Structural Analysis
Analysis is the question of where a load goes once it lands on a structure. These topics animate the load path and the reactions, and make the determinate/indeterminate split visible rather than definitional.
Start from the beginning →1 topic you can watch now, 24 still to come.
Supports and determinacy
What a support actually does, and whether statics alone can solve it.
- Types of supports and reactions
- Equations of static equilibrium
- Static and kinematic indeterminacy
- Stability of structures
Trusses
A structure made entirely of members carrying only axial force.
- Perfect, deficient and redundant frames
- Method of joints
- Method of sections
- Graphical and tension coefficient methods
Deflections
How far the structure moves, which is often the real limit.
- Strain energy and Castigliano's theorems
- Unit load method
- Moment area and conjugate beam methods
- Maxwell's reciprocal theorem
Indeterminate structures
When equilibrium is not enough and compatibility has to be added.
- Force method and consistent deformation
- Three-moment equation
- Slope deflection method
- Moment distribution method
- Kani's method
Moving loads and arches
Structures whose worst case depends on where the load is.
- Influence lines for beams and trusses
- Moving load and absolute maximum bending moment
- Three-hinged and two-hinged arches
- Cables and suspension bridges
Matrix methods
The formulation every structural analysis program actually uses.
- Flexibility matrix method
- Stiffness matrix method
- Introduction to finite element analysis