Flexibility Method

STRCTENG 201 – Civil Engineering Material and Design

Quincy Ma
Structural Engineering Group Leader

So far we have covered

• Virtual work
• Unit load theorem

Solve Statically Determinant problems

This next section we extend on these ideas to

solve indeterminate problems.

Solve problem via Flexibility Method of

sometimes known as Force Based Method

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Section outline
• Determinacy
• Three KEY principles
– Superposition principle
– Maxwell Reciprocal Theorem of Displacement
– Betti’s Theorem of reciprocal work
• Flexibility method
• Examples

What is determinacy?
• Statically determinant structure/problem =
solved via equilibrium equations alone
• Internal vs external determinacy

Determinant Indeterminate

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Advantages of indeterminate structures

Typically
• Higher strength (from smaller stress)
• Higher stiffness
• Greater redundancy

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 Redundancy

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Disadvantages of indeterminate structures

• Misfit, temperature effects, settlements  Prestrain

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Disadvantages of indeterminate structures
• Misfit – prestrains … temperature effects, settlements

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Degree of Static Indeterminacy

• D.S.I. = (No. unknown variables) - (No. of
equilibrium equations)

From 1st year:

Truss – internal determinacy

m+3 = 2j : Determinate
m+3 > 2j : Indeterminate

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 Determinacy vs stability

• 0 D.S.I. does not always = Stable and

determinate

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Ex. – 2D Truss structure

• Every member (m) give rise to an unknown

• Every reaction (r) is another unknown
• Every joint (j) gives two equilibrium equation

D.S.I. = (No. unknown variables) - (No. of equilibrium

equations

D.S.I. = m + r – 2j

D.S.I. = m + r – 3j (3D)

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Ex. – Truss structure
D.S.I. = m + r – 2j

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Ex. – Truss structure

D.S.I. = m + r – 2j

D.S.I. = 9+3-12 = 0 D.S.I. = 10+3-12 = 1

Probably statically Probably statically

determinate indeterminate

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Ex. – Truss structure
D.S.I. = m + r – 2j

D.S.I. = 8+3-12 = -1 D.S.I. = 9+3-12 = 0

Mechanism - probably Mechanism

unstable

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Superposition Principle - Linearity

If f(a) denotes an effect in a structure due to a cause a, then the

structure obeys the superposition principle if f(a) + f(b) = f(a+b),
where b is another cause.

f(a)
Linear
b
&
f(b) Elastic
b
System
a

f(a+b)=f(a)+f(b)

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Maxwell’s Reciprocal Theorem
In a linear, elastic structure in equilibrium, the displacement at
point i due to a unit load at j equals the displacement at j due to a
unit load at i.

Fi

ii ji
ij = ji
i j
Fi Fj

ij jj

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Fi
Proof - Consider the WD for a
simple beam subjected to two ii ji

forces (Fi and Fj) applied one i

Fi
j
Fj
after another
ij jj

Say we applied Fi first

Follow this by Fj next

Total Work done is then

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If we now reverse the order of load application
Apply Fj first

Follow this by Fi next

Total Work done is then

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Betti’s Theorem of Reciprocal work

a.k.a. Betti’s Law
In a linear elastic system in equilibrium, the work done by a first
loading system moving through the corresponding displacements
produced by a second loading system is equal to the work done by
the second loading system moving through the corresponding
displacement produced by the first loading system.
Fi

ii ji

i j FiDij = Fjji
Fi Fj

ij jj

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Verify Betti’s Law – consider a cantilever

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Take away from yesterday
• Maxwell’s Reciprocal Theorem
ij = ji

• Betti’s Law
FiDij = Fjji

Fi

ii ji

i j
Fi Fj

ij jj

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Flexibility coefficient
• Flexibility refers to the ease which a body can
be deformed by applied force 1 1
• Flexibility (f) = inverse of stiffness f   k
k

• Flexibility coefficient is the value you multiply

force by to get displacements

Force Based Method Displacement based Method

Displacement = Force = stiffness coefficient ×
flexibility coefficient × Force Displacement
( = f × F) (F = k × )
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 Fi

ii ji

i j

ii = fii × Fi flexibility coefficient fji is defined as

ji = fji × Fi fji = the deflection at j due to a unit load at i

Fj

ij jj

ij = fij × Fj flexibility coefficient fij is defined as

jj = fjj × Fj fij = the deflection at i due to a unit load at j

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Fj

ij jj

ij = fij × Fj flexibility coefficient fij is defined as

jj = fjj × Fj fij = the deflection at i due to a unit load at j

If Fi or Fj are unit loads… then

ij = fij and jj = fjj
MiM j M jM j
f ij  
members
EI
dx f jj  
members
EI
dx

Special zero subscript is reserved for external (real)

loading case:
fi0 = deflection at i due to action of entire external load 41
Flexibility Method

A method for solving statically indeterminate problem

1. Make determinate by adding release

– Replacing support with a redundant force/moment or
inserting a release

2. Calculate deflection at release points

– in terms of redundant force

3. Enforce compatibility (i.e. make deflection zero)

– to find magnitude of redundant force

4. Use superposition to add everything up

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Ex. – Propped cantilever

w
statically indeterminate -
degree 1, needs one release

release at support,
X
insert redundant force, X

f10
deflection at release due Primary
to actual applied load
structure

f11 deflection at release

1 due to unit load there

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w

Apply release
– make
determinate
Primary
structure

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Defl. Due to
f10
external load

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 Xf11 Defl. Due to
X
redundant force

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 Defl. Due to  Defl. Due to

redundant force redundant force

f10 Xf11
X

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To get BMD and etc, simply exploit superposition

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w
Different release

1. Release the fix end

2. Apply a redundant Moment
3. Work out rotations
4. Balance out rotation to achieve zero rotation

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Flexibility Overview
(General)
• Determine the degree of statically indeterminacy.
Let n denote this quantity.
• Introduce n releases. Let the determinate structure
be known as the Primary structure.
• At releases, introduce redundant force or moments
Xi, X2,…Xn.
• Analyse the primary structure under (n+1) load
case, to get displacements at each release.
– 1. Actual external loads. (e.g. N 0 or M 0)
– 2. Unit load in place of X1. (e.g. N 1 or M 1)
– 2. Unit load in place of X2. (e.g. N 2 or M 2) … and etc

i.e. evaluate a whole bunch of flexibility coefficients

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Flexibility Overview
(General) – cont.
• Satisfy compatibility (i.e. cancel effect of releases)
1  f10  f11X1  f12 X 2  f13X 3  0  f11 f12 f13   X1   f10 
 2  f 20  f 21X1  f 22 X 2  f 23X 3  0 f f f 23   X 2     f 20 
 21 22    
 3  f 30  f 31X1  f 32 X 2  f 33X 3  0  f 31 f 32 f 33   X 3   f 30 

• Solve for the redundant forces Xi, X2,…Xn. Maybe

using matrix methods
• Find reactions and etc using superposition

M  M 0  X1M 1  X 2 M 2  X 3 M 3
N  N 0  X1 N 1  X 2 N 2  X 3 N 3

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Flexibility method – Beams

(no shear/torsion)

• Each member (m) has two unknowns (Mx and Vy)

• Each reaction force (r) is also an unknown
• Each joint (j) provide two equilibrium equations
• Additional release [conditions] (c) e.g. hinge gives
another equation

D.S.I. = 2m + r - 2j –c

Choice of release:
• Remove support
• Insert rotational hinges (Most common)
• Insert shear hinges
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Ex. - Beam

D.S.I = 2m + r - 2j –c

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Releases option 1

Hmm… a bit too hard62

Releases option 2

Total rot.
=(1,L+1,R)

M0
+ +
Primary
+
wL /8
2
wL /8
2 structure
wL /4
2

1
- -
M1 MiM j
f ij    dx
EI
1
- -
M2

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Evaluating flexibility coefficients

M0
+ + +
wL /8 wL /8
2 2

wL /4
2

1
- -
M1

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Evaluating flexibility coefficients

M0
+ + +
wL /8 wL /8
2 2

wL /4
2

1
1
- -
M2

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Evaluating flexibility coefficients

1 wL /4

- -
M1

1
- -
M2

Summary

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Evaluating flexibility coefficients

1 wL /4

- -
M1

1
- -
M2

1 1 L L
f12  f 21  L  
2 EI 3 6 EI

Summary

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Set up compatibility

Overall, rotation at each joint must be continuous

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Take away from yesterday

Flexibility method has 4 steps:
1. Make determinate by adding
release and replace with
redundant force
2. Calculate deflection 
flexibility coefficients
3. Make deflection zero
4. Use superposition

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Find reaction and shear force and bending moment
diagram for the beam shown below.

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Start by looking at Unit moment at 1 (B)

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Repeat by looking at Unit moment at 2 (B)

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Now do the two virtual system together…

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Apply compatibility requirements

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Adding the results up

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 SF
due to load

due to EM

Total

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Find reaction and bending moment diagram for the beam below.

EI EI

L L
DSI=1, introduce moment hinge at B

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Flexibility method – Frames

• Each member (m) has three unknowns
(Mx, Vy & N)
• Each reaction force (r) is also an unknown
• Each joint (j) provide three equilibrium
equations
• Additional release [conditions] (c) e.g.
hinge gives another equation

D.S.I. = 3m + r - 3j –c

Choice of release:
• Remove support
• Insert rotational hinges (Most common)
• Insert shear hinges and axial hinges
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Practice on
Determinate frames

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Practice on
Determinate frames

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Practice
Practice on
on Determinate frames
Determinate frames

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Ex. – Plane Frame

D.S.I. = 3m + r - 3j –c

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Introduce roller to the RH support

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Find f10

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Find f11

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Enforce compatibility
f11 X1  f10  0
f10
X1  
f11
0.20333

0.0048
 42.36 kN

horizontal reaction at supports = 42.36 kN.

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100kN
50kN 200 169.4 - 169.4

200 + - -
+
350

M0 diagram 42.36 X1M1 diagram 42.36

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30 70

30.6 169.4

180.6

7.64 M0 + X1M1 42.36

Final bm diagram

30 70

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Mixed systems

• D.S.I. = (No. unknown variables) -

(No. of equilibrium equations)

A B C

king-post

M0 M1 N0 N1L
f10   EI
AB,BC
dx   EA
AD,BD,CD
D

A B C
2 2
M N L
f11  
AB,BC
1
EI
dx  
AD,BD,CD EA
1

X1

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2022 Exam

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