The chords and the web ‘The top and bottom chord resist the bending moment ‘The web members resist the shear forces Ina triangular tru, the top chord also resists shear What we need to know For detailed design, forces in each member For feasiblity design, maximum values only are needed [How to analyse a truss Find all the loads and reactions (ike a beam) Then use ‘freebody’ argument to isolate one piece atatime 'solate a joint, or partof the truss. PESS( BIAS) Chg) mess sta SESS ‘As with any other element, we first need to find all the ‘external forces acting on the truss (including the reactions). So far, the truss acts exactly like a beam. [Now we want to find the forces in the internal members. ‘We know several things that will be useful: + each joint ofthe truss is in equilibrium under all the forces acting on that joint. We know the line of action, because the forces in the members are cither diet tension or compression. + if we want to cut off part of the truss as a freebody, then that part isin equilibrium under all the forces acting on it, That includes the forces in the members that we have ‘cut through. Generally we will have cut two or three members. By doing this we temporarily tur the internal forces into external forces, so we can got at them, [Method of Joints = Isolating a Joint Have to start at a reaction ‘Time-consuming for a large truss ABB gC Startatreacton GointF) ‘Thon goto joint A Then joint E Then ojint 8 gonoraly thre s only ‘ne unknown at a tie This method is good if there aren't too many members, or if you only need the ones near the supports. Otherwise it is time-consuming. (Sa ESTED > Find the reactions. Once you Fave ie Toading system, consider he whole truss a single unit (Geebody). Find the reactions using 3V=0, 241-0, Evo, Start at one support. Now consider the joint as a freebody, acted on by the reaction, a load (if any), and the ‘unknown member forces that meet there. All these forces are in equilibrium, Resolve them all vertically and horizontally. In most cases you can solve two unknown forees without needing simultaneous equations. Move to the next joint. Consider this joint as a frecbody. You already know the force in one of the ‘members, and with luck can get the next two. ‘Move from joint to joint. By choosing the right ‘sequence, you should be able to move right through the ‘truss without having to carry forward simultaneous equations. Keep to a sign convention. The usual convention is that all members are assumed tobe in tension. A negative answer means itis really in compression. For a rember in tension, the arow acting on the joint goes away from the joint. (For the le end of a member, the arrow goes to the right. For the right end of the same member, it goos to the lef.) p te Diagrams for example