7 PLANE TRUSSES

ENGINEERING STRUCTURE
The Engineering structures are mainly classified into three types. They are:
(i) Trusses (ii) Frames (iii) Machines
Plane trusses are those structures in which all members are lying in a single plane. Plane
trusses are made of several bars or members connected together at the joints by riveting or welding
to form a rigid formwork, and also support stationary loads or moving loads. Individual members
of a truss is a two force member subjected to either tension or compression. The forces are acting
only on the joints.

Classification of Trusses
The trusses are classified into three types which are depicted in Figure 7.1.
Rigid truss or perfect truss
A rigid truss is one in which the number of members are sufficient to resist the external loads, and
in which deformation is very small. The relationship between the number of members and number
of joints is given by
m = 2j – 3
5=2´4–3=5
Hence, it is rigid truss.
132
 PLANE TRUSSES 133

Figure 7.1 Types of truss.

Non-rigid truss or deficient truss

A non-rigid truss is one in which the number of members are less than that required for a perfect
truss. The relationship between the number of members and number of joints is given by
m < 2j – 3
4<2´4–3
4<5
Hence, it is non-rigid truss.
Over rigid truss or redundant truss
An over rigid truss is one in which the number of members are more than that required for a
perfect truss. The relationship between the number of members and number of joints is given by
m > 2j – 3
6>2´4–3
6>5
Hence, it is an over rigid truss.
The following are the assumptions made in the analysis of statically determinate trusses:
1. The members of trusses are straight.
2. The cross section of members is uniform.
3. Forces are acting only on joints.
4. All members are pin-jointed members.
5. All members are rigid.
6. All members of trusses are two force members subjected to either equal and opposite
tension or compression.

Analysis of Statically Determinate Trusses

Plane trusses can be analysed by method of joints and method of sections
Method of joints
Analysis of truss mainly consists of calculations of support reactions and determination of internal
forces induced in the internal members of a truss. The method of joints or joint method is a method
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in which the equilibrium of individual joints are considered, and this method is useful in finding
the forces in all members of a truss.
The various steps involved in the method of joints are as follows:
1. Check whether the given truss is statically determinate or indeterminate.
2. Calculate the support reactions by considering the equilibrium of entire truss.
3. Now, consider a joint with minimum number of unknowns (maximum of 2 unknowns,
because only two conditions of equilibrium are available namely SFx = 0 and SFy = 0).
4. Initially assume that all members under consideration are in tension (arrow head away
from the joint is positive).
5. Apply the conditions of equilibrium and by solving the equilibrium, determine the
unknown forces in the members.
6. If the result works out to be positive then our assumption is right, if it is negative then
our assumption is wrong and it indicates that particular member is under compression,
so that reverse the direction of force while considering it in the next joint.
7. Same procedure has to be followed for other joints to determine the internal forces in the
remaining members of a truss.
8. Note down the results in a tabular format in the table given below:

S. no. Member Magnitude Nature of force

1. Now, let us take the figures one by one and analyse the trusses. Analyse the truss in
Figure 7.2(a) by the method of joints.
n = ne + ni
= (R – r) + [m – (2j – 3)]
= (3 – 3) + (9 – {2(6) – 3)}
n=0+0=0
Hence, the given truss is statically determinate.
Calculation of support reactions:
SFx = 0
Þ RFx = 0
SFy = 0
Þ RA + RFy – 1000 – 1000 = 0
RA + RFy = 2000 (7.1)
SMA = 0
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Figure 7.2

Þ 1000 ´ 3 + 1000 ´ 6 – RFy ´ 9 = 0

RFy ´ 9 = 9000
Þ RFy = 1000 N
\ RA = 2000 – 1000 = 1000 N

Consider joint A [Figure 7.2(b)] which has got minimum number of unknowns, i.e. 2
È 3Ø
ÐBAC = tan–1 É Ù = 45°
Ê 3Ú
Assume that the members AB & AC are under tension.
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Apply the conditions of equilibrium

SFy = 0
Þ 1000 + FAB sin 45° = 0
FAB = –1414.214 N (C)
The negative sign indicates that, the member AB is under compression.
SFx = 0
Þ FAC + FAB cos 45° = 0
FAC = 1414.214 cos 45°
= 1000 N (T)
\ Our assumption is right.
Consider joint B [Figure 7.2(c)]
SFx = 0
Þ 1414.214 sin 45° + FBD = 0
FBD = –1000 N(C)
\ Member BD is under compression
SFy = 0
Þ 1414.214 cos 45° – FBC = 0
FBC = –1000 N(T)
\ Our assumption is right.
Consider joint C [Figure 7.2(d)]
SFy = 0
Þ 1000 – 1000 + FCD sin 45° = 0
Þ FCD = 0
SFx = 0
Þ FCE – 1000 + FCD cos 45° = 0
FCE = 1000 N(T)
\ Our assumption is right.
Consider joint D [Figure 7.2(e)]
SFx = 0, 1000 + FDF cos 45° = 0
FDF = –1414.214 N(C)
SFy = 0
Þ –FDE – FDF sin 45° = 0
FDE = 1414.214 sin 45° = 1000 N(T)
Consider joint E [Figure 7.2(f)]
SFx = 0
Þ FEF – 1000 = 0
FEF = 1000 N(T)
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The analysis is tabulated as follows:

S. no. Member Magnitude of force (N) Nature of force

1 AB 1414.214 Compression
2 BC 1000 Tension
3 AC 1000 Tension
4 BD 1000 Compression
5 CE 1000 Tension
6 CD 0 —
7 DE 1000 Tension
8 DF 1414.214 Compression
9 EF 1000 Tension

2. Analyse the truss shown in Figure 7.3 by the method of joints. Tabulate the result and indicate
the nature of force in the truss.
n = ne + ni
= (R – r) + [m – (2j – 3)]
= (3 – 3) + [9 – 2(6) – 3]
= 0 + (9 – 9)
n=0

Figure 7.3
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Hence, the given truss is statically determinate.

SFx = 0
Þ RAx = 0
SFy = 0
Þ RAy + RD – 20 – 10 = 0
RAy + RD = 30 kN (7.2)
SMA = 0
Þ –RD ´ 9 + 10 ´ 6 + 20 ´ 3 = 0
RD ´ 9 = 120
or RD = 13.333 kN
\ RAy = 30 – 13.333 = 16.667 kN
Consider a joint A with minimum number of unknowns [i.e. 2]
È 3Ø
ÐBAE = tan–1 É Ù = 45°
Ê 3Ú
Applying conditions of equilibrium, we get
SFy = 0
i.e. 16.667 + FAB sin 45° = 0
FAB = –23.570 kN (C)
i.e. member AB is under compression
SFx = 0;
FAE + FAB cos 45° = 0
FAE = 16.667 kN (T)
\ Our assumption is right.
Consider joint E
Applying conditions of equilibrium
SFx = 0
FEF = 16.667 kN (T)
SFy = 0
Þ FBE = 0
Consider joint B
SFx = 0
23.57 cos 45° + FBC + FBF cos 45° = 0
SFy = 0
23.57 sin 45° – FBF sin 45° – 20 = 0
FBF = – 4.714 kN (C)
\ FBC = –13.333 kN(C)
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Consider joint C
SFx = 0
FCD cos 45° + 13.333 = 0
FCD = –18.856 kN (C)
SFy = 0
– 10 – FCF – FCD sin 45° = 0
FCF = 3.333 kN (T)
Consider joint F
SFx = 0
FFD – 16.667 + 4.714 cos 45° = 0
FFD = 13.333 kN (T)

S. no. Member Magnitude of force (N) Nature of force

1. AB 23.570 Compression
2. AE 16.667 Tension
3. BC 13.333 Compression
4. BE 0 —
5. BF 4.714 Compression
6. CD 18.856 Compression
7. CF 3.333 Tension
8. DF 13.333 Tension
9. EF 16.667 Tension

3. Analyse the truss shown in Figure 7.4 by the method of joints.

n = ne + ni
= (R – r) + [m – (2j – 3)]
= (3 – 3) + [13 – (2 ´ 8 – 3)]
= 0 + (13 – 13)
=0
Hence, the given truss is statically determinate.
Calculation of support reactions
SFx = 0
RAX = 0
SFy = 0; RAy + RE – 20 – 30 – 30 = 0
RAy + RE = 80 (7.3)
SMA = 0
20 ´ 3 + 30 ´ 6 + 30 ´ 9 – RE ´ 12 = 0
RE = 42.5 kN
RAy = 80 – 42.5 = 37.5 kN