The weight of the members are negligible.

A truss can
be classified as a lightweight structure, meaning that
the weights of its members are generally much smaller
than the loads that it is designed to carry.

All joints are pins. The members at a joint are aligned

so that their centroidal axes intersect at a common
point, advanced methods of analysis indicate that the
assumption of pins is justified.
The applied forces act at the joints. Because the
members of a truss are slender, they may fail when
subject to loads applied at locations other than the
joints. therefore, trusses are designed so that the major
applied loads act at the joints.

Compression

Tension

Example 1:

Using the method of joints, determine the force in

each member of the truss shown. State whether each
member is in tension or compression.

Example 2:
Determine the force in each member of the Howe roof
truss shown. State whether each member is in tension or
compression.

ANS:
AB=FH=15kN,C
AC=GH=12kN,T
CE=GE=12kN,T
BD=DF=10kN,C
BE=EF=5kN,C
DE=6kN,T
BC=FG=0kN

Example 1:
Determine the force in members BD, BE and CE of the
Howe roof truss shown. State whether the member is in
tension or compression.

ANS:
CE=12kN,T
BD=10kN,C
BE=5kN,C

Problem 1: Given the truss shown in the figure,

determine the forces in members BD, BE and CE
using (a) Method of Joints and (b) Method of
Sections. State whether the member is in tension or
compression.

Problem 2: The truss shown in the figure is

supported by a pin at A and a cable at E.
Determine the forces in members BD, CD,
and CF. State whether the forces are in
tension or compression.

Problem 3: Determine the force in

each member of the truss shown in
the figure.

ANS:
CD=DE=0.577P, C
BF=0.289P, T

Problem 4: Determine the forces in the members of the

roof truss shown.

ANS:
AB=100lb, C
AC=86.6lb, T
BC=100lb, T
CD=86.6lb, T
BD=200lb, C

Problem 5: Use the method of sections to determine the

force in members DF, FG and GI of the triangular Howe
truss shown in the figure.

ANS:
DF=2.51kips, C
FG=2.24kips, T
GI=0.455kips, T

Problem 6: Show that the Method of Joints cannot determine

the forces in all bars of the Fan Fink truss shown in the figure.
Then use the Method of Sections to compute the force in bars
FH, GH, and EK.

ANS: FH=1100lb, C GH=520lb, T EK=693lb, T

Frames structure wherein some or all

members of a pin-connected structure are
subjected to bending action

Example 1:
The A frame shown in the figure supports a 600-lb load
and has the given dimensions. Neglecting the weights of
the members, compute the values of the force acting on
the pins B, C and D

Example 2:
For the frame shown in the figure, determine the
horizontal and vertical components of the pin pressure
at B. Specify directions (up/down, left/right) of the force
as it acts upon member CD.

ANS:
By=550lb, downward
Bx=450lb, left

Practice Problem 1:
The frame shown in the figure is hinged to rigid
supports at A and E. Find the components of the hinge
forces at A and E and the forces in members BC and BD.

ANS:
Ay=Ey=60lb
Ax=Ex=120lb
BC=100lb, T
BD=200lb, C

Practice Problem 2:
The frame shown in the figure supported by a hinge at
A and a roller at E. Compute the horizontal and vertical
components of the hinge forces at B and C as they act
upon member AC.

ANS:
By=120lb, up
Bx= 40lb, right
Cy=96lb, down
Cx=40lb, left