Home Structural Analysis Resources

Search

4.4 Determinate Frame Analysis

Frame structures are more complex than beams because they do not necessarily all lie along a straight line as beams do. INTRODUCTION TO STRUCTURAL
There can be both vertical members and members that are inclined on an angle. The rst part of this section will discuss ANALYSIS
the types of loads on inclined members and how to deal with them. Then, it will explain the method that is used to analyse
determinate frames.   Chapter 1: Introduction and Review
  Chapter 2: Stability, Determinacy and Reactions
  Chapter 3: Analysis of Determinate Trusses
Inclined Loads   Chapter 4: Analysis of Determinate Beams and Frames
For members that are inclined on an angle, it is often most convenient to analyse them by rst transforming all the loads 4.1 Introduction
on the member into the local member axis direction (perpendicular and parallel to the inclined member). This process is 4.2 Common Load Types for Beams and Frames
illustrated in Figure 4.7. 4.3 Determinate Beam Analysis
4.4 Determinate Frame Analysis
  4.5 Practice Problems
  Chapter 5: De ections of Determinate Structures
  Chapter 6: In uence Lines
  Chapter 7: Approximate Indeterminate Frame Analysis
  Chapter 8: The Force Method
  Chapter 9: The Slope De ection Method
  Chapter 10: The Moment Distribution Method
  Chapter 11: Introduction to Matrix Structural Analysis

Figure 4.7: Resolving Loads on Inclined Members into Local Axis Directions

Sample geometry for an inclined member is shown at the top of Figure 4.7. Four di erent types of inclined loadings are
shown in the gure.

The rst type shows the transformation of point loads on an inclined member into parallel and perpendicular
components.

The second type ('wind-type') is typical of distributed loadings caused by wind or other pressure-type loadings. The
distributed load is applied directly perpendicular to the inclined member and is distributed along the diagonal length of
the member (L/cosθ in this case). Since the load is already perpendicular, no transformation is needed.

The third type ('dead-type') is a distributed load that is not applied perpendicular to the member. In this case, it is
aligned with the global vertical axis direction to simulate the e ect of a vertical gravity (or 'dead') load. This type of load is
also distributed along the diagonal length of the member since the source of the load (in this case, the dead weight of the
member) is also distributed along the diagonal length. In this case, a direct trigonometric transformation may be used to
split the vertical distributed load into two di erent components, one perpendicular to the member (which will cause shear
and bending) and one parallel to the member (which will cause axial load) as shown in the gure.

The fourth and nal type ('snow-type') is a distributed load which is not perpendicular to the member and is also not
distributed along the member length, but along the horizontal projection of the member (in this case, the distance L). For
the case of a snow load, only a certain amount of snow can fall in a certain horizontal area, so the greater the inclination of
the member, the longer the length that the snow will be spread out over. The total vertical load here will be equal to
wsnow L , which is less than the corresponding total vertical load from the dead load case, which was equal to
wdead L/ cos θ. Before the snow-type distributed load can be split into perpendicular and parallel components, it must be
spread evenly over the diagonal length of the member (instead of the horizontal projection). If we split the total vertical
load wsnow L over the total diagonal length L/ cos θ then we get a new vertical distributed load equal to wsnow cos θ

which is now distributed along the diagonal length of the member. From here, the load may be distributed into
perpendicular and parallel components as was done for the dead-type load, which results in the components shown in
Figure 4.7.

Method for Analysing Determinate Frames

Analysing determinate frames is very similar to analysing determinate beams, except that you need to split up the frame
into separate members (which are each individually analysed as beams). There is also the added complexity of inclined
members and the inclusion of axial forces in the analysis, which we previously neglected when we were analysing beams.

The general steps for analysing a determinate frame are:

1. Use equilibrium to nd all reaction forces.

2. Split the frame into separate members.

Any point load or moment which acts directly on a joint between two or more members must be placed on
only ONE of the members when they are split up. It does not matter which member gets the point load, as
long as it is only on one.

3. Find all of the forces at the ends of each member using equilibrium on a free body diagram of the member alone.

4. Resolve all of the loads on the member into the local member axis directions (i.e. perpendicular to and parallel to the
member).

5. Now the axial moment, shear force and bending moment diagrams may be found by solving each member as if it was a
beam (see Section 4.3).

6. (Optional) Use the results from each member to draw overall axial force, shear force and bending moment diagrams for
the entire structure.

Example
The analysis of determinate frames will be demonstrated using the example structure shown in Figure 4.8.

Figure 4.8: Example Determinate Frame Structure

As a rst step, we can check that the structure is stable and determinate using the methods from Chapter 2. Using
equation (1):

ie = 3m + r − (3j + e c ) (1)

ie = 3m + r − (3j + e c )

= 3(3) + 3 − (3(4) + 0)

= 0

Since ie = 0 then the structure is determinate. It is also stable since there are no collapse mechanisms present.

The next step in the analysis is to nd the reaction forces. In this structure there are three reaction forces, Ax and Ay
at the left pin, and Dy at the right roller. We will nd the reactions using equilibrium on the entire structure. The free body
diagram of the structure is shown in Figure 4.9.

Figure 4.9: Example Frame Free Body Diagram

Starting with the moment equilibrium about point A to nd the vertical reaction at D (Dy ):

↶ ∑ MA = 0

−75(5) − 25(7)(3.5) + Dy (7) = 0

Dy = +141.1 kN

Dy = 141.1 kN ↑

For horizontal equilibrium, the horizontal reaction at A (Ax ) is originally assumed to be positive (pointing to the right):

→ ∑ Fx = 0

Ax + 75 = 0

Ax = −75 kN

But the negative solution tells us that Ax actually points to the left (as shown in Figure 4.9:

Ax = 75 kN ←

Vertical equilibrium:

↑ ∑ Fy = 0

Ay − 25(7) + Dy = 0

Ay − 25(7) + 141.1 = 0

Ay = +33.9 kN

Ay = 33.9 kN ↑

Now, the structure must be divided into separate members. Our structure will be divided into three members, AB, BC,
and CD. We will go through each in turn, solving for all the unknown end forces, axial force, shear force and moment
before moving on to the next member. The free body diagram and solution for member AB is shown in Figure 4.10.

Figure 4.10: Example Frame Member AB

The free body diagram (FBD) on the left of Figure 4.10 shows all of the information that is currently known about
member AB. It contains the known reactions at the base Ax and Ay . In addition, the unknown forces at point B are also
shown. To form the FBD for member AB, the structure had to be cut at point B. Since the structure is continuous at that
point, we know that vertical and horizontal forces and a moment must be transmitted across the cut. Since we don't know
anything about these forces yet, they are all drawn in the positive direction. The notation BAB
x means: "the force at point
B in the x-direction, acting on member AB." Likewise, MBAB means: "the moment at point B acting on member AB."

The FBD, has three unknowns: BAB

x , BAB
y , and MBAB . We can solve for these three unknowns using the equations of
equilibrium:

↶ ∑ MB = 0

AB
M − 75(8) = 0
B

AB
M = 600 kNm ↶
B

→ ∑ Fx = 0

AB
Bx − 75 = 0

AB
Bx = 75.0 kN →

↑ ∑ Fy = 0

AB
By + 33.9 = 0

AB
By = 33.9 kN ↓

The resulting solved FBD is shown in Figure 4.10.

Now that we know all of the forces acting on member AB, we can use the methods of beam analysis to nd the axial,
shear and moment diagrams which are shown in Figure 4.10.

The construction of the axial force diagram is similar to the shear force diagram, starting at one end, forces that are
parallel to the member that cause compression, move the axial force diagram one way, and forces that cause tension,
move it the other way. It doesn't matter which way is which on the diagram, as long as it is indicated on the diagram. The
compression side of the axial force diagram is shown with a 'C' in the gure. In this case, we can start at point A, assuming
that the member is xed at the other end (point B). The vertical reaction force at A of 49.5 kN causes the member to go
in compression, so we move the axial force diagram to the right by the same amount and indicate that side as being in
compression. There is no other load parallel to the member until point B, which has a force of 49.5 kN that would cause
tension in the member if it pushes it away from B (assume that the force acts just below point B). This pushes the axial force
diagram back to the left, meeting up with the member axis at 0.

The shear and moment diagrams for this member are simple and were constructed moving from bottom to top. The
moment diagram is 'drawn on the compression side.' This means that for whichever side of of the member that shows a
moment on the moment diagram, the extreme bre on that side of the beam will be in compression. For this member AB,
all of the moment is on the left side of the member. Therefore the left side of the member is in compression (and the right
side is in tension).

At a cut location, moment arrows always point towards the compression side of the member.

Now that member AB has been completely solved, we can move on to the next member, member BC, which is shown in
Figure 4.11.

Figure 4.11: Example Frame Member BC Equilibrium and Resolution of Forces into the Local Axis Direction

Part (a) of Figure 4.11 shows a free body diagram of member BC with all of the information that is currently known. Since
members AB and BC are on either side of the cut at point B, the forces and moments must be transferred at that point. So,
we can take the forces at point B from member AB and apply them to point B on member BC; however, we must be sure to
reverse the direction of the forces, since forces and moments must be equal and opposite on either side of a cut (as
previously discussed in Section 1.6). The horizontal force changes direction from right to left, the vertical force changes
from down to up, and the moment changes from counter-clockwise to clockwise. Again, there are three unknown
forces/moments at point C due to the cut between member BC and member CD: CxBC , CyBC , and MCBC . These may be
found using equilibrium:

↶ ∑ MC = 0

BC
M + 25(7)(3.5) − 33.9(7) − 75.0(2) − 600 = 0
C

BC
M = 374.8 kNm ↶
C

→ ∑ Fx = 0

BC
−75 + Cx = 0

BC
Cx = 75.0 kN →

↑ ∑ Fy = 0

BC
33.9 − 25(7) + Cy = 0

BC
Cy = 141.1 kN ↑

The resulting solved free body diagram is shown in Part (b) of Figure 4.11. Since member BC is an inclined member, we
need to resolve all of the forces into the local member directions (i.e. perpendicular and parallel to the member) before we
can nd the axial, shear and moment on the member. This process is shown in Parts (c) and (d) of the gure. Part (c) shows
how to convert the horizontal and vertical forces at point B into forces that are perpendicular and parallel to member BC.
To do this, each force must be split into two components, one perpendicular and one parallel to member BC. The
perpendicular components from each are then added together to get the total perpendicular point load at B:

Pperp = 75.0 sin θ + 33.9 cos θ

Pperp = 75.0 sin 15.9° + 33.9 cos 15.9°

Pperp = 53.2 kN ↖  (perpendicular to BC)

and the parallel forces are summed to get:

Ppara = −75.0 cos 15.9° + 33.9 sin 15.9°

Ppara = 62.8 kN ↙  (parallel. to BC)

The same process is followed for the point loads at point C.

Part (d) of Figure 4.11 shows the resulting point loads at either end of the member. It also shows the distributed load
resolved into the local axis (member) directions. The snow-type distributed load on the beam is resolved into the
perpendicular and parallel directions using the expressions previously shown in Figure 4.7:

2
wperp = wsnow cos θ

2
wperp = 25 cos 15.9°

wperp = 23.1 kN /m ↘

wpara = wsnow cos θ sin θ

wpara = 25 cos 15.9° sin 15.9°

wpara = 6.59 kN /m ↙

The moments are not a ected when translate the forces into the perpendicular and parallel directions.

Part (e) of Figure 4.11 shows the same fully solved free-body diagram as Part (d) but simply rotated to be horizontal so
−−−−−−
that it is easier to analyse. Note also that the length of the member itself (√72 = 7.28 m) is longer that the
2
+ 2

horizontal projection (7 m ).

Now that all of the loads on member BC are known, the axial, shear and moment diagrams may be constructed using
the methods for beam analysis. This process is shown in Figure 4.12.

Figure 4.12: Example Frame Member BC Axial, Shear and Moment

The axial force diagram is not constant for member BC, as shown in Figure 4.12, because the snow-type distributed load
on the member has a parallel component which acts along the length of the member. This parallel distributed load may be
called a traction along the length of the member. Moving from left to right, the member starts with a tension of 62.8 kN

which is then steadily reduced by a traction in the same direction of 6.59 kN m , which moves the axial force diagram
further towards the tension side. This results in a slope on the axial force diagram also equal to 6.59 kN m . At the right
end of the member, a nal compression (in the opposite direction) of 110.8 kN brings the axial force diagram back to
zero.

The shear force and bending moment diagrams are constructed as before, with particular attention to the slope of the
moment diagram at any point being directly equal to the value of the shear force diagram at the same point. The moment
diagram shown in Figure 4.12, starts with a jump up due to the clockwise moment at point B, then moves even higher due
to the shear between points B and B', before dropping once again between points B' and C. It is important to identify the
maximum moment and where that maximum moment occurs. The value of the maximum moment is easily found by adding
the moment at point B (600 kNm ) to the area under the shear force diagram between points B and B' (a triangle with a
height of 53.2 kN ). To nd the area of that triangle, we need to know the length of the base. This may be found using
similar triangles as shown (the total length of the member multiplied by the height of the small triangle divided by the total
height of both triangles). In this case the length of the smaller triangle is 2.303 m as shown. This also identi es the
location of the point of maximum moment, which should be identi ed on the moment diagram. Using this length, the area
under the shear force diagram between points B and B' is equal to 0.5(53.2)(2.303) = 61.2 kNm. This gives a
maximum moment of 600 + 61.2 = 661.2 kNm at a location 2.303 m from point B.

Since the shape of the shear force diagram is linear, then the shape of the moment diagram should be parabolic. The
shape of the parabola can be easily determined by sketching in the slope of the moment diagram at both ends as shown in
Figure 4.12 and by identifying locations of zero slope, which are also the points where the shear force diagram equals zero.
This moment diagram is again drawn on the compression side of the member and it can be seen that, as mentioned
previously, the point moments at the ends of the member point towards the compression side of the beam at either end.

Now that member BC is completely solved, we can move onto the nal member, member CD, which is shown in
Figure 4.13.

Figure 4.13: Example Frame Member CD

The free body diagram of member CD shown in Figure 4.13 includes all of the information that is known up to this point
(including the opposite direction forces from member BC at point C). As this gure shows, there are no unknown forces that
need to be found for member CD. This is typically the case with the nal member in a frame analysis. We have already
determined the forces at point D when we found the reactions using global equilibrium; however, we can use equilibrium
on member CD as a check that we have solved the rest of the frame properly. If we do this check and equilibrium is not
satis ed, then we have made a mistake in one of the previous steps. So, let's check equilibrium for member CD:

↶ ∑ MC = 0

−374.8 + 75(5) = 0 ✓

→ ∑ Fx = 0

75 − 75 = 0 ✓

↑ ∑ Fy = 0

141.1 − 141.1 = 0 ✓

All of the equilibrium equations are satis ed, so we can have some con dence that our solution is correct.

Knowing all of the forces on member CD, we can construct the axial, shear and moment diagrams using beam analysis
methods as shown in Figure 4.13.

Now that all of the axial, shear and moment diagrams have been constructed for each member, the last optional step is
to combine them onto a single diagram which shows the axial, shear and moment for the entire structure. Such diagrams
are shown in Figure 4.14.

Figure 4.14: Example Frame Solution Summary

‹ 4.3 Determinate Beam Analysis up 4.5 Practice Problems ›

The information on this website is provided without warantee or guarantee of the accuracy of the contents. Use it at your own risk. The author shall not be liable to any viewer of this site
or any third party for any damages arising from the use of this site, whether direct or indirect.
The information on this website, including all content, images, code, or example problems may not be copied or reproduced in any form, except those permitted by fair use or fair dealing,
without the permission of the author (except where it is stated explicitly). All copyrights are reserved by the author, Prof. Je rey Erochko, Carleton University, Ottawa, Canada, 2016.

Copyright © 2018, . Theme by Devsaran.