Shatha e.

Taha
Unit 27: Static Mechanical Princip

Methods of truss analysis

Determinacy and Stability of Trusses

The conditions of determinacy, indeterminacy, and instability of trusses can be

stated as follows:

m+r<2j structure is statically unstable

m+r=2j structure is determinate
m+r>2j structure is indeterminate

where:

m= number of members.

r= number of support reactions.

j= number of joints.

Assumptions in Truss Analysis

 Members are connected at their ends by frictionless pins.

 Members are straight and, therefore, are subjected only to axial forces.
 Members’ deformation under loads are negligible and of insignificant
magnitude to cause appreciable changes in the geometry of the structure.
 Loads are applied only at the joints due to the arrangement of members.

Joint Identification and Member Force Notation

Truss joints can be identified using alphabets or numbers, depending on the

preference of the analyst. However, consistency must be maintained in the chosen
way of identification to avoid confusion during analysis. A bar force can be
represented by any letter (F or N or S), with two subscripts designating the
member. For example, the member force FABFAB in the truss shown in Figure 5.4
is the force in the member connecting joints A and B.
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Example 5.1

Classify the trusses shown in Figure 5.5 through Figure 5.9 as stable, determinate,
or indeterminate, and state the degree of indeterminacy when necessary.

r=3, m=9, j=6. From equation 3.5, 9+3=2(6). Statically determinate.

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Methods of Truss Analysis

There are several methods of truss analysis, but the two most common are the
method of joint and the method of section (or moment).

5.6.1 Sign Convention

In truss analysis, a negative member axial force implies that the member or the
joints at both ends of the member are in compression, while a positive member
axial force indicates that the member or the joints at both ends of the member are
in tension.

5.6.2 Analysis of Trusses by Method of Joint

This method is based on the principle that if a structural system constitutes a body
in equilibrium, then any joint in that system is also in equilibrium and, thus, can be
isolated from the entire system and analyzed using the conditions of equilibrium.
The method of joint involves successively isolating each joint in a truss system and
determining the axial forces in the members meeting at the joint by applying the
equations of equilibrium. The detailed procedure for analysis by this method is
stated below.

Procedure for Analysis

•Verify the stability and determinacy of the structure. If the truss is stable and
determinate, then proceed to the next step.

•Determine the support reactions in the truss.

•Identify the zero-force members in the system. This will immeasurably reduce the
computational efforts involved in the analysis.

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•Select a joint to analyze. At no instance should there be more than two unknown
member forces in the analyzed joint.

•Draw the isolated free-body diagram of the selected joint, and indicate the axial
forces in all members meeting at the joint as tensile (i.e. as pulling away from the
joint). If this initial assumption is wrong, the determined member axial force will
be negative in the analysis, meaning that the member is in compression and not in
tension.

•Apply the two equations ΣFX=0ΣFX=0 and ΣFY=0ΣFY=0 to determine the

member axial forces.

•Continue the analysis by proceeding to the next joint with two or fewer unknown
member forces.

Example 5.2

Using the method of joint, determine the axial force in each member of the truss
shown in Figure 5.10a.

Solution

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Support reactions. By applying the equations of static equilibrium to the free-body
diagram shown in Figure 5.10b, the support reactions can be determined as
follows:

+↶∑MA=020(4) −12(3) +(8) Cy=0

Cy=−5.5kN

+↑∑Fy=0

Ay−5.5+20=0Ay=−14.5kN

+→∑Fx=0

−Ax+12=0Ax=12kN

Cy=5.5kN↓

Ay=14.5kN↓

Ax=12kN←

Analysis of joints. The analysis begins with selecting a joint that has two or fewer
unknown member forces. The free-body diagram of the truss will show that
joints AA and BB satisfy this requirement. To determine the axial forces in
members meeting at joint AA, first isolate the joint from the truss and indicate the
axial forces of members as FABFAB and FADFAD, as shown in Figure 5.10c. The two
unknown forces are initially assumed to be tensile (i.e. pulling away from the
joint). If this initial assumption is incorrect, the computed values of the axial forces
will be negative, signifying compression.

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Analysis of joint A.

After completing the analysis of joint A, joint B or D can be analyzed, as there are
only two unknown forces.

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Zero Force Members

Complex truss analysis can be greatly simplified by first identifying the “zero force
members.” A zero-force member is one that is not subjected to any axial load.
Sometimes, such members are introduced into the truss system to prevent the
buckling and vibration of other members. The truss-member arrangements that
result in zero force members are listed as follows:

1.If noncollinearity exists between two members meeting at a joint that is not
subjected to any external force, then the two members are zero force members (see
Figure 5.11a).

2.If three members meet at a joint with no external force, and two of the members
are collinear, the third member is a zero-force member (see Figure 5.11b).

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3.If two members meet at a joint, and an applied force at the joint is parallel to one
member and perpendicular to the other, then the member perpendicular to the
applied force is a zero-force member (see Figure 5.11c).

Analysis of Trusses by Method of Section

Sometimes, determining the axial force in specific members of a truss system by

the method of joint can be very involving and cumbersome, especially when the
system consists of several members. In such instances, using the method of section
can be timesaving and, thus, preferable. This method involves passing an
imaginary section through the truss so that it divides the system into two parts and
cuts through members whose axial forces are desired. Member axial forces are then
determined using the conditions of equilibrium. The detailed procedure for analysis
by this method is presented below.

Procedure for Analysis of Trusses by Method of Section

•Check the stability and determinacy of the structure. If the truss is stable and
determinate, then proceed to the next step.

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•Determine the support reactions in the truss.

•Make an imaginary cut through the structure so that it includes the members
whose axial forces are desired. The imaginary cut divides the truss into two parts.

•Apply forces to each part of the truss to keep it in equilibrium.

•Select either part of the truss for the determination of member forces.

•Apply the conditions of equilibrium to determine the member axial forces.

Example 5.3

Using the method of section, determine the axial forces in members CD, CGCG,
and HG of the truss shown in Figure 5.12a.

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 Fig.5.12. Truss.

Solution

Support reactions. By applying the equations of static equilibrium to the free-body

diagram in Figure 5.12b, the support reactions can be determined as follows:

Ay=Fy=160/2=80kN

+→ΣFx=0

Ax=0

Analysis by method of section. First, an imaginary section is passed through the

truss so that it cuts through members CD, CG, and HG and divides the truss into
two parts, as shown in Figure 5.12c and Figure 5.12d. Member forces are all
indicated as tensile forces (i.e., pulling away from the joint). If this initial
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assumption is wrong, the calculated member forces will be negative, showing that
they are in compression. Either of the two parts can be used for the analysis. The
left-hand part will be used for determining the member forces in this example. By
applying the equation of equilibrium to the left-hand segment of the truss, the axial
forces in members can be determined as follows:

+↶∑MG=0

−80(6)+80(3)−FCD(3)=0

FCD=−80kN

80kN(C)

Axial force in member HG.

+↶∑MC=0

−80(3)+FHG(3)=0

FHG=80kN

80kN(T)

Axial force in member CG. The axial force in member CG is determined by

considering the vertical equilibrium of the left-hand part. Thus,

+↑∑Fy=0

80−80−FCGcos45∘=0 FCG=0

Practice Problems:

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Classify the trusses shown in Figure P5.1a through Figure P5.1r.

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Determine the force in each member of the trusses shown in Figure P5.2 and
Figure P5.7 using the method of joint.

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Using the method of section, determine the forces in the members marked X
of the trusses shown in Figure P5.15 through Figure P5.16.

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