What is Maxwell's Rule for Determining Static-Determinacy in Structures?

[v_pino]

Has anybody heard of Maxwell's Rule for determining whether a structure is statically-determinate or not? I've been trying find out more about it online but couldn't find anything related to it. I know the equation b + r - Dj = M

where
b = bars
j = joints
r = restraints
D = dimensions

But I don't know how to use it.

thank you

 

[tiny-tim]

Has anybody heard of Maxwell's Rule for determining whether a structure is statically-determinate or not? I've been trying find out more about it online but couldn't find anything related to it.

Hi v_pino!

Just google "structure +determinate +rule +maxwell", and you'll get lots of hits … for example:

http://www.engin.brown.edu/courses/en3/Notes/Statics/Internalforces/Internalforces.htm