Scribd
Upload
236 views6 pages

Classification of Structures

The document discusses classifying structures as statically determinate, indeterminate, or unstable based on their internal stability and number of external reactions. A structure is determinate if its reactions can be determined from equilibrium equations, indeterminate if it has excess reactions, and unstable if it lacks sufficient reactions. Internal hinges add equations of condition to determine reactions for internally unstable structures.

Uploaded by

Mayco-nel Siapno
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
236 views6 pages

Classification of Structures

The document discusses classifying structures as statically determinate, indeterminate, or unstable based on their internal stability and number of external reactions. A structure is determinate if its reactions can be determined from equilibrium equations, indeterminate if it has excess reactions, and unstable if it lacks sufficient reactions. Internal hinges add equations of condition to determine reactions for internally unstable structures.

Uploaded by

Mayco-nel Siapno
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
You are on page 1/ 6

CLASSIFICATION OF STRUCTURES

A. Static Determinacy of Internally Stable Structures


An internally stable structure is considered to be statically determinate externally if all its support reactions
can be determined by solving the equations of equilibrium. Since a plane internally stable structure can be
treated as a plane rigid body, in order for it to be in equilibrium under a general system of coplanar loads, it
must be supported by at least three reactions that satisfy the three equations of equilibrium.

If a structure is supported by more than three reactions, then all the reactions cannot be determined from
the three equations of equilibrium. Such structures are termed statically indeterminate externally. The
reactions in excess of those necessary for equilibrium are called external redundants, and the number of
external redundants is referred to as the degree of external indeterminacy.

If a structure is supported by fewer than three support reactions, the reactions are not sufficient to prevent
all possible movements of the structure in its plane. Such a structure cannot remain in equilibrium under a
general system of loads and is, therefore, referred to as statically unstable externally.

In Summary, the conditions of static instability, determinacy, and indeterminacy of plane internally stable
structures can be summarized as follows:

where r =number of reactions

1. Examples of Externally Statically Indeterminate Plane Structures (𝒊𝒆 – degree of indeterminacy)


2. Example of Externally Statically Unstable Plane Structure

3. Reaction Arrangements Causing External Geometric Instability in Plane Structures


B. Static Determinacy of Internally Unstable Structures—Equations of Condition
Consider an internally unstable structure composed of two rigid members AB and BC connected by an
internal hinge at B, as shown in Fig. (a). The structure is supported by a roller support at A and a hinged
support at C, which provide three nonparallel nonconcurrent external reactions. As this figure indicates,
these reactions, which would have been sufficient to fully constrain an internally stable or rigid structure, are
not sufficient for this structure. The structure can, however, be made externally stable by replacing the roller
support at A by a hinged support to prevent the horizontal movement of end A of the structure. Thus, as
shown in Fig. (b), the minimum number of external reactions required to fully constrain this structure is four.

Obviously, the three equilibrium equations are not sufficient to determine the four unknown
reactions at the supports for this structure. However, the presence of the internal hinge at B yields an
additional equation that can be used with the three equilibrium equations to determine the four
unknowns. The additional equation is based on the condition that an internal hinge cannot transmit
moment; that is, the moments at the ends of the parts of the structure connected to a hinged joint
are zero. Therefore, when an internal hinge is used to connect two portions of a structure, the
algebraic sum of the moments about the hinge of the loads and reactions acting on each portion of
the structure on either side of the hinge must be zero.

We can conclude that if there are ec equations of condition (one equation for each internal hinge
and two equations for each internal roller) for an internally unstable structure, which is supported by
r external reactions, then if

For an externally indeterminate structure, the degree of external indeterminacy is expressed a


1. Examples: Classify each of the structures shown in Fig. B as externally unstable, statically
determinate, or statically indeterminate. If the structure is statically indeterminate externally,
then determine the degree of external indeterminacy.

SOLUTIONS:
PRACTICE PROBLEMS:

INSTRUCTIONS: COPY AND ANSWER THE FOLLOWING PROBLEMS IN A YELLOW SHEET OF PAPER. YOU WILL SUBMIT
IT ON THURSDAY (DECEMBER 14, 2023) DURING OUR TIME PERIOD.

Classify each of the structures shown as externally unstable, statically determinate, or statically indeterminate. If the
structure is statically indeterminate externally, then determine the degree of external indeterminacy.

You might also like