Theory and Analysis of Structures 47-33
In the actual indeterminate structure, which is subjected to the combined effects of the load P and
the redundant R
C
, the deflection at C is zero. Hence the algebraic sum of the deflection D
CP
in Fig. 47.27b
and the deflection D
CR
in Fig. 47.27c must vanish. Assuming downward deflections to be positive, we write
(47.33)
or
from which
Equation (47.33), which is used to solve for the redundant, is referred to as an equation of consistent
deformations.
Once the redundant R
C
has been evaluated, the remaining reactions can be determined by applying
the equations of equilibrium to the structure in Fig. 47.27a. Thus SF
y
= 0 leads to
and SM
A
= 0 gives
A free body of the beam, showing all the forces acting on it, is shown in Fig. 47.27d.
The steps involved in the method of consistent deformations follow:
1. The number of redundants in the structure are determined.
2. Enough redundants to form a determinate structure are removed.
3. The displacements that the applied loads cause in the determinate structure at the points where
the redundants have been removed are calculated.
4. The displacements at these points in the determinate structure, due to the redundants, are
obtained.
5. At each point where a redundant has been removed, the sum of the displacements calculated in
steps 3 and 4 must be equal to the displacement that exists at that point in the actual indeterminate
structure. The redundants are evaluated using these relationships.
6. Once the redundants are known, the remaining reactions are determined using the equations of
equilibrium.
Structures with Several Redundants
The method of consistent deformations can be applied to structures with two or more redundants. For
example, the beam in Fig. 47.28a is indeterminate to the second degree and has two redundant reactions.
If the reactions at B and C are selected to be the redundants, then the determinate structure obtained
by removing these supports is the cantilever beam, shown in Fig. 47.28b. To this determinate structure
we apply separately the given load (Fig. 47.28c) and the redundants R
B
and R
C
, one at a time (Fig. 47.28d
and e).
Since the deflections at B and C in the original beam are zero, the algebraic sum of the deflections in
Fig. 47.28c, d, and e at these same points must also vanish. Thus
DD
CP CR
-=0
5
48 3
0
3
3
PL
EI
RL
EI
C
-=
R
C
=
5
16
P
R
A
=- =P
5
16
P
11
16
P
M
A
=- =
PL
2
5
16
PL
3
16
PL