IMPS COLLEGE OF ENGINEERING &

TECHNOLOGY

NAME: ARNAB PAUL

DEPARTMENT: CIVIL ENGINEERING
ROLL NO: 17001323006
REGISTRATION NO: 231700120021
YEAR: 3rd SEM: 5th SESSION: 2024-25
SUBJECT: STRUCTURAL ANALYSIS I /
CE(PC)503
TOPIC: DEGREE OF STATIC INDETERMINACY
NAME OF THE GUIDE: MR. MANORANJAN
ROY
 TECHNICAL REPORT
ON
“A STUDY ON DEGREE OF STATIC
INDETERMINACY”
Submitted for the partial fulfilment of the
requirement for the award of
Bachelor Of Technology in Civil Engineering

IMPS COLLEGE OF ENGINEERING & TECHNOLOGY

Submitted To-
MR. MANORANJAN ROY
Submitted By-
ARNAB PAUL
 DECLARATION

I hereby declare that the report “A

STUDY ON DEGREE OF STATIC
INDETERMINACY” submitted for the
Degree of Bachelor of Technology in
Civil Engineering at IMPS College of
Engineering & Technology, is my
original work.
 ACKNOWLEDGEMENT

I would like to thank Mr. Manoranjan

Roy for his support and guidance in
completing my technical report on the
topic “A Study on Degree of Static
Indeterminacy”. It was a great learning
experience.
Introduction to Static Indeterminacy
Definition: Static Indeterminacy is the property of
a structure where the number of unknown
reactions and internal forces exceeds the number
of available equilibrium equations. In such
structures, the basic principles of static
equilibrium (∑Fx = 0, ∑Fy = 0, ∑M = 0) are not
enough to determine the forces and moments in
the structure. These structures require additional
compatibility conditions or material properties for
their analysis.
Key Points:
Statically Determinate Structures:
The structure can be analysed using only the
equilibrium equations. All unknown forces can be
found directly.
Example: Simply supported beam.
Statically Indeterminate Structures:
The structure cannot be fully analysed using only
equilibrium equations due to the presence of
extra unknown forces or reactions.
Example: A continuous beam or a fixed beam.
Importance: Statically indeterminate structures
tend to be more stable and can better distribute
loads. However, they are more complex to
analyse. Engineers need to account for additional
factors like material deformations, support
settlements, and temperature effects to solve
these structures.
Basic Concepts
Equilibrium Equations: Equilibrium is the
foundation of structural analysis. To determine if a
structure is in a state of static equilibrium, the
following equations must be satisfied:
For Planar Structures (2D): ∑Fx = 0 (Sum of all
horizontal forces is zero) ∑Fy = 0 (Sum of all
vertical forces is zero) ∑M = 0 (Sum of all moments
is zero)
For Spatial Structures (3D): ∑Fx = 0 (Sum of forces
along the x-axis is zero) ∑Fy = 0 (Sum of forces
along the y-axis is zero) ∑Fz = 0 (Sum of forces
along the z-axis is zero) ∑Mx = 0 (Sum of moments
around the x-axis is zero) ∑My = 0 (Sum of
moments around the y-axis is zero) ∑Mz = 0 (Sum
of moments around the z-axis is zero)
Statically Determinate vs. Indeterminate
Structures:
Statically Determinate Structures: The number of
unknown reactions and internal forces is equal to
the number of equilibrium equations. These
structures can be solved directly using equilibrium
equations.
Example: Simply supported beams, trusses with
simple pin connections.
Statically Indeterminate Structures: The number
of unknown reactions or internal forces exceeds
the number of available equilibrium equations.
Additional compatibility equations (based on
material properties and deformation) are needed
to solve for unknowns.
Example: Continuous beams, fixed-end beams, or
structures with redundant supports.
Degree of Static Indeterminacy
Definition:
The Degree of Static Indeterminacy (DSI) is the
number of extra unknown forces or reactions in a
structure that cannot be solved using only the
equilibrium equations. It indicates how many
additional equations (like compatibility conditions)
are required to fully analyze the structure.
Formula:
To calculate the degree of static indeterminacy,
use the following general formula:
DSI = (Number of Unknowns) – (Number of
Equilibrium Equations)
Where: Number of Unknowns includes both the
reactions at the supports and the internal forces
within the structure (e.g., axial forces, bending
moments, shear forces). Equilibrium Equations are
based on the statics equations available for the
structure, depending on whether it's a 2D or 3D
structure.
For planar (2D) structures:
Number of Equilibrium Equations = 3 (∑Fx = 0, ∑Fy
= 0, ∑M = 0)
For spatial (3D) structures:
Number of Equilibrium Equations = 6 (∑Fx = 0, ∑Fy
= 0, ∑Fz = 0, ∑Mx = 0, ∑My = 0, ∑Mz = 0)
Types of Indeterminacy:
External Indeterminacy: Occurs when there are
more unknown reactions at the supports than the
number of available equilibrium equations.
Example: A beam with fixed supports at both
ends, where each fixed support has 3 unknown
reaction components.
Formula for External Indeterminacy:
External Indeterminacy = (Number of External
Reactions) – (Number of Equilibrium Equations)
Internal Indeterminacy: Occurs due to redundant
members or internal forces that cannot be
determined from equilibrium alone.
Example: A continuous beam where internal
bending moments and shears cannot be solved
directly.
Formula for Internal Indeterminacy:
Internal Indeterminacy = (Number of Members +
Joints) – (Number of Equilibrium Equations within
the structure)
Example: Fixed Beam: For a fixed beam with two
fixed supports, each support has 3 unknown
reactions (vertical, horizontal, and moment). Thus,
there are 6 unknowns in total. In 2D, there are
only 3 equilibrium equations (∑Fx = 0, ∑Fy = 0, ∑M
= 0).DSI = 6 (unknowns) – 3 (equations) = 3
(statically indeterminate by 3 degrees).
Methods to Solve Indeterminate Structures
Statically indeterminate structures cannot be
solved using only the equilibrium equations.
Various methods, both classical and modern, are
used to solve these structures by incorporating
compatibility conditions or material properties.
Below are the common methods:
1. Classical Methods
a. Moment Distribution Method:
Overview: A classical iterative method used to
solve indeterminate beams and frames. It
distributes moments among the members until
equilibrium is achieved.
Procedure: The structure is initially assumed to be
fixed at all supports. Moments are calculated at
each joint based on the stiffness of the connected
members. The moments are redistributed
iteratively until they balance at each joint.
Applications: Primarily used for continuous beams
and portal frames.
Advantages: Simple to use for hand calculations,
especially in cases with few degrees of
indeterminacy.
Disadvantages: Becomes cumbersome for highly
indeterminate structures.
b. Slope-Deflection Method:
Overview: A method that relates the rotations
(slopes) at the ends of members to the
displacements and external loads applied on the
structure.
Procedure: Express the bending moments at the
ends of the members in terms of rotations and
displacements. Solve a system of simultaneous
equations derived from equilibrium and
compatibility conditions.
Applications: Useful for analysing beams and
frames where joint rotations are significant.
Advantages: Provides accurate results for
deflections and rotations.
Disadvantages: Requires solving multiple
simultaneous equations, making it laborious for
large structures.
c. Force Method (Method of Consistent
Deformations):
Overview: In this method, redundant forces or
reactions are selected and removed to create a
statically determinate primary structure.
Compatibility conditions are then used to solve for
the redundant forces.
Procedure: Remove enough unknowns (reactions
or forces) to make the structure statically
determinate. Apply compatibility conditions (e.g.,
ensuring that displacements at certain points are
zero) to find the removed unknowns.
Superimpose the results of the determinate
structure with the effects of the redundant forces.
Applications: Works well for simple indeterminate
structures like beams with a single redundant
support.
Advantages: Conceptually straightforward.
Disadvantages: Becomes complex for structures
with high degrees of indeterminacy or multiple
redundancies.
2. Numerical Methods
a. Finite Element Method (FEM):
Overview: A powerful computational technique
used to analyze complex indeterminate structures
by breaking them down into smaller, simpler
elements (finite elements).
Procedure: Divide the structure into finite
elements. Formulate equations for each element
based on its stiffness. Assemble the global
stiffness matrix for the entire structure and solve
for unknown displacements and forces.
Applications: Widely used in structural,
mechanical, and civil engineering to analyze
everything from simple beams to highly complex
3D structures.
Advantages: Can handle highly complex and
indeterminate structures, including those with
nonlinear material behaviour.
Disadvantages: Requires specialized software and
computational resources.
b. Matrix Methods (Stiffness and Flexibility
Methods):
Overview: The matrix methods are systematic
approaches using matrices to solve for unknown
displacements and forces in indeterminate
structures.
Stiffness Method: Involves constructing a global
stiffness matrix that relates nodal displacements
to applied forces.
Flexibility Method: Involves formulating flexibility
matrices to solve for the unknown forces based on
compatibility conditions.
Applications: Commonly used in computer-aided
structural analysis software.
Advantages: Extremely versatile and capable of
solving large-scale structures with many degrees
of indeterminacy.
Disadvantages: Requires computer software for
efficient solution of large problems.
Advantages and Disadvantages of Indeterminate
Structures
Advantages of Statically Indeterminate
Structures:
Greater Stability: Statically indeterminate
structures are more stable than determinate
structures because they have additional supports
or members. This makes them less likely to
collapse due to unexpected failures or
overloading.
Example: In a continuous beam, if one support
fails, the load is redistributed to other supports,
preventing immediate failure.
Better Load Distribution: Indeterminate structures
distribute loads more evenly across multiple
members or supports, leading to more efficient
use of materials and reducing stress
concentrations.
Example: Continuous beams in bridges distribute
the weight of vehicles over multiple spans,
reducing the maximum bending moment in each
span compared to a simply supported beam.
Redundancy: Indeterminacy provides redundancy,
meaning that if one member or support fails, the
structure can still remain standing because the
other members take up the load.
Example: Multi-span bridges have multiple
supports, so even if one support weakens, the
structure remains functional.
Reduced Deflections: Indeterminate structures
generally experience smaller deflections under
load because the extra supports or constraints
help to resist movement more effectively.
Example: A propped cantilever beam has smaller
deflection compared to a simple cantilever beam
of the same length and load.
Disadvantages of Statically Indeterminate
Structures:
Complex Analysis: Indeterminate structures
require more advanced mathematical methods for
analysis, such as the moment distribution method,
slope-deflection method, or numerical techniques
like finite element analysis (FEA). Example: A
continuous beam requires compatibility
conditions to calculate the internal forces and
reactions, which are not needed in a determinate
beam.
Sensitivity to Support Movements: Indeterminate
structures are more sensitive to changes in
support conditions, such as settlement or
movement. Small changes can lead to large
internal stresses and unexpected deformations.
Example: In a fixed beam, even slight settlement
of one support can introduce significant moments
and cause damage to the structure.
Thermal and Shrinkage Effects: Temperature
changes or material shrinkage can induce
additional stresses in indeterminate structures, as
they are not free to expand or contract as easily as
determinate structures. Example: A statically
indeterminate beam subjected to temperature
variations may develop significant internal forces
due to constrained thermal expansion.
Increased Construction Cost: Due to the need for
more materials (additional supports or members),
statically indeterminate structures often involve
higher construction costs. Example: Continuous
beams require more supports and foundations,
which increase the overall project cost.
Complex Design and Detailing: The design of
indeterminate structures is more complex and
may require sophisticated modelling and detailing
to ensure that all potential load paths and failure
modes are considered. Example: A portal frame
with fixed joints requires detailed analysis to
ensure that the internal forces at the connections
are accurately accounted for.
Conclusion
The degree of static indeterminacy (DSI) of a
structure is the number of redundant forces in it.
The DSI is calculated by subtracting the number of
equilibrium equations from the number of
unknown reactions in the structure. The DSI
indicates that there are more unknown forces
than there are equations that can be obtained
from statical equilibrium alone.
References

A textbook of “ANALYSIS OF STRUCTURES” by Dr.

S.K. Duggal.
A textbook of “STRUCTURAL ANALYSIS” by G.S.
Pandit & S.P. Gupta

Thank You