Column Analogy in Multi-Cell Structures with Fixed Columns

Abstract

A procedure is presented for the analysis of multi-cell structures such as multi-span and mul-ti-storey frames by use of the method of column analogy, normally applicable to analysis of single-span and closed frames. The multi-cell structure is first divided into a number of cells each of which can be readily ana-lyzed by column analogy for the applied external loads. A number of simultaneous equations are then written to restore continuity of the isolated cells. Certain moment-coefficients are computed also by column analogy, and used in writing the continuity equations. Solution of these equations yields moment corrections which are superimposed to the moments of the isolated cells to arrive at the final bending moments of the multi-cell structure. The procedure is presented for the analysis of frames with fixed columns, and is applied for the analysis of three examples in order to illustrate the details of the solution. Results obtained are in excellent agreement with values calculated using the stiffness method.