Lecture 6

Flexibility matrix

Statically indeterminate structures with

multiple unknowns (redundant forces)

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Example: A beam ABC fixed at C, resting on roller supports at
A and B, and carrying a uniformly distributed load of q per
unit length. The beam has a constant flexural rigidity EI.
Find the reactions of the beam.

Degree of indeterminacy is two: two unknown reactions are

chosen as redundant forces.

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1. Choose the two unknown reactions as redundant forces, X1
and X2: vertical reaction at B and moment at C, such that
the released structure is a simply-supported beam.

Let 1 and 2 are general

coordinates and X1 and
X2 X2 are general forces.
∆1 and ∆2 are displacements
along the general
coordinates, due to the
X1 external forces and
redundant forces. They
are positive if in the same
The compatibility condition is direction of the forces.
∆1 = 0 DI=2, implies that we need
∆2 = 0 two more eqns. besides
the equilibrium eqns.
 Then the original
X2 structure is equivalent to
the released structure
X1 under the real load and
redundant forces, X1 and
X2, under the condition
that the combined
displacements along the
direction of the general
coordinates (or
X1 redundant forces) are
zero.
X2
 X2
∆1 = D1 + f11X1 + f12X2 = 0
X1 ∆2 = D2 + f21X1 + f22X2 = 0

X1
×X1

X2 ×X2
2. Calculate the displacements of the released
structure due to the external force.
D1 is the displacement along general coordinate 1, under the
external forces; D2 is the rotation along general coordinate 2,
under the external forces.
Both are negative in the case.

How to calculate D1 and D2?

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 M u1 M 0
D1 =  dx
EI
M0
1 1 1 2 L  1  
1 2 =−   qL   1 +   L 
qL EI  3 8 4  4 
8
5q ( 2l )
4
5qL4 5ql 4
=− =− =−
L4 384 EI 384 EI 24 EI

Mu1
X1=1 M u2M 0
D2 =  dx
EI
1 1 1 1 2 
=−  qL  1  L
EI  3 8 
Mu2 q(2l )
3
qL3 ql 3
=− =− =−
X2=1 24 EI 24 EI 3EI
3. Calculate the displacements due to the unit
redundant forces.
f11 is the displacement along general coordinate 1, under a
unit redundant force X1; f21 is the rotation along general
coordinate 2, under a unit redundant force X1. Both are
positive in the case.
How to calculate f11 and f21?

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 L4
M u1 M u 1
f11 =  dx
Mu1 EI
1 1 L L 
=    L
X1=1 EI  3 4 4 

=
L3
=
(2l )
=
l3
3

L4 48 EI 48 EI 6 EI

Mu1
M u 2 M u1
X1=1 f 21 =  dx
EI
1 1 L  1 
=    1  L  1 + 
1 EI  6 4  2 

Mu2 =
L2
=
(2l )
=
2
l2
16 EI 16 EI 4 EI
X2=1

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 Similarly, f12 is the displacement along general coordinate 1,
under a unit redundant force X2; f22 is the rotation along
general coordinate 2, under a unit redundant force X2.
Both are positive in the case.

Mu2
X2=1

L4
M u 2 M u1 l2
f12 =  dx = f 21 = Mu1
EI 4 EI
X1=1
M u2M u2 1 1  L 2l
f 22 =  dx =  1  1  L = =
EI EI  3  3EI 3EI
The final displacement are the results of the
superposition of the effects of the external loading
and the redundants on the released structure:
∆1 = D1 + f11X1 + f12X2 = 0
∆2 = D2 + f21X1 + f22X2 = 0

Or in the matrix form:

 1   D1   f11 f12   X 1  0

  =  +    = 
 2   D2   f 21 f 22   X 2  0

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Let
 f11 f12   X1   D1 
f =  X  =   D =  
 f 21 f 22  X2   D2 

Then one has D+  f X  = 0

where [f] is called flexibility matrix and its elements
are flexibility influence coefficients. In particular,
fij represents the displacement at coordinate i due
to a unit redundant at coordinate j. It is noted that
[f] depends on the choice of redundant forces.

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 Then the redundant forces can be obtained by
solving the above equation

X = − f −1D
 l3 l2 
 6 EI  8 − 3l 
4 EI  ql 3 − 5l 
 f  =    f −1 =
12 EI   D =  
l 2
2l 
 7l 3   24 EI −8
 − 3l 2l 
2

 4 EI 3EI 

ql 16  8 ql 2
X  =   X 1 = ql X2 =
14  l  7 14
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The final reactions and internal forces are the results
of the superposition of the effects of the external
loadings on the released structure and the effect of
the redundant forces.

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 M = M 0 + M u1 X 1 + M u 2 X 2

1 1
M0 M B = q(2l ) = ql 2
2

8 2
2l/4
2l
MB =  X1
Mu1 X1 4
l 8 4
=  ql = ql 2
2 7 7

1/2 1
MB =  X2
Mu2 X2 2
1 1 1 2
=  ql 2 = ql
2 14 28

3ql 2
28 ql 2 1 2 4 2 1 2 3 2
M B = − ql + ql + ql = ql
14 2 7 28 28
 General cases
If the number of releases is n, The simultaneous
equations of compatibility are
∆1 = D1 + f11X1 + f12X2 ++ f1iXi + + f1nXn = 0
∆2 = D2 + f21X1 + f22X2 ++ f2iXi + + f2nXn = 0

∆i = Di + fi1X1 + fi2X2 ++ fiiXi + + finXn = 0

∆n = Dn + fn1X1 + fn2X2 ++ fniXi + + fnnXn = 0

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Or in the matrix form, the order of the vectors and matrix
{X}, [f] and {D} is n1, nn, n1 :
Dn1 +  f nn X n1 = 0
 f11 f12  f1n 
f f 22  f 2n 
 f  =  21 
     
 
 f n1 f n2  f nn 
1. [f] is symmetric, i.e, fij = fji, which is the Maxwell’s
law of reciprocal displacements.
2. All the diagonal elements are positive. Others can be
positive, negative or nil.
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The redundant forces can be obtained by solving the
above equation as
X n1 = − f n−1n Dn1
The final reactions and internal forces are the results of
the superposition of the effects of the external
loadings on the released structure and the effect of the
redundant forces. It is usual to derive the moments
first based on M0 and Mu that are ready, then calculate
the shear forces and axial forces as the determinate
structures.
M = M 0 + M u1 X 1 + M u 2 X 2 +  + M un X n
M0 is the moments due to external forces;
M u1 , M u 2 , , M un are the moments due to a unit redundant.

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