Solving technique for static problems

[TSN79]

I'm wondering about the method with which to attack static problems. One has three independent equations, but I'm unsure about when to use them on the whole structure, or when to take the structure apart and use them on each part. Are there any rules on this that would make this decision easier?

 

[Astronuc]

What type of structure? Truss or beam or some solid body (e.g. block)?

There are certain methods - e.g. method of joints for trusses. For example -
http://physics.uwstout.edu/StatStr/Strength/StatII/stat22.htm

http://mac6.ma.psu.edu/em11/p09a.html

http://em-ntserver.unl.edu/Negahban/em223/note12/note12.htm

http://floti.bell.ac.uk/kingr/wbtcontent/mthjoints.html

http://www.ce.cmu.edu/~garrett/courses/12-100/LECTURES/truss-analysis-ho.pdf (use 'save target as')

More generally, with forces and moments

http://www.roymech.co.uk/Useful_Tables/Mechanics/Statics.html

This seems useful and instructive (overview of BEAMTool) -
http://people.clarkson.edu/~dempsey/Papers/DempseyKaneKurtz(2005).pdf

And this for structural engineers - summary of analytical software
http://www.icivilengineer.com/Software_Guide/Structural_Analysis/

Well that's a start.

 

[Pyrrhus]

Static problems are cool, but Structural problems are the best. I love having a good challenge. Especially those hyperstatic ones.

Remember for Static you only need to know some basic principles. Certainly easier than Dynamics. Althought they are not that different, they come from the same basic principle: Newton's Laws.