Truss

What is a truss?
Theory and Design of Structures I • It is a structural system built from bars taking
axial tension or compression.

Truss What is a plane truss?

• It is a 2-dimensional truss with all members lying
within one plane.

Truss
Assumptions:
• The members are connected at their ends by
frictionless hinges.
• The members and applied loads all lie within the
Method of Joints
same plane.
• The loads are applied at the joints only.

Hence, the members of an ideal truss take up axial

forces only (tension or compression)!

1
 Method of Joints Method of Joints
• This method is based upon the conditions of Example 1
equilibrium of the forces acting on each joint. Determine the member forces
A B

• The two equilibrium equations are:

ΣFx = 0 4m
ΣFy = 0
C F
D E
60kN
This method works when there are up to 2 unknown
forces present at each joint considered. 3m 3m 3m

Truss under a point load

Method of Joints Method of Joints

Member forces 1. Considering the entire A B

structure as a free body,

A B determine all external 4m
reactions at the supports.
C F
D E
60kN
Taking moments about F, RC RF
3m 3m 3m
 9 Rc  60  6  0
Truss under a point load
C F Rc  40kN (upward )
D E
Resolving vertically,
RC 60kN RF Rc  RF  60
Forces acting on the truss joints RF  20kN (upward)

2
 Method of Joints Method of Joints
A B
B
2. Applying equilibrium 3. Applying equilibrium A

equations at the desired 4m

equations at joint A
joint, i.e. support C 4m
√
F y 0 C
D E
F
√
Fy = 0
C F
60kN D E
20kN
4 40kN 60kN
40  FAC  0 3m 3m 3m
(4/5)50 - FAD = 0 40kN 20kN
3m
5 3m 3m
Truss under a point load FAD = 40 kN (tension)
FAC  50kN (compression ) Truss under a point load

Fx = 0
F x 0
(3/5)50 + FAB = 0
3
FCD  FAC  0 FCD  30kN ( tension ) FAB = -30 kN (compression)
5

Method of Joints Method of Joints

4. Applying equilibrium A
√ B
4. Applying equilibrium A
√ B

equations at joint D equations at joint D

√ √ √ √
4m 4m

√ √
Fy = 0
C F C F
D
60kN
E Alternatively, if we just need D
60kN
E

40 - 60 + (4/5) FDB = 0 40kN 20kN FDE, taking moment about B, 40kN 20kN
3m 3m 3m 3m 3m 3m
FDB = 25 kN (tension)
Truss under a point load Truss under a point load
4FCD + 3FAD = 360 + 4FDE
Fx = 0 430 + 340 – 180 = 4FDE
-30 + (1/5)25 + FDE = 0 FDE = 15 kN (tension)
FDE = 15 kN (tension)

3
 Method of Joints Method of Joints
5. Applying equilibrium A
√ B
6. Applying equilibrium A
√ B

equations at joint E equations at support F

√ √ √ √ √ √ √
4m 4m

√ √ √ √ √
Fy = 0 Fy = 0
C F C F
D E D E
60kN 60kN
40kN 20kN 40kN 20kN
FEB = 0 3m 3m
20 + (4/5) FFB = 0 3m 3m
3m 3m
FFB = -25 kN (compression)
Truss under a point load Truss under a point load
Fx = 0
FEF = 15 kN (tension)

Method of Joints
7. Applying equilibrium A
√ B

equations at joint B for

checking
√ √ √ √ √
4m

√ √ √
Method of Sections
Fy = 0
C F
D E
60kN
40kN 20kN
- (4/5)25 + 0 + (4/5)25 = 0 3m 3m
3m
OK!
Truss under a point load

Fx = 0
- (-30) - (3/5)25 + (3/5)(-25) = 0
OK!

4
 Method of Sections Method of Sections
• A section is cut through the truss and the Example 2
equilibrium of free body on one side is considered. • Determine the member forces BD, BE and CE
80kN

• Three equilibrium equations are involved D

80kN 80kN
ΣFx = 0 B F
2m

ΣFy = 0
ΣM = 0 4m

H
A
C E G

40kN 80kN 40kN

This method is applicable when there are up 4 @ 4m

to 3 unknown forces present. Truss under point loads

Method of Sections Method of Sections

1. Consider the entire structure as a free body and 2. Apply a cut through the chosen members BD, BE, CE and
determine all support reactions. consider the free body ABC to the left of the cut
To find reaction at A, take moments about H. 80kN

VA  16 = 120  12 + 160  8 + 120  4 80kN

D
80kN
K
80kN L
D

2m

VA = 200 kN B F B

80kN
4m
D
80kN 80kN
H A
2m A
B C E G J C
F E
200kN 40kN
40kN 80kN 40kN
4 @ 4m A free body for method of section
4m
Truss under point loads

H
A
C E G

VA 40kN 80kN 40kN VH

4 @ 4m
Truss under point loads

5
 Method of Sections Method of Sections
3. To find FBD, take moments of the free body ABC 4. To find FBE, take moments of the free body ABC
about E, i.e. 200  8 - 120  4 + FBD  LE = 0 about J, FBE  JK  120  8  200  4  0
where LE is the perpendicular distance of BD from 12
JK 
E. LE can be obtained from LE DE K 2

JE JD 160
FBE   18.9kN
6 12 JK
K
LE  12  
12 2  6 2 5
J E
1120 280 5
FBD    208.7 kN
 12  3
 
 5
J E

Method of Sections Method of Sections

5. To find FCE, take moments about B To find FDB, cut through AB, DB and DE. Then consider the
FCE  4  200  4  0 FCE  200kN vertical equilibrium of one free body.
A B
K

4m

J
C F
E D E
60kN

3m 3m 3m

Truss under a point load

6
 Simple Truss Simple Truss
• What is a simple plane truss? • Initially b0 = 3 ; j0 = 3
– simplest form of truss • Additional no. of bars = b – 3
– mainly built from a triangular pattern • Additional no. of joints = j – 3
• Each additional joint requires 2 bars
• Hence, a relation exists between total number • b – 3 = 2 ( j – 3)
of bars ‘b’ and total number of joints ‘j’, i.e. • b+3=2j
b3 2j

Compound Truss Compound Truss

• Formed by interconnecting two or more simple Features
trusses in a way that: • Cannot be completely analyzed by method of
1. there are 3 elements of connection neither joints alone
parallel nor concurrent; or • The rule b+3 = 2j still holds
2. the trusses are connected by one common joint
and one link. Thus, for the analysis of compound trusses, the
combined use of both methods of joints and
sections are required.

7
 Compound Trusses Compound Truss

B Apply a cut here m

d
C E
b
a
C B c F
e
c
b f
a g
m The internal forces can be solved from
A the free body diagram. Notice that the
Examples of compound trusses
internal forces in all connecting
members are all zero in this case!

Compound Truss Complex Truss

• A statically determinate
truss that cannot be
Taking moments about d classified as either simple or
allows Fbf to be solved
compound.
• It cannot be solved by the
method of joints or method
of section.

Fbf P

An example of complex truss

8
The End