MEE1002- Engineering Mechanics

Module– 2, Lecture -2

Analysis of Structures
Statically determinate and indeterminate Structures

Dr. Vinayagamurthy Ganesan

School of Mechanical and Building Sciences
VIT Chennai
 Agenda for Todays lecture

• Differentiation of Trusses from Beams

• Whys Should I analyse TRUSSES and FRAMES

• Statically Determinate and Indeterminate Structures

Trusses – Where can I find Trusses !
Trusses – Where can I find Trusses !
Trusses are used commonly in Steel buildings, towers and bridges.
Definition: A truss is a structure that consists of
• All straight members pin joints
• connected together with pin joints

• connected only at the ends of the

Truss members
members
• and all external forces (loads & reactions)
must be applied only at the joints.
• The span of a truss is the distance between its supports.
• The lower and upper longitudinal members form the upper and
lower chords of the truss.
• The members connecting both the chords are called the web
members. They are subdivided into verticals and diagonals.
• The distance between two adjacent joints measured along the
horizontal is usually called a panel.
Move relative to one
another M

Shear force
Why should I study the forces in Trusses
Why should I study the forces in Trusses
The Silver Bridge Disaster
Why should I study the forces in Trusses
 Simple Truss in a bridge
Simple Trusses:
constructed from a "base“
triangle by adding two
members at a time.
 Classification of trusses
The following five criterions may serve as a
basis for the classification of trusses:
1) The shape of the upper and lower chords;
2) The type of the web;
3) The conditions of the supports;
4) The purpose of the structure;
5) The level of the floor (lane, road)
 Classification of trusses
Simple Trusses:
constructed from
a "base“ triangle
by adding two
members at a
time.
Usually seen in bridges
How a Truss member supports a
structure?

Loads are applied only on to the joints.

How a Truss member supports a
structure?
 What is meant by Statically determinate
Trusses ?
If the No. of Unknown forces = No.of equilibrium equations

Statically determinate Trusses

How many equilibrium equations can be written for a truss

structures ?
No. of equilibrium equations = 2 ( No. of Truss joints)

For a simple truss given in figure 1,

No. of equations = 2 x 4 = 8
 What are the unknown forces in the
Statically determinate Truss
No. of Unknown forces = No. of Truss members + Number
of Support reactions
For a simple truss given in figure 1,

No. of Unknown forces = 5 + 3 = 8

Find whether the following trusses are
Statically determinate / Indeterminate
 How to analyse a Truss

• Method of Joints

– Application of static equilibrium on joints

• Method of Sections

• Graphical method
 End of Lecture 11

You can contact me for doubts through online or offline

Location : Cabin no. 21, Above Canteen / Indian bank.
E-mail : vinayagamurthy.g@vit.ac.in
Time : 12:35 to 02:00 PM, on Fridays