Lecture 2

SIS by Force Method

(Also named as Flexibility Method, Method of Consistent Deformations)

Lecture 2 1
SAD 2 Rev. 1
 2.0 Method of Consistent Deformations

The method of consistent deformation is classified as a flexibility or force

method because it involves considering redundant forces as unknowns.

The steps in method of consistent deformations are summarized as follows:

1. Determine the number of redundants in the structure.
2. Remove enough redundants to form a determinate structure.
There is usually more than one way of doing this.
3. Calculate the displacements that the known loads cause in the determinate
structure at the points where the redundants have been removed.
4. Calculate the displacements at these same points in the determinate
structure due to the redundants.
5. At each point where a redundant has been removed, the sum of the
displacements calculated in (3) and (4) must be equal to the displacement
that exists at that point in the actual indeterminate structure. These
relationships allow us to evaluate the redundants.
6. Knowing the values of the redundants, use equilibrium to determine the
remaining reactions.

Lecture 2 2
SAD 2 Rev. 1
 P a
A B C
(a)
l l

P a
B
A C
(b)
∆B1
∆B1 ∆B2
∆B2
A C
B (c)
RB

Lecture 2 3
SAD 2 Rev. 1
 2.1 Method of Consistent Deformation by Using Deflection Table or
Energy Method

The deflection method of analysis involves isolating one (or more) of the
redundant supports, conceptually removing the redundant support and allowing
the structure to deflect freely (making the structure statically determinate),
determining the deflection at the support point, and calculating the magnitude of
the force required to push the structure from its freely deformed condition back
to its original state. The force required to reestablish the original shape of the
structure is equivalent to the reaction developed at that point.

Consider a propped cantilever beam as shown below.

MA w kN/m
HA
VA
VB
L

The propped cantilever beam has four support reactions and the dotted line is
the deflected shape of the beam. This is an indeterminate structure. We
have only THREE equilibrium equations, then we have to find an additional
equation, by considering the deformation of the beam, in order to determine all
the support reactions.

(1) Remove the support B to allow the beam to deflect freely.

w kN/m
A
B
∆B

The deflection due to the applied load at point B is ∆B.

Lecture 2 4
SAD 2 Rev. 1
 (2) Restore the structure back to its original position.

∆B
A B
VB
L

A force of some magnitude VB must exist which can push the free end
exactly back to its original position (no vertical displacement at support B).
This force is equivalent to the reaction naturally developed.

(3) Applied a unit load at the free end B.

δB
A B
1
L

When a unit load is applied at the free end B, the deflection caused by the
unit load is δB. When a load of 2 units is applied at B, the deflection at B
is 2δB. When a load of 3 units is applied at B, the deflection at B is 3δB.
By the same reasoning, when a load of VB is applied at B, the deflection at
B is VB*δB.

∆B
Numerically, VB*δB = ∆B. Hence VB =
δB

The deflection at B can be obtained from Deflection Table or by Energy Method,

wL4 PL3 L3
∆B = and δ B = =
8 EI 3EI 3EI
wL4
∆ 3
Hence, VB = B = 8 EI = ⋅ wL
δB L3
8
3EI

Lecture 2 5
SAD 2 Rev. 1
 Consider the original structure,
ΣY=0, VA + VB = wL
⇒ VA + 3wL/8 = wL
⇒ VA = 5wL/8

ΣX=0, HA = 0

Take moment about A,

wL (L/2) – (3wL/8)*L – MA = 0
MA = wL2/8

MA w kN/m
HA
VA
VB
L

5wL/8 3L/8

B
A C
-3wL/8
Shear Force

-wL2 /8

C B
A
2
9wL /128
Bending Moment

Lecture 2 6
SAD 2 Rev. 1
 2.2 Principle of Superposition
The principle of superposition states that on a linear elastic structure, the
combined effect (e.g., support reactions, internal forces and deformation) of
several loads acting simultaneously is equal to the algebraic sum of the effects of
each load acting individually.

There are two conditions for which superposition is NOT valid.

1. When the structural material does not behave according to Hooke’s law;
that is, when the stress is not proportional to the strain.
2. When the deflections of the structure are so large that computations cannot
be based on the original geometry of the structure.

2.3 Deflection Tables

Tables are available for finding deflections and angles of rotation for cantilevers
and simple beams under various basic loading conditions. Deflections for
more complicated loading conditions can be obtained by applying the “Principle
of Superposition”.

Lecture 2 7
SAD 2 Rev. 1
 Deflection Tables:

Lecture 2 8
SAD 2 Rev. 1
 Deflection Tables

Lecture 2 9
SAD 2 Rev. 1
 Deflection Tables

Lecture 2 10
SAD 2 Rev. 1
 Deflection Tables

Lecture 2 11
SAD 2 Rev. 1
 Deflection Tables

Lecture 2 12
SAD 2 Rev. 1
 Example 1

Determine the support reactions of the continuous beam as shown below by

using deflection table. The continuous beam has a constant EI. Hence sketch
the shear force and bending moment diagram.

15 kN/m
A
B C
HA
VA VB VC
5m 5m

Lecture 2 13
SAD 2 Rev. 1
 Solution

Lecture 2 14
SAD 2 Rev. 1
 Example 2A

Determine the reactions of the loaded beam as shown. The beam has a
constant EI.

P
MA
HA
VA
VB
L/2 L/2

Lecture 2 15
SAD 2 Rev. 1
 Solution

P
MA
HA
Original Structure
VA
VB
L/2 L/2

P
B
A Remove support at B
∆B
L/2 L/2

VB * δB
A Only redundant VBapplied
VB

L/2 L/2

The compatibility equation at B (Take downwards +ve, upwards –ve):

∆ B − VB ⋅ δ B = 0

From Deflection Tables,

Deflection due to applied load with support B removed:

P (L / 2 )
2
Pa 2 3
∆B = (3L − a ) = (3L − L / 2) = 5PL
6 EI 6 EI 48EI

Lecture 2 16
SAD 2 Rev. 1
 Deflection due to unit load applied at support B:
PL3 1* L3 L3
δB = = =
3EI 3EI 3EI

5PL3
5PL3 L3 5P
∴ − VB ⋅ = 0, ⇒ VB = 48EI3
=
48EI 3EI L 16
3EI
5 P 11P
Consider ∑ Y = 0, V A + VB = P, ⇒ V A = P − =
16 16

Take moment about A,

MA – P*(L/2) + (5P/16)*L = 0
3PL
∴M A =
16

Lecture 2 17
SAD 2 Rev. 1
 Example 2B

Determine the reactions of the loaded beam of Example 2A by taking the

support moment MA at A as the redundant.

P
MA
HA
VA
VB
L/2 L/2

Lecture 2 18
SAD 2 Rev. 1
 Solution

P
MA B
HA Original Structure
A
VA
VB
L/2 L/2

P
A B
Remove redundant M A
θA

L/2 L/2

MA
θ'A B Apply M Aonly to the
A structure

L/2 L/2

The compatibility equation for slope at A requires

(take clockwise +ve, anti-clockwise –ve)

θ A − M A *θ ' A = 0

Rotation at A due to the applied load with MA removed:

PL2
θA =
16 EI

Lecture 2 19
SAD 2 Rev. 1
 Rotation at A due to a unit moment applied at A:

ML 1* L L
θ 'A = = =
3EI 3EI 3EI

PL2
PL2 L 3PL
∴ −MA* = 0, ⇒ M A = 16 EI =
16 EI 3EI L 16
3EI

Take moment about A,

3PL PL
− +
M A − P*
L
+ VB * L = 0, ⇒ VB = 16 2 = 5P
2 L 16

5 P 11P
Consider ∑ Y = 0, V A + VB = P , ⇒ V A = P − =
16 16

Lecture 2 20
SAD 2 Rev. 1
 2.4 Structures with Several Redundants
The procedure can be applied to structures with two or more redundants. For
example, the beam as shown in (a) is indeterminate to the 2nd degree and has
two redundant reactions. If we let the reactions at 2 and 3 be the redundants,
then the determinate structure obtained by removing these supports is the
cantilever beam shown in (b). To this determinate structure, we apply
separately the known distributed load (c) and the redundants R2 and R3 one at a
time.
M w
H1 1
(a)
R1
R2 R3
L/2 L/2

1
2 3 (b)

1 (c)

∆2P ∆3P

∆22
1 ∆32
2 3 (d)
R2

1 ∆33
2 3 (e)
∆23 R3

Lecture 2 21
SAD 2 Rev. 1
 When a structure possesses several redundants, it is preferable to use numerical
subscripts instead of letters for defining the redundants. Thus the reactions at 2
and 3 are referred to as R2 and R3. Furthermore, the deflections at these
redundants will be denoted by ∆2 and ∆3.

Since the deflections at 2 and 3 in the original beam are zero, the algebraic sum
of the deflections in (c), (d) and (e) at these same points must vanish. Thus,

∆ 2 P − ∆ 22 − ∆ 23 = 0 (1)
∆ 3 P − ∆ 32 − ∆ 33 = 0 (2)

The first subscript denotes the location of the deflection and the second refers to
the force causing the deflection. For example ∆23 is the deflection at 2 due to
R3. For complex structures it is useful to write the equations of consistent
deformations in a form that differs slightly from the one used here. Thus let

∆ ij = δ ij R j (3)

where ∆ij = deflection at i due to redundant Rj

δij = deflection at i due to a unit load at j in the direction of Rj
Rj = redundant at j.

Equation (3) states that the deflection at i due to a load at j is equal to the
deflection at i due to a unit load at j multiplied by the value of the load at j.
Making use of the above notation, Equations (1) and (2) can be written in the
form

∆ 2 P − δ 22 R2 − δ 23 R3 = 0 (4)
∆ 3 P − δ 32 R2 − δ 33 R3 = 0 (5)

Lecture 2 22
SAD 2 Rev. 1
 2.5 Maxwell-Betti Law of Reciprocal Deflections

1 2
(a)

∆12 ∆22

P
1 2
(b)

∆11 ∆21

The displacement at 1 due to load acting at 2 is equal to the displacement at 2

due to the same load acting at 1.

∆12 = ∆ 21

Lecture 2 23
SAD 2 Rev. 1
 2.6 Support Settlements
Statically indeterminate structures are sensitive to support settlements. Support
settlement can occur for a variety of reasons. The most common cause is
consolidation of the soil beneath a support. Differential settlement can induce
significant internal forces to develop in a structure. To ensure that the structure
is safely designed, the engineer should consider the influence of these effects.

1 2 3 4

1 2 3 4

Deformation caused
by support settlement

2
1 3 4

Bending moment induced

by the support settlement

The method of consistent deformations can easily be applied to include the

effect of support settlements. No new concepts are needed:

• Select as a redundant the support at which settlement occurs

• Instead of setting the final deflection at that support as zero, simply set it
equal to the value of the support movement.

Lecture 2 24
SAD 2 Rev. 1
 Continuous Beam with Settlements at Several Supports

w kN/m
1
2 3 4
∆S3
R1 ∆S2
R4
R3
R2

w kN/m
1 Primary beam subjecte
2 3 4 to external load
∆2 ∆3

R 2 * f 22 R 2 * f 32 Primary beam loaded

1
2 3 4 with R 2
R2
+
Primary beam loaded
R 3 * f 23 R 3 * f 33 with R 3
1
2 3 4
R3

By realizing that the deflections of the actual indeterminate beam at supports 2

and 3 are equal to the settlement ∆S2 and ∆S3, then the compatibility equations
become,

∆ 2 + f 22 R2 + f 23 R3 = ∆ S 2
∆ 3 + f 32 R2 + f 33 R3 = ∆ S 3 (Observe the +ve, -ve signs)

which can be solved for the redundants R2 and R3. Note that the right-hand
sides of the compatibility equations are no longer equal to zero, but are equal to
the prescribed values of settlements at supports 2 and 3.

Lecture 2 25
SAD 2 Rev. 1
 2.7 The Force (or Flexibility) Method

The Force (or Flexibility) Method for analysis of statically indeterminate

structures is actually the extension of the Method of Consistent Deformations.

Previously, support reactions were selected as the redundants. The method can
be extended to structures in which the released structure is established by
removing an internal restraint. For this condition, redundants are taken as
pairs of internal forces. The compatibility equation is then based on the
geometric condition that no relative displacement (i.e. no gap) occurs between
the ends of the section on which the redundants act.

Summary:

The procedure for applying the Force Method to analyze an indeterminate

structure can be summarized as follows:

1. Establish the degree of indeterminacy of the structure.

2. Select the redundants, which can be removed to form a primary structure

that is determinate and stable.

3. The deflections of the primary structure at the redundant locations due to the
external applied loads are evaluated.

4. A unit load is placed on the primary structure at each redundant location.

Then the displacements due to the unit loads are computed at each
redundant location in the direction of the redundant.

5. Displacement compatibility equations are written at each redundant location

in terms of the unknown redundant forces.

6. The redundants are found by solving the compatibility equations.

Lecture 2 26
SAD 2 Rev. 1
 2.8 Analysis using Internal Releases - Beams
To illustrate the handling of internal redundants for the analysis of an
indeterminate beam, consider the continuous beam in (a) which is indeterminate
to the first degree.

Example 3

P
A B C
(a)

VA VB VC
L/2 L/2 L

P MB
MB
A B C
(b)

θBO
P
A B C
(c)

P/2 P/2

α α
1 1 C
A (d)

1/L 1/L 1/L 1/L

Lecture 2 27
SAD 2 Rev. 1
 1. Select MB, the moment at B, as the internal redundant.

2. With the moment at B released, the primary structure consists of two simply
supported beams connected by a hinge at B (see figure (b)).

3. Analysis of the primary structure under the actual loading P produces an

angular gap θBO at B.

PL2
θ BO =
16 EI

4. The angular displacement due to a pair of unit moment at B (see figure (d))
is 2α.

1L
α=
3EI

5. The compatibility equation is based on the geometric requirement that no

angular gap exists between the ends of the continuous beam at B, i.e.
θ BO + 2αM B = 0

6. The redundant MB may then be found by substituting the values of θBO and
α into the compatibility equation, giving

PL2 L
+2 MB = 0
16 EI 3EI

3PL
⇒ MB = −
32

Lecture 2 28
SAD 2 Rev. 1
 Example 4

Determine the reactions and draw the bending moment diagram for the two-span
continuous beam shown. Select the bending moment at the interior support B
to be the redundant.

50 kN

10 kN/m
A D
I B 2I C

9m 5m 4m

Lecture 2 29
SAD 2 Rev. 1
 Solution

50 kN

10 kN/m θBOrel
A D
I θBL B
θBR C 2I

Primary Beam Subjected to External Loading

1 f BBrel
A B D
I fBBL fBBR C 2I

Primary Beam Loaded with Redundant M B

Primary Beam: The primary beam is obtained by removing the restraint

corresponding to the redundant bending moment MB by inserting an internal hinge
at B in the given indeterminate beam. Next the primary beam is subjected
separately to the external loading and a unit value of the redundant MB.

Compatibility Equation:

θ BOrel + f BBrel ⋅ M B = 0

Slope of Primary Beam: Each of the spans of the primary beam can be treated as a
simply supported beam of constant flexural rigidity EI, so we can use the
deflection tables to evaluate the slopes θBOrel and fBBrel.

From θ BOrel = θ BL + θ BR

In which θBL and θBR are the slopes at the ends B of the left and the right spans of
the primary beam respectively due to the external loading.

Lecture 2 30
SAD 2 Rev. 1
 By using the deflection tables,

wL3 10 * 93 303.75
θ BL = = =
24 EI 24 * EI EI

10 * 93 50 * 5 * 4 * (9 + 4 )
θ BR = +
24 * (E )(2 I ) 6 * 9 * ( E ) * (2 I )
151.875 120.37 272.245
= + =
EI EI EI

303.75 272.245 575.995

θ BOrel = + =
EI EI EI

The flexibility coefficient fBBrel can be computed in a similar manner.

fBBrel = fBBL+fBBR

1* 9 3 1* 9 1.5
Consider f BBL = = , and f BBR = =
3EI EI 3E (2 I ) EI
3 1.5 4.5
Thus f BBrel = + =
EI EI EI

Sub. into the compatibility equation,

575.995 4.5
+ M B = 0, ⇒ M B = −128 kNm
EI EI

Lecture 2 31
SAD 2 Rev. 1
 Reactions:
The forces at the ends of the members AB and BD of the continuous beam can
now be determined by applying the equations of equilibrium to the free bodies of
the members AB and BD.

50 kN

10 kN/m 128 kNm 128 kNm 10 kN/m

A B B D
B C
VB1 VB1 VB2 VB2

VA VB VD
Consider free-body AB,

VA = 10 * 9 / 2 − 128 / 9 = 30.78 kN
VB1 = 10 * 9 / 2 + 128 / 9 = 59.22 kN

Consider free-body BD,

VB 2 = 10 * 9 / 2 + 50 * 4 / 9 + 128 / 9 = 81.44 kN
VD = 10 * 9 / 2 + 50 * 5 / 9 − 128 / 9 = 58.56 kN

Hence VB = VB1 + VB2 = 59.22 + 81.44 = 140.66 kN

Lecture 2 32
SAD 2 Rev. 1
 50 kN

10 kN/m
A D
I B 2I C

9m 5m 4m

81.44

30.78 31.44

D
A C Shear Force (kN)
B
3.078m -18.56

-59.22
-58.56

-128

D
A C Bending Moment(kNm)
B
47.4

154.2

Lecture 2 33
SAD 2 Rev. 1