Introduction to Structural Analysis

INTRODUCTION
Mechanics, is the branch of physics concerned with the behaviour of physical bodies when
subjected to forces or displacements, and the subsequent effect of the bodies on their
environment.

◼ Statics - bodies at rest or moving with uniform velocity

◼ Dynamics - bodies accelerating

◼ Strength of materials - deformation of bodies under forces.

◼ Structural Mechanics - focus on behavior of structures under loads.

Structural Analysis is a process by which the structural engineer determines the response
of a structure to be specified loads or actions.

Response :

▪ Magnitude of force development (collapse)

▪ Magnitude of deformation (serviceability) 2

Structural Engineering Projects can be divided into 4 stages.
1. Planning phase
• Material
• Structural form
• Loads
2. Analysis
3. Design
4. Construction

The design of a structure involves many considerations, among which are 4 major
objectives that must be satisfied.

1) Safety (the structure must carry loads safely)

2) Economy (the stucture should be economical in material and overall costs)
3) Utility (the structure must meet the performance requirement)
4) Beauty (the stucture should have a good performance)

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Therefore, the purpose of structural analysis is to determine the reactions, internal forces
and deformations at any point of a given structure caused by applied loads and forces.

Types of Structural forms

• Tension and Compression structures
• Flexural beam and frame structures (load carrying is achieved by bending)
• Surface structures (load carrying is by membrane action)

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 1 kN

1 kN

Tension Compression

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Tensile Failure Compressive Failure

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 Various components carry different types of loads
The human skeleton is a structure which maintains the shape of the body,
keeps the various organs and muscles in the right place and transmits
loads down to the ground

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The spider’s web is
a good example
of a tension
structure. The
weight of the spider
and its prey is
supported by tensile
strength of the web

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 Fig.1

Figures 1and 2 Fig.2

◼ All materials and structures deflect,
to greatly varying extents, when
they are loaded. The science of elasticity is about the interactions between forces and
deflections. The material of the bough is stretched near its upper surface and
compressed or contracted near its lower surface by the weight of the monkey

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◼ A building structure safely transmits loads down to Earth
 Important Structural Properties

Strength : Ability to withstand a given stress without failure. Depends on type of material
and type of force (tension or compression).

Stiffness : Property related to deformation. Stiffer structural elements deform less under
the same applied load. Stiffness depends on type of material (E), structural shape, and
structural configuration.Two main types; Axial stiffness and Bending stiffness.

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Stiff Stiffer

Stiffest

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13
 Arch

Arches carry the dominant permanent load case

(usually full dead load) in pure axial
compression.

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 Truss
C

T C
C

T
Forces in Truss Members

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 1 kN

Bending
Frame

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Flat Plate

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Folded Plate

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Shells

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 Structural Shapes

◼ Rectangle / Square
◼ Triangle
◼ Interested in stability
◼ Truss
◼ Geodesic Dome
Rectangle
◼ Advantages
◼ Proficient in
resisting
vertical load.
◼ Disadvantages
◼ No lateral
support
 Triangle
◼ Advantages
◼ Able to withstand
lateral & vertical
loading
◼ Many triangular
shapes available
◼ Disadvantage
◼ Wide base
 Rectangle
◼ Advantages
◼ Proficient in
resisting
vertical load.
◼ Disadvantages
◼ No lateral
Need
(horizontal)
another bar
for lateral load support
support!
--
BRACING--
 Truss

◼ Combination of square and triangle

 Truss

◼ Combination of square and triangle

Squares
 Truss

◼ Combination of square and triangle

Triangles
 Truss

◼ Combination of square and triangle

◼ Both vertical and lateral support
Geodesic Dome
Domes
 Domes

◼ Advantages
◼ Very strong shape, gets strong as the dome
size increases
◼ Perfect load distribution
◼ No need for structural supports
◼ Great aerodynamic performance
 Structural Components
Colum Girder
◼ Beams n

◼ Girders
◼ Columns
◼ Floors
◼ Foundations
Beam
 Load Path
◼ Floor

◼ Beams

◼ Girders

◼ Columns

◼ Foundation

◼ Soil/Bedrock
Support Connections
• Roller support (allows rotation/translation)
• Pin connection (allows rotation)
• Fixed joint (allows no rotation/translation)

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A beam have a variety of supports.
- roller ( 1-DOF)
- pinned ( 2-DOF)
- fixed ( 3-DOF)

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The process of defining an ideal structure from a real structure is called modeling. To
carry out practical analysis it becomes necessary to idealize a structure.

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A beam have a variety of loads.
- point loads
- distributed loads
- applied moments

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A beam can be classified as statically
determinate beam, which means that it can be
solved using equilibrium equations, or it is ...

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A beam can be classified as statically
indeterminate beam, which can not be solved with
equilibrium equations. It requires a compatibility
condition.

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Structural Analysis

CASE STUDY
CASE STUDY:
Analysis Process
Washington Monument
Steps for structural analysis:

1) Structural Idealization

2) Applying Loads

3) Calculating Reactions

4) Calculating Internal Forces

5) Calculating Internal Stresses

6) Evaluating Safety and Efficiency

CASE STUDY:
Analysis Process
Washington Monument
Steps for structural analysis:

1) Structural Idealization

2) Applying Loads

3) Calculating Reactions

4) Calculating Internal Forces

5) Calculating Internal Stresses

6) Evaluating Safety and Efficiency

1. Structural Idealization =
Analysis Process
Structural Modeling

• How can I simplify geometry?

Assume an average cross-section

• How is it supported?

“Fixed” base
 1. Structural Idealization =
Analysis Process
Structural Modeling

Determing an average cross section:

 1. Structural Idealization =
Analysis Process
Structural Modeling

Structural supports (and their idealizations):

 1. Structural Idealization =
Analysis Process
Structural Modeling

Four different types of end conditions:

What do these supports do?

CASE STUDY:
Analysis Process
Washington Monument
Steps for structural analysis:

1) Structural Idealization

2) Applying Loads

3) Calculating Reactions

4) Calculating Internal Forces

5) Calculating Internal Stresses

6) Evaluating Safety and Efficiency

 2. Applying Loads
Analysis Process

What loads act on this structure?

 2. Applying Loads
Analysis Process

DEAD LOADS:
 2. Applying Loads
Analysis Process

WIND LOAD:
 2. Applying Loads
Analysis Process

WIND LOAD:
CASE STUDY:
Analysis Process
Washington Monument
Steps for structural analysis:

1) Structural Idealization

2) Applying Loads

3) Calculating Reactions

4) Calculating Internal Forces

5) Calculating Internal Stresses

6) Evaluating Safety and Efficiency

3. Calculating Reactions
Analysis Process
3. Calculating Reactions
Analysis Process
3. Calculating Reactions
Analysis Process

Reactions in the Washington Monument (Dead)

3. Calculating Reactions
Analysis Process

Reactions in the Washington Monument (Wind)

CASE STUDY:
Analysis Process
Washington Monument
Steps for structural analysis:

1) Structural Idealization

2) Applying Loads

3) Calculating Reactions

4) Calculating Internal Forces

5) Calculating Internal Stresses

6) Evaluating Safety and Efficiency

4. Calculating Internal Forces
Analysis Process
4. Calculating Internal Forces
Analysis Process
4. Calculating Internal Forces
Analysis Process
4. Calculating Internal Forces
Analysis Process
4. Calculating Internal Forces
Analysis Process
CASE STUDY:
Analysis Process
Washington Monument
Steps for structural analysis:

1) Structural Idealization

2) Applying Loads

3) Calculating Reactions

4) Calculating Internal Forces

5) Calculating Internal Stresses

6) Evaluating Safety and Efficiency

5. Calculating Internal Stresses
Analysis Process
5. Calculating Internal Stresses
Analysis Process
5. Calculating Internal Stresses
Analysis Process
5. Calculating Internal Stresses
Analysis Process
5. Calculating Internal Stresses
Analysis Process
5. Calculating Internal Stresses
Analysis Process
5. Calculating Internal Stresses
Analysis Process
CASE STUDY:
Analysis Process
Washington Monument
Steps for structural analysis:

1) Structural Idealization

2) Applying Loads

3) Calculating Reactions

4) Calculating Internal Forces

5) Calculating Internal Stresses

6) Evaluating Safety and Efficiency

6. Evaluating Safety and
Analysis Process
Efficiency
6. Evaluating Safety and
Analysis Process
Efficiency