1/11/2013

STATICS: CE201

Chapter 6
Structural Analysis
Notes are prepared based on: Engineering Mechanics, Statics by R. C. Hibbeler, 12E Pearson

Dr M. Touahmia & Dr M. Boukendakdji

Civil Engineering Department, University of Hail
(2012/2013)

Chapter 6 -Structural Analysis 1

6. Structural Analysis
________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Main Goal:
To show how to determine the forces in the members of a
truss using the method of joints and the method of section.

Contents:
6.1 Simple Trusses
6.2 The Method of Joints
6.3 Zero Force Members
6.4 The Method of Sections

Chapter 6 -Structural Analysis 2

Chapter 6 - Structural Analysis 1

 1/11/2013

6.1 Simple Trusses

 A truss is a structure composed of slender members
joined together at their end points.
 The members are usually wooden struts or metal bars.
 Planar trusses lie in a single plane and are often used to
support roofs and bridges.
 The roof load is transmitted to the truss at the joints by
means of a series of purlins.

Chapter 6 -Structural Analysis 3

6.1 Simple Trusses

 The analysis of the forces developed in the truss
members will be two-dimensional.
 In the case of a bridge, the load on the deck is first
transmitted to stringers, then to floor beams, and finally
to the joints of the two supporting side trusses.
 The bridge truss loading is also coplanar.

Chapter 6 -Structural Analysis 4

Chapter 6 - Structural Analysis 2

 1/11/2013

6.1 Simple Trusses

Assumption 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.
 Each truss member is considered as a two-force member
so that the forces at the ends of the member must be
directed along the axis of the member.

All loadings are applied at the joints.

The members are joined together by smooth pins.

Chapter 6 -Structural Analysis 5

6.1 Simple Trusses

Assumption for Design:

 The joint connections are usually formed by bolting or
welding the ends of the members to a common plate, called
a gusset plate, or by simply passing a large bolt or pin
through each of the members.

Chapter 6 -Structural Analysis 6

Chapter 6 - Structural Analysis 3

 1/11/2013

6.1 Simple Trusses

Assumption for Design:
 The force acting at each end of the
member is directed along the axis
of the member.
 If this tends to elongate the
member, it is a tensile force (T).
 If it tends to shorten the member, it
is a compressive force (C).

Chapter 6 -Structural Analysis 7

6.1 Simple Trusses

 To prevent collapse, the form of a truss must be rigid. The
simplest form which is rigid or stable is a triangle.

 Consequently, a simple truss is constructed by starting with a

basic triangular element.
 Additional elements consisting of two members and a joint
are added to the triangular element to form a simple truss.

Chapter 6 -Structural Analysis 8

Chapter 6 - Structural Analysis 4

 1/11/2013

6.2 The Method of Joints

 The method of joint 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 and F y 0 need to be satisfied

for equilibrium.

Chapter 6 -Structural Analysis 9

6.2 The Method of Joints

For example consider the pin at joint B of the truss:
 Three forces act on the pin: the 500 N force and the
forces exerted by members BA and BC.
 FBA is pulling on the pin, which means that member
BA is in tension.
 FBC is pushing on the pin, and consequently member
BC is in compression.

Chapter 6 -Structural Analysis 10

Chapter 6 - Structural Analysis 5

 1/11/2013

6.2 The Method of Joints

 When using the method of joints, always start at a joint
having at least one known force and at most two
unknown forces.
 F x 0 and  Fy  0 can be solved to determine the
two unknowns.
 The correct sense of an unknown member force can be
determined using one of two possible methods:
 The correct sense of direction of an unknown member
force can be determined by inspection.
 Assume the unknown member forces acting on the
joint’s free-body diagram to be in tension.
Chapter 6 -Structural Analysis 11

Example 1

 Determine the force in each member of the truss and

indicate whether the members are in tension or
compression.

Chapter 6 -Structural Analysis 12

Chapter 6 - Structural Analysis 6

 1/11/2013

Solution 1
 Since we should have no more than two unknown forces
at the joint and at least one known force acting there, we
will begin our analysis at joint B.
Joint B:
 Applying the equations of
equilibrium, we have

 Fx  0 500 N  F sin 45  0
o
F  707.1N (C)
BC
BC

 Fy  0 FBC cos 45  FBA  0

o
F  500 N
BA
(T)

 Since the force in member BC has been calculated, we

can proceed to analyze joint C

Chapter 6 -Structural Analysis 13

Solution 1
Joint C:

 Fx  0  F  707.1cos 45 N  0
CA
o
F  500 N (T)
CA

 Fy  0 C  707.1sin 45 N  0
y
o
C  500 N
y

Chapter 6 -Structural Analysis 14

Chapter 6 - Structural Analysis 7

 1/11/2013

Solution 1
Joint A:

 Fx  0 500 N  Ax  0 Ax  500 N

 Fy  0 500 N  Ay  0 Ay  500 N

Chapter 6 -Structural Analysis 15

Solution 1
Note: The results of the analysis are summarized below,
which shows the free-body diagram for each joint and
member:

Chapter 6 -Structural Analysis 16

Chapter 6 - Structural Analysis 8

 1/11/2013

Example 2

 Determine the force in each member of the truss and

indicate whether the members are in tension or
compression.

Chapter 6 -Structural Analysis 17

Solution 2
Support Reactions: No joint can be analyzed until the
support reactions are determined, because each joint has
more than three unknown forces acting on it.
Free-body diagram of the truss:
 Fx  0

600 N  Cx  0 Cx  600 N

 MC  0

 Ay 6 m  400N3 m  600N4 m  0 Ay  600 N

 Fy  0 600N  400N  C y  0 C y  200N

Chapter 6 -Structural Analysis 18

Chapter 6 - Structural Analysis 9

 1/11/2013

Solution 2
 The analysis can now start at either joint A or C:
Joint A: FAB is assumed to be compressive and FAD is
tensile
 Applying the equations of
equilibrium, we have:

4
 Fy  0 600 N  FAB  0 FAB  750 N(C )
5
FAD  750  0
3
 Fx  0 FAD  450 N(T)
5

Chapter 6 -Structural Analysis 19

Solution 2
Joint D: Use the result for FAD
3
 Fx  0  450 N  FDB  600 N  0
5
FDB  250N

 The negative sign indicates that FDB acts in the

opposite sense to that shown in the figure.
FDB  250N (T)
 To determine FDC, we can correct the sense of FDB on
the free body diagram.

 Fy  0  FDC 
4
 250N   0 F  200 N (C)
DC
5

Chapter 6 -Structural Analysis 20

Chapter 6 - Structural Analysis 10

 1/11/2013

Solution 2
Joint C:

 Fx  0 FCB  600N  0 FCB  600N (C)

 Fy  0 200N  200N  0 (Check)

Chapter 6 -Structural Analysis 21

Solution 2
Note: The analysis is summarized below, which shows
the free-body diagram for each joint and member:

Chapter 6 -Structural Analysis 22

Chapter 6 - Structural Analysis 11

 1/11/2013

6.3 Zero-Force Members

 The zero-force members of a truss can generally be

found by inspection of each of the joints.
 For example, consider the truss below.
 At Joint A, it is seen that members AB and AF are zero-
force members:

 Fx  0 FAB  0

 Fy  0 FAF  0
Chapter 6 -Structural Analysis 23

6.3 Zero-Force Members

 At Joint D, it is seen that members DC and DE are

zero-force members.
 Fy  0 FDC sin   0 FDC  0

 Fx  0 FDE  0

 From these observations, we can conclude that if only

two 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.

Chapter 6 -Structural Analysis 24

Chapter 6 - Structural Analysis 12

 1/11/2013

6.3 Zero-Force Members

 Now consider this truss:

 At Joint D, it is seen that DA is zero-force member:

 Fx  0 FDA  0

 Fy  0 FDC  FDE

Chapter 6 -Structural Analysis 25

6.3 Zero-Force Members

 At Joint D, it is seen that DA is zero-force member.

 Fx  0 FCA sin   0 FCA  0

 Fy  0 FCB  FCD

 In general then, 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.

Chapter 6 -Structural Analysis 26

Chapter 6 - Structural Analysis 13

 1/11/2013

6.4 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.
 This method is based on the principle that if the truss is
in equilibrium then any segment of the truss is also in
equilibrium.
 If the forces within the members are to be determined,
then an imaginary section can be used to cut each
member into two parts.

Chapter 6 -Structural Analysis 27

6.4 The Method of Sections

 The method of sections can also be used to cut or

section the members of an entire truss.

Chapter 6 -Structural Analysis 28

Chapter 6 - Structural Analysis 14

 1/11/2013

6.4 The Method of Sections

 For example, consider the truss below:
 If the forces in members BC, GC, and GF are to be
determined, then section a-a would be appropriate.

Chapter 6 -Structural Analysis 29

6.4 The Method of Sections

 The free-body diagrams of the two segments are then:

 Members BC and GC are assumed to be in tension

since they are subjected to a pull, whereas GF in
compression since it is subjected to a push.

Chapter 6 -Structural Analysis 30

Chapter 6 - Structural Analysis 15

 1/11/2013

6.4 The Method of Sections

 The Three unknown member forces FBC, FGC, and FGF
can be obtained by applying the three equilibrium
equations of the segments.
 The three support reactions Dx, Dy and Ex can be
obtained by considering a free-body diagram of the
entire truss.

Chapter 6 -Structural Analysis 31

Example 2

 Determine the force in members GE, GC, and BC of the

truss. Indicate whether the members are in tension or
compression.

Chapter 6 -Structural Analysis 32

Chapter 6 - Structural Analysis 16

 1/11/2013

Solution 2

 Section a-a has been chosen since it cuts through the

three members whose forces are to be determined.
 It is first necessary to determine the external reactions at
A and D.

 Fx  0 400 N  Ax  0
Ax  400N

MA  0  1200N8m  400N3m  Dy 12m  0

Dy  900N

 Fy  0 Ay  1200N  900N  0 Ay  300N

Chapter 6 -Structural Analysis 33

Solution 2
Free-Body Diagram: For the analysis the free-body diagram of
the left portion of the sectioned truss will be used.

Equations of Equilibrium:

 MG  0  300N4m  400N3m  FBC 3m  0

FBC  800N (T)

 MC  0  300N8m  FGE 3m  0 FGE  800N (C)

3
 Fy  0 300 N  FGC  0 FGC  500N (T)
5
Chapter 6 -Structural Analysis 34

Chapter 6 - Structural Analysis 17