Fundamental Principles for Understanding Structural Analysis of Beams and Frames (2024) – F.

Gurkalo

Fundamental Principles for Understanding Structural Analysis of

Beams and Frames
Understanding the Fundamental Principles of Structural Analysis for Beams and Frames is
crucial for ensuring the safety, stability, and efficiency of structural designs. These principles
guide engineers in accurately distributing loads, predicting structural behaviour, and optimizing
material use. They also ensure compliance with engineering standards and provide the
foundation for tackling complex systems and advanced analysis techniques.

For civil engineering students, mastering these principles is particularly valuable, as it forms the
core of their education in structural design and analysis. It equips them with the knowledge
needed to design safe, reliable structures and prepares them for more advanced topics in their
studies and professional careers. By understanding these fundamentals, students can confidently
approach real-world engineering problems and make informed design decisions.

Rule 1: Types of Support and Their Restraints

• Fixed Supports: These can resist vertical and horizontal forces, as well as a moment.
• Pin Supports: These can resist both vertical and horizontal forces but do not resist moments.
• Roller Supports: These allow free rotation and translation along the surface on which the roller
rests.

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Fundamental Principles for Understanding Structural Analysis of Beams and Frames (2024) – F. Gurkalo

Rule 2

Any structure must maintain stability in a static state. To

achieve this, it must satisfy the three equations of
equilibrium:

The sum of all vertical forces must equal zero:

∑𝑽 = 𝟎

The sum of all horizontal forces must equal zero:

∑𝑯 = 𝟎

The sum of the moments about a point must equal zero:

∑ 𝑴𝑨 =

Rule 3

The bending moment is essentially a force that

induces bending in a structural member. It can be
calculated by multiplying the magnitude of the
force by the distance between the point of
application of the force and a reference point:

(𝑀𝑜 )𝑧 = 𝐹𝑥 × dy

In two dimensions, the bending moment can be

expressed as:

𝑴𝒐𝒎𝒆𝒏𝒕 = 𝑭𝒐𝒓𝒄𝒆 × 𝑫𝒊𝒔𝒕𝒂𝒏𝒄𝒆 (𝑴 = 𝑭 × 𝑫)

A pure moment, referred to as a couple, is

represented by two equal and opposite parallel
forces separated by a distance D. In this
configuration, the forces create a moment

𝑀𝐴 = 𝐹𝑜𝑟𝑐𝑒 × 𝐷

𝑀𝐵 = 𝐹𝑜𝑟𝑐𝑒 × 𝐷

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Fundamental Principles for Understanding Structural Analysis of Beams and Frames (2024) – F. Gurkalo

Rule 4

The bending moment is always zero at

a simple support (i.e., pin or roller)
located at the end of a beam.

Rule 5

No bending moment exists between the

edge and the point of load application
at the free end of a cantilever or
overhanging beam.

Rule 6

In a deflected shape, the tension face is always positioned on the outside of the curve. For beams:

• Sagging Moment: The tension face is located in the top fibers (above the neutral axis).
• Hogging Moment: The tension face is located in the bottom fibers (below the neutral
axis)

Rule 7
Members experiencing no bending
moments remain straight (i.e., without
bending), but they may still move or
rotate.

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Fundamental Principles for Understanding Structural Analysis of Beams and Frames (2024) – F. Gurkalo

Rule 8
The bending moment is always drawn on the tension face of the structural member.

Rule 9

If the loading on a structure consists

solely of point loads, the bending
moment diagram will always be
composed of straight lines.

Rule 10

The bending moment diagram under a

distributed load is always curved.

Rule 11

At a fully fixed support, the deflected

shape must indicate zero rotation at the
face of the support.

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Fundamental Principles for Understanding Structural Analysis of Beams and Frames (2024) – F. Gurkalo

Rule 12

The slope gradients of the bending moment change abruptly at each point where a concentrated
external force is applied.

Rule 13

Relationship Between Bending Moment and Shear Force: When the shear force is zero (at
the intersection of the beam line), the bending moment is at its maximum. (𝑀𝑚𝑎𝑥 𝑎𝑡 𝑉 = 0)

Rule 14

The bending moment at a hinge is

equal to zero.

Rule 15
Aside from hinges, the deflected shape is represented by a very smooth line.

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Fundamental Principles for Understanding Structural Analysis of Beams and Frames (2024) – F. Gurkalo

Rule 16

At the point of contraflexure, the

following occurs:

• A zero bending moment

• A changeover of the tension faces
in members (in beams, the tension
faces transition from the bottom
fibers to the top fibers or vice
versa; in columns, the tension faces
change from the left-hand side
fibers to the right-hand side fibers
or vice versa).

Rule 17
The bending moment increases uniformly
from the point of load application, but it
does so in the opposite direction. This
means that as you move away from the
load application point, the magnitude of
the bending moment steadily rises,
reflecting the influence of the applied load
on the structural member. The bending
moment's direction is critical, as it
indicates how the structure will respond
to the load: the increase in bending
moment in the opposite direction
demonstrates the tendency of the
member to deform or rotate due to the
external force.

Rule 18
Rigid joints in frames must maintain the
same angle as they rotate, ensuring that
the geometric relationships between
connected members remain consistent
throughout the rotation.

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Fundamental Principles for Understanding Structural Analysis of Beams and Frames (2024) – F. Gurkalo

Rule 19

At a right-angle rigid joint, shear force is

converted into axial force, while axial force is
transformed into shear force in perpendicular
members.

∑𝐻 = 0

∑𝑉 = 0

Rule 20

Rigid joints can only be either opened

or closed. This fixed nature is essential
for maintaining the structural integrity
and stability of the frame.

At a rigid joint connecting two

members, there is a single value of
bending moment, which indicates that
the joint effectively transmits the
bending forces from one member to the
other without any loss or redistribution.

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Fundamental Principles for Understanding Structural Analysis of Beams and Frames (2024) – F. Gurkalo

Rule 21

When more than two members

converge at a rigid joint, it is essential
that the joint is in a state of
equilibrium. This equilibrium condition
ensures that the forces and moments
acting on the joint are balanced,
preventing any unintended movement
or deformation of the connected
members. In such scenarios, the
analysis of the joint becomes critical, as
engineers must consider all forces
acting on the members and how they
interact with one another.

In the case of the joint illustrated in the

figure: 𝑀𝐴 = 𝑀𝐵 + 𝑀𝐶