STATICS

EGM251/CIE251
STRUCTURES – TRUSSES
(1)
Learning objectives

• define a truss

• determine the forces in the members of

a truss using the method of joints and
the method of sections
4.1 Trusses
4.1.1 Introduction
• A truss is an engineering structure composed
of straight, slender members joined together at
their end points.
• Trusses are designed to transmit forces and
withstand loads over relatively long span e.g.
in bridges or buildings.
4.1 Trusses
4.1.2 Types of Trusses

Trusses

Plane Truss Space Truss

4.1 Trusses
4.1.3 Plane Truss

 A plane truss is a type of truss in which all the

members of the truss lie essentially in a single
plane e.g. roof and bridge trusses.
4.1 Trusses

 A simple truss is a plane truss obtained by

expanding a three member truss while adding
two new members to it repeatedly.
4.1 Trusses

 The total number of members in a simple truss is

determined by;

m  2n  3  m  3  2n
where n is the total number of joints
m = number of members
2 = number of scalar equations
3 = maximum number of unknown reactions
4.1 Trusses

 In any plane truss, the given equation should

be satisfied if the truss is statically determinate
internally;

m  3  2n

 If m  3  2n , the truss is statically indeterminate

with redundant members present

 If m  3  2n , there is a deficiency of internal

members in the truss which may lead to failure
4.1 Trusses
4.1.4 Assumptions for Truss Design
 To design members of a truss, it requires to first
determine the forces developed in each member based
on the following three assumptions;
1) all members are assumed to be two-force members

2) weight of each member is neglected

3) members are connected at their ends by frictionless

hinges/pins

4) applied loads on the truss act at the hinges/joints only and also
lie in the plane of the truss
4.1 Trusses

1. Computing Internal Forces of Plane Truss Members

There are two common techniques for computing
internal forces in the members of a truss;
i. The method of joints

It is a method in which a section is passed through the

truss cutting members that are attached to a common
hinge.

500 N  tension 

FBC  compression 
F BA  tension 
4.1 Trusses

1. Computing Cont…
ii. The method of sections

Involves analytically cutting the truss into sections

and solving for static equilibrium for each section.

a

b c
4.1 Trusses
1.1 The Method of Joints
• In this method, conditions of equilibrium are satisfied
for the forces at each joint.

• It allows solving for up to three unknown forces at a

time.

Steps of Analysis
1. Draw Free Body Diagram of the given Truss

2. Determine external reactions by applying equilibrium

equations to the entire truss

3. Perform force analysis of the individual members of the truss

4.1 Trusses
Sample problem 1
Determine the forces in each member of the loaded truss by Method of
Joints fig.7.
1. Create FBD and compute external
Solution
forces at D and E first
2. The system has three unknowns, Ex, Ey and T as
shown. Applying moment equilibrium equation
at E eliminates two unknowns making it easy to
solve for T.
Fig. 7 (a) – Cantilever Truss
 M E  0 ; 5T  20  5m  30 10m  0  T  80kN

 F  0 Tcos30  E  0  80  cos30  E  0  Ex  69.3kN

 x  x x

 F  0 Ey  T sin30  30  20  0  Ey  10.0 kN
 y 
Fig. 7 (b) – FBD
4.1 Trusses
Sample problem 1
3. Draw FBD at each joint and find the unknown
forces in the members.

Joint A

 F  0 AB sin 60 30  0  AB  34.64 kN

 y 

 Fx  0 ; AB cos60 AC  0  AC  17.32kN
 

Joint B
BCsin 60 AB  sin 60  0 BC  34.64 kN
 F  0 
 y 
BCsin 60 34.64  sin 60  0

BD  AB cos60 BC cos60  0  BD  34.64kN

 Fx  0 ;
 
BD  34.64cos60 34.64cos60  0
4.1 Trusses
Sample problem 1
Joint C

 F  0 CD  sin 60 BC  sin 60 20  0

 y 
0.866CD (34.64  sin 60)  20  0  CD  57.74 kN

 Fx  0 ;
  BC cos60 CD cos60 AC  CE  0
34.64  cos60 57.74  cos60 17.32  CE  0  CE  63.51kN

Joint E

 F  0 10  DE sin 60  0  DE  11.55 kN

 y 

 Fx  0 ; DE cos60 CE  69.3  0
 
0.866 11.55  63.51  69.3  0  F  0 x
4.1 Trusses

1.2 The Method of Section

• In this method, sections are obtained by cutting
through some of the members of the Truss to
expose the internal forces inside the members.

Important:
1) The section plane must intersect three members only, else the equilibrium
equations won’t be able to solve the problem.
2) The entire portion of the Truss is considered as a single body in equilibrium.
4.1 Trusses

Steps of Analysis in Method of Section

1. Draw Free Body Diagram of the entire Truss

2. Pass a section through three members of the Truss, one of

which is the desired member.

3. Select one of the two portions of the Truss obtained in

step 2, and draw its free-body diagram.

4. Apply equilibrium equations and solve the unknowns

4.1 Trusses
Sample problem 2
Determine the force in members FH, GH, and GI of the roof truss shown
in fig.8 below.

Fig. 8 – Simply Supported Plane Truss

4.1 Trusses
Solution
1. Draw a FBD of the entire Truss.

2. The FBD system has three unknowns, FAx, Fay and

FLy as shown. Applying equilibrium equation we
can solve these reactions.

 F  0 FAx  0
 x  Fig. 8 (a) – FBD Truss

 F  0 FAy  FLy  5  5  5 1 1 1 1 1  0
 y 
 FAy  FLy  20.0 kN

 M A  0

30m  FLy 1kN  25m 1kN  20m  5kN 15m 1kN 15m  5kN 10m 1kN 10m  5kN  5m 1kN  5m  0

30m  FLy  25kNm  20kNm  75kNm 15kNm  50kNm 10kNm  25kNm  5kNm  0

FLy  7.5kN and FAy  12.5kN

4.1 Trusses
Solution
3. Pass the section plane n-n and obtain two separate
Truss portion.

4. Select portion HLI of the truss and draw FBD.

5. Apply equations of equilibrium to solve for the

internal force FGI.
 GF  8
KLJ    tan1     tan1    28.07
 GL   15  Fig. 8 (b) – FBD Truss

 M H  0 7.5kN 10m 1kN  5m  FGI  5.33

FGI  13.13kN (Tensile)

Fig. 8 (c) – Section n-n FBD

4.1 Trusses
Solution
6. Apply moment equilibrium equation at G to solve
for the internal force FFH.

 M  0
 G 

7.5kN 15m 1kN 10m 1kN  5m  FFH cos 28.07 8  0

FFH  13.81kN (Compressive)

Fig. 8 (d) – Section n-n FBD

4.1 Trusses
Solution
6. Resolve FGH into x-component and y-component
and applying moment equilibrium equation at L
we solve the internal force FGH.

 
 GI   5 
GHI    tan1     tan 
1
  43.15
 HI  2
 8 
3 
Fig. 8 (e) – Section n-n FBD
 M L  0

FGH cos  15m  1kN 10m  1kN  5m  0

FGH  1.37kN (Compressive)

4.1 Trusses
4.1.5 Space Truss

 A space truss consists of members joined

together at their ends to form a stable three-
dimensional structure.
4.1 Trusses

 The simplest form of a space truss is a

tetrahedron, formed by connecting six
members together, as shown.
4.1 Trusses

 The relationship that exist between number of

joints and number of members in a space truss
necessary for internal stability without
redundancy is given by;

m  3n  6  m  6  3n
where n is the total number of joints
m = number of members
3 = number of scalar equations
6 = maximum number of unknown reactions
4.1 Trusses

 In a space truss, the given equation should be

satisfied if the truss is statically determinate
internally;

m  6  3n

 If m  6  3n , the truss is statically indeterminate

with redundant members present

 If m  6  3n , there is a deficiency of internal

members in the truss which may lead to failure
4.1 Trusses

1. Computing Internal Forces of Space Truss Members

i. Method of Joints for Space Trusses

 Like in plane trusses, this method requires a cutting

plane to be passed through the truss at the joint cutting
members that are attached to a common hinge.

 The three equation of equilibrium are then applied to

determine the unknown forces in the members

F  0
x F  0
y F  0
z
4.1 Trusses

ii. Method of Sections for Space Trusses

 A method in which an imaginary section is passed

through a truss and the truss is separated into two
parts, the force system acting on one of the segments
must satisfy the following six equilibrium equations;

F  0 F  0 F  0
x y z

M x 0 M y 0 M z 0
4.1 Trusses
Sample problem 2
Use method of joints to determine the forces acting in the members of the space
truss shown in Fig. a. Indicate whether the members are in tension or
compression. fig.a
Solution 1. Isolate joint A and Create FBD

2. Expressing each force acting on the free-body diagram of joint

A as a Cartesian force vector.
Force P   
P  4 ˆj kN  
ˆ
Force FAB  FAB  FAB j kN
 rAE 
Force FAE  FAE  FAE 
 rAE  AE 
 F 0.578iˆ  0.577 ˆj  0.578kˆ kN  Fig. a – Space Truss

 
ˆ
Force FAC  FAC   FAC k kN  
3. Apply conditions of equilibrium to solve internal forces at the
joint A.

F  0 x  0.578FAE iˆ  0 FAE  0
Joint A – FBD

F  0
y  4 ˆj  FAB ˆj  0.578FAE ˆj  0  FAB  4kN

F  0
z  FAC kˆ  0578FAE kˆ  0  FAC  FAE  0
4.1 Trusses
Sample problem 2 cont…
4. Isolate joint B and Create FBD

5. Expressing each force acting on the free-body diagram of joint

B as a Cartesian force vector.

Force 2kN  
  2kˆ kN Force FAB  FAB   4 ˆj  kN

Force FBD  
FBD   FBD kˆ kN 
 
Fig. a – Space Truss
Force FCB  FCB  0.71FCB ˆj  0.71FCB kˆ kN

Force FBE  FBE   0.71F iˆ  0.71F kˆ  kN

BE BE

6. Apply conditions of equilibrium to solve internal forces at the joint B.


F  0 x  0.71FBE iˆ  0 FBE  0

F  0 y  4 ˆj  0.71FCB ˆj  0  FCB  5.6kN C 

F  0
z  2kˆ  FBD kˆ  0.71FCB kˆ  0  FBD  2kN T  Joint B – FBD
4.1 Trusses
Sample problem 2 cont…
7. Isolate joint D and Create FBD

8. Expressing each force acting on the free-body diagram of joint

C as a Cartesian force vector.

Force FDC   
FDC  FDC ˆj kN Force FDE  FDE   FDE iˆ  kN

Force FDB   
FDB  FDB kˆ kN
Fig. a – Space Truss

9. Apply conditions of equilibrium to solve internal forces at the joint D.

FDB

F  0 x  FDE iˆ  0 FDE  0

F  0 y  FDC ˆj  0  FDC  0 FDE

FDC
F  0z  FDB kˆ  0  FDB  0

Joint D – FBD
4.1 Trusses
Sample problem 2 cont…
10. Isolate joint C and Create FBD

8. Expressing each force acting on the free-body diagram of joint

C as a Cartesian force vector.

Force FCA  FCA  FCAkˆ Force FCD  FCD   FCD ˆj  kN


Force FBC  FBC  0.71FBC ˆj  0.71FBC kˆ kN  Fig. a – Space Truss

Force FCE  FCE   0.71FCEiˆ  0.71FCE ˆj  kN

FCA FBC
9. Apply conditions of equilibrium to solve internal forces at the joint C.
FCD

F  0 x  0.71FCE iˆ  0 FCE  0 FCE

F  0 y  FCD ˆj  0.71FCB ˆj  0.71FCE ˆj  0  FCB  0

F  0 z  FCAkˆ  0.71FBC kˆ  0  FCA  0 Joint C – FBD

Problems
Q1
Using the method of joints, determine the force in each member of
the truss shown. State whether each member is in tension or
compression.
Problems
Q2
Use method of section to determine the force in members ED, EH and
GH of the trusses shown, and state if the members are in tension or
compression.
Problems
Q3
Use method of section to determine the forces in members DB, AB and
DC of the trusses shown, and state if the members are in tension or
compression. (Take   40̊
Problems
Q4
Use method of joint to determine the forces in members CE and CD of
the trusses shown, and state if the members are in tension (T) or
compression (C).
Problems
Q5
Use method of joint to determine the forces of each member in a
space truss shown, and state if the members are in tension (T) or
compression (C). Hint:The support reaction at E acts along member
EB.
Problems
Q6
Use method of joint to determine the forces in members AB, AC, and
AD of a space truss shown, and state if the members are in tension
(T) or compression (C).
Problems
Q7
Use method of joint to determine the forces in each member of the
space truss and state if the members are in tension or compression.
The truss is supported by ball-and-socket joints at A, B, C, and D.
Acknowledgements

1. Meriam J. L & Kraige L. G (2002) Engineering

Mechanics: Statics, John Wiley & Sons, Inc: New York

2. Malhotra M.M &Subramanian R (1994) Textbook of

Applied Mechanics, New Age International: New Delhi

3. Beer F.P, Johnson E.R, Elsenberg E.R & Mazuke D.F

(2010) Vector Mechanics for Engineers, 9th edition,
McGraw hill education: New York
THE
END