LESSON MODULE 2

MATRIX DISPLACEMENT METHOD FOR PLANE TRUSSES

The Method of Joints of Lesson Module 1 works for any stable and statically determinate planar truss
that satisfy the statically determinate criteria 2j – (m+r) = 0. When there is an extra support reaction
component or when there is a redundant member, or a combination of both conditions, the method of
joints will not work. There are now more unknown forces than available equations to relate them.

DISPLACEMENT METHOD

An alternate approach is called the Displacement Method which considers the nodal displacements
instead of member forces. The governing equation is

[ ] = [ ][ ]

Where [ ] = the set of known External Loads at the joints while [ ] is the set of unknown Joint
Displacements. [ ] is the matrix of coefficients defining the relation or influence of the External Loads,
[ ] with the Joint Displacements [ ].

Since the number of distinct loads at the joints is equal to the number of possible joint displacements,
then [ ] is always a square matrix.

To obtain the [ ] = [ ][ ] relation, one must first be able to relate the Joint Displacement [ ] to
the Member Deformations [ ]

[ ] = [ ][ ]

Next, the External Loads [ ] are related to Members Forces [ ]:

[ ] = [ ][ ]

Lastly, the elastic relation between the Member Deformation [ ] and Member Forces [ ] is shown as

[ ] = [ ][ ]

Note:

[ ] and [ ] = coordinate transformation matrices

[ ] = member stiffnesses (matrix of constants) relating the axial forces to the axial
elongations from Hooke’s Law.
Thus,

[ ] = [ ][ ][ ] = [ ][ ][ ][ ]

If [ ] = [ ][ ][ ]

Then [ ] = [ ][ ]

Once the above equation is set up, solve for the unknowns of the joint displacements [ ] by any
methods appropriate for simultaneous equations from matrix algebra.

With [ ] known, solve for the Member Deformations [ ] through substitution of [ ] in

[ ] = [ ][ ]

Also, [ ] = [ ][ ][ ]

20 KN
EXAMPLE:

3
2

40 KN 2

5 3 4m

3m 1 4

1 4
Member Relative Value of AE/L
1 25
2 20
3 25
4 20
5 20
Freedom Numbering & member incidence
4

2 3

0
0

0
0

Note: the hinged supports have no freedom of movement thus the zero freedom numbers.

Consider member 2 in the truss example. The total axial deformation of member 2 is the algebraic sum
of the influences caused by the nodal or joint displacements at its 2 ends. These components when
vectorily summed (elongation is positive) gives the net deformation of the member.
Similarly, the axial deformation for other members of the truss are:

We can now form the different equations in terms of Di:

D1 = X2

D2 = -0.9701X1 – 0.2425X2 + 0.9701X3 + 0.2425X4

D3 = X4

D4 = -0.80X1 +0.60 X2

D5 = 0.7071X3 + 0.7071X4

Form the Matrix format as follows:

[ ] = [ ][ ]
D1 = 0.00 1.00 0.00 0.00 X1

D2 = -0.9701 -0.2425 0.9701 0.2425 X2

D3 = 0.00 0.00 0.00 1.00 x X3

D4 = -0.80 0.60 0.00 0.00 X4

D5 = 0.00 0.00 0.7071 0.7071

[ ] = Displacement-Compatability Matrix

Next, express the axial forces F of each member in terms of the axial deformation D:

D= or F = Note: the relative values of AE/L are given above

F1 = 25D1
F2 = 20D2
F3 = 25D3
F4 = 20D4
F5 = 20D5

In matrix form,

F1 25 0 0 0 0 D1

F2 0 20 0 0 0 D2

F3 = 0 0 25 0 0 x D3

F4 0 0 0 20 0 D4

F5 0 0 0 0 20 D5

Correlating the above matrix equation with the linear equations of Di above,

F1 = 25D1 = 25X2
F2 = 20 (-0.97091X1 – 0.2425X2 + 0.9701X3 +0.2425X4) = -19.402X1 -4.851X2 + 19.402X3 + 4.851X4
F3 = 25D3 = 25X3
F4 = 20(-0.80X1 +0.60X2) = -16X1 + 12X2
F5 = 20(0.7071X3 + 0.7071X4)= 14.142X3 + 14.142X4
Using Matrix Notations,

F1 25 0 0 0 0 0.00 1.00 0.00 0.00

F2 0 20 0 0 0 -0.9701 -0.2425 0.9701 0.2425 X1

F3 = 0 0 25 0 0 0.00 0.00 0.00 1.00 X2

F4 0 0 0 20 0 -0.80 0.60 0.00 0.00 X3

F5 0 0 0 0 20 0.00 0.00 0.7071 0.7071 X4

Performing the product between the first two matrices,

F1 0 25 0 0 X1

F2 -19.402 -4.851 19.402 4.851 X2

F3 = 0 0 0 25 x X3

F4 -16 12 0 0 X4

F5 0 0 14.142 14.142

Isolate joints 2 and 3 and formulate the equilibrium conditions for each unknown displacement:

P2

F2

P1

F4

F1

Note: Break down F2 and F4 into vertical and horizontal components

 P4

P3
3

F2

F5 F3

Note: Break down F2 and F5 into vertical and horizontal components

At Joint 2:

Fh = 0: P1 = -0.97F2 – 0.80 F4
∑Fv = 0: P2 = F1 – 0.2425F2 + 0.60 F4

At Joint 3:

∑Fh = 0: P3 = 0.9701F2 + 0.7071F5

∑Fv = 0: P4 = 0.2425F2 + F3 + 0.7071F5

Writing in Matrix Form: [ ] = [ ][ ]

P1 0 -0.9701 0 -0.80 0 F1

P2 1 -0.2425 0 0.60 0 F2

P3 = 0 0.9701 0 0 0.7071 x F3

P4 0 0.2425 1 0 0.7071 F4

F5

Substitute the value of [ ] from the relations above and multiplying the first two matrices we obtain
the following linear system:
[ ] = [ ][ ]
P1 =31.618X1 – 4.894X2 – 18.818X3 – 4.705X4
P2 = -4.894X1 + 33.376X2 – 4.705X3 – 1.176X4
P3 = -18.818X1 – 4.705X2 + 28.818X3 + 14.705X4
P4 = -4.705X1 – 1.176X2 + 14.705X3 + 36.176X4

Note: Matrix [ ] and Matrix [ ] above are the transpose of each other.
As indicated in the original figure of the truss, P1, P2, P3 and P4 are the loads applied at joints 2 and 3 to
the Joint Displacement X. Thus
P1 = 40 KN
P2 = 0
P3 = 0
P4 = -20 KN

Substituting these into the above linear system involving Pi and Xi (by Gaussian elimination, etc.)

X1 2.65
X2 0.69
X= X3 = 2.45
X4 -1.18

Substituting the values of Xi into the matrix equation involving [ ] and [ ] above, the values of Fi
(member forces) are easily determined by matrix multiplication:

17.32
-13.07
[ ] = -29.59
-34.15
17.93