Course Instructor: Mrs J.

Srija
Assistant Professor
COURSE TITLE: MECHANICS OF SOLIDS-I

Department of
Civil Engineering
Aarupadai Veedu Institute of Technology
VINAYAKA MISSIONS UNIVERSITY
 UNIT II

ANALYSIS OF PLANE
TRUSSES
• Structures:
• Trusses
• Frames
• Trusses analysis
1. method of joints
2. method of sections
3. tension coefficient method
• Stability criteria.
 Two important structures types

 Trusses: Structures composed entirely of two

force members.
 Frames: Structures containing at least one
member acted on by forces at three or more
points.
 Plane Trusses

 Plane trusses: lie in a single plane.

 Space trusses: not contained in a single

plane and/or loaded out of the structure
plane.
Assumptions

1) Truss members are connected

together at their ends only.
2) Truss members are connected
together by frictionless pins.
3) The truss structure is loaded only at
the joints.
4) The weight of the member may be
neglected.
 The Four Assumptions

Truss members are two-force

members
F
F

Truss member
F F
 Straight Members
Forces act along the axis of the member

Compressive forces tend to Tensile forces tend to elongate the

shorten the member. member.

F F

F F
 “Rigid” trusses
“Rigid”- the truss will retain its
shape when removed from its
support
Simple truss- constructed by attaching several
triangles together.
Allows a simple way to check rigidity.
 What are we looking for?
The support reaction .
The force in each member.

How many equations are

available? How many unknowns?
Each joint- 2 equations
Unknowns- number of members+ support reaction.
 Stability Criteria

m=2j-3
2j- number of equations to be solved.
m- number of members.
3- number of support reaction

m<2j-3 Truss unstable

m>2j-3 Statically indeterminate

 Example

m (Number of members) = 13
j (Number of joints) = 8 m=2j-3
Number of supports= 3
 Method of Joints
Separate free-body diagrams for:
each member
each pin

Equilibrium equations for each pin:

SF=0
no moment equation
 Example 7-3
Use the method of joints to determine the force in each
member of the truss shown in Fig. P7-3. State whether
each member is in tension or compression.
 Solution
Joint D
From a free-body diagram on joint D: ---------
y
SFy = TBD - 3000 = 0 TBD
TAD TCDx
TBD = 3000 lb = 3000 lb (T)

From a free-body diagram on joint B:

Joint B
SFx = TBC sin 30º - TAB sin 60º = 0 ---------
y
SFy = - TBC cos 30º - TAB cos 60º - TBD = 0
x
TAB = - 1500.0 lb = 1500 lb (c)
TBC = - 2598 lb  2600 lb (c) TAB T TBC
BD
 known

Joint C
---------
y
TBC
From a free-body diagram on joint C: x
TCD
SFx = - TCD - TBCsin 30
= - TCD -(2598) sin 30 = 0 Cy

TCD = 1299 lb = 1299 lb (T) Joint D

---------
From a free-body diagram on joint D: y
TBD
SFx = -TAD + TCD = - TAD + 1299 = 0
TAD TCDx
TAD = 1299 lb = 1299 lb (T)
Answer:
TBC=14.1 kN (T)
TAC=5.13 kN (T)
TAB=28.2 kN (C)
Class Assignment: Exercise set 7-6
please submit to TA at the end of the lecture

Answer:
TBD=3.23 kN (C)
TCD=4.62 kN (T)
TAD=0.567 kN (T)
TBC=4 kN (C)
TAB=2.38kN (C)
 Zero Force Members
Free body diagram on joint C
y
FBC
x
FCD

SFy=0 FCD=0
FBC=0
SFx=0

Member BC and DC are

zero force members
 Free body diagram on joint B
y
FAB FCB
x

SFy=0 FBD=0 FBD

Free body diagram on joint D

y FDC
FAD

FAD=0 x
FED
 Example 7-19

The truss shown in figure P7-19 support one side of a bridge; an

identical truss supports the other side. Floor beams carry vehicle
loads to the truss joints. Calculate the forces in members BC,
BG, and CG when a truck weighing 7500 lb is stopped in the
middle of the bridge as shown. The center of gravity of the truck
is midway between the front and rear wheels.
 Solution
From symmetry: FH = FF
Free body diagram on floor beams
GF
MG = 2FF (10) – 3750 (6) = 0
FF = 1125 lb

Free body diagram on floor beams FH

Fy = 2FG - 2(3750) + 4(1125) = 0
FG= 1500 lb
f = tan-1 8/5 = 57.99
= tan-1 5/10 =26.57
= tan-1 8/10 =38.66

Free body diagram on complete truss

Fx = Ax = 0 Ax = 0

ME= Ay (30) -1125 (25) - 1500(15) - 1125(5) = 0

Ay = 1875 lb = 1875 lb
 Free body diagram on joint A

Fx = TAB cos 57.99 + TAH = 0

Fy = TAB sin 57.99 + 1875 = 0

TAB = - 2211 lb  2210 lb (c)

Free body diagram on joint H

Fy = TBH - 1125 = 0

TBH = 1125 lb = 1125 lb (T)

 Free body diagram on joint B
Fx = TBC cos 26.57 + TBG cos 38.66
+ 2211cos 57.99 = 0
Fy = TBC cos 26.57 - TBG sin 38.66
+ 2211 sin 57.99 - 1125 = 0

TBC = -1451.2 lb  1451 lb (C)

TBG = 161.31 lb  161.3 lb (T)
Free body diagram on joint C
Fx = TCD cos 26.57 + 1451.2 cos 26.57 = 0
Fy = TCD sin 26.57 - TCG + 1451.2 sin 26.57 = 0
TCD = -1451.2 lb  1451 lb (C)
TCG = 1298.2 lb  1298 lb (T)
 Method of Joints –Example

Using the method of

joints, determine the
force in each member of
the truss.
 Method of Joints –Example

Draw the free body

diagram of the truss and
solve for the equations

F x  0  Cx
Cx  0 lb

F y  0  2000 lb  1000 lb  E  Cy
 E  Cy  3000 lb
 Method of Joints
–Example

Solve the moment about C

M C  0  2000 lb  24 ft   1000 lb 12 ft   E  6 ft 

 E  10000 lb
 C y  3000 lb  10000 lb  7000 lb
 Method of Joints
–Example

Look at joint A

4
 Fy  0   5 FAD  2000 lb
FAD  2500 lb  FAD  2500 lb  C 
3 3
 Fx  0  5 FAD  FAB  5  2500 lb   FAB
FAB  1500 lb  FAB  1500 lb  T 
 Method of Joints
–Example

Look at joint D
4 4 4 4
 Fy  0  5 FAD  5 FDB  5  2500 lb   5 FDB
FDB  2500 lb  FDB  2500 lb  T 
3 3
 Fx  0   5 FAD  5 FDB  FDE
3 3
  2500 lb    2500 lb   FDE
5 5
FDE  3000 lb  FDE  3000 lb  C 
 Method of Joints
–Example

Look at joint B 4 4
 y
F  0  
5
FBD 
5
FBE  1000 lb

4 4
   2500 lb   FDE  1000 lb
5 5
FDE  3750 lb  FDE  3750 lb  C 
3 3
 x
F  0  
5
FBD  FBA 
5
FBE  FBC

3 3
  2500 lb   1500 lb   3750 lb   FBC
5 5
FBC  5250 lb  FDE  5250 lb  T 
 Method of Joints
–Example

Look at joint E 4 4
 y
F  0  
5
FEB 
5
FEC  10000 lb

4 4
   3750 lb   FDE  10000 lb
5 5
FEC  8750 lb  FEC  8750 lb  C 
3 3
 x
F  0  
5
FEB  FED 
5
FEC

3 3
   3750 lb    3000 lb   FEC
5 5
FEC  8750 lb  FEC  8750 lb  C 
 Method of Joints
–Example

Look at joint C to check

the solution 4
 y
F  0  
5
FCE  7000 lb

4
   8750 lb   7000 lb  0 OK!
5
3
 x
F  0  
5
FCE  FCB  Cx

3
   8750 lb    5250 lb   0  0
5
 Method of Joints –Class Problem

Determine the forces BC,

DF and GE. Using the
method of Joints.
 Method of Sections -Truss

The method of joints is most effective when

the forces in all the members of a truss are to
be determined. If however, the force is only
one or a few members are needed, then the
method of sections is more efficient.
Few simple guidelines of section truss
analysis:
• Pass a section through a maximum of 3 members of
the truss, 1 of which is the desired member where it
is dividing the truss into 2 completely separate parts,

• At 1 part of the truss, take moments about the point

(at a joint) where the 2 members intersect and solve
for the member force, using ∑ M = 0,

• Solve the other 2 unknowns by using the equilibrium

equation for forces, using ∑ Fx = 0 and ∑ Fy = 0.
 Method of Sections -Truss

If we were interested in the

force of member CE. We
can use a cutting line or
section to breakup the truss
and solve by taking the
moment about B.
 Method of Sections – Example

Determine the forces in members FH, GH and GI

of the roof truss.
 Method of Sections – Example

Draw a free body diagram and solve for the

reactions.

Fx  0  RAx
RAx  0 kN
RAx
L
Fy 0 RAy
 L  RAy  20 kN
 Method of
Sections –
Example

RAx
Solve for the L
moment at A. RAy

M A  6 kN  5 m   6 kN 10 m   6 kN 15 m 
1 kN  20 m   1 kN  25 m   L  30 m 
 L  7.5 kN
 RAy  12.5 kN
 Method of Sections – Example

Solve for the member GI. Take a cut between the

third and fourth section and draw the free-body
diagram.
8m lHI 10 m
  lHI  8 m 
15 m 10 m 15 m

lHI  5.333 m
 8m 
  tan 1    28.1o

 15 m 
 Method of
Sections –
Example

The free-body diagram of

the cut on the right side.

M H  1 kN  5 m   7.5 kN 10 m   FGI  5.333 m 

FGI  13.13 kN  FGI  13.13 kN  T 

 Method of Sections – Example
Use the line of action of the forces and take the moment
about G it will remove the FGI and FGH and shift FFH to the
perpendicular of G.
 Method of
Sections –
Example

Take the moment at G

M G  1 kN  5 m   1 kN 10 m   7.5 kN 15 m 

 FFH cos  28.1o   8 m 

FFH  13.82 kN  FFH  13.82 kN  C 

 Method of Sections – Example
Use the line of action of the forces and take the moment
about L it will remove the FGI and FFH and shift FGH to
point G.

 5 m 
  tan 1    133.2 o

 5.333 m 
 Method of
Sections –
Example

Take the moment at L

 L
M  1 kN  
5 m  1 kN 10 m  GH 
 F cos 43.2 o
 15 m 

FGH  1.372 kN  FGH  1.372 kN  C 

Method of Sections – Class Problem

Determine the forces in members CD and CE using method

of sections.