ENGI 6705: Structural Analysis

Class: EN 2050
Instructor: A. S. J. Swamidas
Fall 2004
Telephone: 737-7983
Laboratory Technologist: Mr. Brian Tucker
Laboratory Assistant: Mr. Agung Budipriyanto
Rationale
The course will focus on the various classical methods of analysis developed for
analyzing common civil engineering structures and structural elements (such as
arch/truss/beam bridges, building frames, floor girders, etc.) encountered in practice.
Building up on the knowledge gained from earlier courses (such as Mechanics I,
Mechanics of solids I & II), the course will seek to introduce concepts of influence lines,
(required for moving loads analyses), approximate methods for indeterminate structural
analyses, force method for indeterminate structures (methods of consistent deformation),
slope deflection method (displacement or stiffness method), moment distribution method,
and matrix stiffness method. The material covered in the course will lay the essential
foundation required for higher methods of structural analysis such as finite element and
discrete/boundary element methods.
Contents
1.

Introduction
Requirements in structural design Classification of structures (1.2) Equations
of equilibrium (2.2 & 2.3) Determinacy, indeterminacy and stability (2.4, 3.2,
3.4, 3.8).
(3 hours)

2.

Cable/Arch Structures (Ch. 5)

Cables subjected to concentrated and uniform distributed loads Three-hinged
arches Castiglianos methods for two-hinged and fixed arches Problems.
(4 hours)

3.

Influence Lines or Statically Determinate and Indeterminate Structures (Ch.

6, 9.2, 9.3, 9.10 & 9.11)
Moving loads on bridges Equilibrium method for construction influence lines
Influence lines (I. L.) for reaction, shear and bending moments Influence lines
for uniformly distributed loads Muller-Breslaus methods for qualitative
influence lines Influence lines for floor girders and trusses Maximum
influence at any point due to a series of moving concentrated and distributed loads

 Absolute maximum shear force and bending moment Use of force method and
procedure for indeterminate beams Problems.
(8 hours)
4.

Approximate Methods of Analysis for Indeterminate Structures (Ch. 7)

5.

Trusses Building frames: Vertical and Horizontal loads Portal frames

with/without stiffening trusses Portal and cantilever methods Problems
(5 hours)
Slope-Deflection Method (Ch. 10)
General procedure Continuous beam analysis Introduction to frames
Problems.
(3 hours)

6.

Moment Distribution Method (Ch. 11 & 12)

General procedure Sign convention Stiffness factor, joint stiffness factor,
distribution factor, and carry-over factor Continuous beams Stiffness factor
modifications Frames without/with side-sway Inclined frames Structures
with members having varying moments of inertia - Problems
(6 hours)

7.

Displacement or Stiffness Method

Fundamentals of the procedure: members, nodes, degrees-of-freedom, global and
local coordinates Problems
(3 hours)

Laboratory Experiments
1.

Determinacy, Indeterminacy and Stability of Structures

2.

Experiment on method of Consistent Deformation

3.

Influence Lines for Beams: Experiment on Moving Loads over a Simplysupported Beam

4.

Influence Lines for Beams: Experiment on Moving Loads over a Three-span

Continuous Beam

5.

Experiment on Reactions Exerted by a Two-hinged Arch

6.

Experiment on Moment Distribution Method

7.

Experiment on Measurement of Stiffness characteristics of a Bent Frame

Text Book
R. C. Hibbeler, 2002. Structure analysis, Fifth Edition, Prentice Hall, New Jersey, USA,
ISBN 0-13-041825-0
Other Text Books of Merit
1. Analysis and Behavior of Structures by E.C. Rossow, Prentice hall, New Jersey, USA,
1996, ISBN 0-02-403913-6.
2. H.H. West and L.F. Geschwindner, Fundamentals of Structural analysis, Second
Edition, 2002, ISBN 0-471-35556-9
Assessment Procedure
15* (September 30, October 21 & Nov. 18)
20 (October 27)
15
50

Quizzes (3)
Mid-term Test (1)
Laboratories
Final Examination
Total
*
**

100**

Quiz tests will be held during tutorial hours. Two out of three will be taken for the
final marks
Final marks will be made up of: (a) Maximum according to the above assessment
procedure; or (b) Quiz marks + Laboratory marks + 70% for final examination
marks