Level 6 Graduate Diploma in Engineering (9210-01) - City & Guilds

Unit 111 Structural analysis
Assessment Criteria
Outcome 1 Perform elastic and plastic analysis of structures
The learner can:
1. Explain superposition of actions and displacements; explain limits to the principle of
superposition; compatibility; linearity of load deflection relationship.
2. Explain and apply Theorem of three moments in simple applications.
3. Describe slope deflection equations and perform simple applications.
4. Describe moment distribution methods and perform simple applications.
5. Analyse stress and strain including two dimensional problems in rectangular and polar coordinates.
6. Analyse statical indeterminacy of structures; perform force methods of structural analysis and
use matrix methods.
7. Analyse kinematic indeterminacy of structures; use displacement methods of structural
analysis and matrix methods.
8. Analyse frames and beams using procedures applied to plastic collapse of simple steel frames
and continuous beams.
9. Apply plastic analysis to reinforced concrete slabs.
Range
Elastic analysis- examination of structures or materials based on their reaction to stresses in
stretching or bending elastically.
Plastic analysis – the analysis of structures beyond the elastic limits of behaviour, used to
calculate actual failure loads which are generally greater than loads calculated by elastic methods.
Superposition – the total effect of two or more load systems on a structure is the sum of the
effects caused by each load system individually.
Actions – loads on a structure.
Theorem of three moments – the mathematical relationship between the bending moments at
three consecutive supports along a loaded continuous beam.
Moment distribution – a method used to establish bending moments in statically indeterminate
beams and frames.
Stress- a measure of the forces acting on or in a deformable body, measured as the average force
per unit area of a surface on or in the body on which the forces act.
Strain – a measure of the deformation of an element under applied stresses.
Statical indeterminacy- static equilibrium equations are insufficient for determining the internal
forces and reactions on a structure and additional methods must be adopted.
Kinematic indeterminacy – the degree of kinematic indeterminacy is the number of joint
displacements which are not known when applying the stiffness method of analysis.
Displacement method – see matrix method.
Matrix method – (of structural analysis) uses mathematical matrices to solve multiple
simultaneous equations based on stiffness of members, forces acting on the structure and
displacements at joints. This enables member forces and moments to be calculated. Sometimes
referred to as direct stiffness method, or displacement method.
Plastic collapse – occurs when sufficient plastic hinges form within a structure to forma failure
mechanism.
Continuous beam – A beam having several spans in one straight line; generally having at least
three supports.
66 Level 6 Graduate Diploma in Engineering (9210-01)