STRUCTURAL ANALYSIS

I. SIMPLE TRUSSES
• A truss is a structure composed of slender members joined together at their end points. The members commonly
used in construction consist of wooden struts or metal bars.
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• 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.
• The basic element of a plane truss is the triangle. Three bars joined by pins at their ends, constitute a rigid frame.
The term rigid is used to mean non-collapsible and also to mean that deformation of the members due to induced
internal strains is negligible.
• Structures built from a basic triangle in the manner described are known as simple trusses. 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.

ASSUMPTIONS IN DESIGNS:
1. All loadings are applied at the joints
• In most situations, such as for bridge and roof trusses, this assumption is true. Frequently the weight of
the members is neglected because the force supported by each member is usually much larger than its
weight. However, if the weight is to be included in the analysis, it is generally satisfactory to apply it as a
vertical force, with half of its magnitude applied at each end of the member.
2. The members are joined together by smooth pins
• The joint connections are usually formed by bolting or welding the ends of the members to a common
plate, called a gusset plate, as shown in Fig. 6–3a, or by simply passing a large bolt or pin through each of
the members, Fig. 6–3b. We can assume these connections act as pins provided the center lines of the
joining members are concurrent, as in Fig. 6–3.

PROBLEM: Determine if the trusses shown are determinate or indeterminate.

1. 3.

2. 4.

PREPARED BY: ENGR. JAEUS M. SEGUNDO

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II. METHOD OF JOINTS

• In order to analyze or design a truss, it is necessary to determine the force in each of its members.
This method is based on the fact that if the entire truss is in equilibrium, then each of its joints is also in equilibrium. Therefore,
if the free-body diagram of each joint is drawn, the force equilibrium equations can then be used to obtain the member forces
acting on each joint. Since the members of a plane truss are straight two-force members lying in a single plane, each joint is
subjected to a force system that is coplanar and concurrent. As a result, only ΣFx = 0 and ΣFy = 0need to be satisfied for
equilibrium.
Problem:
1. Determine the force in each member of the 2. Determine the force in each member of the
truss and state if the member is in tension or truss and state if the member is in tension or
compression. compression

PREPARED BY: ENGR. JAEUS M. SEGUNDO

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3. Determine the force in each member of the truss and state if the member is in tension or compression.

50kN/m
G
F
E L

D K
C J
B I
1m H 30°

5 @ 1.20m

PREPARED BY: ENGR. JAEUS M. SEGUNDO

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*** ZERO BAR FORCE MEMBERS:

• The zero-force members of a truss can generally be found by inspection of each of the joints.
• “If only two non-collinear members form a truss joint and no external load or support reaction is applied to the
joint, the two members must be zero-force members.”
• “If three members form a truss joint for which two of the members are collinear, the third member is a zero-force
member provided no external force or support reaction has a component that acts along this member.”

Example:
1.

PREPARED BY: ENGR. JAEUS M. SEGUNDO