ABSTRACT
The method of displacements is the dual of the method of forces. Thus, it is a process of identifying a single set of kinematic parameters that, in addition to congruence, also implies equilibrium.
From the operative standpoint, the method of displacements consists of imposing certain displacements or rotations, characteristic of the system, in such a way that the redundant reactions satisfy an equal number of relations of equilibrium. In the following, this method will be applied to beam systems of various types. In illustrating the method, we shall start from simple cases of parallel-arranged elements and close the chapter by presenting fundamental concepts on which the automatic computation of beam systems with multiple degrees of indeterminacy (trusses, plane frames, plane grids, space frames) is based.
