What you will learn

Concepts and methods for analyzing structural systems

This course is designed for undergraduate civil engineering students and others interested in understanding foundational structural analysis concepts and methods. It covers the key topics of introductory structural analysis, with examples illustrating their practical applications. The course includes video lectures, exercise problems, and short quizzes.

Our goal is to help students master basic structural analysis concepts and apply them effectively to analyze beams, trusses, and frames. Please feel free to send us your technical questions as you progress through the material. We are here to help.

Course curriculum

  • 1

    What this course is about

    • Overview
  • 2

    Preliminaries

    • Force Vector

    • Particle Equilibrium

    • Rigid-Body Equilibrium

    • Free-Body Diagram 1

    • Free-Body Diagram 2

    • Free-Body Diagram 3

    • Statically Determinate Beam Analysis

    • Quiz (Statics Review)
  • 3

    Are You Ready?

    • Pre-Knowledge Assessment Test

    • AI-Powered Quiz 1

    • AI-Powered Quiz 2

    • AI-Powered Quiz 3

    • AI-Powered Quiz 4

    • AI-Powered Quiz 5
  • 4

    Introduction

    • Statically Determinate Beams

    • Quiz (Beam Determinacy)

    • Stability and Determinacy in Trusses

    • Stability and Determinacy (Example 1)

    • Stability and Determinacy (Example 2)

    • Quiz (Stability and Determinacy)

    • Beam with Internal Hinges

    • Quiz (Beam Analysis 1)

    • Quiz (Beam Analysis 2)

    • Beam Analysis (Distributed Loads)

    • On the Sign Convention for Writing Equilibrium Equations

    • Example 1

    • Example 2

    • Example 3

    • Example 4

    • Example 5

    • Example 6

    • Example 7

    • Example 8

    • Example 9

    • Example 10

    • Example 11
  • 5

    Statically Determinate Trusses

    • The Method of Joints

    • Quiz (Method of Joints)

    • Zero-force Members

    • A learning tool for identifying zero-force members in trusses

    • Interactive (Linked) Quiz: Zero-force Members

    • The Method of Sections

    • Method of Sections (Case 1)

    • Method of Sections (Case 2)

    • Method of Sections (Case 3)

    • Analysis of a Roof Truss using the Method of Joints

    • Quiz (Truss Analysis 1)

    • Review Session (Method of Joints)

    • Example Problem (Method of Sections)

    • Quiz (Truss Analysis 2)

    • Online Quiz: Zero-force Members

    • Example 1 (Method of Joints)

    • Example 2 (Method of Joints)

    • Example 3 (Method of Joints)

    • Example 4 (Method of Joints)

    • Example 5 (Method of Joints)

    • Example 6 (Method of Joints)
  • 6

    Shear and Moment in Beams

    • Introduction

    • Shear and Moment

    • Shear and Moment Equations

    • Example 1: Shear and Moment Equations

    • Example 2: Shear and Moment Equations

    • Example 3: Shear and Moment Equations

    • Example 4: Shear and Moment Equations

    • Example 5: Shear and Moment Equations

    • Shear Diagram

    • Moment Diagram

    • Example 6: Shear and Moment Diagrams

    • Example 7: Shear and Moment Diagrams

    • Example 8: Shear and Moment Diagrams

    • Example 9: Shear and Moment Diagram

    • Quiz (Shear and Moment 1)

    • Review Session 1

    • Quiz (Shear and Moment 2)

    • Review Session 2

    • Quiz (Shear and Moment 3)

    • Quiz (Shear and Moment 4)

    • Quiz (Shear and Moment 5)

    • Shear and Moment under Distributed Load

    • Additional Examples

    • Interactive Page for Writing Shear and Moment Equations (Beam 1)

    • Interactive Page for Writing Shear and Moment Equations (Beam 2)
  • 7

    Shear and Moment Knowledge Assessment

    • Shear and Moment Tests

    • AI-Powered Shear Force Quiz 1

    • AI-Powered Shear Force Quiz 2

    • AI-Powered Shear Force Quiz 3

    • AI-Powered Shear Force Quiz 4

    • AI-Powered Shear Force Quiz 5

    • AI-Power Bending Moment Quiz 1

    • AI-Powered Bending Moment Quiz 2

    • AI-Powered Bending Moment Quiz 3

    • AI-Powered Bendind Moment Quiz 4

    • AI-Powered Bending Moment Quiz 5
  • 8

    Deflection (Classical Methods)

    • Introduction

    • The Double Integration Method (Intro)

    • The Double Integration Method (Part 1)

    • The Double Integration Method (Part 2)

    • The Double Integration Method (Part 3)

    • The Double Integration Method (Part 4)

    • Quiz (Double Integration Method)

    • The Conjugate Beam Method (Part 1)

    • The Conjugate Beam Method (Part 2)

    • Quiz (Conjugate Beam Method)

    • The Moment-Area Method
  • 9

    Influence Lines

    • Reaction Influence Line

    • Quiz (Reaction Influence Line)

    • Shear Influence Line

    • Quiz (Shear Influence Line)

    • Moment Influence Line

    • Quiz (Moment Influence Line)

    • Influence Line for Trusses

    • Truss Influence Line: Moving Load Series

    • Truss Influence Line: Moving Distributed Load

    • Analysis of a Short-Span Bridge

    • Quiz (Influence Lines)

    • Floor Girder Influence Line
  • 10

    Influence Line Knowledge Assessment

    • Post-Knowledge Assessment Test

    • AI-Powered Influence Line Quiz 1

    • AI-Powered Influence Line Quiz 2

    • AI-Powered Influence Line Quiz 3

    • AI-Powered Influence Line Quiz 4

    • AI-Powered Influence Line Quiz 5
  • 11

    Deflection (The Virtual Work Method)

    • Work-Energy Principle (Part 1)

    • Work-Energy Principle (Part 2)

    • Addendum to Work-Energy Principle (Part 2) Lecture

    • Virtual Work Method (Trusses)

    • Virtual Work Method (Beams)

    • Virtual Work Method (Frames)

    • Quiz (Virtual Work Method)
  • 12

    Indeterminate Structures (The Force Method)

    • The Force Method (1st Degree Indeterminate Beams)

    • The Force Method (2nd Degree Indeterminate Beams)

    • The Force Method (Trusses)

    • Additional Examples

    • Quiz (The Force Method)
  • 13

    Indeterminate Structures (The Slope-Deflection Method)

    • Introduction

    • Slope-Deflection Equations (Part 1)

    • Slope-Deflection Equations (Part 2)

    • Fixed-End Moments

    • Expanded Slope-Deflection Equations

    • Support Settlement

    • Frame Analysis

    • Application (Matugama Bungalow Analysis)

    • Analysis of a Beam Resting on Elastomeric Bearings

    • Additional Examples

    • Post-Knowledge Assessment Test
  • 14

    Indeterminate Structures (Moment Distribution Method)

    • Introduction

    • Beam Analysis 1

    • Beam Analysis 2

    • Frame Analysis 1

    • Frame Analysis 2

    • Frame Analysis 3

    • Frame Analysis (The Glass House)
  • 15

    Cables

    • Introduction

    • Analysis of Cables Subjected to Concentrated Loads

    • Analysis of Cables Subjected to Distributed Loads
  • 16

    Arches

    • Three-hinged Arch Analysis

    • Analysis of a Three-hinged Arch Bridge
  • 17

    Structural Analysis Application Programs

    • iTruss: A 2D Truss Analysis Program

    • iFrame: A 2D Frame Analysis Program

    • iInfluence: An Influence Line Constructor for Beams

Course Review

5 star rating

Grateful that this course exists

Gulnur Maulenova

Dear Dr.Structure I probably cannot explain in one message how grateful I am that this course exists, is free and helps thousands of people like me to stu...

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Dear Dr.Structure I probably cannot explain in one message how grateful I am that this course exists, is free and helps thousands of people like me to study and get a grasp of what Structural Analysis is. I was struggling with my studies for a long time and even started to think that maybe I was not built for engineering. It was hard to study with books and classroom teaching was very hard to understand for me. At that time I started to seek help from the internet and stumbled across this website. I was truly shocked at how the course was explained with so much ease and how easy and interesting it was to study again. I studied every lecture and solved every extra question I needed to get ready for the Midterm and Final exams. I got a 90/100 on my Final. I am proud of my work considering how I struggled before. I broke my mental block with your course. I understood that my mental thinking that maybe I am not good at engineering was wrong. And most importantly I learned the lesson that everything is possible with hard work. Thank you!

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5 star rating

One of the best COURSES in Structural Analysis if not th...

abdelrahmen kharoubi

I did understand more in this course than 2 years of master degree in my university. Thanks to all the people who are involved in doing this masterpiece.

I did understand more in this course than 2 years of master degree in my university. Thanks to all the people who are involved in doing this masterpiece.

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5 star rating

excelente curso, muy recomendable

Julio Ortiz

posiblemente el mejor curso de analisis estructural que encontrarán

posiblemente el mejor curso de analisis estructural que encontrarán

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5 star rating

Great resource to complement a structures course.

biagio gugliotta

The presentation of concepts and analysis of example problems are great. I really appreciate the problems and solutions offered to the student.

The presentation of concepts and analysis of example problems are great. I really appreciate the problems and solutions offered to the student.

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5 star rating

Excellent

AHMAD HASSAN

I am big fan of Dr. Structure. Teaching method, quality of animation, and voice-over are excellent.

I am big fan of Dr. Structure. Teaching method, quality of animation, and voice-over are excellent.

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5 star rating

Gratitude 🤗 and Thanks 🥰 from Hashib (An undergrad studen...

AHASANUL HAQUE HASHIB

I feel so lucky that I have found this course online. I express my gratitude and humble thanks to everyone who have dedicated this course. This course makes ...

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I feel so lucky that I have found this course online. I express my gratitude and humble thanks to everyone who have dedicated this course. This course makes my life a lot easier for my University academic studies. Thank you so much again and please please please upload more free structural courses like this.

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5 star rating

Thanks!

asghar allami

This course is such a light in my way. It is great!

This course is such a light in my way. It is great!

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5 star rating

Amazing!

FRANCIS Mbugua

This is the most useful course out there; it is well organized; I get so much from each single video; I am so glad I found you; I hope that you will be able ...

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This is the most useful course out there; it is well organized; I get so much from each single video; I am so glad I found you; I hope that you will be able to put out more of these courses in the future.

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5 star rating

Perfect

Newton Avila dos Santos

Very well explained with many examples and solutions

Very well explained with many examples and solutions

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5 star rating

Feedback

Hawsar Omer Hama

i can't express my feelings about this course i could say its the best of all the time thank you so much dear doctor the way you explain the terms and topics...

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i can't express my feelings about this course i could say its the best of all the time thank you so much dear doctor the way you explain the terms and topics i love it so much you made me to love my career so much ,its realy incredible i hope keep making course like this

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5 star rating

This is course is amazing

Mode Fivethree

This course teaches you everything you need to know about structural analysis

This course teaches you everything you need to know about structural analysis

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5 star rating

Super

Paolo Chisu

Exhaustive course, animations help very much. I recommend it.

Exhaustive course, animations help very much. I recommend it.

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This course has been developed and maintained under the guidance of Dr. Sivand Lakmazaheri.