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Structural Analysis: Stability

A structural system is externally stable if it does not undergo any rigid body motion regardless of the position of applied loads. For a structure to be considered stable, it must be neither externally nor internally unstable. A structure is internally unstable if there exists a loading pattern that makes the equations for equilibrium of sums of forces and moments not equal to zero. Certain geometric patterns, like a rectangular pattern with members that are not properly restrained, can also cause internal instability.

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656 views4 pages

Structural Analysis: Stability

A structural system is externally stable if it does not undergo any rigid body motion regardless of the position of applied loads. For a structure to be considered stable, it must be neither externally nor internally unstable. A structure is internally unstable if there exists a loading pattern that makes the equations for equilibrium of sums of forces and moments not equal to zero. Certain geometric patterns, like a rectangular pattern with members that are not properly restrained, can also cause internal instability.

Uploaded by

Jessie Jade Duroja
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© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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Download as DOCX, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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Structural Analysis I (Lecture Notes) Stability

A structural system be it a beam, a truss, or a frame can be viewed as a rigid body that is
properly strained by one or more supports.

Such a system is said to be externally stable if:


 It does not undergo any rigid-body motion regardless of the position of the applied loads.
(No rigid-body motion means the structure is statically stable).
o Consider a simple frame structure supported by two rollers. If we apply a
horizontal load to the frame, it starts rolling horizontally on the support surface,
the structure undergoes rigid-body motion. Therefore, the frame is said to be
externally unstable.

o If, however, we replaced one of the rollers with a pin


support, the structure becomes externally stable as the pin prevents the rolling of
the frame on the support surface.

o Another example: We have a truss structure that rests on two supports: a pin and a
roller. Clearly, the supports prevent any rigid-body movement of the entire
structure. Yet, the truss is considered to be unstable.

o Why? Because, here we have localized rigid-body motion. Some of the truss
members are not properly restrained. They can have limited free movement. This
is called internal instability.

 A structure is said to be stable, if and only if, it is neither externally nor internally
unstable. To determine if a structure is stable, we need to ask three questions:
o Does there exist a loading pattern that makes equation ∑Fx ≠ 0

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Structural Analysis I (Lecture Notes) Stability

o Does there exist a loading pattern that makes equation ∑Fy ≠ 0


o Does there exist a loading pattern that makes equation ∑M ≠ 0
 If Yes, then the structure is considered unstable.
 Consider a simple beam resting on two rollers. Here, ∑Fx=0 cannot be satisfied, if a
nonzero force is placed on the beam because summing the forces in the x-direction gives
us P. Since P is not zero, then the sum cannot be zero. This implies that the structure is
unstable.

Other examples:

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Structural Analysis I (Lecture Notes) Stability

 Internal Stability (of trusses)


o Assuming a truss is externally stable, we can determine its internal stability is one
of two ways.
 The simplest way is to compare the number of equilibrium equations to
the number of unknowns for the truss. If the number of equations exceeds
the number of unknowns, the structure is considered unstable. Example:

 This truss has 6 joints and 8 members. Since,

Number of equations = 2 x Number of Joints = 2 x 6 = 12


Number of unknowns = Number of Members + Number of Support
Reactions = 8 + 3 = 11 unknowns
- Since the number of equations turns out to be greater than the
number of unknowns (12 > 11), therefore we can conclude that the
truss is unstable.
- However, this technique does not work in all cases. Example:

 The truss has 8 joints and 13 members.

Number of equations = 2 x Number of Joints = 2 x 8 = 16


Number of unknowns = Number of Members + Number of Support
Reactions = 13 + 3 = 16 unknowns

- The number of equations does not exceed the number of


unknowns, yet the structure is unstable because under a certain
loading pattern, the static equilibrium of the structure cannot be
maintained. How? Suppose we place a non-zero download load of
P at the midpoint of the bottom chord of the truss.

- This makes the vertical reaction at the left and the right end of the
truss equal P/2.

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Structural Analysis I (Lecture Notes) Stability

- Suppose we conceptually cut the truss along a vertical plane as


shown. And draw its free body-diagram.

- We know that for the structure to be in equilibrium, the


equilibrium equations must be satisfied for each segment. One of
the equations, however, cannot be satisfied for either segment.
Sum of the forces in the y-direction is not zero. For the left
segment: ∑Fy=P/2≠0. For the right segment: ∑Fy=P/2-P= -P/2≠0.
- Since P is not zero, the segments are not in equilibrium. This
means the structure is unstable.

 If the Geometry of a truss consists entirely of simple triangles, then the structure is
considered stable. Otherwise, the structure needs to be carefully inspected for geometric
patterns that are inherently unstable.

 Any truss structure that embodies this rectangular pattern is considered unstable.

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