Chapter5

Structural Analysis
 Chapter objectives
• To show how to determine the forces in the
members of a truss using the method of joints
and the method of sections.
 5.1 Simple Trusses
A truss is a structure composed of slender
members joined together at their end points.
The members commonly used in construction
consist of wooden struts or metal bars. In
particular, planar trusses lie in a single plane and
are often used to support roofs and bridges.
• Assumptions for Design
To design both the members and the
connections of a truss, it is necessary first to
determine the force developed in each member
when the truss is subjected to a given loading.
To do this we will make two important
assumptions:
1.All loadings are applied at the joints.
2.The members are joined together by smooth
pins.
Because of these two assumptions, each truss
member will act as a two-force member , and
therefore the force acting at each end of the
member will be directed along the axis of the
member.
• Simple Truss
If three members are pin connected at their
ends, they form a triangular truss that will be
rigid. Attaching two more members and
connecting these members to a new joint D
forms a larger truss. This procedure can be
repeated as many times as desired to form an
even larger truss. If a truss can be constructed
by expanding the basic triangular truss in this
way, it is called a simple truss .
 5.2 The Method of Joints
In order to analyze or design a truss, it is
necessary to determine the force in each of its
members. One way to do this is to use the
method of joints. This method is based on the
fact that if the entire truss is in equilibrium, then
each of its joints is also in equilibrium.
Therefore, if the free-body diagram of each joint
is drawn, the force equilibrium equations can
then be used to obtain the member forces
acting on each joint.
Since the members of a plane truss are straight
two-force members lying in a single plane, each
joint is subjected to a force system that is
coplanar and concurrent . As a result,
 FX  0  FY  0 need to be satisfied
for equilibrium.
The forces in the members of this simple roof
truss can be determined using the method of
joints.
 Procedure for Analysis
The following procedure provides a means for
analyzing a truss using the method of joints.
• Draw the free-body diagram of a joint having
at least one known force and at most two
unknown forces. (If this joint is at one of the
supports, then it may be necessary first to
calculate the external reactions at the
support.)
• Use one of the two methods described above
for establishing the sense of an unknown
force.
• Orient the x and y axes such that the forces on
the free-body diagram can be easily resolved
into their x and y components and then apply
the two force equilibrium equations  FY  0
and  FX  0 . Solve for the two unknown
member forces and verify their correct sense.
• Using the calculated results, continue to
analyze each of the other joints. Remember
that a member in compression “pushes” on
the joint and a member in tension “pulls” on
the joint. Also, be sure to choose a joint
having at most two unknowns and at least one
known force.
• Example5.1
• Example5.2
• Example5.3
 6.3 Zero-Force Members
Truss analysis using the method of joints is
greatly simplified if we can first identify those
members which support no loading. These zero-
force members are used to increase the stability
of the truss during construction and to provide
added support if the loading is changed. The
zero-force members of a truss can generally be
found by inspection of each of the joints.
If only two non-collinear members form a truss
joint and no external load or support reaction is
applied to the joint, the two members must be
zero-force members.
If three members form a truss joint for which
two of the members are collinear, the third
member is a zero-force member provided no
external force or support reaction is applied to
the joint.
• Example5.4
 5.4 The Method of Sections
When we need to find the force in only a few
members of a truss, we can analyze the truss
using the method of sections . It is based on the
principle that if the truss is in equilibrium then
any segment of the truss is also in equilibrium.
The method of sections can also be used to
“cut” or section the members of an entire truss.
If the section passes through the truss and the
free-body diagram of either of its two parts is
drawn, we can then apply the equations of
equilibrium to that part to determine the
member forces at the “cut section.”
Since only three independent equilibrium
equations (  FX  0  FY  0  M O  0 ) can be
applied to the free-body diagram of any
segment, then we should try to select a section
that, in general, passes through not more than
three members in which the forces are
unknown.
 Procedure for Analysis
The forces in the members of a truss may be
determined by the method of sections using the
following procedure.
Free-Body Diagram.
• Make a decision on how to “cut” or section
the truss through the members where forces
are to be determined.
• Before isolating the appropriate section, it
may first be necessary to determine the truss’s
support reactions. If this is done then the
three equilibrium equations will be available
to solve for member forces at the section.
• Draw the free-body diagram of that segment
of the sectioned truss which has the least
number of forces acting on it.
• Use one of the two methods described above
for establishing the sense of the unknown
member forces.
Equations of Equilibrium.
• Moments should be summed about a point
that lies at the intersection of the lines of
action of two unknown forces, so that the
third unknown force can be determined
directly from the moment equation.
• If two of the unknown forces are parallel ,
forces may be summed perpendicular to the
direction of these unknowns to determine
directly the third unknown force.
• Example5.5
• Example5.6
CHAPTER REVIEW
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Homework