Theory of Structure
Theory of Structure
General Introduction
The theory of structures deals with the principles and
methods by which direct stress, the shear and bending
moment, and the deflection at any section of each
constituent member in the structure may calculated
under given conditions of loading.
Bulk-active structure
A structure or structural member that redirects external forces
primarily through the and continuity of its materials, as beam or
column.
Vector-active structure
A structure that redirects external forces primarily through the
composition of tension and compression member, as a truss.
Surface-active structure
A structure that redirects external forces primarily along the
continuity of a surface as a plate or shell.
Flexible
Of or pertaining to a structure or structural
member characterized by lack of stiffness and
having a shape that responds to changes in
loading.
Form- active structure
A structure or structural member that redirects
external forces primarily through the form of
its material, as an arch or cable
Structural member
One of the constituent parts into which a structure may be
resolved by analysis, having a unitary character and
exhibiting a unique behaviour under an applied load.
Compression member
A structural member subjects primarily to compressive forces.
Strut
A structural member designed primarily to resist longitudinal
compression.
Tension member
A structural member subject primarily to tensile forces.
Tie
A tension member designed to keep two structural members
from spreading or separating.
Bending member
A structural member subject primarily to transverse forces.
One-way
Structure or structural member having a load
carrying mechanism that acts in one direction only.
Two-way
Structure or structural member having a load
carrying mechanism that acts into or more
directions.
Beam
A rigid structural member designed to carry and
transfer transverse loads across space to
supporting elements
span
The extent of space between two supports of a structure. Also, the
structure so supported.
clear span
The distance between the inner faces of the supports of a span.
effective span
The center-to-center between the supports of a span.
Dead loads- the weight of the structure itself,
including the weight of fixtures and
equipment permanently attached to it.
Live loads- the moving or movable external
load on a structure, includes the weight
of furnishings of a building, of people, of
equipment , etc, but does not include
wind load.
Shear- a deformation in a member or flexural
member in which parallel planes slide
relative to each other so as to remain
parallel.
Bending moment-the property by which a
force tends to cause a body to which it is
applied to rotate about a point or line, it
is equal in magnitude to the product of
the force and the perpendicular distance
of the point from the line of action of the
force.
Determinacy of Beams and Trusses
Criterion established for stability and determinacy of beams.
1. If r < c + 3 the beam is unstable
2. If r = c + 3 the beam is statically determinate
provided that no geometric instability
( internal or external ) is involved
3. If r > c + 3 the is statically indeterminate
Where:
r = the number of reaction elements
c = the number of equations of conditions
c = 1.0 for hinged
c=2 for roller
c=0 for beam without internal connection
There are beams where the number of reaction
elements is greater than the total number of
independent equations of statics available. The excess
number of unknown elements indicates the degree of
indeterminacy.
◦ b + r =16
◦ 2j = 16
◦ b + r = 2j ( statically determinate)