Analysis of Structures

A truss consists of straight members connected together at joints by pins (bolted or welded connections are assumed to be pinned together)

Members of a truss are assumed to be slender and cannot support loads except through joints. Any load on the structure must be transferred to these joints by the use of floor beams and stringers
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Truss members = 2-force member

Forces are directly along their long axes

a) Member is in tension

b) Member is in compression

Various types of truss

Rigid Truss
- The right truss is made of 4 members connected by pins at A, B, C, D. If a load is applied at B, the truss will deform. It is not rigid.

-The left truss is made of 3 members and will not collapse. -This is the simplest truss that is still rigid.

Simple Trusses
A larger rigid truss can be obtained by adding 2 members and one connection to a rigid truss. The truss constructed in this manner is called a simple trusses

Analysis of trusses: Method of Joints

Dismember the truss and draw free-body diagram for each pin and each member. Note action=reaction on each dismembered pin and truss.

Equal, but opposite

Each member is acted upon by 2 forces of the same magnitude, but opposite direction Treat joint as a point particle apply equilibrium condition of a point particle for each joint & solve for forces.
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Guideline for Method of Joints

1. Using the whole body, determine reactions at supports 2. Start at joints with only two unknown forces, apply Equilibrium conditions for point particle i.e.

3. Propagate to other joints until all unknown forces are determined 4. When draw FBD, one can systematically assume unknown forces to point out of the joint (i.e. assume all bars connected to that joints are in tension)
If the force obtained is +ive, that member is in tension (T) If the force obtained is ive, that member is in compression (C )
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Example (MoJ)
Using the method of joints, determine the force in each member of the truss. State whether each member is in tension or compression.

1st FBD of the whole truss

Cy=1871 N Ay = -1421 N Ax = 0
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Example cont(1)
FBD joint C Determine FAC and FCB Assume member AC and CB is in tension for now
Cy
FAC joint C FCB

-ive sign, member is actually in compression

 FBD joint A to find FAB

joint A

FAB FAC
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Ay

Example
Using the method of joints, determine the force in each member of the truss.

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Example cont(1)
First FBD of the whole truss

E 45 kN

Fx 0 C x

C y 31.5 kN
Cx 0
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Example cont(2)
Start from joint with least number of unknowns, or number of forces acting on it.

Joint A has only three forces.

FBD joint A

FAB 6.75 kN, tension. FAD 11.25 kN, compression

Example cont(3)
After FAD was determined, joint D has only two unknown forces. (joint B is not a good choice here, why?)

FBD joint D

FDB 11.25 kN, tension FDE 13.5 kN, compression

Example cont(4)
There are now only two unknown forces at joint B ( FAB and FDB have just been determined)

FBD joint B

Here we do not know direction of FBC and FBE. Assume they are both in tension & solve equilibrium equations for joint B

F
F

0
0
FBE 16.9 kN, compression

FBC 23.63 kN, tension

Example cont(5)
Then move to joint E. (How many unknown forces are there at joint E now? )

FBD joint E

Keep the ive sign for FBE that we obtained earlier into calculation of forces at joint E here. We always keep the sign of the force calculated. The ive sign simply indicates that the actual force direction is opposite to what you draw in the FBD.
FEC 39.4 kN compression

Example cont(6)
All member forces and support reactions are known at joint C. However, the joint equilibrium requirements may be applied to check the results.

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