CivE 205– Solid Mechanics II

Part 10:
Frames

Department of Civil & Environmental Engineering

University of Waterloo
p. 10.2 Part 10: Frames

• Frames are structural elements composed of beams, columns, and beam-

columns.
• Unlike trusses where all members are hinged together, frames are generally
connected by rigid joints. Therefore, frames are commonly known as “rigid
frames”. For a joint to be rigid, the angle between the members framing into
a joint must not change when the members are loaded.
• Rigid joints are moment-resisting joints that are constructed using riveting,
or welding.
• Frames are subjected to bending moments, shear and axial forces.

STABILITY AND DETERMINACY:

The degree of stability and determinacy of frames is determined by comparing

the number of unknowns with the number of available independent equations.

The number of unknowns:

Each member of a frame is subjected to an axial force, shear, and bending
moment. For a frame with a number of reactions (r) and a number of members
(b), the total number of unknowns is: 3b+r
Available equations:
For a number of joints (n), there are three static equilibrium equations for each
joint (total equations =3n). In some frames, hinges are introduced providing (s)
special equations. Therefore, the number of available equations is: 3n+s
If 3n+s> 3b+r, the frame is unstable
If 3n+s= 3b+r, the frame is statically determinate
If 3n+s<3b+r, the frame is statically indeterminate

b = number of members
r =number of reactions
n = number of joints
s = number of special equations introduced by hinges

Department of Civil & Environmental Engineering CivE 205 – Solid Mechanics II

University of Waterloo
Part 10: Frames p. 10.3

(b) (c)
(a)

(d)
(e)

Frame b r n s 3b+r 3n+s Determinacy

a 3 3 4 0 12 12 determinate
b 2 3 3 0 9 9 determinate
c 3 6 4 0 15 12 Indeterminate, third degree
d 5 9 6 2 24 20 Indeterminate, forth degree
e 6 6 6 2 24 20 Indeterminate, forth degree

Degree of Indeterminacy: d = (3b+r) - (3n+s)

Sign convention:
For horizontal members the same convention used for beams is applied. Shear is
considered positive if it tends to produce clockwise rotation of the free body on
which it acts. The internal moment is considered positive if it produces
compression stresses in the top fibers of the cross section and tension in the bottom
fibers. The axial force is positive if it causes tension of the member.
If a flexural member is vertical, the engineer is free to define the positive and
negative sense of both the shear and moment.

Department of Civil & Environmental Engineering CivE 205 – Solid Mechanics II

University of Waterloo
p. 10.4 Part 10: Frames

+ve

Deflected Shapes: An accurate sketch must satisfy the following rules

• The original angle (usually 900) at a rigid joint must be preserved.
• The length of the deformed member is the same as the original length of the
unloaded member.
• Deflected shape must satisfy the constraints of the boundaries
• The curvature must be consistent with the moment curve.

Consider an example (Leet et al.)

The deflected shape shown with dashed lines is produced by a concentrated load
applied at mid-span of member BD. All joints are restrained against lateral
displacement by supports or by members connected to immovable supports. The
length of BD does not change because no change in length is produced by bending
and the axial force is negligible. Joint B preserves the angle after the deformation.

Department of Civil & Environmental Engineering CivE 205 – Solid Mechanics II

University of Waterloo
Part 10: Frames p. 10.5

The curvature produced by the moment indicates the lower section of the column
develops compressive stresses on the outside face and tension on the inside face.
At the point where the moment reduces to zero – the point of inflection (P.I.) - the
curvature reverses and the column curves back toward joint B. The applied load
bends member BD downward.

Consider a frame with a hinge at point C. Applied force P causes the deflection of
vertical member AB. Joints A and B are fixed. The angle at joint B must be
preserved after the deformation therefore member BC must slope downward. ΘCL
and ΘCR indicate the difference in slope of the elastic curve at hinge C.

Consider now an example which illustrates how to draw shear force, bending
moment and axial force diagrams for frames.

Department of Civil & Environmental Engineering CivE 205 – Solid Mechanics II

University of Waterloo
p. 10.6 Part 10: Frames

Example 10.1: Determine the support reactions, and draw the axial force, shear
force and bending moment diagrams for the frame. Joints B and C are rigid joints,
and joint E is an internal hinge of the frame.

First find reactions at A and D. At points A and D we have pin supports so the
both vertical and horizontal components of reaction exist at these points.
Replace the distributed load of 3 kN/m with its resultant force R.
𝑅𝑅 = 3 × 4 = 12 𝑘𝑘𝑘𝑘.

R is applied at the mid-span of member AB i.e. at the distance of 2 m

counting from point A. Let us write out the equilibrium equations. For the
forces we have
𝐴𝐴𝑦𝑦 + 𝐷𝐷𝑦𝑦 − 𝐹𝐹 = 0
and
𝑅𝑅 − 𝐴𝐴𝑥𝑥 − 𝐷𝐷𝑥𝑥 = 0.
For the moment taken about point A
𝐷𝐷𝑦𝑦 × 8 − 𝑅𝑅 × 2 − 𝐹𝐹 × 3 = 0.

Department of Civil & Environmental Engineering CivE 205 – Solid Mechanics II

University of Waterloo
Part 10: Frames p. 10.7

At internal hinge E the moment is equal to zero. Cut the structure at the hinge
and take the moment about point E of the forces acting on section ECD. We
have
𝐷𝐷𝑥𝑥 = 𝐷𝐷𝑦𝑦 .

Hence, solving the equations

𝐷𝐷𝑦𝑦 = 10.5 𝑘𝑘𝑘𝑘, 𝐷𝐷𝑥𝑥 = 10.5 𝑘𝑘𝑘𝑘, 𝐴𝐴𝑥𝑥 = 1.5 𝑘𝑘𝑘𝑘 , 𝐴𝐴𝑦𝑦 = 9.5 𝑘𝑘𝑘𝑘.

Now “disassemble” the frame and draw the axial force, shear force and
bending moment diagrams for each member.

Member AB:
At point A the axial force 9.5 kN is acting in the upward direction therefore at
point B the equal force must act in the opposite direction to preserve the
equilibrium of the member. Let x be the vertical coordinate extending

Department of Civil & Environmental Engineering CivE 205 – Solid Mechanics II

University of Waterloo
p. 10.8 Part 10: Frames

between points A and B. If we cut the member at any point located at the
distance x from point A we will see that the shear at the cut is generated by
the sum of the force of reaction at point A and the part of the distributed load
attributed to the cut section.
Consequently,
𝑉𝑉𝐴𝐴𝐴𝐴 = 1.5 − 3𝑥𝑥

Therefore at point B
𝑉𝑉𝐴𝐴𝐴𝐴 = −10.5 𝑘𝑘𝑘𝑘

The force of reaction at point A and the distributed load also generate the internal
bending moment
𝑥𝑥 2
𝑀𝑀𝐴𝐴𝐴𝐴 = � 𝑉𝑉𝐴𝐴𝐴𝐴 (𝑥𝑥)𝑑𝑑𝑑𝑑 = �(1.5 − 3𝑥𝑥)𝑑𝑑𝑑𝑑 = 1.5𝑥𝑥 − 3 + 𝑐𝑐
2
where c is an arbitrary constant. In view of the boundary condition at point A c=0.
At point B when x=4 𝑀𝑀𝐴𝐴𝐴𝐴 = −18 𝑘𝑘𝑘𝑘 × 𝑚𝑚.
𝑉𝑉𝐴𝐴𝐴𝐴 and 𝑀𝑀𝐴𝐴𝐴𝐴 can now be represented graphically for member AB. At the point
where 𝑀𝑀𝐴𝐴𝐴𝐴 = 0 we have a point of inflection i.e.
𝑥𝑥 2
1.5𝑥𝑥 − 3 = 0
2
consequently, x =1m.
𝑉𝑉𝐴𝐴𝐴𝐴 = 0 when x=0.5 m. At this point 𝑀𝑀𝐴𝐴𝐴𝐴 reaches its local maximum equal to
0.375 kNm.
Joint B:
The analysis presented in the free body diagram. The equilibrium must be
maintained.
Member BC:
Let x1 be the horizontal coordinate extending between points B and F i.e.
0 ≤ 𝑥𝑥1 ≤ 3.
Shear 𝑉𝑉𝐵𝐵𝐵𝐵 is constant and equal to 9.5 kN over the interval BF. The axial
compressive force is 10.5 kN. The internal moment over the interval BF is
𝑀𝑀𝐵𝐵𝐵𝐵 = −18 + 9.5𝑥𝑥1 .

Department of Civil & Environmental Engineering CivE 205 – Solid Mechanics II

University of Waterloo
Part 10: Frames p. 10.9

Therefore, at point F 𝑀𝑀𝐵𝐵𝐵𝐵 = −10.5 𝑘𝑘𝑘𝑘𝑘𝑘 and when 𝑀𝑀𝐵𝐵𝐵𝐵 = 0 at x=1.894 m. we

have a point of inflection.
Over the interval FC 𝑉𝑉𝐹𝐹𝐹𝐹 = −10.5 𝑘𝑘𝑘𝑘. The axial compressive force is 10.5 kN. Let
x2 be the horizontal coordinate extending between points F and C i.e.
0 ≤ 𝑥𝑥2 ≤ 5.
The internal bending moment is
𝑀𝑀𝐹𝐹𝐹𝐹 = 10.5 − 10.5𝑥𝑥2 .
Consequently, at point C when 𝑥𝑥2 = 5 𝑀𝑀𝐹𝐹𝐹𝐹 = −42 𝐾𝐾𝐾𝐾𝐾𝐾. At 𝑥𝑥2 = 1 m or at the
distance of 4 m from point B at hinge E we have a point of inflection.

Joint C:
The analysis is presented in the free body diagram. The equilibrium must be
maintained.

Member CD:
Let x3 be the vertical coordinate extending between points C and D. The force of
vertical reaction at point D equal to 10.5 kN must be compensated at point C by the
equal force acting in the opposite direction to maintain the equilibrium. Therefore
the axial force is constant throughout the member and equal to 10.5 kN. Shear 𝑉𝑉𝐷𝐷𝐷𝐷
is constant and positive throughout the length of the member and equal to 10.5 kN.
The moment is linear. In view of the pin support at point D the moment at point D
is equal to zero. Consequently,
𝑀𝑀𝐷𝐷𝐷𝐷 = −𝑉𝑉𝐷𝐷𝐷𝐷 (4 − 𝑥𝑥3 ) = −42 + 10.5𝑥𝑥3 .

When 𝑥𝑥3 = 4 at point D 𝑀𝑀𝐷𝐷𝐷𝐷 = 0 𝑘𝑘𝑘𝑘𝑘𝑘. When 𝑥𝑥3 = 0 at point C, 𝑀𝑀𝐷𝐷𝐷𝐷 =

−42 𝑘𝑘𝑘𝑘𝑘𝑘.

The graphical representation for the axial force, shear and moment is given below
in the diagrams.

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University of Waterloo
p. 10.10 Part 10: Frames

Department of Civil & Environmental Engineering CivE 205 – Solid Mechanics II

University of Waterloo
Part 10: Frames p. 10.11

Department of Civil & Environmental Engineering CivE 205 – Solid Mechanics II

University of Waterloo
p. 10.12 Part 10: Frames

Suggested Literature:
1. K. Leet et al., Fundamentals of Structural Analysis, Chapter 5

Department of Civil & Environmental Engineering CivE 205 – Solid Mechanics II

University of Waterloo