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Chapter-1
Indeterminacy and Stability of Structures

Reference: on the geometry of the deflected

“Indeterminate Structural Analysis” shape.
By - J. Sterling Kinney  Because indeterminate structures
have more supports or members than
 Determinate structure: If all the the minimum required to produce a
support reactions and internal forces stable determinate structure, they are
of a planar structure can be therefore generally stiffer than
determined by applying of three determinate structures and less likely
static equilibrium equations, the to collapse if a single support or
structure is referred to as member fails.
determinate structures. The three  Externally indeterminacy
equations of statics for a planer  Internal indeterminacy
structure can be stated as follows:
∑Fx = 0  Externally indeterminate
∑Fy = 0 structure:
∑M0 = 0 A structure is called statically
 Indeterminate structure: Highly indeterminate externally if all of its
restrained structures that cannot be support reactions cannot be
analyzed by the three static determined by solving the equations
equilibrium equations are termed of static equilibrium and condition.
indeterminate structures. The degree
of indeterminacy is given by static  Stability: It is an essential
indeterminacy. These structures precondition for a structure to be
require additional equations based able to carry the loads it is subjected

Prepared by: Farjana Akter, Senior Lecturer, Department of Civil Engineering, Stamford University Bangladesh
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to, and therefore being suitable for skeleton constructed with straight or
structural analysis. curved members interconnected by
 Most of the loaded planar structures mostly rigid connections which resist
remain rest and restrained against movements induced at the joints of
displacements by their supports. members. Such as: RC Frame structure.
Non-rigid frames: The frame which
 Internally stable structure: A can’t resist moment is called non-rigid
structure is considered to be frame. Such as: Truss.
internally stable, or rigid, if it Truss: In engineering, a truss is a
maintains its shape and remains a triangulated structure that consists of
rigid body when detached from the two axial force members. In truss the
supports. forces are must applied only at the end
of the member which resulted in either
 Unstable structure: If the equations compression or tension force in that
of statics cannot be satisfied for a member.
structure or any part of a structure, Internal hinge: The internal hinge is the
the structure is considered unstable. mechanism that makes the structure
more flexible and determinate by one
 Statically Unstable
and at which bending moment is always
 Geometrically Unstable
zero.
Designers use a variety of symbols to
Frame Structure: A frame structure is a
represent actual supports as
structure having combination of beam,
summarized in Table 1. These symbols
column & slab to resist the applied
represent the primary action of a
lateral and gravitational loads on the
particular support; but to simplify
structure.
analysis, neglect small secondary effects.
Rigid Frame: A rigid frame in structural
For example,. a pin support is assumed
engineering is the load-resisting
to apply restraint against displacement
Prepared by: Farjana Akter, Senior Lecturer, Department of Civil Engineering, Stamford University Bangladesh
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in any direction but to provide no

rotational restraint when, in fact, it may
supply a small degree of rotational
restraint because of friction in the joint.

Table1: Different Types of Supports

Prepared by: Farjana Akter, Senior Lecturer, Department of Civil Engineering, Stamford University Bangladesh
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Indeterminacy Geometrically Unstable

A. Beam  The structure will be geometrically unstable if
II=O (i) All the support reactions in a structure are
IE=R-h-3 parallel.
IT= II+IE
B. Frame (Rigid)
II= 3n
IE= R-3
IT= II+IE
C. Truss
II= m-(2J-3)
(ii) All the support reactions are Concurrent at a
IE= R-h-3
point.
IT= II+IE
D. Frame (Non Rigid)
I = R+2J -3N

Notation:
R= Total Number of support reactions
h= Total number of internal hinge
n= Total number of enclosed segment
m=Total number of truss members
J=Total number of Joints
Prepared by: Farjana Akter, Senior Lecturer, Department of Civil Engineering, Stamford University Bangladesh
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N= Total number of Segments which is created by separating of the frame joint

II= Internal degree of indeterminacy
IE= External degree of Indeterminacy
IT= Total degree of indeterminacy

D. Frame (Non Rigid)

Prepared by: Farjana Akter, Senior Lecturer, Department of Civil Engineering, Stamford University Bangladesh
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Statically Unstable

Prepared by: Farjana Akter, Senior Lecturer, Department of Civil Engineering, Stamford University Bangladesh
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Prepared by: Farjana Akter, Senior Lecturer, Department of Civil Engineering, Stamford University Bangladesh
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Prepared by: Farjana Akter, Senior Lecturer, Department of Civil Engineering, Stamford University Bangladesh
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Prepared by: Farjana Akter, Senior Lecturer, Department of Civil Engineering, Stamford University Bangladesh
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Prepared by: Farjana Akter, Senior Lecturer, Department of Civil Engineering, Stamford University Bangladesh
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Prepared by: Farjana Akter, Senior Lecturer, Department of Civil Engineering, Stamford University Bangladesh
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Prepared by: Farjana Akter, Senior Lecturer, Department of Civil Engineering, Stamford University Bangladesh