Structures

Berke Gür

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Chapter Overview

• We will investigate the static equilibrium of engineering structures

• A structure is a system of connected members built to support or
transfer forces and withstand applied loads
• Engineering structures we will investigate are trusses, frames, and
machines
• We will also learn about internal and external statical determinancy

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Learning Outcomes

• Determine the static determinacy of a structure

• Perform a static analysis of a truss, frame or machine

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Trusses

• A framework composed of members joined at their ends to form a rigid

structure is called a truss
• Common applications of trusses are bridges and roof supports

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Plane Trusses

• If the members of the truss lie in a plane, such trusses

are termed plane trusses
• The basic plane truss is in the form of a triangle & is
rigid (non-collapsible)
• A four-bar quadrilateral is not rigid
• The triangle truss can be extended by adding two end
connected bars (DE & CE)
• Such trusses are termed simple plane truss

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Plane Trusses

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Analyzing Plane Trusses

• To design a truss, we need to determine

the force each element is going to
support
• We will assume all members of a planar
truss to be two-force members (forces at
the two ends of the member are equal &
opposite)
• The member can be in tension (T) or
compression (C)

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Analyzing Plane Trusses

• The weight of the members are generally small compared to the forces
they support
• If so, we can ignore the weights of the members
• If not, we can added half the weight of the members (mg/2) at each end
of the member
• In that case, the weight of the member is treated as an external force
applied to the member

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Analyzing Plane Trusses

• We will generally assume that two elements of

a plane truss are connected with a pin joint
(can support 2-D planar forces but not
moments)
• If a welded or riveted joint is used to connect
concurrent members, such a connection can
also be assumed to be a pin joint

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Analyzing Plane Trusses

• We will assume that all external forces are applied at the pin joints
• Large trusses are generally supported by a joint that allows slip motion
(to compensate for deformations in the truss)
• Trusses that do not have such provisions are statically indeterminate
and cannot be solved based solely on static equilibrium conditions

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Space Trusses

• A space truss is the 3-D counterpart of the plane truss

• The non-collapsible space truss is a tetrahedron
• The tetrahedron space truss (AF-BF-CF & AH-DH-CH)
can be extended by adding 3 end connected bars (CG-
FG-HG or AE-HE-EF)
• Such trusses are termed simple space truss

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Method of Joints

• This method is based on satisfying the equilibrium constraints (force

balance) at each pin
• Force balance results in 2 (planar) or 3 (3-D) equations
• Begin with a joint with at least one unknown and no more than 2
(planar) or 3 (3-D) unknowns
• We solve the forces in each member of the truss system in sequence
• Force away (toward) from the pin is tension (compression)

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External vs. Internal Redundancy

• Last chapter, we have seen that structures with (externally) redundant

constraints are statically indeterminant
• Such systems are also termed externally redundant
• A truss that has more internal members than necessary to prevent
collapse is termed internally redundant or internally indeterminant

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External vs. Internal Redundancy

• For an internally determinant truss of m two-force members with j joints

satisfies

m  3  2 j , for plane trusses

m  6  3 j , for space trusses

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External vs. Internal Redundancy

• For statically indeterminate

– Plane truss we have m + 3 > 2j,
– Space truss we have m + 6 > 3j
• An unstable
– Plane truss satisfies m + 3 < 2j,
– Space truss satisfies m + 6 < 3j
and will collapse under load

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Special Conditions

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Simplifying Joint Equations

• We will generally come across joints with two unknowns (F1, F2) and
some known (L) forces
• We need to simultanously solve two force balance eq.’s for the two
unknown forces
• Alternatively, we can write two force balance eq.’s along x and x′
directions to decouple the unknown forces

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Example: Method of Joints

• Calculate all the forces in the members of the planar truss using the
method of joints

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Example: Method of Joints

• Determine the forces in the members DE, DF, DG, and CD

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Method of Sections

• This method uses both force and moment balance equations

• One can immediately obtain the force at any member of the truss
system
• Since we have only 3 (planar) or 6 (3-D) equations, we should be careful
to cut at most 3 (planar) or 6 (3-D) trusses with unknown forces
• Cuts should pass through the members and not through any joints
• Method of joints can be used together with the method of sections

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Example: Method of Sections

• Calculate the forces in members KL, CL, and CB

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Example: Method of Sections

• Neglecting the horizontal forces at the supports, calculate the force in

DJ of the Howe roof truss

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Example: 3-D Trusses

• Ball-and-socket joint at A
• Link 1/2/3: Prevents rotation about x-
/y-/z-axes
• Solve for forces ar BE, BD, and EC in
terms of load L

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Frames & Machines

• A strucuture with at least one multi-force member (> 2) is called a

frame or machine
• Frames are fixed structures that support loads
• Machines are structures with moving parts that transmit loads
• Multi-force members can support forces in directions other than that of
the members

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Frames & Machines

• Structures with multi-force members cannot be solved using the

method of joints or sections
• For multi-force members, we use the equilibrium force and moment
equations
• Equilibrium equations are necessary for a static solution, but not
sufficient for statically indeterminate frames and machines

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Frames & Machines

• For structures that do not require external support to stay rigid, we can
start by treating the structure as a rigid body & solving for the external
forces
• If a structure is not rigid without the external supports, we cannot
determine the external support forces without dismembering the
structure and treating the equilibrium of each member separately

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Example: Frames

• Neglecting the weights of each of the members of the frame, determine

the horizontal & vertical forces acting on each member

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Example: Frames

• Neglecting the weight of the frame members, determine all the forces
acting on the members

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Example: Machines

• Determine the maximum allowable

tension T if the pin S will break under a
total force of 800N
• Compute the force on the hingle pin A at
the point of failure

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Example: Machines

• Neglecting the weights of the members of the shovel mechanism of the

excavator, determine the force in the hydraulic cylinder AC and the
pressure PAC if the effective diameter of the cylinders is 95mm
• Determine the force in the hydraulic cylinder DE and pressure PDE if it
has a diameter of 105mm

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Next Lecture

• Lecture topics
– Mass and Inertia
• Reading assignment: Ch.6 in tetxbook
• Questions?

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