Structural

Analysis
TRUSSES

M th d off
Method
Joints
Tutorial Problems:

Chapter 6

TRUSSES METHOD OF JOINTS

Todays Objectives:
Students will be able to:
a) Define a simple
truss.
b) Determine the forces
in members of a
simple truss.
c) Identify zero-force
members.

APPLICATIONS
Trusses are commonly used to
support a roof.
For a given
F
i
truss geometry and
d
load, how can we determine the
forces in the truss members and
select their sizes?
A more challenging question is
that for a g
given load,, how can we
design the trusses geometry to
minimize cost?

APPLICATIONS
Trusses are also used in a
variety of structures like cranes
and the frames of aircraft or
space stations.
How can we design a light
weight
i ht structure
t t
th
thatt will
ill meett
load, safety, and cost
specifications?

DEFINING A SIMPLE TRUSS

A truss is a structure composed of slender

members
b
joined
j i d together
t
th att their
th i end
d points.
i t
If a truss,
t
along
l
with
ith th
the iimposed
d lload,
d lies
li in
i a
single plane (as shown at the top right), then it is
called
ll d a planar
l
truss.
t

DEFINING A SIMPLE TRUSS

A simple truss is a
planar truss which
begins with a triangular
element and can be
expanded by adding
two members and a
joint. For these trusses,
the number of
members (M) and the
number of joints (J) are
related by the equation
M = 2J

3.

ANALYSIS and DESIGN ASSUMPTIONS

When designing both the member and the joints of a
truss, first
fi it
i is
i necessary to determine
d
i the
h forces
f
in
i each
h
truss member. This is called the force analysis of a truss.
When doing this,
this two assumptions are made:
1. All loads are applied at the joints.
1
joints The weight of the
truss members is often neglected as the weight is usually
small as compared to the forces supported by the
members.
2 The
2.
Th members
b
are joined
j i d together
t
th by
b smooth
th pins.
i
This
Thi
assumption is satisfied in most practical cases where the
jjoints are formed byy bolting
g or welding.
g

ANALYSIS and DESIGN ASSUMPTIONS

With these two
assumptions, the members
act as two-force members
members.
They are loaded in either
tension or compression.
Often compressive
members are made thicker
to prevent buckling
buckling.

THE METHOD OF JOINTS

In this method of solving for the forces in truss members

members, the
equilibrium of a joint (pin) is considered. All forces acting at
the joint are shown in a FBD.
This includes all external forces (including support reactions) as
well as the forces acting in the members. Equations of
equilibrium ( FX= 0 and FY = 0) are used to solve for the
unknown forces acting at the joints.

QUIZ
1. One of the assumptions used when analyzing a simple
truss is that the members are joined together by
__________.
A) welding
D) smooth pins

B) bolting

C) riveting

E) super glue

2 IIn th
2.
the method
th d off jjoints,
i t typically
t i ll _________ equations
ti
of equilibrium are applied at every joint.
A) two

B) three

C) four

D) six

STEPS FOR ANALYSIS

1. If the support reactions are not given, draw a FBD of the entire
truss and determine all the support
pp
reactions using
g the equations
q
of equilibrium.
2 Draw the free-body diagram of a joint with one or two unknowns.
2.
unknowns
Assume that all unknown member forces act in tension (pulling the
pin) unless you can determine by inspection that the forces are
compression
i loads.
l d
3. Apply
pp y the scalar equations
q
of equilibrium,
q
, FX = 0 and
FY
= 0, to determine the unknown(s). If the answer is positive, then
the assumed direction (tension) is correct, otherwise it is in the
opposite direction (compression).
4. Repeat steps 2 and 3 at each joint in succession until all the
required forces are determined
determined.

ZERO-FORCE
ZERO
FORCE MEMBERS
If a joint has only two non-colinear
members and there is no external
load or support reaction at that joint,
then those two members are zerof
force
members.
b
IIn thi
this example
l
members DE, CD, AF, and AB are
zero force members.
You can easily prove these results
by applying the equations of
equilibrium to joints D and A.
Zero-force members can be
removed (as shown in the figure)
when
h analyzing
l
the
h truss.

ZERO-FORCE
ZERO
FORCE MEMBERS
If three members form a truss joint for
which two of the members are collinear
and there is no external load or reaction
at that jjoint,, then the third non-collinear
member is a zero force member.
Again,
g , this can easilyy be proven.
p
One
can also remove the zero-force member,
as shown, on the left, for analysing the
truss further
further.
Please note that zero-force members are
used to increase stability and rigidity of
the truss, and to provide support for
various different loading conditions.

QUIZ
P

1. Truss ABC is changed by decreasing its

height from H to 0.9 H. Width W and load
P are kkeptt th
the same. Whi
Which
h one off the
th
following statements is true for the revised
truss as compared
p
to the original
g
truss?
A) Force in all its members have
decreased.
B) Force in all its members have increased.
C) Force in all its members have remained
the same.
D) None of the above
above.

A
H
C

B
W

QUIZ
F

F
F

2. For this truss, determine the number of zeroforce members.

A)) 0

B)) 1

D) 3

E) 4

C)) 2

SOLUTION

FBD of pin A
y

Analyzing pin A:
FY + = 0
= 100 (5 / 13) FAB

FAC

A 240 kN
13

FAB 12

100 kN

FAB = 260 kN (C)

FX + = 240 FAC (12 / 13) (
( 260) = 0

FAC = 480 kN (T)

QUIZ
FBC

1 Using this FBD,

1.
FBD you find that
FBC = 500 N. Member BC must be in
__________..

FBD

A) tension B) compression
C) Can not be determined

BY

2. For the same magnitude

g
of force to be carried,, truss members in
compression are generally made _______ as compared to
members in tension.
A) thicker
hi k
B) thinner
C) the same size

TRUSSES
METHOD OF
SECTIONS

TRUSSESTHE METHOD OF SECTIONS

Todays
Objectives:
Students will be
able to determine
forces in truss
members using
the method of
sections.

QUIZ
1. In the method of sections, generally a cut passes through
no more than _____ members in which the forces are
unknown.
A) 1

B) 2

C) 3

D) 4

2. If a simple truss member carries a tensile force of T along its

length, then the internal force in the member is ______ .
A) tensile with magnitude of T/2
B) compressive with magnitude of T/2
C) compressive with magnitude of T
D) tensile with magnitude of T

APPLICATIONS
Long trusses are often used to
construct bridges.
The method of joints requires
that many joints be analyzed
before we can determine the
forces in the middle part of the
truss.
truss
Is there another method to
determine these forces
directly?

THE METHOD OF SECTIONS

THE METHOD OF SECTIONS

In the method of sections, a truss is divided into two
parts by taking an imaginary cut (shown here as a-a)
through the truss.
Since truss members are subjected to only tensile or
compressive forces along their length, the internal forces
at the cut member will also be either tensile or
compressive with the same magnitude.
This result is based on the equilibrium principle and
Newtons third law.

STEPS FOR ANALYSIS

STEPS FOR ANALYSIS

1. Decide how you need to cut the truss. This is based
on:
a) where you need to determine forces, and,
b) where
h
the
th total
t t l number
b off unknowns
k
does
d
nott
exceed three (in general).
2. Decide which side of the cut truss will be easier to
work with (minimize the number of reactions you have
to find).
3. If required, determine the necessary support reactions
by drawing the FBD of the entire truss and applying the
E fE
EofE.

4 Draw the FBD of the selected part of the cut truss

4.
truss.
We need to indicate the unknown forces at the cut members.
Initially we assume all the members are in tension, as we did
when using the method of joints.
Upon solving, if the answer is positive, the member is in
tension as per our assumption.
If the answer is negative,
negative the member must be in
compression.
(Please note that
(Pl
h you can also
l assume fforces to b
be either
ih
tension or compression by inspection as was done in the
figures above.)
above )

5. Apply the equations of equilibrium

(EofE) to the selected cut section of
th truss
the
t
to
t solve
l ffor the
th unknown
k
member forces.
Please note that in most cases it is
possible to write one equation to
solve for one unknown directly.
directly

EXAMPLE
Given: Loads as shown on
the roof truss.
Find:

The force in members

DE DL
DE,
DL, and ML.
ML

Plan:
Pl

a)) Take
T k a cutt th
through
h th
the members
b
DE
DE, DL
DL, and
d ML.
ML
b) Work with the left part of the cut section. Why?
c) Determine the support reaction at A. What are they?
d) Apply the EofE to find the forces in DE,
DE DL,
DL and ML.
ML

EXAMPLE

EXAMPLE

QUIZ
1.Can you determine the
force in member ED by
making the cut at
section a-a? Explain
your answer.
y
A) No, there are 4
unknowns.
B) Yes, using MD = 0 .
C) Yes, using ME = 0 .
D)) Yes,, using
g MB = 0 .

QUIZ
2 If you know FED, how
2.
will you determine FEB ?
A) By
B taking
ki section
i b-b
bb
and using ME = 0
B) By taking section bb, and using FX = 0
and FY = 0
C) By taking section a-a
and
d using
i MB = 0
D) By taking section a-a
and using MD = 0

GROUP PROBLEM SOLVING

Given: Loading on the truss as
shown.
h
Find: The force in members BC,
BE, and EF.
Plan:
a) Take a cut through the members BC, BE, and EF.
b) Analyze the top section (no support reactions!).
c) Draw the FBD of the top section.
d) Apply the equations of equilibrium such that every equation yields answer
to one unknown.

SOLUTION

QUIZ
1. As shown,, a cut is made
through members GH, BG
and BC to determine the
forces in them
them. Which section
will you choose for analysis
and why?
A) Right, fewer calculations.
B) Left,
Left fewer calculations
calculations.
C) Either right or left, same
amount of work
work.
D) None of the above, too
many unknowns.
unknowns

QUIZ
2. When determining the force
in member HG in the
previous
i
question,
ti
which
hi h one
equation of equilibrium is
best to use?
A) MH = 0
B) MG = 0
C)) MB = 0
D) MC = 0

Exam 2006
Determine the force in each member of the truss
shown
h
in
i the
h following
f ll i figure.
fi
Indicate
I di
whether
h h the
h
members are in tension or compression. Assume
each member is pin-connected
pin-connected.

Exam 2007
Determine the forces in members BC, HG, CD and GF
off the
h bridge
b id truss shown
h
in
i the
h figure.
fi
Indicate
I di
whether the members are in tension or compression.
Assume each member is pin-connected.

Exam 2008
The crane truss shown in Figure 4 caries a load of
120 kN.
kN Determine
D
i the
h forces
f
in
i members
b
a, b,
b c,
and d in the truss. Indicate whether the members are
in tension or compression.
compression