Trusses

By
Dr Nadia Imran
 Truss
• A framework composed of members joined at
their ends to form a rigid structure is called a
truss, where each member only takes tension or
compression.
• We can build large structures like bridges, roofs,
derricks with small parts.
• Structural members commonly used are I-
beams, channels, angles, bars, and special
shapes which are fastened together at their
ends by welding, riveted connections, or large
bolts or pins.
• When the members of the truss lie essentially in
a single plane, the truss is called a plane truss.
• For bridges and similar structures, plane trusses
are commonly utilized in pairs with one truss
assembly placed on each side of the structure.
Trusses
 Simple Trusses
• The basic element of a plane truss is the triangle.
Three bars joined by pins at their ends, Fig.a,
constitute a rigid frame.
• The term rigid is used to mean no collapsible and
also to mean that deformation of the members due
to induced internal strains is negligible.
• Four or more bars pin-jointed to form a polygon of
as many sides constitute a nonrigid frame. We can
make the nonrigid frame in Fig.b rigid, or stable, by
adding a diagonal bar joining A and D or B and
thereby forming two triangles.
• We can extend the structure by adding additional
units of two end-connected bars, such as DE and
CE or AF and DF, Fig.c, which are pinned to two
fixed joints. In this way the entire structure will
remain rigid.
• When more members are present than are needed to
prevent collapse, the truss is statically indeterminate.
• A statically indeterminate truss cannot be analyzed by
the equations of equilibrium alone.
• Additional members or supports which are not
necessary for maintaining the equilibrium
configuration are called redundant.
• To design a truss, we must first determine the forces
in the various members and then select appropriate
sizes and structural shapes to withstand the forces.
• First, we assume all members to be two-force
members. A two-force member is one in equilibrium
under the action of two forces only as shown in Fig.
• Each member of a truss is normally a straight link
joining the two points of application of force. The two
forces are applied at the ends of the member and are
necessarily equal, opposite, and collinear for
equilibrium.
• The member may be in tension or
compression, as shown in Fig.
• When we represent the equilibrium of a
portion of a two-force member, the
tension T or compression C acting on the
cut section is the same for all sections.
• We assume here that the weight of the
member is small compared with the
force it supports.
• If it is not, or if we must account for the
small effect of the weight, we can
replace the weight W of the member by
two forces, each W/2 if the member is
uniform, with one force acting at each
end of the member.
 Truss Connections and Supports
• When welded or riveted connections are used to join
structural members, we may usually assume that the
connection is a pin joint if the centerlines of the members
are concurrent at the joint as shown in fig 1.
• We also assume in the analysis of simple trusses that all
external forces are applied at the pin connections. This
condition is satisfied in most trusses.
Example
• Truss Connection and supports
• We have two methods for analysis of Truss
• Method of Joints:
• Fig b shows the free body diagram of
Truss
• This method for finding the forces in the
members of a truss consists of satisfying
the conditions of equilibrium for the forces
acting on the connecting pin of each joint.
• The method therefore deals with the
equilibrium of concurrent forces, and only
two independent equilibrium equations
are involved.
• We will start with Joint A, where at least one
known load exists and where not more than
two unknown forces are present. The
magnitude of AF is obtained from the equation
and AB is then found from .
Joints
 Determinate and indeterminate
Truss
• A truss is considered statically determinate if all of its support reactions and member forces can be
calculated using only the equations of static equilibrium. For a planar truss to be statically
determinate, the number of members plus the number of support reactions must not exceed the
number of joints times 2. {m+r=2j}.
• If m+3>2j, there are more members than independent equations, and the truss
is statically indeterminate internally with redundant members present.
• If m+ 3<2j, there is a deficiency of internal members, and the truss is unstable
and will collapse under load.

• m=11, r=3, j=7 11+3=2(7)

• The truss is determinate
 Indeterminate Truss
• If a plane truss has more external supports than are necessary
to ensure a stable equilibrium configuration, the truss as a
whole is statically indeterminate, and the extra supports
constitute external redundancy.
• If a truss has more internal members than are necessary to
prevent collapse when the truss is removed from its supports,
then the extra members constitute internal redundancy, and
the truss is again statically indeterminate.
• The truss in Fig. c is the same as that in Fig. a with the extra member between
joints 1 and 5. 12 members plus 3 reactions is greater than 2 times the number
of joints, making this a statically indeterminate truss in terms of member forces.
We can solve for the reaction forces, but not the force in all the members.

• Since a statically determinate truss cannot have more members than the number
required for stability, it is not a fail-safe structure. This means that if one
member of the truss were to fail, then the truss will collapse. This is a major
reason for introducing redundant members in truss structures, especially when
public safety is of primary concern.
Special Conditions
• When two collinear members are
under compression, as indicated
in Fig.a, it is necessary to add a
third member to maintain
alignment of the two members
and prevent buckling.
• We see from a force summation in
the y-direction that the force F3 in
the third member must be zero
and from the x-direction that F1
=F2. This conclusion holds
regardless of the angle and holds
also if the collinear members are
in tension.
• If an external force with a
• When two noncollinear members are
joined as shown in Fig. then in the
absence of an externally applied load
at this joint, the forces in both
members must be zero, as we can see
from the two force summations.
• When two pairs of collinear members
are joined as shown in Fig, the forces
in each pair must be equal and
opposite. This conclusion follows from
the force summations indicated in the
figure.
 Problem 4.1
• Compute the force in each member of the loaded cantilever
truss by the method of joints.