Truss Analysis

Lecture 3

Plane Trusses

1. Assumptions for Analysis of Trusses.

2.
Arrangement of Members of Plane Trusses—Internal Stability.
3. Equations of Condition for
Plane Trusses.
4. Static Determinacy, Indeterminacy, and Instability of
Plane Trusses.
5. Analysis of Plane Trusses by the Method of Joints.
6. Analysis of Plane Trusses
by the Method of Sections.
Introduction
• A truss is an assemblage of straight members connected at their ends by flexible
connections to form a rigid configuration. Because of their light weight and high
strength, trusses are widely used, and their applications range from supporting bridges
and roofs of buildings to being support structures in space stations. Modern trusses are
constructed by connecting members, which usually consist of structural steel or
aluminum shapes or wood struts, to gusset plates by bolted or welded connections.
If all the members of a truss and the applied loads lie in a single plane, the truss is
called a plane truss. Plane trusses are commonly used for supporting decks of bridges
and roofs of buildings.
1. ASSUMPTIONS FOR ANALYSIS OF TRUSSES

• The analysis of trusses is usually based on the following simplifying assumptions:

• 1. All members are connected only at their ends by frictionless hinges in plane trusses
and by frictionless ball-and-socket joints in space trusses.

• 2. All loads and support reactions are applied only at the joints.

• 3. The centroidal axis of each member coincides with the line connecting the centers of
the adjacent joints.
2. ARRANGEMENT OF MEMBERS OF PLANE TRUSSES—INTERNAL STABILITY

• We can define a plane truss as internally stable if the number and geometric
arrangement of its members is such that the truss does not change its shape and
remains a rigid body when detached from the supports.

• Basic Truss Element: The simplest internally stable (or rigid) plane truss can be formed
by connecting three members at their ends by hinges to form a triangle.

•
Continued

• Simple Truss: A simple truss is formed by enlarging the basic truss element, which
contains three members and three joints, by adding two additional members for each
additional joint, so the total number of members m in a simple truss is given by,

m = 3 + 2( j – 3) = 2j - 3 (4.1)

Internal Stability: If a plane truss contains m members and j joints, then if,
m < 2j - 3 the truss is internally unstable
m>2j -3 the truss is internally
stable.
3. EQUATIONS OF CONDITION FOR PLANE TRUSSES

• The types of connections used to connect rigid portions of internally unstable

structures provide equations of condition that, along with the three equilibrium
equations, can be used to determine the reactions needed to constrain such structures
fully. Three types of connection arrangements commonly used to connect two rigid
trusses to form a single (internally unstable) truss.
1. If two rigid trusses, AB and BC, are connected together by an internal
hinge at B. Because an internal hinge cannot transmit moment, it provides an equation
of condition: 2.Another type of connection
arrangement involves connecting two rigid trusses, AB and CD, by two parallel
members. Since these parallel (horizontal) bars cannot transmit force in the direction
perpendicular to them, this type of connection provides an equation of condition:
Continued

• 3.A third type of connection arrangement involves connecting two rigid trusses, AB and
CD, by a single link, BC. Since a link can neither transmit moment nor force in the
direction perpendicular to it, it provides two equations of condition:

• These equations of condition can be used with the three equilibrium

equations to determine the unknown reactions of externally
statically determinate plane trusses.
4. STATIC DETERMINACY, INDETERMINACY, AND INSTABILITY OF PLANE TRUSSES

• -If m + r = 2j—all the unknowns can be determined by solving the equations of

equilibrium, and the truss is statically determinate.
–If m + r > 2j— truss
is statically indeterminate. Statically indeterminate trusses have more members and/or
external reactions than the minimum required for stability. The excess members and
reactions are called redundants, and the number of excess members and reactions is
referred to as the degree of static indeterminacy, i, which can be expressed as, i = (m
+ r) - 2j (4.3). *Summary:

m + r < 2j statically unstable truss

m + r = 2j statically
determinate truss
m + r > 2j statically indeterminate truss
(4.4)
5. ANALYSIS OF PLANE TRUSSES BY
THE METHOD OF JOINTS

• In the method of joints, the axial

forces in the members of a
statically determinate truss are
determined by considering the
equilibrium of its joints.
Continued

-Compute reactions:

-Let us start with joint A.

Continued

-Nex t joint B, as shown in Fig. 4.16(e):

Joint C:
Continued

joint D
Identification of Zero-Force Members

• -It is not uncommon to find members with zero forces when analyzing trusses.
- Zero-force members are also added to trusses to brace
compression members against buckling and slender tension members against
vibrating.
-Two common types of member arrangements that result in zero-force members
are the following: 1. If only two noncollinear members are connected to a
joint that has no external loads or reactions applied to it.

2. If three members, two of which are collinear, are connected to a joint

that has no external loads or reactions applied to it, then the force in the member that
is not collinear is zero.
Procedure for Analysis by the Method of Joints

• 1. Check the truss for static determinacy.

2. Identify by inspection any zero-force members of
the truss. 3. Determine the
slopes of the inclined members (except the zero-force members) of the truss.
4. Draw a free-body diagram of the whole truss, showing all external loads
and reactions. 5. Select a joint that has two unknown forces
(which must not be collinear) acting on it. Otherwise, determine reactions by applying
the three equations of equilibrium and the equations of condition (if any); then select a
joint with two or fewer unknowns, and go to the next step.
6. a. Draw a free-body diagram of the selected joint, showing tensile
forces by arrows pulling away from the joint and compressive forces by arrows pushing
into the joint. It is usually convenient to assume the unknown member forces to be
tensile. b. Determine the unknown forces by applying equil. Equations. 7.Apply the
remaining joint equilibrium equations that have not been utilized to check the
calculations.
6. ANALYSIS OF PLANE TRUSSES BY THE METHOD OF SECTIONS

• The method of sections enables us to determine forces in the specific members of trusses
directly, without first calculating unrequired member forces, as may be required by the method
of joints. The method of sections involves cutting the truss into two portions bypassing an
imaginary section through the members whose forces are desired. The desired member forces
are then determined by considering the equilibrium of one of the two portions of the truss.
-Sections should be
chosen that do not pass through more than three members with unknown forces.
• Procedure for Analysis:
1. Select a section that passes through as many
members as possible whose forces are desired, but not more than three members with
unknown forces. The section should cut the truss into two parts.
2.Select the portion that will require the least amount of computational effort in determining
the unknown forces. If one of the two portions of the truss does not have any reactions acting
on it, then select this portion for the analysis.. If both portions of the truss are attached to
external supports, then calculate reactions. Next, select the portion of the truss for analysis of
member forces that has the least number of external loads and reactions applied to it.
Continued

• 3. Draw the free-body diagram of the portion of the truss selected, showing all external
loads and reactions applied to it and the forces in the members that have been cut by
the section. 4. Determine the unknown forces
by applying the three equations of equilibrium. To avoid solving simultaneous
equations, try to apply the equilibrium equations in such a manner that each equation
involves only one unknown. This can sometimes be achieved by using the alternative
systems of equilibrium equations:

• 5. Apply an alternative equilibrium equation, which was not used to compute member
forces, to check the calculations. This alternative equation should preferably involve all
three member forces determined by the analysis. If the analysis has been performed
correctly, then this alternative equilibrium equation must be satisfied.
Types of Trusses

• 1)Roof Trusses:
2) Bridge Trusses