Statically indeterminate members (axially loaded only

When the reactive forces or the internal resisting forces over a cross section
exceed the number of independent equations of equilibrium, the structure is
called statically indeterminate. These cases require the use of additional
relations that depend on the elastic deformations in the members.
Consider the bar shown in Figure, which is fixed supported at both of its ends.
From its free-body diagram, there are two unknown support reactions.
Equilibrium requires:

 Fy  0  F B  FA  500  0

This type of problem is called statically indeterminate, since the equilibrium

equation is not sufficient to determine both reactions on the bar. An additional
equation needed for solution called compatibility equation that specifies the
conditions for displacement. In this case, the displacement of end A of the bar
with respect to end B to equal zero, since the end supports are fixed. Realizing
that the internal force in segment AC is (+FA), and in segment CB it is (-FB),
then the compatibility equation can be written as

FA  2 FB  3
  0  FA  1.5FB
AE AE
FA  300 N
FB  200 N

1
 EXAMPLE 2-10
The steel rod shown in Figure, has a diameter of 10 mm. It is fixed to the wall at A, and before it is loaded,
there is a gap of 0.2 mm between the wall at B and the rod. Determine the reactions on the rod if it is subjected
to an axial force of P = 20 kN. (Neglect the size of the collar at C). Take Est = 200 GPa.

We will assume that force P is large enough to cause the rod’s

end B to contact the wall at B′. When this occurs, the problem
becomes statically indeterminate since there are two unknowns
and only one equation of equilibrium.

F x 0
FA  FB  20000  (1)
FA  LAC FB  LCB
  0.0002
AE AE
FA  0.4 FB  0.8
  0.0002
AE AE
0.4 FA  0.8 FB  0.0002 AE
0.4 FA  0.8 FB  0.0002    0.0052  200 109
0.4 FA  0.8 FB  3141.6
FA  2 FB  7854  ( 2)
2 FB  7854  FB  20000  FB  4048.67 N  4.048kN
FA  2  4048.67  7854  15951.33N  15.951kN
NOTE:
Since the answer for FB is positive, indeed end B contacts the wall at B as originally assumed. If FB were a negative
quantity, the problem would be statically determinate, so that FB = 0 and FA = 20 kN.

2
EXAMPLE 2-11
The three steel bars shown in the Figure, are pin connected to a rigid member. If the applied load on the
member is 15 kN, determine the force developed in each bar. Bars AB and EF each have a cross-sectional
area of 50 mm2, and bar CD has a cross-sectional area of 30 mm2.

 F  0  F  F  F  15  (1)
y A C E

 M  0  F  0.4  15  0.2  F  0.4

C A E

0.4 FA  3  0.4 FE  ( 2)
A E C   E

0. 8 0. 4
1 1
C   A   E
2 2
FC L FA L FE L
 
30 Est 2  50  Est 2  50  Est
FC  0.3FA  0.3FE  (3)

Solving Eqs. 1–3 simultaneously yields:

FA  15  FC  FE
FC  0.3(15  FC  FE )  0.3FE
FC  4.5  0.3FC  FC  3.46kN
FA  15  3.46  FE  11 .538  FE
0.4(11 .538  FE )  3  0.4 FE  FE  2.02kN
FA  15  3.46  2.02  9.52kN

3
EXAMPLE 2-12
A reinforced concrete column 200 mm in diameter is designed to carry an axial compressive load of 300 kN.
Determine the required area of the reinforcing steel if the allowable stresses are 6 MPa and 120 MPa for the
concrete and steel, respectively. Use Eco = 14 GPa and Est = 200 GPa.
 con  st
PL PL
( )con  ( ) st
AE AE
L L
( )con  ( ) st
E E
L L
( )con  ( ) st  100 con  7 st
14000 200000
100 con  7 120
 con  8.4 MPa  6 MPa Not o.k
 con  6 MPa  100  6  7 st
 st  85.71MPa  120 MPa
Use  con  6 MPa
and  st  85.71MPa
F y  0  Pcon  Pst  300
 st Ast  con Acon  300
85.71Ast 6( 1002  Ast )  300 1000
79.71Ast 60000  300000
Ast  1398.9mm2

4
H.W
A circular steel bar ABC (E = 200 GPa) has cross sectional area A1 from A to B and cross-sectional area A2
from B to C. The bar is supported rigidly at end A and is subjected to a load P equal to 40 kN at end C. A
circular steel collar BD having cross-sectional area A3 supports the bar at B. The collar fits snugly at B and D
when there is no load. Determine the elongation AC of the bar due to the load P.
(Assume L1=2L3=250 mm, L2=225 mm, A1=2A3=960 mm2, and A2=300 mm2.)

5
Problems Involving Temperature Changes
A change in temperature can cause a body to change its dimensions. Generally, if the temperature increases,
the body will expand, whereas if the temperature decreases, it will contract. If the material is homogeneous
and isotropic, it has been found from experiment that the displacement of the end of a member having a length
(L) can be calculated using the formula:

Where:
a = Linear coefficient of thermal expansion 1/C°.
∆T = Algebraic change in temperature of the member (Tfinal-T initial).
L = Original length of the member
dT = Algebraic change in the length of the member

T
 thermal   T
L
 thermal  TE

The effect of temperature changing is only important in statically

indeterminate members. This means, temperature change causes stresses
and strains only in indeterminate elements, while determinate elements
elongate and shrink freely without any stress and strain.

6
EXAMPLE 2-13
A plastic bar ACB having two different solid circular cross sections is held between rigid supports as shown in
the figure. The diameters in the left and right parts are 50 mm and 75 mm, respectively. The corresponding
lengths are 225 mm and 300 mm. Also, the modulus of elasticity E is 6.0 GPa, and the coefficient of thermal
expansion is 100 x10-6/C°. The bar is subjected to a uniform temperature increase of 30°C.Calculate the
following quantities:
(a) the compressive force P in the bar.
(b) the maximum compressive stress sc.
(c) the displacement of point C.

 T  TL  100 10 6  (30  0)  ( 225  300)  1.575mm

PL1 PL2 225 300
P    P(  )
A1 E A2 E   25  6000   37.52  6000
2

T   P
225 300
1.575  P(  )
  252  6000   37.52  6000
P  51781N
P 51781
c    26.4 MPa
A1 1963.5
PL1
c    TL1  0.989  0.675  0.314mm
A1 E

7
EXAMPLE 2-14
The rigid beam shown in the Figure is fixed to the top of the three posts made of steel and aluminum. The
posts each have a length of 250 mm when no load is applied to the beam, and the temperature is T1=20C.
Determine the force supported by each post if the bar is subjected to a uniform distributed load of 150 kN/m
and the temperature is raised to T2 = 80C. (Est = 200 Gpa and Eal = 73.1 GPa.).

F y 0
2 Fst  Fal  90000
 st  ( st ) F  ( st )T
 al  ( al ) F  ( al )T
 ( st ) F  ( st )T  ( al ) F  ( al )T
FL FL
( ) st  (TL) st  ( ) al  (TL) al
AE AE
Fst  0.25
  12 10 6 (80  20)  0.25 
  0.02  200 10
2 9

Fal  0.25
  23 10 6 (80  20)  0.25
  0.03  73.1 10
2 9

Fst  1.216 Fal  165900

Fst  16.4kN
Fal  123kN
The negative value for Fst indicates that this force acts opposite to that
shown in the Figure. In other words, the steel posts are in tension and
the aluminum post is in compression.

8
EXAMPLE 2-15
The rigid bar ABC in Figure is pinned at B and attached to the two vertical rods. Initially, the bar is horizontal
and the vertical rods are stress-free. Determine the stress in the aluminum rod if the temperature of the steel
rod is decreased by 40°C. Neglect the weight of bar ABC.

( st )T    T  L  11.7 10 6  40  900  0.4212mm

A  al
   A  0.5 al
0.6 1.2
( st )T   st  0.5 al
PL PL
0.4212  ( ) st  0.5( ) al
AE AE
Pst  900 P 1200
0.4212   0.5  al
300  200000 1200  70000
28080  Pst  0.4762 Pal  (1)
M B 0
0.6 Pst  1.2 Pal  Pst  2 Pal  ( 2)
280800  2 Pal  0.4762 Pst
Pal  11340 N
Pal 11340
 al    9.45MPa
Aal 1200

9
H.W
As shown in Figure, there is a gap between the aluminum bar and the rigid slab that is supported by two
copper bars. At 10°C, d = 0.18 mm. Neglecting the mass of the slab, calculate the stress in each rod when the
temperature in the assembly is increased to 95°C. For each copper bar, A= 500 mm2, E = 120 GPa, and α =
16.8 µm/(m·°C). For the aluminum bar, A = 400 mm2, E = 70 GPa, and α = 23.1 µm/(m·°C).

10
EXAMPLE 2-16
A steel rod of diameter 15 mm is held (without any initial stresses) between rigid walls by the arrangement
shown in the Figure. Calculate the temperature drop ∆T (degrees Celsius) at which the average shear stress in
the 12-mm diameter bolt becomes 45 MPa. (For the steel rod, use a=12x10-6/°C and E=200 GPa.)

    T  L
PL
   T  L
AE
P  AE    T
P
V Double Shear
2
AE    T
V
2
V AE    T
 
Abolt 2 Abolt
2   Abolt
T 
AE  

2  45  122
T  4

200  152 12 10 6
4
T  24 C

11