Mechanics of Solids 1 / 12

Chapter 10
STATICALLY INDETERMINATE BEAMS

10.1 INTRODUCTION

Most of the structures encountered in real-life are Statically Indeterminate.

Statically Indeterminate Beams: No. of Reactions > No. of Eqns. of Equilibrium

Degree of Static Indeterminacy = No. of Reactions in excess of the No. of Eqns of

Equilibrium.

Static Redundants = excess reactions; must be selected for each particular case.

Assumption throughout this chapter is that the beams are made of Linearly Elastic
Materials.

10.2 TYPES OF STATICALLY INDETERMINATE BEAMS

- Propped Cantilever Beam P

Ax A B
MA

Ay
By
- Fixed – End Beam P
Ax A B Bx
MA MB
Ay By
P
- Continuous Beam A B C
Ax
(more than one span)

Ay
By Cy
There are 4 ways of solving these types of problems.
1. Use of the deflection curve
2. Moment – Area Method
3. Superposition (Flexibility Method)
4. Indeterminate Beams Tables (handout)

We will examine No. 1 & 3, above.

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Chapter 10

10.3 ANALYSIS BY THE DIFFERENTIAL EQUATIONS OF THE

DEFLECTION CURVE

1. pick redundant reaction

2. express other reactions in terms of the redundant reaction
3. write diff. eqn. of the deflection curve
4. integrate to obtain general solution
5. apply B.C. to obtain constants of integration & the redundant reaction
6. solve for the remaining reactions using equations or equilibrium

This method is useful for:

- simple loading conditions
- beams of only one span (not good method for continuous beam)
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Chapter 10
EXAMPLE No. 1

GIVEN:
The beam shown. q
A B

FIND:
Reactions at supports using the deflection curve.

SOLn:
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Chapter 10
OPTIONAL

MOMENT – AREA METHOD (just mention)

1. pick redundant reaction(s)

2. remove redundant reaction(s) to leave a statically determinate beam
3. apply loads on released structure
4. draw M / EI diagram for these loads
5. apply redundant reactions as loads
6. draw M / EI diagram for redundant reactions
7. apply moment – area theorems to find redundant reactions
8. solve for remaining reactions using equations of equilibrium

Once reactions are determined, stresses and deflections can be calculated.

Mechanics of Solids OPTIONAL 5 / 12
Chapter 10
EXAMPLE No. 2
q lb / ft
GIVEN:
A B
The beam shown.
L ft 2L ft

FIND:
Reactions at supports using the Moment – Area Method.

SOLn:
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Chapter 10

10.4 METHOD OF SUPERPOSITION

1. pick redundant reaction(s)

2. remove redundant reaction(s) to leave a statically determinate released structure
3. determine deflections due to loads on released structure
4. apply redundant reaction(s) as loads
5. determine deflections due to redundant reaction(s)
6. sum the deflections for the total deflection – this is the superposition principle
7. solve for the redundant reaction(s)
8. solve for the remaining reaction(s) using the eqns. Of equilibrium

continuous beams:

This beam has 4 supports and 2 eqns of equilibrium. Thus there are 2 redundant forces.

If all loads are vertical and there are no axial deformations,

then all reactions will be vertical.

The number of redundant forces is:

No. of Redundant Forces = No. of Supports – 2

2 Eqns of Equilibrium

We can analyze continuous beams by any of the previous methods but only superposition
is practical.

HINT: when there are more than 2 supports, select the bending moments in the beam at
the intermediate supports as the redundants.

Let’s see how this is done.

A B C
IA IB

LA LB
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Chapter 10

FBD

MA A B MB MB B C MC

RA RBL RBR RC
BL BR

Because the beam is continuous across B:  BL   BR ____________ ( 1 )

SUPERPOSITION  deflection due to LOADS + deflection due to REDUNDANTS

BL =  due to MA +  due to MB +  due to loads in AB ____________ ( 2a )

BR =  due to MB +  due to MC +  due to loads in BC ____________ ( 2b )

Case 7
MALA MBLA Appendix G
BL due to MA: BL1 =  due to MB: BL2 = Table G – 2
6 E IA 3 E IA
Page 909

MBLB MCLB
BR due to MB: BR1 = BR due to MC: BR2 =
3 E IB 6 E IB

SUBSTITUTING (the above terms for BL1 , BL2 , BR1 , BR2 into EQNs ( 2a ) & ( 2b ):

MALA MBLA
BL = + + BL3 due to LOADS in AB _______ ( 3a )
6 E IA 3 E IA

MBLB MCLB
BR = + + BR3 due to LOADS in BC _______ ( 3b )
3 E IB 6 E IB
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Chapter 10
We can use 2nd Moment – Area Theorem ( pg 628 )

Arclength : ∆ =  L

L
From 2nd M-A Th: EI∆ = Ax
∆
L ∆ = Ax
EI
Substituting in arclength: Ax
L =
EI

Ax
 =
EIL

GENERIC Moment Diagrams for EXTERNAL LOADS:

AA AB

xA xB

Substituting the above terms for BL3 & BR3 into EQNs ( 3a ) & ( 3b );
using EQN ( 1 ) and rearranging:

L  L L  L  6A x 6A x
M A  A   2 M B  A  B   M C  B    A A  B B
 IA   IA IB   IB  I A LA I B LB

3 – Moment equation

If IA = IB  I: 6 AA x A 6 AB x B
M A L A  2 M B  L A  LB   M C  LB     ___________ ( 4 )
LA LB

If LA = LB  L:
6
M A  4M B  M C    AA x A  AB x B 
L2
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Chapter 10

PROCEDURE: write one 3-moment equation for each intermediate support. This
provides as many equations as redundant moments.  solve simultaneously for
moments.

ASSUMPTION MADE:
The 2 extreme ends of the continuous beam were simply supported.

For fixed ends, see Text Example 10 – 4, Pg 724.

What happens if one or both are a fixed support?

ANS: the number of redundant moments will be increased.

SOLUTION:
Replace the fixed support by an additional span having an infinite moment of inertia.
This prevents rotation, which is what a fixed support does.

FIG 10 – 15 / pg 724

Moments found at points 1, 2, and 3 will be the same as in the original beam.

To find remaining reactions, the equations of equilibrium must be applied to each beam
section. For the example we just did;
RB = RBL + RBR

RBL is made up of 3 parts  MA , - MB , external load

LA LA

RBR is made up of 3 parts  MC , - MB , external load

LB LB

Must do this at each support.

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Chapter 10
EXAMPLE No. 1

GIVEN:
The beam shown. I’s are equal.

10 kN/m 8 kN
10 kN/m
1 2 3 8 kN m

2m 2m 2m 3m
R1 R2 R3
FIND:
Reactions at supports.

SOLn:
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Chapter 10

EXAMPLE No. 2
q lb / ft
A B
GIVEN:
The beam shown.
L 2L
FIND:
Reactions at the supports using superposition method.

SOLn:
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Chapter 10
INDETERMINATE BEAM TABLES (handout)