New Formulation of the Governing Equations for Analyzing Outrigger Structures

In this paper, an easily comprehensible solution procedure is proposed for the analysis of outrigger-braced structures. The idea is based on the compatibility of the columns' axial deformation. The unknowns are selected to be the axial forces in the columns. The resulted governing equations and the equations for the optimum analysis of the outrigger locations are different from the conventional ones, but numerical analysis shows that the results obtained with the new equations are same as those obtained with conventional equations. The relations between the new equations and the conventional ones are also figured out. The new procedure of formulating the governing equations can be easily extended to more complicated cases of outrigger-braced structures.