you need to learn to carry stresses or stress resultants,
out structural analyses. e.g., axial forces, shear forces,
bending moments, and torsional
Structural analysis involves the
moments along with their
prediction of the performance
p p
associated stresses
stresses.
of a given structure under
prescribed loads and/or other Designers determine the internal
external effects, such as forces in key members in order to
support movements and size both members and the
temperature changes. connection between members.
The fundamental purpose of a Deflection calculations are carried
structural analysis is to deter- out to ensure a serviceable
mine the magnitudes of force structure – one that does not
and displacement for each deflect or vibrate excessively
element of a design system for under load such that structural
a given set of design loads. 3 function is impaired. 4

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 Structural
Stated differently, structural
engineering is the science and Analysis/Design
art of planning, designing, and Flowchart
constructing economical
structures that can safely
resist
i t the
th forces
f to
t which
hi h they
th
are subjected to with
elegance.

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A. Understand the environment,

DESIGN OBJECTIVES use of the structure, behavior of
the construction materials,
Factors which influence design structural behavior, appropriate
include: safety, serviceability, allowances for the uncertainty
feasibility, and esthetics. involved in the prediction of
load effects and structural
Safety – Normally, structural response, and any other
engineers design safely in case influences that may influence
something unforeseen or the design or design
unknown happens. To properly performance.
assess safety
safety, the structural
engineer must: B. Determine the internal forces
and failure load.

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See also pages 2 - 4 in the supplemental notes.

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A number of approaches to These limit state procedures
structural safety are possible. One incorporate safety by multiplying
method is referred to as Allowable dead loads and live loads by load
Stress Design (ASD). factors greater than one but less
than two. The live load factor is
ASD is based on the assumption
p
t picall larger than the dead load
typically
that if the stresses under working
factor since dead loads are more
loads are limited to values
accurately assessed.
substantially smaller than stresses
corresponding to failure, then Furthermore, all design procedures
safety is assured. typically reduce the load carrying
capacity or strength parameters
Other approaches include:
associated with the structure.
Ultimate Strength Design,
Typically, the structural strength
Plastic Design, Load and
parameters are reduced by 0.60 to
Resistance Factor Design and
0.90.
others.
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Feasibility – Construction of a
Serviceability – All aspects of proposed structure must be
performance must be acceptable economical as well as plausible
for the intended use. Some (feasible). A basic rule in design
specific performance consider- is that the designer should
ations that the structural engineer
g contemplate at least one method
must consider include: deflection of construction. The structure
and cracking must be limited, i.e., may not be built in exactly the
not visible; vibration and noise manner anticipated, but still the
should be controlled; liquid and feasibility of the structure is
gas containers should not leak; assured.
foundations must not settle
improperly; etc. Esthetics (or Aesthetics) – The
looks of the structure are of great
concern to the community and the
designer.
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 STRUCTURES Arch: The arch can be defined
Truss: A truss is a geometrically as a curved structural shape that
stable arrangement of slender is usually configured to support
members which primarily support gravity loads in a manner that
axial load. results in uniform compressive
resistance Gravity loading tends
resistance.
Frame: A frame is a stable
to flatten the arch and push its
structural form consisting of two or
supports outward.
more flexural members that can
resist bending moment, shear, Cable: Cable supported struc-
and axial forces. A frame is tures are very common and are
classified as a rigid frame when often expressed in the form of
it members
its b are jjoined
i d ttogether
th suspension
i and d cable-stayed
bl t d
by moment resisting connections; bridge construction.
i.e., where joint translations and
rotations occur without relative
rotations between the connected
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members.

Membranes are thin-walled Computer Analysis

structures such as air supported
stadium roofs and weather Most structural computer
balloons which provide tensile programs perform a first-order
resistance in two directions. analysis: (1) linear elastic
behavior (2) member forces are
behavior,
Flat plate structures can unaffected by deformations
provide bending, tensile, and (change of geometry) of the
compressive force resistance, structure, and (3) no reduction in
e.g., floor slabs. flexural stiffness.

Shells are often defined as Computer

p p
programs
g have tremen-
curved plates. Roof domes, dously reduced the labor of per-
water and fuel storage tanks, and forming structural analysis and
grain silos typify some forms of design.
shell structures.
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 CE 382 Structural
Calculations
The designer must still possess • Prepare a clear sketch of the
basic insight into all potential structure, showing all loads and
failure modes in order to assess dimensions.
computer solution reliability
reliability.
• Include all steps of your
Furthermore, the engineer must computations.
prepare a mathematical model • Check your results.
that adequately represents the For computer generated results:
structure and the engineer must
Verify that the deflection direc-
interpret
p the results correctly.
y tions are consistent with the
applied forces – computer
programs typically include post-
processing features that include
scaled displacement plots of the
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structure. 18