Lecture 16 Rigid Frame Analysis

A rigid frame is an assembly of components that are attached to each other by

rigid (i.e., moment transferring) connections. Only the most simplistic cantilever
frames, 3-hinged arches and roller-supported single-bent fames are statically
determinate. All other frames are typically statically indeterminate.

A) Statically Determinate Rigid Frames

Cantilever Frames:
A cantilever frame is typically a single post-like structure that cantilevers
up from the ground. Typical examples include:

Sign
Lamppost
Power pole

Lecture 16 - Page 1 of 16

Analysis involves breaking the structure into individual components and solving
for moments, end reactions and other forces.
For example, a simple upside-down L structure as shown below can be broken
down into two components:

Loaded Frame

End reaction &

moment at end of
beam
Lecture 16 - Page 2 of 16

End reaction &

moment at base of
col.

Example 1
GIVEN: The sign support structure shown below is comprised of a 10 diameter
standard weight steel pipe column with an 8 diameter standard weight steel pipe
beam rigidly attached to the column. The beam supports two signs:
Sign A = 2000 lbs.
Sign B = 3000 lbs.

REQUIRED:
1) Determine the shear & moment at end of beam.
2) Determine the vertical reaction at the column base.
3) Determine the moment at the column base.
4) Determine the bending stress at the base of the column.

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Draw a F.B.D. of the structure as shown below. The 8 diameter pipe beam
weighs 28.55 PLF and the 10 diameter pipe column weighs 40.48 PLF. Assume
the weight of the signs acts at the center of the sign.
2000 lb

3000 lb
28.55 PLF

2-0

5-0

5-0

15-0

40.48 PLF

12-0

1) Determine the shear & moment at end of pipe beam:

2000 lb

3000 lb
28.55 PLF

Mend
2-0

5-0

5-0

12-0

R1

The shear at the end of the pipe beam = R1

R1 = Loads
= (2000 lb) + (3000 lb) + 28.55 PLF(12)
R1 = 5343 lbs.

Lecture 16 - Page 4 of 16

Taking moment at end of beam, Mend:

Mend = 2000 lb(10) + 3000 lb(5) + 28.55 PLF(12)(6)
Mend = 37,056 ft-lb
2) Determine the vertical reaction at column base:
R1 = 5343 lb

Col. wt. = 40.48 PLF

15-0

R2
R2 = 5343 lb + (40.48 PLF)(15-0)
R2 = 5950 lb.
3) Determine the moment at base of the column, Mcol: (see F.B.D. previous
page)
Mcol = 2000 lb(10) + 3000 lb(5) + 28.55 PLF(12)(6)
Mcol = 37,056 ft-lb
4) Determine the bending stress, fb, at base of column:

fb =

fb =

M
S

(37,056 ft lb)(12" / ft )
29.9in 3
fb = 14,872 PSI

Lecture 16 - Page 5 of 16

Single-Bent Frames:
Consider the 3 single-bent frames with identical loads and spans as
shown below:
w

Fixed

Fixed

Pinned

Frame 1

Pinned

Pinned

Frame 2

Roller

Frame 3

Frames 1 and 2 are statically indeterminate, and analysis of these will not
be discussed now. Frame 3 is statically determinate. A F.B.D. of a typical
Frame 3 is shown below:
w

Support 1

Support 2

FH

R1

R2

Note that only Support 1 can carry any horizontal forces Support 2 can
only support vertical reaction.

Lecture 16 - Page 6 of 16

Example 2
GIVEN: The single-bent frame as shown below, which does not show beam and
column weights. The horizontal steel beam is a W21x50 and the columns are
each W8x31. Be sure to include BEAM & COLUMN WEIGHTS!!
700 PLF

11-0

16-0

2500 lb.

FH
18-0
R1

R2

REQUIRED:
1) Determine the vertical reactions R1 and R2.
2) Determine the horizontal reaction FH.
Determine R2:

700 PLF + 50 PLF

beam wt. = 750 PLF

MR1 = 0

Col. wt. x col. ht.

= 2500 lb(11) + 750 PLF(18)(9) + 31 PLF(16)(18) R2(18) = 0

R2 = 8774 lb.
Determine R1:

Fvert = 0
Forces down = Forces up
750 PLF(18) + 31 PLF(16) + 31 PLF(16) = 8774 lb. + R1
R1 = 5718 lb.
Determine FH:

Fhorz = 0
FH = 2500 lb.

Lecture 16 - Page 7 of 16

B) Statically-Indeterminate Rigid Frames

A statically-indeterminate frame is one which the support reactions, shears
and moments CANNOT be determined by the fundamental rules of statics.
There are simply too many unknowns. Techniques have been developed
to analyze these structures by using methods of calculus, however, the
rigor of these calculations are beyond the scope of this course.
Additionally, approximate methods have been developed, and will be
discussed in Lecture 17. Nowadays, structural analysis finite element
computer software is routinely used for analysis of these structures.

Typical examples of statically-indeterminate frames:

The following pages contain formulas that may be used for analysis of
various statically-indeterminate rigid frames

Lecture 16 - Page 8 of 16

See
Example 3
MD =

Lecture 16 - Page 9 of 16

Lecture 16 - Page 10 of 16

Lecture 16 - Page 11 of 16

Example 3
GIVEN: The statically-indeterminate frame as shown below. The moment of
inertia of the columns, I1 = 600 in4, and the moment of inertia of the beam, I2 =
750 in4. Assume the weight of the frame is negligible.
REQUIRED: Determine the following:
1) Vertical reaction at point A (VA)
2) Vertical reaction at point D (VD)
3) Horizontal reaction at point A (HA)
4) Horizontal reaction at point D (HD)
5) Moment at point A (MA)
6) Moment at point B (MB)
7) Moment at point C (MC)
8) Moment at point D (MD)
9) Moment at point of applied load (MP)

Lecture 16 - Page 12 of 16

Step 1 Determine k and s:

From diagram above (see page 9), use the formulas as given.
k=

I2 h
x
I1 L

750in 4 16'0"
x
600in 4 22'0"

k = 0.91

c
h
12'0"
=
16'0"
s=

s = 0.75
Step 2 Determine Vertical reaction at point A (VA):

VA =

3Pks
2(1 + 6k )
3(7kips)(0.91)(0.75)
2(1 + 6(0.91))

-VA = 1.11 kips

Step 3 Determine Vertical reaction at point D (VD):

VD =

3Pks
2(1 + 6k )

3(7kips)(0.91)(0.75)
2(1 + 6(0.91))

VD = 1.11 kips

Lecture 16 - Page 13 of 16

Step 4 Determine Horizontal reaction at point D (HD):

Ps 2
[3(1 + k ) s(1 + 2k )]
HD =
2( 2 + k )
=

(7 kips )(0.75) 2
[3(1 + 0.91) 0.75(1 + 2(0.91))]
2(2 + 0.91)

HD = 2.44 kips
Step 5 Determine Horizontal reaction at point A (HA):

HA = P HD
= 7 kips 2.44 kips
HA = 4.56 kips
Step 6 Determine Moment at point A (MA):

MA =

3k
Pcs 2 3 + 2k s (1 + k )

2 s
2+k
1 + 6k

3 + 2(0.91) 0.75(1 + 0.91)

3(0.91)
(7kips )(12' )(0.75) 2

2
2 + 0.91
1 + 6(0.91)
0.75

MA = -34.0 kip-ft
Step 7 Determine Moment at point B (MB):

MB = -MA HDh + Pc
= -(34 kip-ft) 2.44 kips(16-0) + 7 kips(12-0)
MB = 10.96 kip-ft

Lecture 16 - Page 14 of 16

Step 8 Determine Moment at point D (MD):

MD =

Pcs 3 + 2k s (1 + k )
3k

2
2+k
1 + 6k

NOTE: Formula
shown on page 9
should read as
shown here!

3(0.91)
(7kips)(12' )(0.75) 3 + 2(0.91) 0.75(1 + 0.91)

2
2 + 0.91
1 + 6(0.91)

MD = 23.31 kip-ft
Step 9 Determine Moment at point C (MC):

MC = MD HDh
= (23.31 kip-ft) 2.44 kips(16-0)
MC = -15.73 kip-ft
Step 10 Determine Moment at point of applied load (MP):

-MP = MA HAc
= -(-34 kip-ft) 4.56 kips(12-0)
MP = -20.72 kip-ft

Lecture 16 - Page 15 of 16

Analysis Results:

Moment = 15.73 kip-ft

Moment = 10.96 kip-ft

D
2.44 kips

4.56 kips
Moment = 34.0 kip-ft

Moment = 23.31 kip-ft

1.11 kips

1.11 kips

Analysis Results Hand - Calcs vs. Computer Analysis

Vertical reaction at point A (VD)

Location:

Hand Calcs.
1.11 kips

Computer Analysis:
1.18 kips

Vertical reaction at point D (VD)

1.11 kips

1.18 kips

Horizontal reaction at point A (HA)

4.56 kips

4.70 kips

Horizontal reaction at point D (HD)

2.44 kips

2.30 kips

Moment at point A (MA)

34.0 kip-ft

36.02 kip-ft

Moment at point B (MB)

10.96 kip-ft

11.24 kip-ft

Moment at point C (MC)

15.73 kip-ft

14.62 kip-ft

Moment at point D (MD)

23.31 kip-ft

22.12 kip-ft

Lecture 16 - Page 16 of 16