Chapter 6 Structural Analysis

Section 6.6 FRAMES AND MACHINES

Todays Objectives:
Students will be able to:
a) Draw the free body diagram of a
frame or machine and its members.
b) Determine the forces acting at the
joints and supports of a frame or
machine.

READING QUIZ
1. Frames and machines are different as compared to trusses since they
have ___________.
A) Only two-force members

B) Only multiforce members

C) At least one multiforce member D) At least one two-force

member
2. Forces common to any two contacting members act with _______
on the other member.
A) Equal magnitudes but opposite sense
B) Equal magnitudes and the same sense
C) Different magnitudes but opposite sense
D) Different magnitudes but the same sense

APPLICATIONS
Frames are commonly used
to support various external
loads.
How is a frame different than a
truss?
To be able to design a frame,
you need to determine the
forces at the joints and
supports.

APPLICATIONS (continued)

Machines, like those above, are used in a variety of

applications. How are they different from trusses and frames?
How can you determine the loads at the joints and supports?
These forces and moments are required when designing the
machine members.

FRAMES AND MACHINES: DEFINITIONS

Frame
Machine

Frames and machines are two common types of structures that

have at least one multi-force member. (Recall that trusses have
nothing but two-force members).
Frames are generally stationary and support external loads.
Machines contain moving parts and are designed to alter the
effect of forces.

STEPS FOR ANALYZING A FRAME OR MACHINE

1. Draw a FBD of the frame or machine and its
members, as necessary.
Hints:
a) Identify any two-force members, b) forces
on contacting surfaces (usually between a pin
and a member) are equal and opposite, and,
c) for a joint with more than two members or an
external force, it is advisable to draw a FBD of
the pin.
FAB

2. Develop a strategy to apply the equations of

equilibrium to solve for the unknowns.
Problems are going to be challenging since there
are usually several unknowns. A lot of practice
is needed to develop good strategies.

EXAMPLE
Given: The frame supports an
external load and moment
as shown.
Find: The horizontal and vertical
components of the pin
reactions at C and the
magnitude of reaction at B.
Plan:
a) Draw FBDs of the frame member BC. Why pick this
part of the frame?
b) Apply the equations of equilibrium and solve for the
unknowns at C and B.

EXAMPLE
800 N m

400 N

CX
CY

1m
1m

2m

B
45

FAB

FBD of member BC

Please note that member AB is a two-force member.

Equations of Equilibrium:
+ MC = FAB sin45 (1) FAB cos45 (3) + 800 N m + 400 (2) = 0
FAB = 1131 N

EXAMPLE
800 N m

400 N

CX
CY

1m
1m

2m

B
45

FAB

FBD of member BC

Now use the x and y direction Equations of Equilibrium:

+ FX = CX + 1131 sin 45 = 0
CX = 800 N
+ FY = CY + 1131 cos 45 400 = 0
CY = 400 N

CONCEPT QUIZ

1. The figures show a frame and its FBDs. If an additional couple

moment is applied at C, then how will you change the FBD of
member BC at B?
A)
B)
C)
D)

No change, still just one force (FAB) at B.

Will have two forces, BX and BY, at B.
Will have two forces and a moment at B.
Will add one moment at B.

CONCEPT QUIZ (continued)

2. The figures show a frame and its FBDs. If an additional force is

applied at D, then how will you change the FBD of member BC
at B?
A)
B)
C)
D)

No change, still just one force (FAB) at B.

Will have two forces, BX and BY, at B.
Will have two forces and a moment at B.
Will add one moment at B.

GROUP PROBLEM SOLVING

Given: A frame supports
a 50-kg cylinder.
Find: The reactions that
the pins exert on the frame
at A and D.
Plan:
a) Draw a FBD of member ABC and another one for CD.
b) Apply the equations of equilibrium to each FBD to solve for
the six unknowns. Think about a strategy to easily solve for
the unknowns.

GROUP PROBLEM SOLVING (continued)

FBDs of members ABC and CD

CY
CX

50(9.81) N
0.7 m
1.2 m
1.6 m

DX

Applying E-of-E to member ABC:

DY

+ MA = CY (1.6) 50 (9.81) (0.7) 50 (9.81) (1.7) = 0 ;

CY = 735.8 N
+ FY = AY 735.8 50 (9.81) 50 (9.81) = 0 ; AY = 245 N
+ FX = CX AX = 0 ; CX = AX

GROUP PROBLEM SOLVING (continued)

FBDs of members ABC and CD

CY
CX

50(9.81) N
0.7 m
1.2 m
1.6 m

DX

Applying E-of-E to member CD:

DY

+ MD = CX (1.2) + 50 (9.81) (0.7) 735.8(1.6) = 0 ; CX = 695 N

+ FY = DY 735.8 + 50 (9.81) = 0 ; DY = 245 N
+ FX = DX 695 = 0 ; DX = 695 N
AX = CX = 695 N

ATTENTION QUIZ
1. When determining the reactions
at joints A, B, and C, what is the
minimum number of unknowns
for solving this problem?
A) 3
B) 4
C) 5
D) 6
2. For the above problem, imagine that you have drawn a FBD
of member AB. What will be the easiest way to write an
equation involving unknowns at B?
A) MC = 0

B) MB = 0

C) MA = 0

D) FX = 0

Example 4: The 500 kg engine is suspended from the boom crane as

shown. Determine resultant internal loadings acting on the cross section
of the boom at point E.

Statics: Example 1 - Pliers

Given: Typical
household pliers as
shown.
Find: Force applied
to wire and force in
pin that connects
the two parts of the
pliers.

.
See solution Link

Side: what is the shear

stress in pin and
bending stress in
handle? SofM

Statics: Example 2 Crane Structure

Given: Crane
structure as shown.
Find: Forces and
FBDs for cables A-B
and A-E, boom DEF
and post AFC.

See solution Link

Side: what is the normal

stress in cables (average
normal only) and normal
stress in boom and post
(combined loading)? SofM

Example 3 (6.67) Pulleys

Determine the force P required

to hold the 100 lb weight in
equilibrium.

Example 4 (6.114) Front End Loader

Question 1: The tractor shovel carries a
500 kg load of soil having a center of
mass at G. Compute the forces
developed in the hydraulic cylinder BC
and reaction forces at A due to this
loading.
Question 2: Compute the force at F (=
force in link FH) and reaction forces at
D.

Example 5 (6.115) Clamping Device

If a force of P = 100 N is
applied to the handle of
the toggle clamp,
determine the horizontal
clamping force Ne that
the clamp exerts on the
smooth wooden block at
E.