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Engineering Mechanics: Week 4 Vitor - Anes@dem - Isel.ipl - PT

This document discusses methods for determining forces in truss members. It covers the method of joints, which uses equilibrium equations at each joint to find member forces. It also discusses the method of sections, which analyzes equilibrium of cut sections of the truss. The document provides examples of applying these methods and identifying zero-force members, which do not experience loading.

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27 views

Engineering Mechanics: Week 4 Vitor - Anes@dem - Isel.ipl - PT

This document discusses methods for determining forces in truss members. It covers the method of joints, which uses equilibrium equations at each joint to find member forces. It also discusses the method of sections, which analyzes equilibrium of cut sections of the truss. The document provides examples of applying these methods and identifying zero-force members, which do not experience loading.

Uploaded by

syr
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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Engineering Mechanics

Week 4
[email protected]
Objectives

■ To show how to determine the forces in the members of a truss

•using the method of joints and the method of sections.


Summary

•4.1 - Simple Trusses

•4.2 - The Method of Joints

•4.3 - Zero-Force Members

•4.4 - The Method of Sections


4.1 - Simple Trusses
4.1 - Simple Trusses
4.1 - Simple Trusses
4.2 - 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.

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.

need to be satisfied for equilibrium at


each joint.
4.1 - Simple Trusses - Internal equilibrium (Method of joints)

1. Draw FBD of entire truss and solve for support reactions.

2. Draw FBD of a joint with at least one known force and at most two unknown forces.

3. Either assume all unknown member forces are tensile. Positive results indicate tension
and negative results indicate compression.

4. Otherwise determine the correct sense for unknowns by inspection. Positive results
indicate correct assumption and negative results indicate incorrect assumption.

5. Continue selecting joints where there are at least one known force and at most two
unknown forces.

6. Tension pulls on a member, compression pushes on (compresses) a member.

7. Present member forces as positive numbers with (T) or (C) indicating tension or
compression.
4.2 - The Method of Joints - Example
1.2 - Fundamental concepts – Basic quantities
4.3 - 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.
1.2 - Fundamental concepts – Basic quantities
4.3 - Zero-Force Members - Example
1.2 - Fundamental concepts – Basic quantities
4.3 - Zero-Force Members - Example
1.2 - Fundamental concepts – Basic quantities
4.3 - Zero-Force Members - Example
1.2 - Fundamental concepts – Basic quantities
4.3 - Zero-Force Members - Example
4.4 - The Method of Sections
4.4 - 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.

The following figures show how the forces replace the sectioned
members. Notice the direction of forces in each figure.
Engineering Mechanics
Week 4
[email protected]

Suggested Problems

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