18/10/2020

Flexibility Method …….

Flexibility Method

• Flexibility method ( sometimes referred to as Force

Method) is used to analyse statically indeterminate
structures.
• It is based on the application of Virtual Work Method
• We will cover the following
• Revision of Virtual Force and Virtual Displacement methods
• Definition of Statical Indeterminacy
• Formulation of the Flexibility Method
• Application of the Flexibility Method to framed structures

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Principle of virtual forces

P
dP2
dP1 2
1
2’
1’ r
r’ dPi
Deformable body in
equilibrium subject
to virtual forces.

Ri Rj

Virtual Force Method

P
A EI=const B z
DB=?
L

PxL
Mo

PxL
1
EI ( )=ko
R
dP=1
A B z

1.0xL
Mvirtual

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Virtual Force Method

pplication of Virtual Force Method for evaluation

w ofz deflection for statically determinate
beam
B
A D =?
B
L

wx L 2
2 Mo

wx L 2
1
2EI ( )=ko
R

dP=1
z

Mvirtual

Product Integral Table

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Product Integral Table B

A EI=const z
DB=?
L

PxL
Mo
PxL
EI 1
( )=ko
R
dP=1
A B z

a1=0 1.0×L L PL PL3 1.0xL

a2=PL/EI ∆B = 1×0+2 = Mvirtual
6 EI EI
b=1.0xL

Statically Indeterminate Structures

• DETERMINATE
• When all the forces (reactions) in a structure can be
determined from the equilibrium equations its called statically
determinate structure
• Structure having unknown forces equal to the available
equilibrium equations

No. of unknowns = 3 No. of unknowns = 4

No. of equilibrium equations = 3 No. of equilibrium equations = 4

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• Statically INDETERMINATE
structure
• Structure having more unknown
forces than available equilibrium
equations No. of unknowns = 4
• Additional equations needed to solve No. of equilibrium equations = 3
the unknown reactions
1 time statically indeterminate

No. of unknowns = 4 No. of unknowns = 10

No. of equilibrium equations = 3 No. of equilibrium equations = 9

1 time statically indeterminate 1 time statically indeterminate

Statically Indeterminate Structures

• Most of the structures designed today are statically indeterminate
• Reinforced concrete buildings are considered in most cases as a
statically indeterminate structures since the columns & beams are
poured as continuous members through the joints and over the
supports
• More stable compared to determinate structure
or in another word safer.
• In many cases more economical than
statically determinate structures.

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Comparison
Statically Determinate Structure Statically Indeterminate Structure
Large deflection compared to Smaller deflection than statically
statically indeterminate structure determinate structure
Deflection

P P
4

PL3 1 PL3
48EI 192EI

High bending moment requiring Smaller bending moment, smaller

Bending Moment

larger section sizes and more cross section and less material
material needed used
P P
2
1
PL PL
4 8

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further……
Statically Determinate Structure Statically Indeterminate Structure
ëSupport will not develop the ëWill develop horizontal force and
horizontal force and moments moment reactions that will ‘hold’
that are necessary to prevent the beam
total collapse ëCan re-distribute its load to its
ëThere is no load re-distribution redundant supports so there is
Form of failure

ëWhen the plastic hinge forms no sudden collapse

ëWhen the plastic hinge is
certain collapse for the system
formed the system becomes a
statically determinate structure
P P

Plastic Hinge Plastic Hinge

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… and a bit more …

Statically Determinate Structure Indeterminate Structure
No additional stress would develop Due to constrained strains
in the beam additional stress would develop
Temperature

P P

No additional stress would be Significant effect and additional

developed stress would develop
Displacement
Differential

P P

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• Statically INDETERMINATE
structure
• Structure having more unknown
forces than available equilibrium
equations
• Additional equations needed to solve
the unknown reactions

No. of unknowns = 4
No. of equilibrium equations = 3
1 time statically indeterminate

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Statically determinate continuous beam

w
z * 1
A B C D
& 𝐹, = 0; & 𝐹2 = 0; & 𝑀4 = 0
RA RD '() 0()
RB
2L L L
& 𝑀5 = 0

if the hinge at C is
removed
z
D & 𝑀5 = 0
A B
RA
RB RD
2L L L

This is a statically indeterminate structure, we have 3

unknown reactions and 2 equilibrium conditions

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Example 1 Flexibility Method y 30kN

Mo,A EI=const
A B C z
P=30kN
y :
∆5,, ≠ 0
MA 𝜃4,: = 0
A EI=const B C z :
R4,, (:)
∆4,, = 0 8m Primary
𝜃4 = 0 ∆5,, = 0
RA,y RC,y
∆4,, = 0
5m 3m Equivalent y
=5 ,,
8m M4 =
∆5,,5 ,, ≠ 0
A EI=const
C z
𝜃4,=> = 0
=
RC,y
Statically indeterminate beam, R4,,5,, (=>)
∆4,, = 0 8m
one time redundant Secondary

Compatibility

∆5,,
: =5 ,
∆5,, , 0
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Primary Structure

This is the statically determinate beam subject to applied load

only and with selected redundancy removed
:
∆5,, =?

30kN We implement the principle of Virtual Force by

applying a unit (virtual) force, dP=1, at C
A EI=const B C z
:
∆5,, ≠ 0
5m
30 x5=150kNm

Mo

150
EI 1
( )=ko
R

dP=1

A B z

1.0 x8 3
M virtual

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Secondary Structure
This is the statically determinate beam subject to =
∆5,,5 ,, =?
‘redundant’ reaction applied load only
We implement the principle of Virtual
=
A C ∆5,,5 ,, ≠ 0 Force by applying a unit (virtual) force,
z dP=1, at C to obtain the expression for
EI=const
8 displacement at C as a function of the RC,y
RC,y

MRC,y
RC,yx8

1
RC,yx8 ( )Rc,y=kRC,y
R
EI
dP=1
A C z

1.0xL
Mvirtual

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Compatibility Condition
P=30kN
y
Compatibility condition refers to the MA
A EI=const B C z
displacement at C, where we had the roller
support. The reaction (upwards) is obtained
from the original system condition that there is 𝜃4 = 0 ∆5,, = 0
RA,y
no vertical displacement at C ∆4,, = 0 RC,y
5m 3m

8m

38.64
M [kNm]
41.76
13.92
S [kN]
16.08

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Example 1 Flexibility Method y 30kN

Alternative approach A EI=const B C z
(:)
P=30kN 𝜃4,: ∆5,, = 0
𝜃4,: ≠ 0
y :
R4,, :
R 5,,
(:)
MA
A EI=const B C z Equivalent ∆4,, = 0 8m

𝜃4 = 0 ∆5,, = 0
RA,y 5m 3m
∆4,, = 0 y
RC,y 𝜃4,A4
MA
C
8m A
EI=const z
𝜃4,A4 ≠ 0 A4
Statically indeterminate beam, A R 5,,
R4,,4 (A )
∆4,,4 = 0 8m
one time redundant

𝜃4,: 𝜃4,A4 0
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y y
30kN 𝜃4,A4
MA
A EI=const B C z C
A
(:) EI=const z
𝜃4,: ∆5,, = 0
: 𝜃4,: ≠ 0 : 𝜃4,A4 ≠ 0 A
R4,, R 5,, A R 5,,4
(:) R4,,4 (A )
∆4,, = 0 8m ∆4,,4 = 0 8m
5x3 M MA
30
8 Mo MA
dM=1
A C dM=1
A C
EI=const
EI=const
Mvirtual Mvirtual
1.0
1.0

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The outcome should be the same….

P=30kN
y
MA
A EI=const B C z

𝜃4 = 0 ∆5,, = 0
RA,y
∆4,, = 0 RC,y
5m 3m

8m

38.64
M [kNm]
41.76
13.92
S [kN]
16.08

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One additional example to try J

55kN 125kN
y EI=const
MA
A B C D z

∆5,, = 0
RA,y
RC,y
4.5m 2.5m 3m

10m

276.1
M [kNm]
153.0
253.9

84.64
S [kN]
95.4 40.4

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• Next week we will apply the Flexibility

Method to framed statically indeterminate
structures.

• The tutorials next week will be on

application of Virtual Force and Virtual
Displacement methods

• These questions will be part of the

Reflection week Quiz

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Tutorial 4

55kN 125kN
y EI=const

A B C D z

∆B,, = 0
RA,y
RD,y
4.5m 2.5m 3m

10m
276.1
M [kNm]
153.0
253.9

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Flexibility Method …….

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