LEARNING OBJECTIVE

Upon completion of this course, students should be able to determine magnitude and
types of forces in members using Section Methods

1.3 THE METHOD OF SECTIONS

Long trusses are often used to construct bridges.

The method of joints requires that many joints be analyzed before we can
determine the forces in the middle part of the truss.
The method of joint is most suitable when the forces in all members of truss are
required.
However, when the forces in few members alone are required, then this method
becomes time consuming one and hence other method known as Method of
Sections can be followed.
For example, consider the truss shown in figure below





P1 P2
P3
P4
A
B
C D E F G H
I
J K L N

L
M O P
If the force in the members DE, and EN is required the method of joints
becomes a tedious process if we start from A or I , so in these case Method of
Section is most suitable.
We consider a portion of truss by passing a section through the members of truss
whose forces are required,
Using the three equations of equilibrium for any one portion, the forces in the
members can be determined. ( M = 0 , F
x
= 0 , F
y
= 0 )

But it should be noted that section must not intersect more than three members.
The section divides the truss into two separate parts.

PROSEDURE FOR ANALYSING SECTIONS METHOD
Identify the section x x which passes through the members whose forces are
required and note that the section is not passing through more than three
members.
Using this section x - x, separate the truss into two parts. The free body diagram
of both the parts is drawn.
One of the two parts of the truss obtained after the intersected members have
been cut may be used as free body.
Select the portion of free body where the member of forces are minimum.
Assume all the member forces are tensile.
Using equations of equilibrium, find the reactions at the required support.
Use the equations of equilibrium Fx = 0 : Fy = 0 and M = 0 and find forces in
members.
If positive values are obtained, the members are in tension. If the force in
member becomes negative, the nature of force assumed is not correct. Hence it
is modified to be compression.

Example 1:
Find the force in members BC, BD and AD for the truss shown in figure using method
of section.





Solution.
i. Draw section x x x which passes through the members whose forces are
required BC, BD and AD.









40KN
50KN
A
B
C
D
40KN
50KN
A
B
C
D
X
X
4m

6m
ii. Draw free-body diagram for section x x ( Choose either section at the left
or at the right of the section for analysis)







III. Calculate reaction at support A.by using equition of equilibrium
Taking moment at support D








IV. Analis the free-body diagram by using equition of equilibrium












F
BC

F
BD

F
AD

F
BD
Sin
F
BD
Cos
B
A
H
A

V
A

M
D
= 0

V
A
(4) - 40 (4) - 50 (6) = 0

V
A
= 160 + 300 / 4

= 115 KN

F
X
= 0

H
A
- 50 = 0

H
A
= 50 KN



M
B
= 0

H
A
(6) + F
AD
(6) = 0

F
AD
= - 50 ( 6 ) / 6

= - 50 KN (Compression)

= Tan -1 4/6

= 33.69
O

F
Y
= 0

V
A
- F
BD
Cos - 40 = 0

F
BD
= 115 - 40 / Cos 33.69

= 90.13 KN (Tension)


F
X
= 0

F
BC
+ 50 + F
BD
Sin + F
AD
= 0

F
BC
= 50 50 - 90.13 Sin 33.69

= -50 KN (Compression)
40 KN


Example 2:
Find the force in members BC, CE and DE for the truss shown in figure using method
of section.






Solution
I. Draw section x x x which passes through the members whose forces are
required BC, CE and DE.







C
A
B
D
E
50KN
20KN



30KN
5m 3m
4m
C
A
B
D
E
20KN



30KN
5m 3m
4m
50KN X
X

i. Draw free-body diagram for section x x ( Choose either section at the left
or at the right of the section for analysis )



















IV. Analys the free-body diagram by using equition of equilibrium





















C
F
CB

F
CE


F
DE

20KN
50KN
M
C
= 0

- F
DE
(4) - 20 (3) = 0

F
DE
= - 20 ( 3 ) / 4

= - 15 KN (Compression)

F
Y
= 0

- F
CE
- 20 - 50 = 0

F
CE
= - 70 KN ( Compression)




F
X
= 0

- F
CB
- F
DE
= 0

F
BC
= 15 KN (Tension)


D