Indeterminate Structures & The Moment Distribution Method

"Go Beyond Simple Statically Determinate StructuresAlmost all real world civil engineering structures of any significance are indeterminate meaning we can't simply rely on the trusty equations of static equilibrium. The moment distribution method is one of the most intuitive ways to analyse these structures.After completing this course you will be well equipped to determine the shear force diagram, bending moment diagram and qualitative deflected shape for any statically determinate or indeterminate structure you're likely to encounter as a civil engineer. Having a fast hand-analysis method for indeterminate structures is invaluable for any good engineer! The analysis of indeterminate structures is all too often left to the computer in civil engineering these days. But as an engineer, if you can't approximate by hand what the computer is telling - you're on thin ice! By the end of this course you'll have given yourself an invaluable skill - the ability to make sensible judgements on a computer analyses! Section 1: Establishing the fundamentalsAfter completing this section you will have a clear analysis procedure to employ. Section 2: Understanding the importance of structural stabilityIn this section I will outline some of the common methods employed by civil engineers to ensure lateral stability of their structures. Section 3: Applying what you have learned to non-sway framesNow we will start to really see the power of this analysis technique. We will apply the procedure and techniques from section 1 to the analysis of non-sway or propped structural frames. Section 4: Expanding to consider sway-framesIn this final section we will bring your analysis skills to the next level by introducing you to the analysis of sway frames. Structures expected to undergo significant lateral deflections under loading will experience additional sway moments. "