CHAPTER 2

STATICALLY DETERMINATE STRUCTURE

This chapter is divided into three parts:
1. Analysis of Statically Determinate Truss
2. Internal Loadings Developed in Structural Members
3. Cables and Arches

1. ANALYSIS OF STATICALLY DETERMINATE TRUSS

This part will develop the procedures for analysing statically determinate trusses
using the method of joints and the method of sections.

1.1 Introduction

A truss is a system of relatively slender members, arranged in the form of one or more
triangles, which transfers loads by developing axial forces in its members. Trusses are
commonly employed in bridges, towers and roof structures (Fig. 1.1). They use
material very efficiently and are consequently economical for spanning distances up
to several hundred feet.

Figure 1.1

The members of a truss joined together at their end points. The joint connections are
usually formed by bolting or welding the ends of the members to a common plate,
called a gusset plate, as shown in Fig. 1.2.

Figure 1.2
1.2 Simplifying Assumptions

Our primary objective when analysing a truss is to determine the forces developed in
the individual members by a set of externally applied loads. An analysis of this sort
can be greatly simplified without unduly impairing the accuracy of the results by
making the following assumptions:
1. The members are connected to each other at their ends by frictionless pins; that
is, only a force and no moment can be transferred from one member to
another.
2. External loads are applied to the truss only at its joints
3. The centroidal axes of the members meeting at a joint all intersect at a
common point, that is, the point where the members are assumed to be pinned
to one another.

1.3 Basic Concepts

The object of analysing a truss is to determine the forces produced in its members by
a set of external loads. These forces are known as bar forces. The force in a bar can be
such as to produce either in tension or in compression. Since these forces are internal
when one considers the truss as a whole, it is necessary in the course of the analysis to
take free bodies of portions of the truss. Such a free body will be acted on by the bar
forces corresponding to the members that have been cut in the process of creating the
free body. Then the bar forces will be evaluated by using equations of equilibrium.
There are two well-known methods for analysing a truss system: method of joints and
method of sections.

Since bar forces can be in tension or compression, it is necessary to have sign

convention for designating which of these two conditions exists. We will do this by
using T to denote tension and C to denote compression. An alternative convention is
to denote tension forces by a plus sign(+) and compression forces by a minus sign(–).

1.4 Method of Joint

In the method of joints, a section is passed completely around a joint, cutting all the
bars meeting at the joint from the rest of the truss, as shown in Figure 1.3. The free
body of the joint produced in this manner will have acting on it a set of concurrent
forces consisting of bar forces and externally applied loads or reactions. For example,
the free body of joint A shown in Figure 1.3, has acting on it the left-hand reaction of
the truss and bar forces FAB and FAC.

Figure 1.3

16
It is usually advantages to employ the method of joints when it is desired to calculate
the entire bar forces in a truss. Procedure for analysing a truss using the method of
joints is listed below:
1. Draw a free-body diagram of a joint having at least one known force and at
most two unknown forces. If this joint is at one of the supports, it may be
necessary to calculate the external reactions at the supports by drawing a free-
body diagram of the entire truss.
2. The x and y axes should be oriented such that the forces on the free-body
diagram can be easily resolved into their x and y components. Apply the two
forces equilibrium equations ∑ Fx = 0 and ∑ Fy = 0 , solve for the two
unknown member forces and verify their correct directional sense.
3. Continue to analyse each of the other joints, where again it is necessary to
choose a joint having at most two unknowns and at least one known force.
4. Once the force in a member is found from the analysis of a joint at one of its
end, the result can be used to analyse the forces acting on the joint at its other
end. Remember, a member in compression “pushes” on the joint and a
member in tension “pulls” on the joint.

Example 1.1
It is required to calculate the bar forces for the truss in Figure 1.4 using the method of
joints.

B C

F E
A D

12k 24k

Figure 1.4

Example 1.2
Determine the force in each member of the roof truss shown in Figure 1.5. State
whether the members are in tension or compression. The reactions at the supports are
given.

Figure 1.5

17
1.5 Zero-Force Member

Truss analysis using the method of joints is greatly simplified if one is able to first
determine those members that support no loading. These zero-force members may be
necessary for the stability of the truss during construction and to provide support if the
applied loading is changed. The zero-force members of a truss can generally be
determined by inspection of the joints, and they occur in two cases.

Case 1. Consider the truss in Figure 1.6. The two members at joint C are connected
together at a right angle and there is no external load on the joint. The free-body
diagram of joint C, Figure 1.6(a), indicates that the force in each member must be
zero in order to maintain equilibrium. Furthermore, as in the case of joint A, Figure
1.6(b), this must be true regardless of the angle between the members.

Figure 1.6

Case 2. Zero-force members also occur at joints having geometry as joint D in Figure
1.7(a). Here no external load acts on the joint, so that a force summation in the y
direction, Figure 1.7(b), which is perpendicular to the two collinear members, requires
that FDF = 0 . Using this result, FC is also a zero-force member, as indicated by the
force analysis of joint F, Figure 1.7(c).

Figure 1.7

In summary, then, if only two non-collinear members form a truss joint and no
external load or support reaction is applied to the joint, the members must be zero-
force members, Case 1. Also, if three members form a truss joint for which two of the
members are collinear, the third member is a zero-force, provided no external force or

18
support reaction is applied to the joint, Case 2. Particular attention should be directed
to these conditions of joint geometry and loading since the analysis of a truss can be
considerably simplified by first spotting the zero-force members.

Example 1.3
Using the method of joints, indicate all the members of the truss shown in Figure 1.8
that have zero-force.

Figure 1.8

1.6 Method of Section

If the forces in only a few members of a truss are to be found, the method of sections
generally provides the most direct means of obtaining these forces. In this method, a
section is passed completely through the truss, dividing it into two free bodies. Each
of these free bodies will have acting on it bar forces at the cut members and externally
applied loads. By writing equations of equilibrium for the free body on either side of
the section, it is possible to solve for the forces in the members cut by the section.
Unlike the method of joints, the method of sections allow us to determine the force in
a member located anywhere in the truss without first calculating the forces in other
members.
Procedure for Analysis:
A. Free-Body Diagram
1. Make a decision as how to “cut” or section the truss through the members
where forces are to be determined.
2. Before isolating the appropriate section, it may first be necessary to determine
the truss’s external reactions, so that the three equilibrium equations are used
only to solve for member forces at the cut section.
3. Draw the free-body diagram of that part of the sectioned truss which has the
least number of forces on it.
4. Then used method of sections.

B. Equations of Equilibrium
1. Moments should be summed about a point that lies at the intersection of the
lines of action of two unknown forces; in this way, the third unknown force is
determined directly from the equation.
2. If two of the unknown forces are parallel, forces may be summed
perpendicular to the direction of these unknowns to determine directly the
third unknown force.

19
Example 1.4
Using the method of sections, it is required to determine the forces in bars BC, HG
and BG for the truss in Figure 1.9.

Figure 1.9

Example 1.5
Using the method of sections determine the forces in bars BC, BG and HG for the
truss in Figure 1.10.

Figure 1.10

2. INTERNAL LOADINGS DEVELOPED IN STRUCTURAL MEMBERS

This part will first deals with determination of internal loadings at a specified point
along a member’s axis by using method of section. Next, the discussion will carry out
by showing the variation of those loadings graphically using the shear and moment
diagrams. Applications are given for both beams and frames.

2.1 Introduction
• One particular structure or one of its members is said to be in equilibrium when
it is maintains a balance of force and moment.
• This requires that the force and moment equations of equilibrium be satisfied
along three independent axes. (Refer to Equation 2.1, Chapter 2).
• However, the principal of load carrying-portions of most structures lie in a
single plane and since the loads are also coplanar, the above requirements for
equilibrium reduce to two (2) independent axes. (Refer equation 2.2, Chapter 2).
• Whenever these equations are applied, it is necessary to draw a free-body
diagram of the structure or its members where all the forces and moments that
act on the member must be shown.

20
• The analysis of a beam and frame involves calculating the stresses produced by
the applied loads. These stresses are proportional to internal forces.
• To determine the stresses in a member, the magnitude of the internal forces must
first to know.
• If the internal loadings at a specified point in a member are to be determined, the
method of sections must be used.
• The internal forces in a beam and frame vary along the span of the member. To
show the variation of the loadings, the shear and bending moment diagrams
are the best devices for picturing how these internal forces vary along the
span.

2.2 Internal Loading At A Specified Point

• In general, the internal loadings acting at the cut section of the member will
consist of a normal force N, shear force V and bending moment M as shown in
Figure 2.1.

Figure 2.1

• To determine these forces, method of section is used.

• This requires that a “cut” or section be made perpendicular to the axis of the
member at the point where the internal loading is to be made.
• A free-body diagram of either segment of the “cut” member is isolated and the
internal loads are then determined from the equations of equilibrium applied to
the segment.
• Consider a simply supported beam as shown in Figure 2.2.
a P

a
x Figure 2.2
• A section a-a is passed through the beam in order to determine the internal
forces at a distance x from the left hand support.
• By drawing a free body diagram of the left hand support, the forces that the
remainder of the beam exerts on this free body, to keep it in equilibrium, consist
of a vertical force V and a couple M.
• The force V, which puts the free body in vertical equilibrium, is called the shear
and the couple M, which is necessary for moment equilibrium is called bending
moment.
• The internal normal force N, is generally not considered for two reasons:

21
 1. In most cases the loads applied to a beam act perpendicular to the beam’s
axis and hence produce only an internal shear force and bending moment,
and
2. For design purposes the beam’s resistance to shear, and particularly to
bending, is more important than its ability to resist normal force.

Sign Convention
• It is necessary to establish first a sign convention to define these internal
loading’s positive and negative values.
• By considering Figure 2.1, on the left hand face of the cut member, the normal
force N acts to the right, the internal shear force V acts downward and the
bending moment M acts counter clockwise.
• In accordance with Newton’s 3rd Law, an equal but opposite normal force, shear
force and bending moment must act on the right-hand face of the member at the
section.
• At this stage, it is noted that:
i. Positive normal force N, tends to elongate the segment, figure (a);
ii. Positive shear force V, tends to rotate the segment clockwise, figure (b);
iii. Positive bending moment M, tends to bend the segment concave upward,
figure (c).

(a)

(b) (c)
• Example 2.1:
Determine the internal shear and moment acting in the cantilever beam shown in
Figure 2.3 at sections passing through points C and D.

5kN 5kN 5kN 5kN 5kN

D C

20kN.m
A 0.6m 0.4m 0.4m 0.6m
B

5@1.0m=5.0m

Figure 2.3

22
• Example 2.2:
Determine the internal shear and moment acting at a section passing through
point C in the beam shown in Figure 2.4.

Figure 2.4

• Example 2.3:
The 45kN force in Figure 2.5 is supported by the floor panel DE, which in turn
is simply supported at its end by floor beams. These beams transmit their loads
to the simply supported girder AB. Determine the internal shear and moment
acting at point C in the girder.

Figure 2.5

2.3 Shear and Moment Functions

• The variations of V and M as a function of the position x of an arbitrary point
along the beam’s axis can be obtained by using method of section as discussed
above.
• However it is necessary to locate the imaginary section or cut at an arbitrary
distance x from one end of the beam rather than at a specific point.
• In general, the internal shear and moment functions will be discontinuous, or
their slope will be discontinuous, at points where the type or magnitudes of the
distributed load changes or where concentrated forces or couple moments are
applied.
• Because of this, shear and moment functions must be determined for each region
of the beam located between any two discontinuities of loading.

23
Procedure for Analysis
• The following procedure provides a method for determining the variation of
shear and moment in a beam as a function of position x.
Support Reaction
o Determine the support reactions on the beam and resolve all the external
forces into components acting perpendicular and parallel to the beam’s
axis.
Shear and Moment Functions
o Specify separate coordinates x and associated origins, extending into
regions of the beam between concentrated forces and/or couple moments,
or where there is a discontinuity of distributed loading.
o Section the beam perpendicular to its axis at each distance x, and from the
free-body diagram of one of the segments determine the unknowns V and
M at the cut section as functions of x. On the free-body diagram, V and M
should be shown acting in their positive directions, in accordance with the
sign convention given 4.2.
o V is obtained from ∑ Fy = 0 and M is obtained by summing moments
about the point located at the cut section, ∑M = 0.
o The results can be checked by noting that dM dx = V and dV dx = w .

Example 2.4
Determine the shear and moment in the beam shown in Figure 2.6 as a function of x.

Figure 2.6

Example 2.5
Determine the shear and moment in the beam shown in Figure 2.7 as a function of x.

Figure 2.7

24
2.4 Relationships Among Load, Shear And Bending Moment
• There exist at any cross section of a loaded beam certain relationships among
loads, shear and bending moment that are tremendously helpful in constructing
the shear and bending moment curves.
• Consider a portion of a beam of any type subjected to transverse loading and
moment loading, such as the one shown in Figure 2.8.

Figure 2.8
• To investigate the relationships among load, shear and bending moment in a
beam, it is necessary to classify the beam segment in the following way:
1. Segment under no load;
2. Segment under distributed load;
3. Segment under concentrated load;
4. Segment under moment load.
• Segment under no load. From Figure 2.8, let’s take an element cut out by two
adjacent cross sections at a distance dx apart as shown below.

• On the left hand face of this element, the shear force and bending moment are
represented by Vx and Mx respectively, and on the right hand face of the
element, shear and bending moment are represented by (Vx + dVx) and (Mx +
dMx) in which dVx and dMx are changes of shear and moment in dx.
• Assume that x increases from left to right.
• From ∑ F y = 0 ;
V x − (V x + dV x ) = 0
dV x = 0 or
V x = constant -------------------Eq. 2.1
• Also from ∑M a = 0;
M x + V x dx − (M x + dM x ) = 0
dM x
= Vx -----------------Eq. 2.2
dx

25
• Eq. 2.1 states that no change of shear takes place.
• Eq. 2.2 states that the rate of change of bending moment at any point with
respect to x is constant.

• Segment under distributed load. Let us take an element subjected to a

distributed load cut out by two adjacent cross sections distance dx apart as
shown below:

• From ∑F y = 0;
V x − (V x + dV x ) − w x dx = 0
dV x = − w x dx or
dV x
= − w x ----------------------Eq 2.3
dx
• Also from ∑M b =0;
dx
M x + V x dx − w x dx − (M x + dM x ) = 0
2
d 2x
Neglecting the small term w x and reducing;
2
dM x
= V x -----------------Eq. 2.4
dx
• Eq. 2.3 states that the rate of change of shear with respect to x at any point is
equal to the intensity of the load at that point, but with the opposite sign.
• Eq. 2.4 states that the rate of change of bending moment with respect to x at any
point is equal to the shear force at that point.
• Segment under concentrated load.

• The above figure shows an element subjected to a concentrated load P. Now P is

assumed to be acting at a point. As the distance between two adjacent sections
becomes infinitesimal, there will be no moment difference between the sections
to the immediate left of P and to the immediate right of P.

26
• An abrupt change in the shear force equal to P between the two sections takes
place, since from ∑ F y = 0 ;
Vx − P −V ' x = 0 or
V ' x = Vx − P ------------------Eq. 2.5
• Segment under moment load.

• The above figure shows that an element subjected to a couple of moment M.

Now M is assumed to be acting at a point. As the distance between the two
adjacent sections becomes infinitesimal, there will be no shear difference
between the sections to the immediate left of M and to the immediate right of M.
• There will be an abrupt change of moment equal to M between the two sections,
for from ∑ M o = 0 ;
M x − M − M 'x = 0 or
M 'x = M x − M
• Construction of shear and moment diagrams is facilitated by the relationships
previously stated.
dV x
• For instance, the equation = − w x implies that the slope of the shear curve at
dx
any point is equal to the negative value of the ordinate of load diagram applied
to the beam at that point.
• There are cases worth noting:
1. For a segment under no load, the slope of the shear curve is zero. The
shear curve is therefore a line parallel to the beam axis.
2. For a segment under a uniform load of intensity w, the slope of the shear
curve is constant. The shear curve is therefore a sloping line.
3. At a point of concentrated load, the intensity of the load is infinite, and the
slope of the shear curve will thus be infinite. There will be a discontinuity
in the shear curve, and a change process of shear equal to the applied force
occurs between the two sides of the loaded point.
4. Under distributed load the change in shear between the two cross sections
a differential distance apart is
dV x = − wdx
Thus, the difference in the ordinates of the shear curve between any two
points a and b is given by:
xR

V R − V L = − ∫ w x dx
xL
= –(area of load diagram between a and b)

27
 Suppose that there are additional concentrated load ∑ P acting between a
and b. The result of the shear difference between the two points must
include the effect due to ∑ P :
xR

VR − VL = − ∫ wx dx − ∑ P
xL

= – (area of load diagram between a and b + ∑ P )

in which ∑ P has been assumed to act downward.
dM x
• Similarly, from the equation = V x , the slope of the bending moment at any
dx
point equals the ordinate of the shear curve at that point. Therefore the following
are noted:
1. If the shear is constant in a portion of the beam, the bending moment curve
will be a straight line in that portion.
2. If the shear varies in any manner in a portion of the beam, the bending
moment curve will be a curved line.
3. At a point where a concentrated load acts, there will be an abrupt change
in the ordinate of shear curve and therefore, an abrupt change in the slope
of the bending moment curve at the point. In fact, the moment curve will
have two different slopes at that point.
4. Max. and min. bending moments occur at the points where a shear curve
goes through the x axis: the max. where shear changes from positive (at
the left) to negative (at the right); the min. in the reverse manner.
5. For a concentrated load system the max. bending moment must occur
under a certain concentrated load, since the change of shear from positive
to negative must occur at a certain point where a concentrated load is
applied.
6. Referring to the equation dM x dx = V x , we find that under transverse
loading the change in bending moment between two cross sections a
differential distance dx apart is given by:
dM x = V x dx
∴the difference in the ordinates of the bending moment curve between any
two points a and b is given by
xb

M b − M a = ∫ V x dx
xa

= area of shear diagram between a and b

If there are external moments ∑ M acting between a and b, then the result
of the moment difference between the two points must include the effect
due to these moments:
xb

M b − M a = ∫ V x dx − ∑ M
xa

= (area of shear diagram between a and b) – ∑M

in which ∑ M has been assumed to act in a counter clockwise direction.
• These relationships as mentioned above can be referred in Table 4.1:

28
29
2.5 The Construction of Shear and Moment Diagram of Determinate Beams

Example 2.4
Construct the shear and bending moment diagrams for the beam in Figure 2.9.

Figure 2.9

Example 2.5
Construct the shear and bending moment diagrams for the beam in Figure 2.10.

Figure 2.10

Example 2.6
Construct the shear and bending moment diagrams for the beam in Figure 2.11.

10 kN/m 20 kN

A B C

6m 4m 4m

Figure 2.11

30
Example 2.7
Construct the shear and bending moment diagrams for the beam in Figure 2.12.

6’

4’ 10’ 26’

Figure 2.12

Example 2.8
Construct the shear and bending moment diagrams for the beam in Figure 2.13.

Figure 2.13

2.6 The Construction of Shear and Moment Diagram of Determinate Frame

• Flexural members do not occur only as isolated beams. Often several of them
are connected together to one another to form a frame.
• One of the most important of these is the rigid frame, which consists of flexural
members connected to one another in such a manner that the members cannot
rotate in relation to each other at the joints.
• As a consequence, moments as well as forces can be transferred from one
member to another at their connections.
• Bending-moment and shear diagrams of rigid frame are easiest to construct if
the frame is broken down into individual members and each of these is analysed
by itself.

31
Example 2.9
Construct the shear and moment diagrams for each member of the frame in Figure
2.14.

20 kN/m
40 kN
40 kN
B C
2m
60 kN 3m

2m D
A

14 m

Figure 2.14

Example 2.10
Construct the shear and moment diagrams for each member of the frame in Figure
2.15.

3 k/ft

B C 3k/ft

12 ft

A D

30 f t 9 ft

Figure 2.15

4.5 Qualitative Deflected Structures

• The determination of deflections for flexural members is very important in

structural analysis.
• The determination of deflections can be done either quantitatively of
qualitatively.

32
• This chapter is only concern with the sketch of the general deflected shape of a
structure in a qualitative fashion.
• This is easily accomplished by using the moment diagram in conjunction with
the sign convention for moment.
• Positive moment is associated with member curvature that is concave from
above whereas negative moment corresponds to convex curvature.
• Point of zero moment are referred to as point of inflection and the curvature
changes from concave to convex, or vice versa, at these point.
• In sketching the deflected structure, adherence to the boundary conditions and
the requirement of continuity must be observed.

33
3. ANALYSIS OF CABLES AND ARCHES

This part will develop the procedures for analysing cables and arches.

Introduction

Cables and arches often form the main load-carrying element in many types of
structures such as bridges, roofs and trolley wheels.

This part will begin with general discussion of cables and the analysis of cables
subjected to (1) concentrated load; and (2) uniformly distributed load.

Next, there will be a general discussion of arches and the analysis of special case of 3-
hinged arch only since most arches are statically indeterminate.

Cables

 Cables are often used to support the loads and to transmit the load from one
member to another member.
 For analysis purposes, there are two (2) assumptions will be considered:
1. the cable is perfectly flexible;
2. the cable is inextensible.
 Due to its flexibility, the cable has no resistance to shear and moment. Therefore
the force acting in the cable always tangent to the cable at points along its length.
 Due to its inextensible, the cable has a constant length both before or after the
load is applied. Therefore the geometry of the cable remains fixed and can be
treated as rigid body.

Cable Subjected to a Concentrated Load

Consider cable in Figure 3.1:

P2

P1

Figure 3.1

34
By referring to Figure 3.1:

 Unknowns:
i. Support reactions : 4 (Ay, Ax, By and Bx)
(at A and B)
ii. Tension in each : 3 (TCA, TCD and TDB)
segment
iii. Sags : 2 (yC and yD)

iv. Total unknowns 9

 Available equations:
At least 9 equations are needed to solve the above unknowns

For the solutions, 2 equations of force equilibrium can be considered at each point:
A, B, C and D
∴ Total available equations: 8

 Additional equation:
To complete the solution, geometry of the cable can be used in order to obtain the
necessary ninth equations:

If total length of cable (L) is specified, Pythagorean Theorem can be used to relate
L to each of the segmental lengths written in terms of θ , y C , y D , L1 , L2 and L3 .

Unfortunately this kind of problem cannot be solved easily by hands.

∴ Simplification of the problem is needed by specifying either one of the sags

( y C or y C ).

Example 3.1
Determine the tension in each segment of the cable shown in Figure 3.2.
A

2 .0 m

h
D

B
2 .0 m
C

3 kN

8 kN

2m 2m 1.5m

Figure 3.2

35
 Cable Subjected to Uniformly Distributed Load

Procedure for Analysis

Figure 3.3

In order to analyse cable subjected to UDL:

1. The origin of the coordinate axes is established at the lowest point on the cable,
where the slope is zero.

In this case: the origin will be at point B.

∴ Point C ( xC , y C ) and Point A ( x A , y A )
wo 2
2. Determine the parabolic equation for the cable by using: y = x
2 FH

By referring the above figure:

w 2
y= x ----------------Eq. (1)
2 FH

3. Determine constant of FH . The constant of FH may be obtained by using the

boundary condition. The value of the FH is fixed.

By referring the above figure:

w 2
At point C ( xC , y C ) : y C = xC
2 FH
w 2
∴ FH = xC --------------Eq. (2)
2 yC
w 2
At point A ( x A , y A ) : y A = xA
2 FH
w 2
∴ FH = x A --------------Eq. (3)
2yA

36
 By equating Eq. (2) and Eq. (3) we can solve xC since x A = (L − xC ) . Finally FH
can be obtained by substituting xC into Eq. (2).

4. Determine the slope of the cable at boundary condition and origin by using
dy wo x
= .
dx FH

By referring the above figure:

dy wxC
At C; =
dx FH
dy wx A
At A; =
dx FH
dy
At B; =0
dx

dy wo x
5. Determine θ by using: tan θ = =
dx FH

By referring the above figure:

wxC
At C; θ C = tan −1
FH
wx A
At A; θ A = tan −1
FH
At B; θ B = 0

6. Determine tension force of the cable by using: T cos θ = FH

F
∴T = H
cos θ

By referring the above figure:

FH
At C; TC =
cos θ C
FH
At A; T A =
cos θ A
FH
At B; TB =
cos θ B

7. Determine Tmax by using Tmax = wo L 1 + (L 2h )

2

37
Example 3.2
The cable in Figure 3.4 supports a girder which weighs 12kN/m. Determine the
tension in the cable at point A, B and C.

y
A

C
12 m

6m

x
B

xA xC

30 m

Figure 3.4

Arches

 Arches can be used to reduce the bending moments in long-span structures.

 An arch acts as an inverted cable, so it receives its load mainly in compression.
 Because of its rigidity, it must also resist some bending and shear depending upon
how it is loaded and shaped.
 If the arch has a parabolic shape and it is subjected to a uniform horizontally
distributed vertical load, then from the analysis of cables it follows that only
compressive forces will be resisted by that arch.
 Under these conditions the arch shape is called funicular arch because no bending
or shear forces occur within the arch.
 There are a few types of arch: (1) fixed arch; (2) two-hinged arch; (3) three-hinged
arch; and (4) tied arch.

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 Three-Hinged Arch

Procedure for Analysis

 For the purpose of analysis, we will only consider three-hinged arch, 2 hinges will
act as a support and the third hinge is located at the crown.
 Consider the 3-hinged arch shown in Figure 3.5:

Figure 3.5

 Determine the support reactions – the arch is disassembled and the free body
diagram of each member is drawn. Altogether, there are six (6) unknowns for
which six equations of equilibrium are available.
 Apply the moment equilibrium equations about points A and B (at each support).
 Simultaneous solution will yield the reactions C x and C y (at the crown).
 The support reactions are then determined from the force equations of
equilibrium.
 The internal normal force, shear and moment loadings at any point along the arch
can be found using method of section.
 The section should be taken perpendicular to the axis of the arch at the point
considered.

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Example 3.3
x2
Determine internal loadings at point D. Given the parabolic equation: y = .
40
y

B
D
A C
x

20 m 10 m 10 m

40