INTRODUCTION TO

STRUCTURAL ANALYSIS
STRUCTURAL THEORY I
WHAT IS A STRUCTURE?
• It refers to a system of connected parts used to support a load
(Hibbeler, 2012).
• It is a series of connected, interrelated elements that form together
a system that can resist a series of external load effects applied to it,
which includes its own self weight, and provide adequate rigidity
(Dean, 2016).
• It is one in which the members are arranged in such a way that the
weights, loads & forces are transmitted to the foundations by the
cheapest means consistent with its intended use and nature
(“Definition of Structure and Masonry Structure”, 2014).
EXAMPLES OF STRUCTURES
• In Civil Engineering: • In Other Branches of
• Buildings Engineering:
• Bridges • Ships
• Towers • Aircraft Frames
• Tanks
• Pressure Vessels
• Mechanical Systems
• Electrical Supporting
Systems
CLASSIFICATION OF STRUCTURES
• A. STRUCTURAL ELEMENTS
• 1. Tie Rods – or bracing struts, are structural members
subjected to a tensile force. Tie rods are usually slender
because of the nature of the tensile force.
CLASSIFICATION OF STRUCTURES
• 2. Beams – are usually straight horizontal members used
primarily to carry vertical loads. They are primarily
designed to resist bending moment; however, if they are
short and carry large loads, the internal shear force may
become quite large and this force may govern their design.
CLASSIFICATION OF STRUCTURES
• Girder – is a type of
beam that supports
other beams.

(The term girder is often

interchangeable and
confused with the term
beam.)
CLASSIFICATION OF STRUCTURES
• 3. Columns – are members that are generally vertical and
resist axial compressive loads.

* Beam-column - is a structural member that is subjected to axial

compression and transverse bending at the same time.
CLASSIFICATION OF STRUCTURES
• B. TYPES OF STRUCTURES
• 1. Trusses – consists of slender elements, usually arranged
in triangular fashion. A truss is used when the span of a
structure is required to be large and its depth is not an
important criterion for design.
CLASSIFICATION OF STRUCTURES
• 2. Cables – are usually flexible and carry their loads in
tension. They are commonly used to support bridges, and
building roofs. When used for these purposes, the cable has
an advantage over the beam and the truss, especially for
spans that are greater than 150 ft (46 m).Because they are
always in tension, cables will not become unstable and
suddenly collapse, as may happen with beams or trusses
CLASSIFICATION OF STRUCTURES
• 3. Arches – achieve their strength in compression, since
they have a reverse curvature to that of the cable. The arch
must be rigid, however, in order to maintain its shape, and
this results in secondary loadings involving shear and
moment, which must be considered in its design. Arches are
frequently used in bridge structures, dome roofs, and for
openings in masonry walls.
CLASSIFICATION OF STRUCTURES
• 4. Frames –are often used in buildings and are composed of
beams and columns that are either pin or fixed connected.
The loading on a frame causes bending of its members, and
if it has rigid joint connections, this structure is generally
“indeterminate” from a standpoint of analysis. The strength
of such a frame is derived from the moment interactions
between the beams and the columns at the rigid joints.
CLASSIFICATION OF STRUCTURES
• 5. Surface Structures – is made from a material having a
very small thickness compared to its other dimensions.
Sometimes this material is very flexible and can take the
form of a tent or air-inflated structure. In both cases the
material acts as a membrane that is subjected to pure
tension.
STRUCTURAL ANALYSIS
• STRUCTURAL ENGINEERING – is the science and art of
planning, designing, and constructing safe and economical
structures that will serve their intended purposes.

• The performance characteristics commonly of interest in

the design of structures are (1) stresses or stress resultants,
such as axial forces, shear forces, and bending moments; (2)
deflections; and (3) support reactions.
STRUCTURAL ANALYSIS
• STRUCTURAL ANALYSIS – is the prediction of the
performance of a given structure under prescribed loads
and/or other external effects, such as support movements
and temperature changes.

• When designing a structure to serve a specified function for

public use, the engineer must account for its safety,
aesthetics, and serviceability, while taking into
consideration economic and environmental constraints.
BLDG. CODES AND STRUC. CODES
• In general, the structural engineer works with two types of
building codes: general building codes and design codes.
• General building codes specify the requirements of
governmental bodies for minimum design loads on
structures and minimum standards for construction.
• Design codes provide detailed technical standards and are
used to establish the requirements for the actual structural
design.
BLDG. CODES AND STRUC. CODES
• A structural code is written by engineers and other
specialists who are concerned with the design of a
particular class of structure (e.g., buildings, highway
bridges, or nuclear power plants) or who are interested in
the proper use of a specific material (steel, reinforced
concrete, aluminum, or wood). Typically, structural codes
specify design loads, allowable stresses for various types of
members, design assumptions, and requirements for
materials.
BLDG. CODES AND STRUC. CODES

•It should be realized, however, that

codes provide only a general guide
for design. The ultimate
responsibility for the design
lies with the structural
engineer.
REFERENCES
• Hibbeler, R. C. (2012). Structural Analysis (8th ed.). New
Jersey: Prentice Hall.
• Kassimali, A. (2010). Structural Analysis (4th ed.). Australia:
Cengage Learning.