Esforços dinâmicos

Module 1
Energy Methods in Structural Analysis
Version 2 CE IIT, Kharagpur

Lesson 1
General Introduction
Version 2 CE IIT, Kharagpur

Instructional Objectives
After reading this chapter the student will be able to 1. Differentiate between various structural forms such as beams, plane truss, space truss, plane frame, space frame, arches, cables, plates and shells. 2. State and use conditions of static equilibrium. 3. Calculate the degree of static and kinematic indeterminacy of a given structure such as beams, truss and frames. 4. Differentiate between stable and unstable structure. 5. Define flexibility and stiffness coefficients. 6. Write force-displacement relations for simple structure.

1.1 Introduction
Structural analysis and design is a very old art and is known to human beings since early civilizations. The Pyramids constructed by Egyptians around 2000 B.C. stands today as the testimony to the skills of master builders of that civilization. Many early civilizations produced great builders, skilled craftsmen who constructed magnificent buildings such as the Parthenon at Athens (2500 years old), the great Stupa at Sanchi (2000 years old), Taj Mahal (350 years old), Eiffel Tower (120 years old) and many more buildings around the world. These monuments tell us about the great feats accomplished by these craftsmen in analysis, design and construction of large structures. Today we see around us countless houses, bridges, fly-overs, high-rise buildings and spacious shopping malls. Planning, analysis and construction of these buildings is a science by itself. The main purpose of any structure is to support the loads coming on it by properly transferring them to the foundation. Even animals and trees could be treated as structures. Indeed biomechanics is a branch of mechanics, which concerns with the working of skeleton and muscular structures. In the early periods houses were constructed along the riverbanks using the locally available material. They