Approximation of Lateral Loads

on Building Frames

(Cantilever Method)

Prepared by:

Engr. Kenny B. Cantila

Associate Professor V
 Cantilever Method
This method is most appropriate for frame which is tall and slender
and has columns with different cross-sectional areas.

Assumptions

1. A hinge is placed at the center of each girder and each column

since this is assumed to be a point of zero moment.

2. The axial stress in a column is proportional to its distance from

the centroid of the cross-sectional areas of the columns at a given
ground floor level.
Problem 1: From the given frame, it is subjected to a lateral load of 80 kN
acting at joint D. Assume all columns have equal cross sections. Using
Cantilever Method, determine the following:

a. Axial load in each column

b. Shear in each beam
c. Support reactions

80 kN D E F

8m
1 2 3

A B C
8m 5m
 CL
80 kN D E F
Assume
A1 = 1 1 2 3 4m
A2 = 1 M
A3 = 1
x
8m 5m

Locate the centroid: Calculate the moment:

A = A1 + A2 + A3 M = 80 4
A= 1+1+1 𝐌 = 𝟑𝟐𝟎 𝐤𝐍 ∙ 𝐦
A=3
Calculate the moment of inertia
ΣAn xn
x=
A I = ΣAd2
1 0 + 1 8 + 1(13) I=1 7 2+1 1 2 +1 6 2
x=
3 𝐈 = 𝟖𝟔 𝐦𝟐
𝒙=𝟕𝐦
 80 kN D E F

1 2 3 8m

8m 5m
P1 P2 P3

𝑓1 6m

7m 𝑓2 𝑓3

f1 = Mc1 /I f2 = Mc2 /I f3 = Mc3 /I

f1 = 320(7)/86 f2 = 320(1)/86 f3 = 320(6)/86
f1 = 26.05 f2 = 3.72 f3 = 22.33

P1 = f1 A1 P2 = f2 A2 P3 = f3 A3
P1 = 26.05(1) P2 = 3.72(1) P3 = 22.33(1)
𝐏𝟏 = 𝟐𝟔. 𝟎𝟓 𝐤𝐍 𝐏𝟐 = 𝟑. 𝟕𝟐 𝐤𝐍 𝐏𝟑 = 𝟐𝟐. 𝟑𝟑 𝐤𝐍
 26.05 kN 26.05 kN 22.33 kN 22.33 kN

80 kN D E F
4m 53.95 kN 4m 2.5 m 13.95 kN 2.5 m

4m 4m 4m

26.05 kN 40 kN 13.95 kN

26.05 kN 3.72 kN 22.33 kN

26.05 kN 40 kN 13.95 kN

4m 4m 4m
104.2 kN ∙ m 160 kN ∙ m 55.8 kN ∙ m
A 26.05 kN B 40 kN C 13.95 kN
5m
26.05 kN 3.72 kN 22.33 kN
Problem 2: The frame shown is subjected to lateral loads of 30 kN and 15
kN acting at joint C and B, respectively. The columns are assumed to have
equal cross sectional areas. Use Cantilever Method of analysis. Determine the
following:

a. Axial load in each column 30 kN C D

b. Shear in each beam
c. Support reactions 4m
3 4

15 kN B E

1 2
4m

A F
6m
 CL
30 kN C D

Assume 4m
𝐴1 = 1 3 4
𝐴2 = 1

15 kN B E

1 2m
M 2

Locate the centroid: x Calculate the moment:

A = A1 + A2 M = 30 6 + 15(2)
A= 1+1 𝐌 = 𝟐𝟏𝟎 𝐤𝐍 ∙ 𝐦
A=2
Calculate the moment of inertia
ΣAn xn
x=
A I = ΣAd2
1 0 +1 6 I=1 3 2+1 3 2
x=
2 𝐈 = 𝟏𝟖 𝐦𝟐
𝐱=𝟑𝐦
30 kN C D
f1 = Mc1 /I
4m
f1 = 210(3)/18
3 4 f1 = 35

P1 = f1 A1
15 kN B E
P1 = 35(1)
1 2 2m 𝐏𝟏 = 𝟑𝟓 𝐤𝐍
x

P1 P2
f2 = Mc2 /I
f2 = 210(3)/18
f1 3m
f2 = 35
3m f2
P2 = f2 A2
P2 = 35(1)
𝐏𝟐 = 𝟑𝟓 𝐤𝐍
 CL
30 kN C D
Assume
3 4 2m A3 = 1
M
A4 = 1
x

6m

Locate the centroid: Calculate the moment:

A = A3 + A4 M = 30 2
A= 1+1 𝐌 = 𝟔𝟎 𝐤𝐍 ∙ 𝐦
A=2
Calculate the moment of inertia
ΣAn xn
x=
A I = ΣAd2
1 0 +1 6 I=1 3 2+1 3 2
x=
2 𝐈 = 𝟏𝟖 𝐦𝟐
𝐱=𝟑𝐦
30 kN C D

3 2m
4
6m

P3 P4

f3 3m

3m f4

f3 = Mc3 /I f4 = Mc4 /I
f3 = 60(3)/18 f4 = 60(3)/18
f3 = 10 f4 = 10

P3 = f3 A3 P4 = f4 A4
P3 = 10(1) P4 = 10(1)
𝐏𝟑 = 𝟏𝟎 𝐤𝐍 𝐏𝟒 = 𝟏𝟎 𝐤𝐍
 10 kN 10 kN

30 kN C D
3m 15 kN 3m
2m 2m
15 kN 15 kN

10 kN 10 kN

15 kN 15 kN
2m 25 kN 25 kN 2m
3m 3m
15 kN B E
7.5 kN
2m 2m

22.5 kN 22.5 kN

35 kN 35 kN

22.5 kN 22.5 kN
2m 2m
45 kN ∙ m 45 kN ∙ m
A 22.5 kN F 22.5 kN
35 kN 35 kN
Problem 3: The frame shown is subjected to lateral loads of 36 kN and 45
kN acting at C and D, respectively. The columns have cross-sectional areas as
indicated in the figure. Use Cantilever Method. Compute the following:

a. Axial load of column 1

b. Axial load of column 3
c. Moment of beam 1 at joint C
d. Horizontal shear of column 2
e. Axial load of column 5
f. Moment at the base of column 6
36 kN C D G J

1 2 3 4 3.6 m

45 kN B E H K

5 5 7 8 4.9 m

A F I L

6m 4.6 m 7.6 m

A = 6500 mm2 A = 5200 mm2 A = 3900 mm2 A = 6500 mm2

Locate the centroid:

6500
A1 = = 1.0
6500
5200
A2 = = 0.8
6500
3900
A3 = = 0.6
6500
6500
A4 = = 1.0
6500

A = A1 + A2 + 𝐴3 + 𝐴4
A = 1 + 0.8 + 0.6 + 1
A = 3.4

ΣAn xn
x=
A
1 0 + 0.8 6 + 0.6 10.6 + 1(18.2)
x=
3.4
𝐱 = 𝟖. 𝟔𝟒 𝐦
 CL
i j k
36 kN C D G J

a b c d 3.6 m
l m n
45 kN B E H K

e f g h 4.9 m

A F I L
2.64 1.96
8.64 m 9.56 m
6m 4.6 m 7.6 m

𝐴1 = 1.0 𝐴2 = 0.8 𝐴3 = 0.6 𝐴4 = 1

 CL
36 kN C D G J

1.8 m
a b M
c d

P1 P2 P3 P4
2.64 m 1.96 m
8.64 m 9.56 m

f1
f3
f2
f4

Cut sections at a, b, c, and d. Calculate the moment of inertia

M = 36(1.8) I = ΣAd2
𝐌 = 𝟔𝟒. 𝟖 𝐤𝐍 ∙ 𝐦 I = 1 8.64 2 + 0.8 2.64 2 +
0.6(1.96)2 + 1 9.56 2
𝐈 = 𝟏𝟕𝟑. 𝟗𝟐 𝐦𝟐
Axial load on Column 1 Axial load on Column 2 Axial load on Column 3

Mc1 Mc2 Mc3

f1 = f2 = f3 =
I I I
64.8 8.64 64.8 2.64 64.8 1.96
f1 = f2 = f3 =
173.92 173.92 173.92
f1 = 3.22 f2 = 0.98 f3 = 0.73

P1 = f1 A1 P2 = f2 A2 P3 = f3 A3
P1 = 3.22 1 P2 = 0.98 0.8 P3 = 0.73 0.6
𝐏𝟏 = 𝟑. 𝟐𝟐 𝐤𝐍 𝐏𝟐 = 𝟎. 𝟕𝟖 𝐤𝐍 𝐏𝟑 = 𝟎. 𝟒𝟒 𝐤𝐍
 Consider at joint C ↑+ ΣFy = 0
𝐕𝟏 = 𝟑. 𝟐𝟐 𝐤𝐍
V1
3m
36 kN C F2
1.8 m
→+ ΣFx = 0
F1 F2 = 36 − F1
F2 = 36 − 5.37
3.22 kN 𝐅𝟐 = 𝟑𝟎. 𝟔𝟑 𝐤𝐍

Moment of Beam 1 at Joint C

↻+ ΣM = 0
1.8F1 = 3.22(3) MC = V1 (3)
𝐅𝟏 = 𝟓. 𝟑𝟕 𝐤𝐍 MC = 3.22(3)
𝐌𝐂 = 𝟗. 𝟔𝟔 𝐤𝐍 ∙ 𝐦
 ↑+ ΣFy = 0
Consider at joint D V2 = 3.22 + 0.78
𝐕𝟐 = 𝟒 𝐤𝐍
3.22 kN V2

30.63 kN D F2 →+ ΣFx = 0
3m 2.3 m
F4 = 30.63 − F3
1.8 m F4 = 30.63 − 10.68
𝐅𝟒 = 𝟐𝟎. 𝟏𝟓 𝐤𝐍
F3

0.78 kN

Horizontal shear of Column 2

↻+ ΣM = 0
1.8F3 = 3.22 5.3 + 0.78(2.3)
𝐅𝟑 = 𝟏𝟎. 𝟒𝟖 𝐤𝐍
 CL

36 kN C D G J

3.6 m

45 kN B E H K

2.45 m
e f M g h

P5 P6 P7 P8
2.64 m 1.96 m
8.64 m 9.56 m

f5
f7
f6
f8
Cut a section at joints e, f, g, and h.

M = 36 6.05 + 45 2.45 = 𝟑𝟐𝟖. 𝟎𝟓 𝐤𝐍 ∙ 𝐦

↻+ ΣM = 0
1.8F3 = 3.22 5.3 + 0.78(2.3)
𝐅𝟑 = 𝟏𝟎. 𝟒𝟖 𝐤𝐍

→+ ΣFx = 0
F4 = 30.63 − 10.48
𝐅𝟒 = 𝟐𝟎. 𝟒𝟖 𝐤𝐍

↑+ ΣFy = 0
V2 = 3.22 + 0.78
𝐕𝟐 = 𝟒 𝐤𝐍
Axial load on Column 5 Axial load on Column 6

Mc5 Mc6
f5 = f6 =
I I
328.05 8.64 328.05 2.64
f5 = f6 =
173.92 173.92
f5 = 16.30 f6 = 4.98

P5 = f5 A5 P6 = f6 A6
P5 = 16.30 1 P6 = 4.98 0.8
𝐏𝟓 = 𝟏𝟔. 𝟑𝟎 𝐤𝐍 𝐏𝟔 = 𝟑. 𝟗𝟖 𝐤𝐍
 3.22 kN
Moment at the base of Column 6
5.37 kN
V3
+ 1.8 m
↻ ΣM = 0
2.45F5 = 16.3 3 − 5.37 1.8 − 3.22(3) 45 kN B F6
3m
𝐅𝟓 = 𝟏𝟐. 𝟎𝟕 𝐤𝐍
2.45 m
F5

→+ ΣFx = 0 16.3 kN
F6 = 45 + 5.37 − 12.07
0.78 kN
𝐅𝟔 = 𝟑𝟖. 𝟑 𝐤𝐍

13.08 kN V4
↑+ ΣFy = 0 1.8 m
V3 = 16.3 − 3.22 38.3 kN E F8
𝐕𝟑 = 𝟏𝟑. 𝟎𝟖 𝐤𝐍 3m 2.3 m
2.45 m
F7

3.98 kN
 Consider Joint E

↻+ ΣM = 0
2.45F7 = 13.08 5.3 + 3.98 2.3 − 0.78 2.3 − 10.48 1.8
𝐅𝟕 = 𝟐𝟑. 𝟔 𝐤𝐍

3.98 kN
Moment at the Base of column 6
23.6 kN
MF = 23.6(2.45)
𝐌𝐅 = 𝟓𝟕. 𝟖𝟐 𝐤𝐍 ∙ 𝐦 57.82 kN ∙ m
23.6 kN A

3.98 kN
 REFERENCE

Besavilla, V.I., Jr. (2007). Structural Analysis. ISBN 971-8510-87-2. VIB

Publisher, Cebu City, Philippines.