1) Force Method

Objective: analyze statically indeterminate beams, frames, and trusses. The method was developed by
James Clerk Maxwell and then later refined by Otto Mohr and Heinrich Muller-Breslau.
Other names: Flexibility Method; Method of Consistent Deformation; Compatibility Method
Symbols: ΔB: vertical displacement at point B due to the removal of the redundant (By); Δ'B: vertical
displacement at point B due to the application of the redundant. f BB: flexibility coefficient at point B; Δ'B
= By. f BB; θA: rotation at point A due to the removal of the redundant (MA); θ'A: rotation at point B due
to the application of the redundant; α AA: flexibility coefficient at point A; θ'A = MA. α AA. For a general
conclusion, consider the following beam with two redundant.

49. The Force Method is primarily used to:

(a) Determine the reactions at the supports.
(b) Analyze statically indeterminate structures.
(c) Calculate the natural frequencies of a structure.
(d) Design the cross-sections of structural members.
(e) None of the above
50. In the Force Method, the primary unknowns are:
(a) Displacements.
(b) Internal forces and moments.
(c) Support reactions.
(d) Material properties.
(e) None of the above
51. The compatibility equations in the Force Method are used to ensure that:
(a) External loads are in equilibrium.
(b) Internal forces are balanced.

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 ‫اﻻزاﺣﺎت اﻟﻨﺎﺗﺠﺔ ﻋﻦ اﻟﻘﻮى اﻟﺰاﺋﺪة ﻣﺘﻮاﻓﻘﺔ‬
(c) Displacements due to redundants are compatible.
(d) Stress does not exceed the yield stress.
(e) None of the above
52. When using the Force Method, the first step is to:
(a) Determine the degree of indeterminacy.
(b) Apply virtual loads.
(c) Calculate the stiffness of the members.
(d) Determine the plastic moment capacity.
(e) None of the above.
53. In the Force Method, what is the role of the redundant forces? ‫ﻓﻲ طﺮﯾﻘﺔ اﻟﻘﻮة ﻣﺎھﻮ دور اﻟﻘﻮة اﻟﺰاﺋﺪة ﻋﻦ اﻟﺤﺎﺟﺔ‬
(a) They are the forces directly due to external loads.
(b) They are fictitious forces used to ensure compatibility.
(c) They are forces that cause plastic deformation. ‫ﺗﺴﺘﺨﺪم ﻟﻤﻮازﻧﺔ اﻻزاﺣﺎت داﺧﻞ اﻟﮭﯿﻜﻞ‬
(d) They are reactions to simple supports.
(e) None of the above
54. The number of compatibility equations needed in the Force Method is equal to:
(a) The number of external loads.
(b) The degree of static indeterminacy.
(c) The number of joints in the structure.
(d) The number of members in the structure.
(e) None of the above
55. Which of the following statements is true about the Force Method? ‫اي ﻣﻦ اﻟﻌﺒﺎرات اﻟﺘﺎﻟﯿﺔ ﺻﺤﯿﺤﺔ ﺣﻮل ﺗﺤﻠﯿﻞ اﻟﻘﻮة‬
(a) It is also known as the displacement method.
(b) It is limited to analyzing statically determinate structures.
(c) It can be used for both linear and nonlinear analysis.
(d) It requires the use of influence lines.
(e) None of the above
56. In the Force Method, superposition is used to:
(a) Calculate the plastic hinge locations.
(b) Determine the maximum stress in a member.
(c) Combine the effects of external loads and redundant forces.
(d) Identify the points of zero shear force.
(e) None of the above.

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57. To solve a statically indeterminate beam using the Force Method, one must:
(a) Convert it into a statically determinate structure by removing redundant constraints.
(b) Apply dynamic loads.
(c) Use the principle of virtual work.
(d) Ensure all members are prismatic.
(e) None of the above
58. In the Force Method, after introducing the redundant forces, the next step typically involves:
(a) Setting up the equilibrium equations for the entire structure.
(b) Formulating the compatibility equations based on the deformations.
(c) (c) Applying the principle of minimum potential energy.
(d) Computing the deflections using the moment-distribution method.
(e) None of the above
59. For a beam fixed at both ends with an intermediate hinge, which of the following statements about its
degree of indeterminacy is correct?
(a) The beam is statically determinate.
(b) The degree of indeterminacy is one.
(c) The degree of indeterminacy is two
(d) The degree of indeterminacy is three.
(e) None of the above.
60. For a truss analyzed using the Force Method, which of the following aspects must be considered in the
formulation of compatibility equations?
(a) Only the vertical displacements at the joints.
(b) The axial deformations of all members.
(c) The bending moments in the truss members.
(d) The rotational displacements at the joints.
(e) None of the above
61. Which of the following structural elements can be analyzed using the Force Method?
(a) Only statically determinate beams.
(b) Frames and trusses with any degree of static indeterminacy.
(c) Plates and shells under dynamic loads.
(d) Composite materials with nonlinear behavior.
(e) None of the above

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62. Most of the real-world structures are statically determinate structures. State whether the above statement
is: select the correct answer.
(a) True
(b) False
(c) Depend on loadings
(d) Depend on static indeterminacy
63. Who among the following initially developed the Force Method?
(a) Muller
(b) Breslau
(c) Mohr
(d) Maxwell
(e) Euler
64. The displacement compatibility equation of the indeterminate beam shown in the figure below assuming
the moment at C is the redundant force is: Where Δ is the displacement due to real load; δ is the
displacement due to virtual load; θc is the rotation at C due to real load, αc is the rotation at C due to virtual
load, R is the reaction due to real load and M is the moment due to real load.
(a) θc + αc x Ray = 0
(b) Ay + δ Ay x Mc=0
(c) Δ Ay + δ Ay x Ray =1
(d) θc + αc x Mc = 0
(e) None of the above
65. Which of the following conditions form the basis of the Force Method?
(a) Equilibrium conditions
(b) Force-displacement conditions
(c) Load applied
(d) Compatibility conditions
(e) Displacement conditions
66. An internally indeterminate truss of the 2nd degree is to be analyzed by the consistent deformation method.
Which of the following statements is correct? Choose one of the following.
(a) One bar force and one reaction are to be chosen as redundant
(b) Two reactions are to be chosen a s redundant
(c) Two bar forces are to be chosen as redundant
(d) Three bar forces are to be chosen as redundant

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(e) None of the above.
67. A continuous beam is resting on three supports (two rollers and one hinge). The beam is subjected to a total
downward loading of 120 kN. If the values of two vertical reactions were determined to be 13 kN
downward and 33 kN upward, what would be the value and direction of the third vertical reaction? Choose
one of the following
(a) 84 kN downward
(b) 84 kN upward
(c) 100 kN upward
(d) 100 kN downward
(e) None of the above
68. Which one of the following is the compatibility equation if AB will be chosen as the redundant?
(a) 0 = ΔAB + FAB fBB
(b) 0 = ΔAB + FDB fDBDB
(c) 0 = ΔDB + FDB fDBDB
(d) 0 = ΔAB + FAB fABBA
(e) None of the above

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69. Which of the following methods is a compatibility method?
(a) Virtual Work Method
(b) Consistent Displacement Method
(c) Slope Deflection Method
(d) Stiffness Method
(e) None of the above
70. What is the unit of the flexibility coefficient?
(a) N/m
(b) m/N
(c) m.N
(d) N2
(e) Unitless
71. The flowing beam is
(a) Unstable
(b) Statically determinate
(c) Statically indeterminate to the first degree
(d) Statically indeterminate to the second-degree
(e) Statically indeterminate to the third-degree
72. For the beam in problem 71, if the reaction at B is selected as redundant, what is the compatibility equation?
(a) ΔB = 0
(b) ΔC = 0
(c) θA = 0
(d) - ΔB + By. f BB = 0
(e) ΔA + Δ'B = 0
73. For the beam in problem 71, by removing the roller support at B the primary structure is
(a) Simply supported AC
(b) Simply supported AB
(c) Cantilever AB
(d) Cantilever AC
(e) None of the above
74. For the beam in problem 71, the vertical deflection at point B due to the removal of the redundant is
(a) 800/EI
(b) 800/3EI

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(c) 800/5EI
(d) 400/EI
(e) 400/3EI
75. For the beam in problem 71, the value of f BB is
(a) 8/3EI
(b) 8/3EI
(c) 8/5EI
(d) 4/EI
(e) 4/3EI
76. For the beam in problem 71, the value of By
(a) 100 kN
(b) 50 kN
(c) 25 kN
(d) 12.5 kN
(e) 6.25 kN
77. Force Method is used to analyze
(a) Statically indeterminate frames
(b) Statically indeterminate beams
(c) Statically indeterminate trusses
(d) Statically indeterminate frames, beams, and trusses
(e) None of the above
78. What is the degree of determinacy of the following frame?
(a) Unstable
(b) Statically determinate
(c) Statically indeterminate to the first degree
(d) Statically indeterminate to the second-degree
(e) Cannot say
79. Consider the frame of question 78. If the vertical support at A is considered redundant, what is the
deflection at point A due to the real loads?
(a) 562.5/EI
(b) 566.5/ EI
(c) 555/EI
(d) 263.5/EI

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(e) Zero
80. Consider the frame of question 78. If the vertical support at A is considered redundant, what is the
flexibility coefficient at point A due to the application of the redundant?
(a) 20/EI
(b) 20.25/EI
(c) 44.7/EI
(d) Zero
(e) 41.7/EI
81. To analyze the beam below using the Compatibility Method, which of the reactions cannot be
considered redundant.
(a) vertical support at the fixed end
(b) Vertical support at the roller
(c) Horizontal support at the fixed end
(d) Moment reaction at the fixed end
(e) horizontal support at the roller
82. To analyze the beam below using the Flexibility Method, how many compatibility equations are needed?
(a) One
(b) Two
(c) Three
(d) Four
(e) None (because is not subjected to any horizontal loads).
83. In a propped cantilever beam, what support reaction cannot be chosen as redundant?
(a) The moment at the fixed support
(b) The vertical reaction at the fixed support
(c) The horizontal reaction at the fixed support
(d) The vertical reaction at the propped end
(e) None of the above

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