Structural Analysis EXAM STUDY GUIDE 2026
COMPLETE QUESTIONS WITH CORRECT
DETAILED ANSWERS || 100% GUARANTEED
PASS <LATEST VERSION>
Section 1: Fundamentals & Statically Determinate Structures
1. What is the primary difference between a statically determinate and an indeterminate
structure?
A) Indeterminate structures are always stronger.
B) Determinate structures can be analyzed using only equilibrium equations.
C) Indeterminate structures have more degrees of freedom.
D) Determinate structures are more commonly used.
Answer: B) Determinate structures can be analyzed using only equilibrium equations (ΣFx=0,
ΣFy=0, ΣM=0). Indeterminate structures require compatibility conditions in addition to
equilibrium.
2. The principle of superposition is valid for structures that exhibit:
A) Plastic behavior only.
B) Large deformations.
C) Linear elastic material behavior and small deformations.
D) All types of material behavior.
Answer: C) Linear elastic material behavior and small deformations. Superposition breaks down
if the material yields or if deformations are large enough to significantly alter the geometry.
3. The degree of indeterminacy (static) for a planar structure is given by:
A) r - 3j
B) 3m + r - 3j
C) r - 3m
D) 3j - r
Answer: B) 3m + r - 3j, where m is the number of members, r is the number of reaction
components, and j is the number of joints. This formula is for trusses. For frames, it's often
simpler to count the number of unknowns (reactions + internal redundancies) minus the number
of available equilibrium equations (3).
4. A simply supported beam with a point load at midspan will have zero:
A) Bending Moment and Shear Force at the supports.
,B) Bending Moment at the supports and maximum at midspan.
C) Shear Force at midspan and maximum bending moment at the supports.
D) Deflection at the supports.
Answer: B) Bending Moment at the supports and maximum at midspan. Pinned and roller
supports cannot resist a moment, so the moment is zero. The shear force is maximum at the
supports.
5. The shape of the bending moment diagram for a uniformly loaded, simply supported
beam is:
A) Linear
B) Constant
C) Parabolic
D) Cubic
Answer: C) Parabolic. The shear force diagram is linear, and since the moment is the integral of
the shear, it becomes parabolic.
6. The method of joints in truss analysis is based on:
A) Summing moments about a point.
B) Analyzing each joint as a concurrent force system in equilibrium.
C) Analyzing sections of the truss.
D) The principle of virtual work.
Answer: B) Analyzing each joint as a concurrent force system in equilibrium. At each joint,
ΣFx=0 and ΣFy=0.
7. A zero-force member in a truss:
A) Can always be removed without affecting stability.
B) Carries load only under certain loading conditions.
C) Is identified when two members are collinear and a joint has no external load.
D) Is made of a weaker material.
Answer: C) Is identified when two members are collinear and a joint has no external load. The
third, non-collinear member will be a zero-force member. They are often important for stability
under different load cases.
8. The method of sections is used in truss analysis to:
A) Find the forces in all members quickly.
B) Find the force in a specific member without solving the entire truss.
C) Determine the reactions at the supports.
D) Calculate the deflection of the truss.
, Answer: B) Find the force in a specific member without solving the entire truss. A section cut is
passed through the truss, and the cut section is analyzed as a rigid body in equilibrium.
9. Influence lines are used to determine:
A) The effect of a moving load on a structural response.
B) The ultimate load capacity of a structure.
C) The dynamic response to an earthquake.
D) The thermal stresses in a frame.
Answer: A) The effect of a moving load on a structural response (e.g., reaction, shear, moment).
10. The Müller-Breslau principle states that the influence line for a force response is
proportional to:
A) The moment diagram for a fixed load.
B) The deflected shape of the structure after removing the restraint corresponding to the
response.
C) The shear diagram for a uniformly distributed load.
D) The axial force in the main girder.
text
**Answer:** B) The deflected shape of the structure after removing the restraint corresponding
to the response and applying a unit displacement.
Section 2: Deflections & Energy Methods
11. The double integration method for finding beam deflections requires:
A) The shear force diagram.
B) The bending moment equation, M(x).
C) The influence line for moment.
D) The modulus of elasticity and shear modulus.
text
**Answer:** B) The bending moment equation, M(x). The governing differential equation is EI
* d²v/dx² = M(x).
12. The term "EI" in the beam deflection equation is known as:
A) The section modulus.
B) The flexural rigidity.
C) The moment of inertia.
D) The stiffness factor.
COMPLETE QUESTIONS WITH CORRECT
DETAILED ANSWERS || 100% GUARANTEED
PASS <LATEST VERSION>
Section 1: Fundamentals & Statically Determinate Structures
1. What is the primary difference between a statically determinate and an indeterminate
structure?
A) Indeterminate structures are always stronger.
B) Determinate structures can be analyzed using only equilibrium equations.
C) Indeterminate structures have more degrees of freedom.
D) Determinate structures are more commonly used.
Answer: B) Determinate structures can be analyzed using only equilibrium equations (ΣFx=0,
ΣFy=0, ΣM=0). Indeterminate structures require compatibility conditions in addition to
equilibrium.
2. The principle of superposition is valid for structures that exhibit:
A) Plastic behavior only.
B) Large deformations.
C) Linear elastic material behavior and small deformations.
D) All types of material behavior.
Answer: C) Linear elastic material behavior and small deformations. Superposition breaks down
if the material yields or if deformations are large enough to significantly alter the geometry.
3. The degree of indeterminacy (static) for a planar structure is given by:
A) r - 3j
B) 3m + r - 3j
C) r - 3m
D) 3j - r
Answer: B) 3m + r - 3j, where m is the number of members, r is the number of reaction
components, and j is the number of joints. This formula is for trusses. For frames, it's often
simpler to count the number of unknowns (reactions + internal redundancies) minus the number
of available equilibrium equations (3).
4. A simply supported beam with a point load at midspan will have zero:
A) Bending Moment and Shear Force at the supports.
,B) Bending Moment at the supports and maximum at midspan.
C) Shear Force at midspan and maximum bending moment at the supports.
D) Deflection at the supports.
Answer: B) Bending Moment at the supports and maximum at midspan. Pinned and roller
supports cannot resist a moment, so the moment is zero. The shear force is maximum at the
supports.
5. The shape of the bending moment diagram for a uniformly loaded, simply supported
beam is:
A) Linear
B) Constant
C) Parabolic
D) Cubic
Answer: C) Parabolic. The shear force diagram is linear, and since the moment is the integral of
the shear, it becomes parabolic.
6. The method of joints in truss analysis is based on:
A) Summing moments about a point.
B) Analyzing each joint as a concurrent force system in equilibrium.
C) Analyzing sections of the truss.
D) The principle of virtual work.
Answer: B) Analyzing each joint as a concurrent force system in equilibrium. At each joint,
ΣFx=0 and ΣFy=0.
7. A zero-force member in a truss:
A) Can always be removed without affecting stability.
B) Carries load only under certain loading conditions.
C) Is identified when two members are collinear and a joint has no external load.
D) Is made of a weaker material.
Answer: C) Is identified when two members are collinear and a joint has no external load. The
third, non-collinear member will be a zero-force member. They are often important for stability
under different load cases.
8. The method of sections is used in truss analysis to:
A) Find the forces in all members quickly.
B) Find the force in a specific member without solving the entire truss.
C) Determine the reactions at the supports.
D) Calculate the deflection of the truss.
, Answer: B) Find the force in a specific member without solving the entire truss. A section cut is
passed through the truss, and the cut section is analyzed as a rigid body in equilibrium.
9. Influence lines are used to determine:
A) The effect of a moving load on a structural response.
B) The ultimate load capacity of a structure.
C) The dynamic response to an earthquake.
D) The thermal stresses in a frame.
Answer: A) The effect of a moving load on a structural response (e.g., reaction, shear, moment).
10. The Müller-Breslau principle states that the influence line for a force response is
proportional to:
A) The moment diagram for a fixed load.
B) The deflected shape of the structure after removing the restraint corresponding to the
response.
C) The shear diagram for a uniformly distributed load.
D) The axial force in the main girder.
text
**Answer:** B) The deflected shape of the structure after removing the restraint corresponding
to the response and applying a unit displacement.
Section 2: Deflections & Energy Methods
11. The double integration method for finding beam deflections requires:
A) The shear force diagram.
B) The bending moment equation, M(x).
C) The influence line for moment.
D) The modulus of elasticity and shear modulus.
text
**Answer:** B) The bending moment equation, M(x). The governing differential equation is EI
* d²v/dx² = M(x).
12. The term "EI" in the beam deflection equation is known as:
A) The section modulus.
B) The flexural rigidity.
C) The moment of inertia.
D) The stiffness factor.
