CON4331 STRUCTURAL MECHANICS

│CHAPTER 3│

Analysis of Statically Determinate Plane Trusses

 Learning Objectives
 Determine the member forces by the Method of Joints and
the Method of Sections.
 Identify zero force members by inspection.

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1. Plane Truss

A truss is an assemblage of straight members connected at their ends by

flexible connections to form a rigid configuration. The members are
usually formed into triangular patterns to produce an efficient,
lightweight and load bearing structure.

Although joints are typically formed by welding or bolting truss bars to

gusset plates, in most structural analysis, the members are commonly
assumed to be connected at the joints by frictionless pins. Since no
moment can be transferred through a frictionless pin joint, truss
members are assumed to carry only axial force – either tension or
compression. All the members of a truss and the applied loads lie in a
single plane, the truss is called a plane truss.

The upper and lower members of a truss, which can be either horizontal
or sloping, are called top and bottom chords. The chords are
connected by vertical and diagonal members.

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1.1 Basic Truss Element

The simplest internally stable plane truss can be formed by connecting
three members at their ends by hinges to form a triangle. This
triangular truss is called the basic truss element.

Note that this triangular truss is internally stable in the sense that it is a
rigid body that will not change its shape under loads. In contrast, a
rectangular truss formed by connecting four members at their ends by
hinges is internally unstable because it will change its shape and
collapse when subject to a general system of coplanar forces.

1.2 Simple truss

The basic truss element ABC can be enlarged by attaching two new
members, BD and CD, to two of the existing joints B and C and by
connecting them to form a new joint D. The truss can be further
enlarged by repeating the same procedure. Truss constructed by this
procedure is called simple trusses.

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1.3 Assumptions for analysis of trusses

Assumptions:
1. All members are connected only at their ends by frictionless hinges in
a plane truss.

2. All loads and support reactions are applied only at the joints.

3. The centroidal axis of each member coincides with the line

connecting the centers of the adjacent joints.

2. Methods for Analysis of Plane Trusses

The member forces in a statically determinate truss can be found by

making use of the equations of equilibrium. The process is to consider
different free-body diagrams of parts of the structures.

The two common methods are:

 Method of Joints
 Method of Sections

In practice, it is often convenient to use a combination of the two

methods. The key is to choose the most convenient free-body diagram.

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2.1 Method of Joints

If a truss is in equilibrium, then each of its joints must also be in
equilibrium. Hence, the method of joints consists of satisfying the
equilibrium conditions Fx = 0 and Fy = 0 for the forces exerted on each
joint of the truss.

Steps for a truss analysis:

1. In this method, a free-body of each joint is considered, one joint at a

time.
2. Two independent equilibrium equations are available for each joint.
3. You should work each time at a joint with only TWO unknown member
forces.
4. Once the unknown forces at one joint are determined, they become
known forces for other joints.

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Example 1
Determine the magnitudes and the types of forces in all members of the
following truss.

Solution

Step 1,
In order to simplify the analysis, we just consider part of the truss.
Take joint B as free body,

Step 2,
If a truss is in equilibrium, then each of its joints must also be in
equilibrium.
Fx = 0
FBC cos 45o + 500 = 0
FBC = -707.1 kN (Negative value means that we assume the wrong
sense of the member force BC. Member BC
should be in compression.)

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Fy = 0

FBC sin 45o + FBA = 0

-707.1 sin 45o + FBA = 0

FBA = 500 kN (Positive value means that we assume the right sense of
the member force BA. Member BA should be in
tension.)

Step 3
Repeat steps 1 to 2 for joint C.

Fx = 0
FAC + (-707.1) cos 45o = 0
FAC = 500 kN (Positive value means that we assume the right sense of
the member force AC. Member AC should be in
tension.)

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Example 2

Determine the magnitudes and the types of forces in all members of the
following truss.

Solution

Take joint C as free body,

Fy = 0
FCD * sin 26.6o + 115 = 0

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FCD = -257 kN (Negative value means that we assume the wrong

sense of the member force CD. Member CD
should be in compression.)

Fx = 0
FBC + FCD * cos 26.60 = 0
FBC + (-257) * cos 26.60 = 0

FBC = 230 kN (Positive value means that we assume the right sense
of the member force BC. Member BC should be in
tension.)

Take joint B as free body,

Fy = 0
FBD = 120 kN (Tension)

Fx = 0
FAB = 230 kN (Tension)

Take joint D as free body,

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Fx = 0
FDE * cos 26.6o + FAD * cos 45o = -257 * cos 26.6o
FDE + 0.8 * FAD = -257

Fy = 0
FDE * sin 26.6o = FAD * sin 45o + 120 +(-257) * sin 26.6o
FDE = 1.58 * FAD +11

By solving the above equations,

FAD = -112.6 kN (Compression)

FDE = -167 kN (Compression)

Take joint E as free body,

Fy = 0

FAE +(-167) * sin 26.60 = 0

FAE = 75 kN (Tension)

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2.1.1 Important notes for using method of joints.

1. It is necessary to choose a joint having two unknowns.

2. Realize that once the force in a member is found from the analysis of
a joint at one of its ends, the result can be used to analyze the forces
acting on the joint at its other end. Strict adherence to the
principle of action, equal but opposite force reaction, must, of course,
is observed.
3. Remember that a member in compression ‘pushes’ on the joint and a
member in tension ‘pulls’ on the joint.

2.2 Method of Sections

This method is particularly useful when only certain member forces are
required. It consists of passing an imaginary section through the truss,
thus cutting it into two parts. Provided the entire truss is in
equilibrium, each of the two parts must also be in equilibrium; and as a
result, the three equations of equilibrium may be applied to either one
of these two parts to determine the member forces at the ‘cut section’.

Steps for a truss analysis:

1. Make a decision as to how to ‘cut’ or section the truss through the
members where forces are to be determined.
2. Determine the support reactions.
3. Draw the free body diagram of that part of the sectioned truss, which
has the least number of forces on it (as there are only THREE
equilibrium equations).
4. By inspection, attempt to show the unknown member forces acting in
the correct sense of direction.
5. All three equations of equilibrium are available and THREE unknown
member forces can be determined.

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Example 3

Determine the magnitudes and the types of force in members DE, EK and
JK of the following truss.

Solution

Take moment at point A (take anti-clockwise as +ve),

VH *(4*600) - 5*(600*tan 40o) - 8*(2*600) = 0

VH = 5.05 kN

Fy = 0,
VA + V H - 8 = 0
VA =2.95 kN

Fx = 0,
5 - HA = 0
HA = 5 kN

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Take EGHJ as free body,

Take moment at point E (take anti-clockwise as +ve),

5.05*600 - FJK *(600*tan 40o) = 0

FJK = 6.02 kN (Tension)

Take moment at point K (take anti-clockwise as +ve),

FDE *(600*tan 40o) + 5.05*600*2 = 0

FDE = -12 kN (Compression)

Fy = 0,
5.05 - FEK * sin 40o = 0
FEK = 7.85 kN (Tension)

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Example 4

Determine the forces in members BG and BC for the following truss

under the given loading condition, and the reactions are indicated in the
figure.

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Solution

Take ABH as free body,

From similar triangles,

8 10

r r6

r = 24 m

Take moment at point O (take anti-clockwise as +ve),

-FBG * cos 36.9o * 24 - FBG * sin 36.9o * 8 - (50+200) * 24
+287.5*18 = 0

FBG = -34.4 kN (Compression)

Fy = 0,
287.5 - 50 - 200 + 34.4 * cos 36.9o + FBC sin 18.4o = 0
FBC = -206 kN (Compression)

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2.2.1 Applying the Method of Sections

In applying the Method of Section, two decisions are made:

(1) Choosing the free body,
(2) Choosing the points for taking moments.

In choosing the free-body, remember that the “cut” does not need to be
a straight line. In choosing a point for taking moment, remember that
it can be any point in the plane. It does not have to be a joint or a
support.

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2.3 Zero Force Members

Truss analysis using the method of joints is greatly simplified if one is
able to first determine those members that support no loading. These
zero-force members may be necessary for the stability of the truss
during construction and to provide support if the applied loading is
changed.

The zero-force members of a truss can generally be determined by

inspection of the joints.

Case 1 If no external load is applied to a joint that consists of two bars,

the force in both bars must be zero.

ΣFx = 0 requires F1 = 0

ΣFx’ = 0 requires F2 = 0

Case 2 If no external load acts at a joint composed of three bars – two

of which are collinear, the force in the bar that is not collinear
is zero.

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Example - Zero-Force Members

Example - Zero-Force Members

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Example - Zero-Force Members

Example - Zero-Force Members

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Example 5

Using the method of joints, indicate all the members of the truss shown
that have zero forces.

Solution

Joint D, fig b
ΣFy = 0, FDC sin = 0, FDC = 0
ΣFx = 0, FDE + 0 = 0, FDE = 0

Joint E, fig c
ΣFx = 0 FEF = 0

(Note that FEC = P and an analysis of

joint C would yield a force in
member CF.)

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Joint H, fig d
ΣFy = 0 FHB = 0

Joint G, fig e
The roller support at G exerts only an x
component of force on the joint.
Hence
ΣFy = 0 FGA = 0

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2.4 Determining the Directions of Member Forces in a Truss by

Inspection
By visualizing the way a truss deflects under given loading, it is often
possible to determine quickly whether the force in a member is tension
or compression. This provides a useful check for the results of an
analysis.

Consider the illustrated example below:

1. The top members are in compression.
2. The bottom members are in tension.
3. The diagonals are in tension.
4. The verticals are in compression.

The three zero-force members should also be identified easily.

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(a) Basic truss assemblies.

(b) The senses of the forces in the

diagonals can be determined
by first imagining them to be
removed and then
ascertaining their role in
preventing the probable type
of truss deformation that
would occur. Thus, a diagonal
placed between B and F in
truss A would have to be in
tension because its role is to
prevent B and F from drawing
apart in the manner indicated.

(c) Final force distribution in

trusses:
C, compression;
T, tension.

(d) A "cable" or "arch" analogy can

also be used to determine the
senses of the forces in
different members. In the
truss to the left, member FBD
is imagined to be a "cable" and
is obviously in tension. Other
members serve roles related
to maintaining the equilibrium
of this basic "cable"
configuration.

Forces in truss members: the senses of the forces in some simple truss
configurations can be determined through intuitive approaches. More
complex trusses require quantitative approaches.

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 Revision
Read reference 2 on P.209 - 231.

 Main Reference
1. Mechanics of Materials, 8th Edition (2011), R.C. Hibbeler, Prentice Hall.
2. Statics and Mechanics of Materials, SI Edition (2004), R.C. Hibbeler,
Prentice Hall

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│TUTORIAL 3│

Problems Q1 to Q4

Determine the forces in all the members, indicating whether they are tensile or compression.

Q1

Q2

Q3
Q4

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│TUTORIAL 3│

Solution to Q1 to Q4

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│TUTORIAL 3│

Problems Q5 to Q7 Solutions

Q5

Q6

Q7

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│TUTORIAL 3│

Problems Q8 to Q11 Solutions

Q8

Q9

Q10

Q11

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