2007 Coon All Rights Reserved

Erie Canal Lift Bridge Main Street, Brockport, NY

Supports
A pinned support can support a structure in two dimensions.

A roller support can support a structure in only one dimension.

Static Determinacy Formula

2J M R
J Number of Joints M Number of Members R Number of Reactions

Statically Indeterminate
B
A
Did you notice the two pinned connections?

D
FD 500lb

A truss is considered statically indeterminate when the static equilibrium equations are not sufficient to find the reactions on that structure. There are simply too many unknowns.

Try It

2J M R

Statically Determinate
B
A
Is the truss statically determinate now?

D
FD 500lb

A truss is considered statically determinate when the static equilibrium equations can be used to find the reactions on that structure.

Try It

2J M R

Static Determinacy Example

Each side of the main street bridge in Brockport, NY has 19 joints, 35 members and three reaction forces (pin and roller) making it a statically determinate truss.

Remember : J Number of Joints M Number of Members R Number of Reactions

2J M R 219 35 3 38 38

What if these numbers were different?

Equilibrium Equations

M 0
The sum of the moments about a given point is zero.

FX 0
The sum of all forces in the X- direction is zero.

FY 0
The sum of all forces in the Y- direction is zero.

Momentary Review
A moment is a twisting or turning force sometime referred to as torque. A moment arm is nothing more than a lever. The wheelbarrow pictured to the right is a third class lever. Given the following information, you could calculate how much force would be needed to lift the handles of the wheelbarrow. Distance from the fulcrum (A) to the effort (C) Distance from the fulcrum (A) to the resistance (B).
RESISTANCE ARM

RESISTANCE FORCE

Fr

Lr

EFFORT FORCE

Fe
EFFORT ARM

Resistance Load (B)

Le

Momentary Review
Now lets replace the wheelbarrow with a truss. Likewise, joint A would be the fulcrum, the load is applied at joint D, and the reaction at joint C is counteracting force FD. Remember the truss is in static equilibrium, therefore, all forces must sum to zero.

B
A
3

RAX

D
7

RAY

FD 500lb
RESISTANCE FORCE

RCY

If we sum the moments about point A, we can find the reaction force RCY at point C.

Fr
RESISTANCE ARM

Lr

EFFORT FORCE

Fe
EFFORT ARM

Le

Finding the Reaction Forces

For every action, there is an equal and opposite reaction
- Sir Isaac Newton

Using Moments to Find RCY

A force that would cause a clockwise moment is negative. A force that causes a counterclockwise moment is positive.
FD is negative because it causes a clockwise moment. RCY is positive because it causes a counterclockwise moment.

B
A
3

RAX

D
7

RAY

FD 500lb

RCY

MA 0 FD (3ft) RCY (10ft) 0 500lb(3ft) RCY (10ft) 0 1,500ft lb RCY (10ft) 0 RCY (10ft) 1,500ft lb RCY 150lb

Sum the Y Forces to Find RAY

We know two out of the three forces acting in the Y-direction. By simply summing those forces together we can find the unknown reaction at point A. Please note that FB is a shown as a negative because of its direction.
See Cartesian coordinate system.

B
A

RAX

D
FD 500lb

RAY

FY 0 FD RCY RAY 0 500lb 150lb RAY 0 350lb RAY 0 RAY 350lb

Sum the X Forces to Find RAX

Because joint A is pinned, it could react to a force applied in the X-direction. However, Since the only load applied to this truss (FB) has no X-component, RAX must be zero.

B
A

RAX

D
FD 500lb

RAY

Fx 0 RAX 0

If you can solve a truss using the Method of Joints, you can solve a truss using the Method of Sections.
B D

Calculate Reaction Forces RAX, RAY & RFY

B D

RAX

RAY

RFY

FX 0

FY 0

M 0

Lets find the force in member CD.

B D

RAX known

RAY known

RFY known

Cut across two or three members, but no more than three.

B D

RAX known

RAY known

RFY known

Treat this cut section as a RIDGID BODY.

B

RAX known

RAY known

Assume the forces on cut members act as external forces on the cut
B FBD Assumed Compression

FCD Assumed Tension

RAX known

FCE Assumed Tension

RAY known

Treat left section as a RIDGID BODY.

FX 0
B FBD 3 unknowns BD, CDX & BC FCD

FY 0
1 unknown CDy can be found

RAX known

FCE

MC 0
1 unknown FE can be found

RAY known

Why can we only cut three members?

M 0
The sum of the moments about a given point is zero.

FX 0
The sum of all forces in the X- direction is zero.

FY 0
The sum of all forces in the Y- direction is zero.

You could use the right side of the truss as well. Start by cutting through two or three members.
FBD Assumed Compression FCD Assumed Tension FCE Assumed Compression RFY known D

You could use the right side of the truss as well. Start by cutting through two or three members.
FX 0
3 unknowns FBD BD, CDX & BC 1 unknown FCD CDy can be found D

FY 0

MC 0
1 unknown FE can be found

FCE

RFY known

2007 Coon All Rights Reserved

Erie Canal Lift Bridge Main Street, Brockport, NY