Plane Trusses Analysis

Revised by

Dr. M. Osama El-Samadony

Assistant professor of mechanical power engineering,
Faculty of engineering, KFS University, Egypt

Today Lecture Outline

Structures: Trusses
Trusses analysis- method of joints
Zero force member

Trusses

Trusses: Structures composed

entirely of two-force straight
members connected or pinned
together using rivets, welds, or
bolts.

Truss Components

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 straight or axial
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 member weight may be
neglected.

The Four Assumptions

Truss members are two-force

members
F

Truss member
F

Not a truss

Straight Members
Forces act along the axis of the member

Compressive forces tend to

shorten the member.

Tensile forces tend to elongate the

member.
F

Rigid trusses
Rigid- the truss will not
collapse under the application
of a load.
Simple truss- constructed by attaching several
triangles together.
Allows a simple way to check rigidity.

What are we looking for?

1) The support reaction .
2) The force in each member.

How many equations are

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

Static Equilibrium of the

Whole Truss Structure
Replace each supports with its reaction
forces.
Use the 3- equilibrium equations
the whole structure:
SFx=0
SFy=0 SMo=0
To Find Reaction forces

Method of Joints
Separate free-body diagrams for:
each pin (joint)
Equilibrium equations for each pin:
SFx=0
SFy=0
no moment equation
FBF
FBC

FBA
B

50 kN

Procedure
Consider one joint at a time Draw FBD
Condition: At least one known force; at most two
unknown forces

Establish sense of unknown force

Hint: Assume unknown forces pulling on pin;
numerical solution (+) tension in member, (-)
compression in member

STEPS FOR ANALYSIS

1. If the support reactions are not given, draw a FBD of the
entire truss and determine all the support reactions using the
equations of equilibrium.
2. Draw the free-body diagram of a joint with one or two
unknowns. Assume that all unknown member forces act in
tension (pulling the pin) unless you can determine by
inspection that the forces are compression loads.
3. Apply the scalar equations of equilibrium, FX = 0 and
FY = 0, to determine the unknown(s). If the answer is
positive, then the assumed direction (tension) is correct,
otherwise it is in the opposite direction (compression).
4. Repeat steps 2 and 3 at each joint in succession until all the
required forces are determined.
14

Lecture 11

Chapter 6: Structural Analysis

Example 6.1
Determine the force in each member of the
truss and indicate whether the members are in
tension or compression.

Member
in Tension

Member in
Compression

???

Solution
2 unknown member forces at joint B and ONE
known force
1 unknown reaction force at joint C
2 unknown member forces and 2 unknown
reaction forces at point A
So start at Joint B, (since we should have no more than 2 unknown forces at a joint
and at least 1 known force acting there) BY INSPECTION

Fx 0;
500N FBC sin 45 N 0 FBC 707.1N (C )
Fy 0;
FBC cos 45 N FBA 0 FBA 500N (T )

Solution
For Joint C,
Fx 0;
FCA 707.1 cos 45 N 0 FCA 500 N (T )
Fy 0;
C y 707.1sin 45 N 0 C y 500N

For Joint A,
Fx 0;
500N Ax 0 Ax 500N
Fy 0;
500N Ay 0 Ay 500N

Solution
FBD of each pin shows the effect of all the
connected members and external forces
applied to the pin
FBD of each member shows only the effect
of the end pins on the member

The Method of Joints

FBD -FREE BODY DIAGRAM

From the FBD,

Taking moment
@ which point ?

Simplification of Truss Analysis

Take advantage of symmetries
For satisfying symmetry condition:
(i) loads and reactions of supports must be symmetric.
(ii) Geometry and shape of truss must be symmetric.

Identify zero force members

(i) only two members form a joint and no loads or supports
on joint
(ii) three members form a joint; two members colinear =>
third member zero force.

Zero-Force Members

Method of joints is simplified using zero-force members

Zero-force members are supports with no loading. Use to

increase stability of the truss during construction and to
provide support if the applied loading is changed

To find zero-force member inspect

If only 2 members form a truss joint and no
external load or support reaction is applied
to the joint, the two members must be zeroforce member
If 3 members form a truss joint for which 2 of
the members are collinear, the third member
is a zero member provided no external force
or support is applied to the joint

Rule - 1:
If only 2 members form a truss joint and no external load
or support reaction is applied to the joint, the two
members must be zero-force member

Therefore, the load P is only

supported by 5 members

Rule 2:
If 3 members form a truss joint for which 2 of the members
are collinear, the third member is a zero member
provided no external force or support is applied to the
joint

Therefore, the load P is

only supported by 3
members

Summary for Zero-Force-Member

Determine all the zero-force member

Indentify member under Tension and Compression

C
C

C
T

C
T

C
T

Determine all the zero-force member

C
C C C

C
T

LOOK FOR JOINT

GEOMETRICS THAT HAVE 3
MEMBERS IN WHICH 2 ARE
COLLINEAR

JOINT G:
Fy = 0;

FGC = O

If we were to consider joint C (5 unknowns) instead of G,

we could not conclude GC is a zero-force member. Since GC
is a zero-force member, the 5 kN load at C must be supported
by members CB, CH, CF, CD

Determine all the zero-force member

C
C C C

C
T

LOOK FOR JOINT

GEOMETRICS THAT HAVE 3
MEMBERS IN WHICH 2 ARE
COLLINEAR

JOINT D:
Fx = 0;

FDF = O

Determine all the zero-force member

C
C C C

C
T

C
T

JOINT F:
Fy = 0;

FFC cos

= O,

FFC = 0

Determine all the zero-force member

C
C C C

C
T

C
T
NOW LETS LOOK AT JOINT B BEFORE
WE EXAMINE JOINT H,
IF JOINT B IS ANALYSED:

Fx = 0;

2 kN - FBH = O, FBH = 2 kN

Determine all the zero-force member

C
C C C

C
T

SO FAR FGC & FFC ARE

ZERO-FORCE MEMBER

LOOKING AT JOINT H (FFC IS ZERO; is FHC = 0 ?):

FY = 0; FHC IS NOT ZERO
THEREFORE HC IS NOT A ZERO-FORCE
MEMBER SO FORCE 5 kN is only supported by
FHC , FCB & FCD (3 out of 5 members)

The zero-force members are:

FFC
C

C
C

C
T

FGC

C
T

C
T

Zero-force
member
FDF

Example

Try to solve

The Answer is

Example
Use the method of joints to determine the force in each
member of the truss shown in Figure. State whether
each member is in tension or compression.

Solution
Joint D
--------y
TBD

From a free-body diagram on joint D:

SFy = TBD - 3000 = 0
TBD = 3000 lb = 3000 lb (T)

TAD

TCDx

From a free-body diagram on joint B:

SFx = TBC sin 30 - TAB sin 60 = 0
SFy = - TBC cos 30 - TAB cos 60 - TBD = 0

Joint B
--------y
x

TAB = - 1500.0 lb = 1500 lb (c)

TBC = - 2598 lb 2600 lb (c)

TAB T
TBC
BD

known

TBC

Joint C
--------y

From a free-body diagram on joint C:

SFx = - TCD - TBCsin 30

= - TCD -(2598) sin 30 = 0

TCD
Cy

TCD = 1299 lb = 1299 lb (T)

Joint D
--------y
TBD

From a free-body diagram on joint D:

SFx = -TAD + TCD = - TAD + 1299 = 0
TAD = 1299 lb = 1299 lb (T)

TAD

TCDx

Example

The truss shown in figure 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 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)

Class Assignment: