Kandahar University

Engineering faculty
Civil department
Structure Analysis I
Chapter three

Equilibrium and Support Reactions

Lecturer: T.A. Esmatullah Masom

Date : 2023/9/ 25
Table Of Content
3.1 Equilibrium of Structures
3.2 External and Internal Forces
3.3 Types of Supports for Plane Structures
3.4 Static Determinacy, Indeterminacy, and Instability
3.5 Computation of Reactions
3.6 Principle of Superposition
3.7 Reactions of Simply Supported Structures Using Proportions
Assignment

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3.1 Equilibrium Of Structures
•A structure is considered to be in equilibrium if, initially at rest, it remains at
rest when subjected to a system of forces and couples.
•If a structure is in equilibrium, then all its members and parts are also in
equilibrium.
∑𝐹𝑥 = 0 ∑𝐹𝑦 = 0 ∑𝐹𝑧 = 0
∑𝑀𝑥 = 0 ∑𝑀𝑦 = 0 ∑𝑀𝑧 = 0
•These six equations are called the equations of equilibrium of space structures.
∑𝐹𝑥 = 0 ∑𝐹𝑦 = 0 ∑𝑀𝑧 = 0
•These three equations are the equations of equilibrium of plane structures.

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3.1 Equilibrium Of Structures
➢Concurrent Force Systems:
•Concurrent force are the forces which lines of action of all the forces intersect
at a single point.
•In concurrent forces the moment is zero.
oIn space structure:
∑𝐹𝑥 = 0 ∑𝐹𝑦 = 0 ∑𝐹𝑧 = 0
oIn plane structure:
∑𝐹𝑥 = 0 ∑𝐹𝑦 = 0

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3.1 Equilibrium Of Structures
➢Two-force And Three-force Structures:
1. In two force structures, the forces must be equal, opposite, and collinear.
Like trusses (tension, compression), cables, column.

2. In three force structures, the forces must be either concurrent or parallel.

Like beam, slab, frame.

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3.2 External And Internal Forces
•There are two type of forces
1. External forces
✓External loads and reactions.
2. Internal forces
✓Trusses ( tension, compression)
✓Axial force
✓Share forces
✓Bending moment

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3.3 Types Of Supports For Plane Structures

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3.4 Static Determinacy, Indeterminacy, And
Instability
➢Internal Stability:
•A structure is internally stable, or rigid, if it maintains its shape and remains a
rigid body when detached from the supports.

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3.4 Static Determinacy, Indeterminacy, And
Instability
➢Internal unstable:
•A structure is internally unstable (or nonrigid) if it cannot maintain its shape
and may undergo large displacements with no support.

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3.4 Static Determinacy, Indeterminacy, And
Instability
➢Static Determinacy of Internally Stable Structures:
𝑟 < 3 𝑡ℎ𝑒 𝑠𝑡𝑟𝑢𝑐𝑡𝑢𝑟𝑒 𝑖𝑠 𝑠𝑡𝑎𝑡𝑖𝑐𝑎𝑙𝑙𝑦 𝑢𝑛𝑠𝑡𝑎𝑏𝑙𝑒 𝑒𝑥𝑡𝑒𝑟𝑛𝑎𝑙𝑙𝑦
𝑟 = 3 𝑡ℎ𝑒 𝑠𝑡𝑟𝑢𝑐𝑡𝑢𝑟𝑒 𝑖𝑠 𝑠𝑡𝑎𝑡𝑖𝑐𝑎𝑙𝑙𝑦 𝑑𝑒𝑡𝑒𝑟𝑚𝑖𝑛𝑎𝑡𝑒 𝑒𝑥𝑡𝑒𝑟𝑛𝑎𝑙𝑙𝑦
𝑟 > 3 𝑡ℎ𝑒 𝑠𝑡𝑟𝑢𝑐𝑡𝑢𝑟𝑒 𝑖𝑠 𝑠𝑡𝑎𝑡𝑖𝑐𝑎𝑙𝑙𝑦 𝑖𝑛𝑑𝑒𝑡𝑒𝑟𝑚𝑖𝑛𝑎𝑡𝑒 𝑒𝑥𝑡𝑒𝑟𝑛𝑎𝑙𝑙𝑦
𝑟 = number of reactions.
•Degree of external indeterminacy:
𝑖𝑒 = 𝑟 − 3

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3.4 Static Determinacy, Indeterminacy, And
Instability
➢Static Determinacy of Internally Stable Structures:

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3.4 Static Determinacy, Indeterminacy, And
Instability
➢Static Determinacy of Internally Unstable Structures-Equations of
Condition:

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3.4 Static Determinacy, Indeterminacy, And
Instability
➢Static Determinacy of Internally Unstable Structures-Equations of
Condition:

oInternal hinge

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3.4 Static Determinacy, Indeterminacy, And
Instability
➢Static Determinacy of Internally Unstable Structures-Equations of
Condition:

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3.4 Static Determinacy, Indeterminacy, And
Instability
➢Static Determinacy of Internally Unstable Structures-Equations of
Condition:
r < 3 + 𝑒𝑐 𝑡ℎ𝑒 𝑠𝑡𝑟𝑢𝑐𝑡𝑢𝑟𝑒 𝑖𝑠 𝑠𝑡𝑎𝑡𝑖𝑐𝑎𝑙𝑙𝑦 𝑢𝑛𝑠𝑡𝑎𝑏𝑙𝑒 𝑒𝑥𝑡𝑒𝑟𝑛𝑎𝑙𝑙𝑦
r = 3 + 𝑒𝑐 𝑡ℎ𝑒 𝑠𝑡𝑟𝑢𝑐𝑡𝑢𝑟𝑒 𝑖𝑠 𝑠𝑡𝑎𝑡𝑖𝑐𝑎𝑙𝑙𝑦 𝑑𝑒𝑡𝑒𝑟𝑚𝑖𝑛𝑎𝑡𝑒 𝑒𝑥𝑡𝑒𝑟𝑛𝑎𝑙𝑙𝑦
r > 3 + 𝑒𝑐 𝑡ℎ𝑒 𝑠𝑡𝑟𝑢𝑐𝑡𝑢𝑟𝑒 𝑖𝑠 𝑠𝑡𝑎𝑡𝑖𝑐𝑎𝑙𝑙𝑦 𝑖𝑛𝑑𝑒𝑡𝑒𝑟𝑚𝑖𝑛𝑎𝑡𝑒 𝑒𝑥𝑡𝑒𝑟𝑛𝑎𝑙𝑙𝑦
𝑟 = number of reactions.
𝑒𝑐 = equation of condition.
•The degree of external indeterminacy is expressed as:
𝑖𝑒 = 𝑟 − (3 + 𝑒𝑐 )

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3.4 Static Determinacy, Indeterminacy, And
Instability
➢Alternative Approach :
1. Count the total number of support reactions 𝑟
2. Count the total number of internal forces 𝑓𝑖
3. Determine the total number of unknowns 𝑟 + 𝑓𝑖
4. Count the number of rigid members or portions 𝑛𝑟
5. Count the total number of equations available for the entire structure is 3𝑛𝑟
6. Determine whether the structure is statically unstable, determinate, or
indeterminate.

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3.4 Static Determinacy, Indeterminacy, And
Instability
➢Alternative Approach :
𝑟 + 𝑓𝑖 < 3𝑛𝑟 𝑡ℎ𝑒 𝑠𝑡𝑟𝑢𝑐𝑡𝑢𝑟𝑒 𝑖𝑠 𝑠𝑡𝑎𝑡𝑖𝑐𝑎𝑙𝑙𝑦
𝑢𝑛𝑠𝑡𝑎𝑏𝑙𝑒 𝑒𝑥𝑡𝑒𝑟𝑛𝑎𝑙𝑙𝑦
𝑟 + 𝑓𝑖 = 3𝑛𝑟 𝑡ℎ𝑒 𝑠𝑡𝑟𝑢𝑐𝑡𝑢𝑟𝑒 𝑖𝑠 𝑠𝑡𝑎𝑡𝑖𝑐𝑎𝑙𝑙𝑦
𝑑𝑒𝑡𝑒𝑟𝑚𝑖𝑛𝑎𝑡𝑒 𝑒𝑥𝑡𝑒𝑟𝑛𝑎𝑙𝑙𝑦
𝑟 + 𝑓𝑖 > 3𝑛𝑟 𝑡ℎ𝑒 𝑠𝑡𝑟𝑢𝑐𝑡𝑢𝑟𝑒 𝑖𝑠 𝑠𝑡𝑎𝑡𝑖𝑐𝑎𝑙𝑙𝑦
𝑖𝑛𝑑𝑒𝑡𝑒𝑟𝑚𝑖𝑛𝑎𝑡𝑒 𝑒𝑥𝑡𝑒𝑟𝑛𝑎𝑙𝑙𝑦
𝑖𝑒 = 𝑟 + 𝑓𝑖 − 3𝑛𝑟

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Example 3.1
Classify each of the structures shown in Fig. 3.17 as externally unstable,
statically determinate, or statically indeterminate. If the structure is statically
indeterminate externally, then determine the degree of external indeterminacy.

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Example 3.1
Solution:
a. This beam is internally stable with 𝑟 = 5 > 3 and statically indeterminate
externally
𝑖𝑒 = 𝑟 − 3 = 5 − 3 = 2
b. This beam is internally unstable with 𝑟 = 6, and one internal hinge 𝑒𝑐 = 1
𝑟 > 3 + 𝑒𝑐 and statically indeterminate externally
𝑖𝑒 = 𝑟 − (3 + 𝑒𝑐 ) = 6 − (3 + 1) = 2
Alternative Method: 𝑓𝑖 = 2, 𝑛𝑟 = 2, r + 𝑓𝑖 = 6 + 2 = 8,and 3𝑛𝑟 = 3 2 = 6 r
+ 𝑓𝑖 > 3𝑛𝑟 beam is statically indeterminate externally
𝑖𝑒 = r + 𝑓𝑖 − 3𝑛𝑟 = 8 − 6 = 2
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Example 3.1
Solution:
c. This structure is internally unstable with 𝑟 = 4, 𝑒𝑐 = 2 𝑟 < 3 + 𝑒𝑐 the
structure is statically unstable and determinate externally
Alternative Method: 𝑓𝑖 = 1, 𝑛𝑟 = 2, r + 𝑓𝑖 = 4 + 1 = 5,and 3𝑛𝑟 = 3 2 = 6 r
+ 𝑓𝑖 < 3𝑛𝑟 structure is statically unstable & determinate externally
d. This beam is internally unstable with 𝑟 = 5, 𝑒𝑐 = 2 𝑟 = 3 + 𝑒𝑐 beam
statically determinate externally
Alternative Method: 𝑓𝑖 = 4, 𝑛𝑟 = 3, r + 𝑓𝑖 = 5 + 4 = 9,and 3𝑛𝑟 = 3 3 = 9 r
+ 𝑓𝑖 = 3𝑛𝑟 beam is statically determinate externally

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3.5 Computation Of Reactions
1. Draw a free-body diagram (FBD) of the structure.
2. Check for static determinacy.
3. Determine the unknown reactions by applying the equations of equilibrium
and condition (if any) to the entire structure.
4. Apply an alternative equilibrium equation that has not been used before to
the entire structure to check the computations.

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Example 3.2
Determine the reactions at the supports for the beam shown in Fig. 3.18(a).

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Example 3.2
Solution:
Free-Body Diagram. shown in Fig. 3.18(b).
Static Determinacy. the beam is internally stable because no internal hinge,
supported by three reactions, 𝑅𝐴 , 𝐵𝑥 , and 𝐵𝑦 , so beam is statically
determinate.
Support Reactions:
+ ⤹ ∑𝑀𝐵 = 0
4
− 𝑅𝐴 6𝑚 + 54 𝑘𝑁 𝑠𝑖𝑛60° 3𝑚 − 27 𝑘𝑁 1.5𝑚 = 0
5
𝑅𝐴 = 20.8 𝐾𝑁 ↗

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Example 3.2
Solution:
+ → ∑𝐹𝑋 = 0
3
20.8 𝐾𝑁 − 54 𝑘𝑁 𝑐𝑜𝑠60° 3𝑚 + 𝐵𝑋 = 0
5
𝐵𝑋 = 14.5 𝐾𝑁
𝐵𝑋 = 14.5 𝐾𝑁 →
+ ↑ ∑𝐹𝑌 = 0
4
20.8 𝐾𝑁 − 54 𝑘𝑁 𝑠𝑖𝑛60° 3𝑚 + 𝐵𝑌 − (27 𝐾𝑁) = 0
5
𝐵𝑌 = 57.1 𝐾𝑁
𝐵𝑌 = 57.1 𝐾𝑁 ↑
Checking Computations: + ⤹ ∑𝑀𝐶 = 0
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Example 3.3
Determine the reactions at the supports for the beam shown in Fig. 3.17(a).

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Example 3.3
Solution:
Free-Body Diagram. See Fig. 3.19(b).
Static Determinacy. The beam is internally stable with 𝑟 = 3. it is statically
determinate.
Support Reactions. By applying the three equations of equilibrium,
+ → ∑𝐹𝑋 = 0
𝐵𝑋 = 0
+ ↑ ∑𝐹𝑌 = 0
−15 6 − 160 + 𝐵𝑌 = 0
𝐵𝑌 = 250 𝐾𝑁
𝐵𝑌 = 250 𝐾𝑁
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Example 3.3
Solution:
+ ⤹ ∑𝑀𝐵 = 0
−400 + 15 6 3 + 8 + 160 4 + 𝑀𝐵 = 0
MB = −1230 kN. m
MB = 1230 kN. m ⤸
Checking Computations.
+ ⤹ ∑𝑀𝐴 = −400 − 15 6 3 − 160 10 + 250 14 − 1230 = 0

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3.7 Reactions Of Simply Supported Structures
Using Proportions

∑𝑀𝐵 = 0 𝑎𝑛𝑑 ∑𝑀𝐴 = 0

𝑏 𝑎
𝐴𝑦 = 𝑃 𝑎𝑛𝑑 𝐵𝑦 = 𝑃( )
𝑠 𝑠

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Example 3.12
Determine the reactions at the supports for the truss shown in Fig. 3.30(a)

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Example 3.12
Solution:
Free-Body Diagram. See Fig. 3.30(b).
Static Determinacy. The truss is internally stable with 𝑟 = 3. it is statically
determinate.
Support Reactions.
+ → ∑𝐹𝑋 = 0
𝐴𝑋 = 0
4 5 3 2 1 1 −2
𝐴𝑦 = 75 + 150 + + 125 + 100 − + 50
6 4 4 4 4 4 4
𝐴𝑦 = 450 𝐾𝑁
𝐴𝑦 = 450 KN ↑
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Example 3.12
Solution:
−2 −1 1 2 3 5 6
𝐵𝑦 = 75 + 150 + + 125 + 100 + + 50
4 4 4 4 4 4 4
𝐵𝑦 = 300 𝐾𝑁
𝐵𝑦 = 300 KN ↑
Checking Computations.
+ ↑ ∑𝐹𝑌 = −75 − 2 150 − 125 − 2 100 − 50 + 450 + 300 = 0

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Assignment
✓Example 3.6, 3.8, 3.10
✓Submission date: 2023/10/3

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