ABSTRACT

A structure refers to a system of connected parts

used to support a load. Important examples
related to civil engineering include buildings,
bridges, and towers; and in other branches of
engineering, ship and aircraft frames, tanks,
pressure vessels, mechanical systems, and
JAZAN UNIVERSITY electrical supporting structures are important.
When designing a structure to serve a specified
COLLEGE OF ENGINEERING function for public use, the engineer must
account for its safety, aesthetics, and
GRUP-6910 serviceability, while taking into consideration
economic and environmental constraints.

Supervisor by: D.R/Ali al-tom This paper explores the fundamental concepts
of determinate and indeterminate structures in
civil engineering. Determinate structures are
No.ID:202109116 those in which the internal forces and reactions
can be determined using statics principles alone,
NO.SN/22 while indeterminate structures require
additional analysis methods due to having more
unknown internal forces than equations
available. The paper provides examples of each
type of structure, including simply supported
beams and continuous beams, and discusses the
analysis methods commonly used for
indeterminate structures, such as the flexibility,
stiffness, and force methods. The importance of
understanding the type of structure being
analyzed and choosing the appropriate analysis
DETERMINATE AND INDETERMINATE method for ensuring the safety and stability of
the structure
STRUCTURES
Understanding Determinate and Indeterminate Preparation:Abdulaziz Hamzy
Structures: Analysis Methods and Design
Considerations in Civil Engineering
CONTENTS:

1.0. Introduction

2.0. Determinate Structures

3.0. Indeterminate Structures

4.0. Idealization of the Structure

4.1. Equations of static equilibrium

4.2. Free body diagram

5.0. Geometric Stability & Static Determinacy and Indeterminacy of Trusses, beams and frames

5.1. Stability of structure

5.2. Static determinacy of structures.

5.3. Difference between DETERMINATE AND INDETERMINATE STRUCTURES

5.4. DETERMINATE AND INDETERMINATE STRUCTURES

6.0. Determinacy in Truss

6.1. Degree of External indeterminacy in Truss

6.2. Degree of internal indeterminacy in Truss

6.3. Total degree of Indeterminacy

7.0. Determinacy of Beams

7.1. External indeterminacy in beams

7.2. Fixed beam

7.3. Simply supported beam with hinged supports

7.4. Continuous beam

8.0. Determinacy of Frame

8.1. Degree of indeterminacy for multi-storeyed frame

8.2. External indeterminacy:

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 8.3. Total number of external reactions = 9

8.4. Internal indeterminacy:

9.0. Conclusion

1.0. INTRODUCTION:
Structure is generally classified into two categories as Determinate and Indeterminate
Structures or Redundant Structures for analysis of structures to find forces based on
criteria discussed below.
Structure is an assemblage of a number of components like slabs, beams, columns, walls,
foundations and so on, which remains in equilibrium. It has to satisfy the fundamental
criteria of strength, stiffness, economy, durability and compatibility, for its existence.
Any structure is designed for the stress resultants of bending moment, shear force,
deflection, torsional stresses, and axial stresses. If these moments, shears and stresses
are evaluated at various critical sections, then based on these, the proportioning can be
done.
Evaluation of these stresses, moments and forces and plotting them for that structural
component is known as analysis. Determination of dimensions for these components of
these stresses and proportioning is known as design.
Determinate structures are analysed just by the use of basic equilibrium equations. By
this analysis, the unknown reactions are found for the further determination of stresses.
Redundant or indeterminate structures are not capable of being analysed by mere use of
basic equilibrium equations.
Along with the basic equilibrium equations, some extra conditions are required to be used
like compatibility conditions of deformations etc to get the unknown reactions for drawing
bending moment and shear force diagrams.
Example of determinate structures are imply supported beams, cantilever beams, single
and double overhanging beams, three hinged arches, etc.
Examples of indeterminate structures are: fixed beams, continuous beams, fixed arches,
two hinged arches, portals, multistoried frames, etc.
Special methods like strain energy method, slope deflection method, moment distribution
method, column analogy method, virtual work method, matrix methods, etc are used for
the analysis of redundant structures.

Structural analysis is an essential aspect of civil engineering, which involves evaluating

the strength, stability, and integrity of structures under different loads and forces. In this
paper, we will discuss determinate and indeterminate structures, two fundamental
concepts that every civil engineer should be familiar with.

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2.0. DETERMINATE STRUCTURES:
A determinate structure is one in which the internal forces and reactions can be
determined using statics principles alone. In other words, the number of unknown internal
forces in a determinate structure is equal to the number of equations available to solve
them. Examples of determinate structures include simply supported beams, trusses, and
frames.

FIGURE 1: SIMPLY SUPPORTED BEAM

In Figure 1, we see a simply supported beam, which is a determinate structure. The internal
forces and reactions can be calculated using statics principles, and the deformation under
load follows a predictable pattern.

3.0. INDETERMINATE STRUCTURES:

In contrast, an indeterminate structure is one in which the internal forces and reactions
cannot be determined using statics principles alone. This is because indeterminate

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structures have more unknown internal forces than the equations available. Additional
analysis methods are required to determine the internal forces and reactions. Examples
of indeterminate structures include continuous beams, arches, and cable-stayed bridges.

FIGURE 2: CONTINUOUS BEAM

In Figure 2, we see a continuous beam, which is an indeterminate structure. The internal

forces and reactions cannot be determined using statics principles alone, as there are
more unknowns than equations available. The deformation under load can be more
complex and may vary along the length of the beam.

Analysis Methods for Indeterminate Structures: Several methods can be used to analyze
indeterminate structures. The most common methods include the flexibility method, the
stiffness method, and the force method. The flexibility method involves using the
deformations of the structure to determine the internal forces and reactions, while the
stiffness method involves using the stiffness matrix of the structure to determine the
internal forces and reactions. The force method involves using equilibrium equations to
determine the internal forces and reactions.

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 FIGURE 3: ARCH BRIDGE

In Figure 3, we see an arch bridge, which is an example of an indeterminate structure. The

internal forces and reactions cannot be determined using statics principles alone, as there
are more unknowns than equations available. The flexibility method is commonly used to
analyze arch bridges, as it allows for the calculation of the internal forces and reactions
based on the deflections of the structure.

4.0. IDEALIZATION OF THE STRUCTURE:

The techniques used to represent various structural systems by line drawing to analyse the
structures. Idealized models used in structural analysis that represent pinned and fixed supports
and pin-connected and fixed-connected joints.

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4.1. E QUATIONS OF STATIC EQUILIBRIUM
According to cartesian coordinate system, equations of static equilibrium are written as

ΣFx = ΣFy = ΣFz = 0 – Algebraic sums of components of all external forces along x, y and z axes = 0

ΣMx = ΣMy = ΣMz = 0 – Algebraic sums of components of all moments along x, y and z axes = 0

External forces can be divided in to two groups:

1. Applied loads,
2. Reactive forces

For the static equilibrium of plane structures three equations of equilibrium are enough to be
satisfied. They are,

ΣFx = 0, ΣFy= 0 and ΣMz = 0.

For the static equilibrium of space structures all the above mentioned six equations of
equilibrium are to be satisfied.

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4.2. FREE BODY DIAGRAM

A free body diagram is a diagrammatically representation of the isolated body or

combination of bodies treated as a single body, showing all forces applied to it by
mechanical contact with other bodies that are imagined to be removed.

It is a concept to visualize the internal forces of a body. The free body diagram is the most
important single step in the solution of problems in mechanics.

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5.0. GEOMETRIC STABILITY & STATIC DETERMINACY AND
INDETERMINACY OF TRUSSES, BEAMS AND FRAMES
5.1. STABILITY OF STRUCTURE .

Stability depends on:

 Number of support reaction

 On the arrangements of the support reaction, but not depend on the strength of
individual members

If the structure is said to be stable:

 Can support any possible system of applied load

 Have sufficient number of reaction to prevent motion or translation
 The arrangements of the support reaction are non-concurrent and non- parallel.

If the structure is unstable:

 Insufficient number support reaction (which means have more possibility of equation
than unknown support reaction).
 The arrangements of the reaction component are concurrent and parallel .

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5.2. STATIC DETERMINACY OF STRUCTURES .

 Statically indeterminate structures are those structures which cannot be analyzed

with the help of equations of static equilibrium alone.
 A structure is statically indeterminate when it possesses more members or is
supported by more reactive restraints than are strictly necessary for stability and
equilibrium.
 In analysis of statically indeterminate structures, the number of unknowns is
greater than the number of independent equations derived from the conditions of
static equilibrium.
 Additional equations based on the compatibility of deformation must be written
in order to obtain sufficient number of equations for the determination of all the
unknowns.
 The number of such additional equations required for the determination of all the
unknowns is known as the degree of static indeterminacy or degree of redundancy
of the structure.

5.3. DIFFERENCE BETWEEN DETERMINATE AND INDETERMINATE STRUCTURES

Determinate Structures Indeterminate Structures

1 Equilibrium conditions are fully adequate Conditions of equilibrium are not
to analyse the structure. adequate to fully analyse the
structure.
2 Bending moment or shear force at any Bending moment or shear force at any
section is independent of the material section depends upon the material
property of the structure. property.
3 The bending moment or shear force at The bending moment or shear force at
any section is independent of the cross- any section depends upon the cross-
section or moment of inertia. section or moment of inertia.
4 Temperature variations do not cause Temperature variations cause
stresses. stresses.
5 No stresses are caused due to lack of fit. Stresses are caused due to lack of fit.
6 Extra conditions like compatibility of Extra conditions like compatibility of
displacements are not required to displacements are required to analyse
analyse the structure. the structure along with the
equilibrium equations.

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5.4. D ETERMINACY IN T RUSS

 The use of beams/plate-girders does not always provide the most economic or suitable
structural solution when spanning large openings.
 In buildings which have lightly loaded, long span roofs, when large voids are required
within the depth of roof structures for services, when plated structures are impractical,
or for aesthetic/architectural reasons, the use of roof trusses, lattice girders or space-
frames may be more appropriate.
 Such trusses/girders/frames, generally, transfer their loads by inducing axial tension or
compressive forces in the individual members.

6.0. DEGREE OF EXTERNAL INDETERMINACY IN TRUSS

 External indeterminacy is related to how stably the support system exerts reaction
components.
 It can be calculated as the number of external reaction components in excess of the
number of equilibrium equations required for the static determinacy or minimum number
of reaction components required for stability.
 A structure is usually externally indeterminate or redundant if the reactions at the
supports cannot be determined by using the available equations of equilibrium.

The external indeterminacy (E) can thus be said as

Total number of reaction components (R) – minimum number of reaction components required
for stability (r)

I.e. E = R – r

The degree of external indeterminacy is E = (R – 6) for space structures and E = (R – 3) for plane
structures

6.1. DEGREE OF INTERNAL INDETERMINACY IN T RUSS

 Internal indeterminacy is related to the members that are more in number than that is
required for stability.
 When there is more number of members in the structure, there could be more numbers
of stress resultants that are unknowns to be found for the complete analysis.

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  It can be said that the internal indeterminacy is based on the number of additional
members present in the frame than that is required for a determinate structure, in the
case of pin jointed structures and is based on the excess number of internal stress
resultants in the case of rigid jointed structures.
 In a pin jointed structure the number of internal stress resultants is only one, ie either
tension or compression. Hence instead of saying as number of excess stress resultants it
can be said as number of excess members.

For pin jointed plane structures to be internally determinate, the equation to be satisfied is

m = 2j – 3; where m = number of members and j = number of joints.

The basic pin jointed plane internally determinate structure can be a triangular structure with 3
members and 3 joints. See fig. 1.1.

Further the pin jointed plane internally determinate structure can be created by adding 2
members and 1 joint. See fig 1.2.

Hence the equation to be satisfied for the structure to be determinate can be coined as number
of members (m) = 2 times number of joints (j) – first three joints. (Of course, for the basic
triangular structure, No. of members = number of joints)

The basic pin jointed space truss to be determinate should contain at least 6 members and 4
joints. See fig. 1.3. Further expansion of such determinate space truss can be done by adding 3
members and one joint. See fig. 1.4.

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For the basic structure as in fig 1.3, the governing equation can be framed as m = 3j – 6.

The same equation is applicable for further addition of members and joints to form determinate
space structure. The degree of internal indeterminacy in case of pin jointed structures can then
be written as

I = m – (2j – 3) for plane trusses &

I = m – (3j – 6) for space trusses

Generally the degree of internal indeterminacy in case of rigid frames is determined as the
number of unknown internal stress resultants minus the number of equilibrium

6.2. T OTAL DEGREE OF I NDETERMINACY

Total degree of indeterminacy or redundancy is equal to the number by which the unknowns (ie.
Reaction components as well as stress resultants) exceed the condition equations of equilibrium.
The excess restraints are called as redundant.

7.0. DETERMINACY OF BEAMS

A stable structure should have at least three reactive components, but not always sufficient, for
external stability of a 2D structure, which are non-concurrent and non-parallel.

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7.1. E XTERNAL INDETERMINACY IN BEAMS

Stable and indeterminate to two degrees No. of reactions possible = 5

No. of Equations of equilibrium available = 3 Degree of External indeterminacy = 5 – 3 = 2

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7.2. FIXED BEAM

Stable and indeterminate to three degrees

No. of reactions possible = 6

No. of Equations of equilibrium available = 3

Degree of External indeterminacy = 6 – 3 = 3

7.3. S IMPLY SUPPORTED BEAM WITH HINGED SUPPORTS

Simply supported beam with hinged supports

Stable and indeterminate to one degree

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No. of reactions possible = 4

No. of Equations of equilibrium available = 3

Degree of External indeterminacy = 4 – 3 =1

7.4. CONTINUOUS BEAM

Stable & externally indeterminate to 5th degree

8.0 DETERMINACY OF FRAME

Frames are often used in building and are composed of beams and columns that are either pin
or fixed connected like truss, frame s extend in two or three dimensional. The loading on a frame
causes bending of its members, and if it has rigid joint connections, this structure is generally
‘’indeterminate’’ from the moment interaction between the beams and columns at the rigid
joints.

8.1. DEGREE OF INDETERMINACY FOR MULTI -STOREYED FRAME

Method 1 Consider the two bay two storeyed frame shown in the fig.

External indeterminacy:

Total number of external reactions = 9

Hence the degree of external indeterminacy = R – r = 9 – 3 = 6

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8.2. I NTERNAL INDETERMINACY :
Consider the upper storey. Let the number of vertical members in the storey be x. Number of
internal reactions corresponding to x vertical members is 3x. Since three statical equations of
equilibrium are available the degree of internal redundancy for this storey is

3x – 3 = 3(x – 1)

If there are n number of storeys and each storey has x vertical members, then the degree of
internal redundancy would be 3(x – 1)(n – 1).

If the number of vertical members is different for different storeys, say x1 for the first storey and
x2 for the second story etc.,

Total degree of internal indeterminacy = 3(x2 – 1)+3(x3 – 1)+ ….. +3(xn – 1)

= 3(x2+ x3+…..+ xn) – 3(n – 1)

(x2+ x3+…..+ xn) = Total number of columns in the upper storeys excluding the first storey.

= m (say)

Therefore degree of internal indeterminacy = 3m – 3(n – 1) = 3(m – n + 1)

In our case, m = 3, n = 2, The degree of internal indeterminacy = 3(3 – 2 + 1) = 6

Total degree of Indeterminacy = 6 + 6 = 12

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9.0. CONCLUSION:
Determinate and indeterminate structures are two fundamental concepts that every civil
engineer should be familiar with. Determinate structures can be analyzed using statics
principles alone, while indeterminate structures require additional analysis methods. By
understanding the type of structure being analyzed, engineers can choose the
appropriate analysis method and ensure the safety and stability of the structure under
various loading conditions.

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