Free Structural Analysis MCQs with Answers
78 Structural Analysis MCQs from Civil Engineering, each with the correct answer and a written explanation of why it is correct. Free and unlimited, with no account needed.
Structural analysis determines how beams, frames, trusses and arches carry loads through reactions, shear forces, bending moments, axial forces and deflections. It covers free-body diagrams, equilibrium equations, determinacy, influence lines and methods such as slope deflection, moment distribution and virtual work, while distinguishing analysis of a structure from its design.
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78 questions · page 1 of 4
- A. m + r = 2j
- B. m + r = 3j
- C. m + 2r = 2j
- D. 2m + r = 3j
Explanation: For a stable plane truss, the number of member forces and support reactions equals the available joint equilibrium equations when m + r =…
Correct answer: m + r = 2j- A. Equal to the support reaction
- B. Always zero
- C. Equal to the shear force
- D. Equal to the axial force
Explanation: An internal hinge permits rotation and cannot transmit bending moment, so the bending moment at its location is zero.
Correct answer: Always zero- A. Both members carry equal tension
- B. One member carries the full joint load
- C. Both members are zero-force members
- D. Both members carry equal compression
Explanation: The joint has no external load, and the two member forces act in different directions.
Correct answer: Both members are zero-force members- A. Integral of EI multiplied by Mm dx
- B. Integral of M plus m over EI dx
- C. Integral of M divided by mEI dx
- D. Integral of Mm over EI dx
Explanation: The bending contribution to displacement is obtained from the integral of Mm divided by EI over the beam length.
Correct answer: Integral of Mm over EI dx- A. 0.50
- B. 0.70
- C. 1.00
- D. 2.00
Explanation: A fixed-pinned column has an effective length factor of approximately 0.70, more precisely about 0.699.
Correct answer: 0.70- A. One quarter
- B. One half
- C. One third
- D. Two thirds
Explanation: When a moment is applied at one end of a prismatic member whose far end is fixed, half of the applied balancing moment is carried over to…
Correct answer: One half- A. A unit temperature rise at the support
- B. A uniformly distributed load over the member
- C. A unit displacement in the positive response direction
- D. A full-span concentrated load
Explanation: The influence line is proportional to the deflected shape produced when the restraint associated with the response is released and a unit…
Correct answer: A unit displacement in the positive response direction- A. Joint rotations only
- B. Member stiffness coefficients
- C. Nodal coordinates only
- D. Redundant forces
Explanation: The flexibility method selects the redundant forces as the primary unknowns and uses compatibility equations to determine them.
Correct answer: Redundant forces- A. It changes the displacement but not the internal force system
- B. It creates an extra axial force
- C. It creates an extra bending moment
- D. It changes the material modulus
Explanation: A statically determinate structure can adjust to support settlement without developing force changes caused by compatibility restrictions.
Correct answer: It changes the displacement but not the internal force system- A. It uses equilibrium only and ignores compatibility
- B. It treats nodal displacements as primary unknowns
- C. It determines member forces without nodal displacements
- D. It applies only to statically determinate structures
Explanation: The stiffness method formulates relationships between nodal displacements and nodal forces, then solves for the unknown joint translations…
Correct answer: It treats nodal displacements as primary unknowns- A. Zero
- B. Two
- C. One
- D. Three
Explanation: A propped cantilever has four external reaction components, while planar equilibrium supplies only three independent equations.
Correct answer: One- A. wL²/24
- B. wL²/2
- C. wL²/8
- D. wL²/12
Explanation: The fixed-end moments for a full-span uniform load are equal in magnitude to wL²/12 and are hogging at both supports.
Correct answer: wL²/12- A. The deflection of the real beam
- B. The slope of the real beam
- C. The shear force in the real beam
- D. The curvature of the real beam
Explanation: For a correctly formed conjugate beam, its shear represents the slope of the real beam and its bending moment represents the deflection.
Correct answer: The deflection of the real beam- A. Support reaction
- B. Displacement
- C. Bending stress
- D. Section modulus
Explanation: Differentiating total strain energy with respect to a load gives the displacement in the direction of that load.
Correct answer: Displacement- A. Stress at point B due to a load at point A
- B. Reaction at point A due to a load at point B
- C. Displacement at point B due to a load at point A
- D. Curvature at point B due to a load at point A
Explanation: The theorem makes the cross-displacements interchangeable when the structure is linear elastic and the loading is compatible with small…
Correct answer: Displacement at point B due to a load at point A- A. Single-span simply supported beams
- B. Pin-jointed plane trusses
- C. Short compression members
- D. Continuous beams over several supports
Explanation: The theorem relates the support moments at three consecutive supports of a continuous beam.
Correct answer: Continuous beams over several supports- A. π²EI/L²
- B. 2π²EI/L²
- C. π²EI/(2L)²
- D. 4π²EI/L²
Explanation: Both ends are pinned, so the effective length equals the actual length L.
Correct answer: π²EI/L²18. In the slope-deflection method, the unknowns at the ends of a jointed beam member are generally its
- A. Member loads and support reactions
- B. Joint rotations and translations
- C. Cross-sectional areas and inertias
- D. Shear stresses and strains
Explanation: The slope-deflection method expresses member end moments in terms of joint rotations, joint translations, and fixed-end effects.
Correct answer: Joint rotations and translations- A. Equilibrium alone
- B. Material density only
- C. Compatibility of deformation
- D. The member's unloaded weight
Explanation: In an indeterminate structure, support movement may be incompatible with the undeformed geometry unless members develop additional forces.
Correct answer: Compatibility of deformation- A. A rectangle over the entire span
- B. A constant line at the support reaction
- C. A parabola with zero end ordinates
- D. A triangle with a peak at the section
Explanation: The bending moment at a fixed interior section varies linearly as the load moves on either side of that section.
Correct answer: A triangle with a peak at the sectionStructural Analysis MCQs: common questions
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There are 78 Structural Analysis MCQs in the Civil Engineering bank, shown 20 to a page with the correct answer and an explanation on each.
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