QUESTION1:

Determinetheforcesactinginallthemembersofthetrussshownin
thefigure.

Answer:
First, we shoulddetermine the support reactions by considering the
FBDofthewholetruss.Then,wecanstarttosolvetheproblemfrom
aconvenientjointbyapplyingthemethodofjoints.

EquationsofEquilibriumforthewholetruss:

(4) 3(2) 0 ; C 1.5 k

0 ; 1.5 k
3 0 ; 3 k
A
y y y
x x x
M C N
F C A A N
F A A N
= = =
= = =
= = =
`
`
`

We start applying the MOJ from the joint C as it has 2 unknowns

which can be solved via eqn`s of eq`m. Joint A could also be a
candidate but the equations would be more complicated due to 2
componentsofreaction.

JointC:

0 cos 30 sin 45 0
0 sin 30 cos 45 1.5
x CD CB
y CD CB
F F F
F F F
= = =
= = =
`
`

Coupled solution of the set yields FCB=5.02 kN (C) and FCD=4.10kN

(T). The same solution can be found without a coupled solution if
anothercoordinatesystemsisusedasinfigure(d)and(e).Seeyour
bookforthedetails.

JointD:

0 cos 30 4.10 cos 30 0 ; 4.10 kN (T)

0 2(4.10 sin 30) 0 ; 4.10 kN (T)
x DA DA
y DB DB
F F F
F F F
= = = =
= = = =
`
`

TheforceinBAcanbecalculatedeitherbyusingjointAorB.Weuse
pointBasthereisnodifferenceatallinbetweentwosolutions.

0 sin 45 sin 45 0 ; 0.776 kN (C

y BD BC BA BA
F F F F F = = = =
`

TheFreeBodyDiagrams:

QUESTION2:

Determinetheforceineachmemberofthetrussandstate
if the members are in tension or compression. Set P
1
=500
kNandP
2
=100kN

Answer:
We can start solving the problem directly with MOJ
without the need of calculating support reactions. If we
start from joint B, the number of unknowns is 2 and can
directlybesolvedviaequationsofequilibrium.

JointB:

3
0 cos 45 100
5
4
0 sin 45 500
5
x BC BA
y BC BA
F F F
F F F
( )

= = =

( )
( )

= = =

( )
`
`

Coupled solution of the set yields F

BC
=384 kN (T) and F
BA
=
286kN(T).

JointC:

0 384 cos 45 ; 271 kN (C)

0 384 sin 45 ; 271 kN
x CA CA
y y y
F F F
F C C
= = =
= = =
`
`

Ifitisnecessary,thesupportreactionsatA(A
x
,A
y
)canbe
calculated by analyzing the joint A using the calculated
values.

TheFreeBodyDiagrams:

JointB:

JointC:

QUESTION3:

Determine the force in member CF of the truss shown.

Indicatethememberisintensionorcompression.

Answer:
AlthoughtheproblemcanalsobesolvedbyMOJ,Method
of Sections (MOS) provides a shorter solution for the
problembycreatingasectionaa`.Ifthesupportreactions
areknown,theproblemcandirectlybesolvedintheright
handpartofthetrusssincethereexist3unknownswhich
canbesolvedbyequationsofequilibrium.

EquationsofEquilibriumforthewholetruss:

(16) 5(8) 3(12) 0 ; 4.75

0 ; 0
5 3 4.74 0 ; 3.25
A
x x x
y y y
M E E kN
F A A kN
F A A kN
= = =
= = =
= = =
`
`
`

Sectionaa`:

Now, we can start analyzing the righthand part of the

truss which separated by section aa`. We selected this
partbecauseitinvolveslessunknowns.

The most straightforward way of solving FCF is the

application of moment equation about a point O that
eliminatestwounknownforces.However,inanycase,the
systemofequationscanbesolvedthoughwithsomemore
effort. We select the point O, as the point where the
moment equation eliminates 2 unknowns. However, the
position of point O is not known but can be calculated
using some geometry. Considering the similar triangles
FDOandGCO:
4 4
4 m
8 6
x
x
x

= = =

Then, we use the principle of transmissibility to move FCF

tothepointCandresolveitintorectangularcomponents.
Thus,wecanwriteourmomentequation:
0 ( sin 45)(12) 3(8) 4.75(4)
0.589 kN (C)
O CF
CF
M F
F
= =
= =
`

TheFreeBodyDiagrams:

WholeTruss:

Sectionaa`:

QUESTION4:

Determine the forces in members BC, HC and HG

of the bridge truss and indicate whether the
members are in tension or compression. Repeat
theprocedureformembersGF,CFandCD.

Answer:
We apply the MOS to solve the problem as the
MOJ will be quite time consuming. First, we start
with determination of support reactions. Then
applytheMOSonsectionsaa`andbb`.

EquationsofEquilibriumforthewholetruss:

(12) 18(9) 14(6) 12(3) 0

23.5
0 0
12 14 18 23.5 0
20.5
A y
y
x x x
y y
y
M E
E kN
F E E kN
F A
A kN
= =
= =
= = = =
= =
= =
`
`
`

Sectionaa`:

(3) 12(3) 20.5(6) 0

29.0 (C)
(3) 20.5(3) 0
20.5 (T)
20.5 12 sin 45 0
12.0 (T)
c HG
HG
H BC
BC
y HC
HC
M F
F kN
M F
F kN
F F
F kN
= =
= =
= =
= =
= =
= =
`
`
`

Sectionbb`:

(3) 23.5(6) 18(3) 0

29.0 (C)
(3) 23.5(3) 0
23.5 (T)
23.5 18 sin 45 0
7.78 (T)
C GF
GF
F CD
CD
y CF
CF
M F
F kN
M F
F kN
F F
F kN
= =
= =
= =
= =
= =
= =
`
`
`

TheFreeBodyDiagrams:
WholeTruss:

Sectionaa`:

Sectionbb`:

QUESTION5:

Determine the horizontal and vertical components of force

whichthepinatCexertsonmemberCBoftheframeinthe
figure.

Answer:
The inspection of freebody diagrams of the members
reveals that AB is a twoforce member so the forces acting
onthejointsshouldbeactingonitsdirectionandhaveequal
magnitudeswithreversedirections.

The unknowns in the freebody diagram (C

x
, C
y
, F
AB
) can be
determinedfrom3equationsofequilibriumonthemember
CB.

2000(2) ( sin60)(4) 0 1154.7

1154.7 cos 60 C 577
1154.7 sin60 2000 0 1000
C AB AB
x x x
y y y
M F F N
F C N
F C C N
= = = =
= = =
= = = =
`
`
`

Notice that if don`t recognize AB as a twoforce member,

then the work involved becomes quite complicated and
requires the solution of 6 equations using 6 equilibrium
equations(3onmemberABand3onmemberBC).

TheFreeBodyDiagrams:

QUESTION6:

Determine the horizontal and vertical components of force

atCwhichmemberABCexertsonmemberCEF.

Answer:
First, we disassemble the structure and sketch the FBD of
eachmember.Wehave6unknowns(B
x
,B
y
,C
x
,C
y
,E
x
,E
y
)and9
(3 member x 3 equilibrium equations) equations to
determinetheunknowns.

MemberBED:

30(6) (3) 0 E 60 k
30 0 (1)
60 30 0 1000
B y y
x x x
y y y
M E N
F B E
F B B N
= = = =
= =
= = = =
`
`
`

MemberFEC:

30(3) (4) 0 22.5

Using equation (1) 7.5
30 22.5 0 7.5
C x x
x
x x x
M E E kN
B kN
F C C kN
= = = =
= =
= = = =
`
`

MemberABC:

7.5(8) (6) 7.5(4) 30(3) 0 10

A y y
M C C kN = = = =
`

TheFreeBodyDiagrams:

QUESTION7:

Determinetheforceneededtosupport20kgmassusingthe
SpanishBurtonrig.Whatarethereactionsatthesupporting
hooksA,BandC?

Answer:
First, we disassemble the structure and sketch the FBD of
each member. We start sketching the FBDs from pulley H
which has the unknown force (P) for simplicity and proceed
with the neighboring pulleys by expressing the other
unknown reactions in terms of P using Newton`s 3
rd
law.
Thus,whenwereachtopulleyD,wecansolvetheequations
ofequilibriumforPbyusingtheknownweightattheendof
pulleyD.

ForpulleyD:

9 20(9.81) 0 21.8
y
F P P N = = = =
`


Supportreactions:

SupportA:

2 43.6
A
R P N = =

SupportB:

2 43.6
B
R P N = =

SupportC:

6 131
C
R P N = =

ThesupportCcarriesthelargestload,soapossiblefailureis
moreprobablethere.

TheFreeBodyDiagrams:

QUESTION8:

The compound beam is pin supported at C and supported by a

roller at A and B. There is a hinge (pin) at D. Determine the
reactionsatthesupports.Neglectthethicknessofthebeam.

Answer:
First,wedisassemblethestructure and sketch theFBD ofeach
member. Then, we start the solution from the FBD of first
member (FBD a) as it posses only 3 unknowns which can be
solvedfromequationsofequilibriumwhiletheotherparthas4
unknownswhichcannotbeindependentlysolved.

EquationsofEquilibriumforFBD(a):

(6) 4 cos 30(12) 8(2) 0 ; 9.59

4 sin 30 0 ; 1.87
9.59 4 cos 30 0 ; 2.0
D y y
x x y
y y x
M A A kN
F D D kN
F D D kN
= = =
= = =
= = =
`
`
`

EquationsofEquilibriumforFBD(b):

4
(16) 12 1.87(24) 15 0 ; 8.54
5
3
2.00 12 0 ; C 2.93
5
8.54 1.87 0 ; C 9.20
C y y
x x y
y y x
M B B kN
F C kN
F C kN
( )

= = =

( )
( )

= = =

( )
= = =
`
`
`

TheFreeBodyDiagrams:

QUESTION9:

ThepistonCmovesverticallybetweenthetwosmoothwalls.If
the spring has a stiffness of k = 15 N/cm, and is not stretched
when = 0
o
, determine the couple M that must be applied to
ABtoholdthemechanisminequilibriumwhen=30
o
.

Answer:
Westartthesolutionbycalculatingtheanglesofthedeformed
geometry and stretched length of the spring by trigonometry.
We first apply the sine law to calculate theother angles (, )
ofthetriangleABCandproceedwiththecalculationoftheedge
ACusinglawofcosine.

2 2
sin sin30
19.47 180 130.53
8 12
8 12 2(8)(12)cos130.53 18.242 cm
(8 12) 18.242 1.758 cm
15(1.758) 26.37 N
o o
AC
o
AC AC AC
sp
l
l l l
F
Z
Z G R Z = = = = = =
= =
^ = = =
= =

The solution of the problem can be simplified if one realizes

that member CB is a two force member. Thus one does not
needtocalculatethedirectionofreactionatCandcandirectly
usetheanglecalculatedfrompurelygeometricapproach.

EquationsofEquilibrium:

UsingtheMOJatC:

cos 0 ; F 27.97
y CB sp CB
F F F kN Z = = =
`


UsingtheFBDofthememberAB;

( )( ) 27.97 cos 40.53 8 0 ; 1.70

A
M M M kN = = =
`

TheFreeBodyDiagrams:

QUESTIO

The spri
angle
5kg.

Answer
We star
length o
geometr

0.6
4
BD
x
F
=
=

After th
reaction
member

C
M
E =
`

Then, w
calculate

A
M
R
=
=
`

ON10:
ing has an u
forequilibri
:
rt the soluti
of the spring
ry.
(
sin
400 2(0.6)sin
R
he examinat
natEcanbe
rDC.
(0.7 sin
411.4 co
x
x
E
E
=
=
we consider
edreactiona
(2)(0.7 s
21.7
x
o
E
R
=
=
unstretched
umiftheun
on by calcu
g and the fo
) n 0.3 R =
tion of FBDs
efoundbyta
) ( )
os 127.4 c
BD
F x R
R

the FBD of
atEtocalcul
sin ) 5(9.8 R
length of 0.3
niformlinkse
lating calcul
orce on the
480sin 12 R
s, we realiz
akingthemo
5(9.81)(0.3
cotR

the whole s
latetheangl
1)(2)(0.35cos
3 m. Determ
eachhavea
lating the st
spring by u
20

e that the
omentatpo
35cos ) 0 R =
system and
edirectlyfro
s ) 0 R =

mine the
massof
tretched
sing the
support
ointCon

use the
omthe
TheFre

eeBodyDiag

grams: