Unit I

ANALYSIS OF TRUSSES
Assumptions:
1. Members of the truss will be subjected to axial
forces only. The shear force and bending moment
are neglected
2. Members are straight
3. Loads will act at joints only
Wind forces will act on the roof
sheet. Wind load is transferred
to purlin as reaction. As the
purlins are kept at joints, loads
will be transferred to joints.

4. Joints are frictionless hinges.

NOTE: Friction means rotational resistance.
Resistance to rotation means moment. As
moments are not considered in the design of
trusses, friction is neglected.
5. All the members of truss are assumed in the same
plane called middle plane of truss
NOTE: While friction, different members of the
truss is joined so that their centroidal axis will
coincide, as eccentricity is zero, BM are zero.
Analysis of Trusses – Unit I

Joints are also designed so that the CG of the

welded joint/CG of the riveted joint will
coincide.
Sign Convention of Forces:

Pushing the joints or Arrows towards the joint

Axial compression
Free Body Diagram (FBD):
Part of a structure with actions and reactions is called
FBD. Actions mean external loads. Reactions means
internal forces developed. The actual design force of a
member can be calculated from FBD only.

Pulling the joints or arrows away from the joint axial

tension

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Analysis of Trusses – Unit I

Method of Truss Analysis:

1. Method of Joints
2. Method of Sections
3. Tension Coefficient method
4. Graphical method
𝐲 = 𝐅𝐬𝐢𝐧𝛉 𝐱 = 𝐅𝐜𝐨𝐬𝟗𝟎 𝐲=
𝐅𝐜𝐨𝐬𝟗𝟎
𝐱 = 𝐅𝐜𝐨𝐬𝛉 =𝟎 =𝟎
NOTE: Horizontal force cannot have vertical

component, where the vertical force cannot have

horizontal component

Rule 1: A single force cannot exist in nature. If it exist it

must be zero.
Rule 2: If two forces act at joint and if they are not in the
same line, then each force must be zero

Resolving
vertically,
Qsinθ
= 0 (sinθ ≠ 0)
Q=0
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Analysis of Trusses – Unit I

Rule 3: If 3 forces act at a joint and if two of them are in

the same line, then the third force must be zero

∑V = 0
Rsinθ = 0
⇒R=0

Example:

Apply Rule 2 at E
FEA = FED = 0
Apply Rule 3 at B, BA & BC are in the same line
Third force BD must be zero

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Analysis of Trusses – Unit I

NOTE: A member will have 2 joints.(for example BD).

Analyse at that joint where unknown forces are
minimum for the member BD, joint B has minimum
forces.

Method of Joints:
Step 1: Calculate the reactions at the supports
W
VA = VB =
2

Step 2: Start from that joint where the unknown forces

are not more than two .The no.of Equations at the pin-
joint of a pin jointed plane frame are two.
Step3: Then move from joint to joint till the analysis is
completed
1) Start at joint E:
Two forces EA and ED are zero
2) Analyse at joint A:
Resolving vertically,
W W
FAD sin45 = ⇒ FAD =
2 √2

Resolve horizontally at A,
FAD cos45 = FAB
W 1 W
∴ × = FAB ⟹ FAB = 2
(pulling
√2 √2
the joint, tension)
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Analysis of Trusses – Unit I

3) Analyse at joint D,
∑V = 0 at D
FDA = sin45 + FDB = W − FDC cos45 → (1)
∑ H = 0 at D,
FDA sin45 = FDC sin45 ⇒ FDA = FDC =
W
→ (2)
√2

Substituting (2) in (1)

2FDA cos45 + FDB = W
W 1
2 × + FDB = W
√2 √2

∴ FDB = 0
(stable: bottom chord is missing, but that is taken care of
by extra horizontal reaction in the line of deficient
member)

NOTE: If supports are at same level, the reactions can be

calculated similar to that of a simply supported beam
(for vertical reactions)

∑ M = 0 at A

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Analysis of Trusses – Unit I

VB × 4L = W ×
4L + W × 3L + W × 2L +
W×L+W×0+W×L
11W
VB = 4
11W 9W
VB = 5W − =
4 4

Calculation of horizontal reaction:

Apply ∑ M = 0 at H,(from right side)
11W
Hb × L + W × 2L + W × L = × 2L
4
5W
⟹ Hb = + (+sign indicates assumed direction is
2
correct)
∴ −Ha + Hb = W ⟹ Ha = 1.5W

∑V=0
9W
W + FAI sin45 =
4
FAI sin45 = 1.25W
5
FAI = 𝑊
2√2

∑H = 0
5
1.5W + FAC = FAI cos45∘ = 4 W

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Analysis of Trusses – Unit I

−W
FAC = (-ve sign shows assumed direction is wrong)
4

5W 1
∑V = 0 ⇒ × + FCI = W
2√2 √2
5W −W
FCI = W − =
4 4

(assumed direction is wrong)

W
FCI = (tension)
4

∑H = 0 ⟹ FHI = W +
5W 1
× =
2√2 √2
2.25W (compression)

W
∑H = 0 ⇒ FCH cos45 = 4
W
∴ FCH = (copression)
2√2

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Analysis of Trusses – Unit I

W
∑H = 0 ⟹ FIH + 2√2 ×
1 1
= FGH + FDH ×
√2 √2

(2.25+0.25)W = FGH +
FDH
⟶ (1)
√2

W 1
∑V = 0 ⟹ 2√2 × +
√2
FDH
=W
√2

W 3W
FDH = (W − 4 ) √2 = (compression) ⟶ (2)
2√2

FGB
∑H = 0 ⟹ FGH =
√2
7W 7W
∴ FGB = × √2 = 2√2 (compression)
4

FBG
∑V = 0 ⟹ FDG + =W
√2
7W −3W
FDG = W − =
4 4
3W
FDG = (tension)
4

7W 5W
∑H = 0 ⟹ FBD + =
4 2

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 Analysis of Trusses – Unit I

FBD = (2.5 − 1.75)W

3W
= (compression)
4

Q. Calculate magnitude of force in member AB

NOTE: Reaction at roller support B is normal to the plane of

rolling At B, now we have 3 forces.2 of them are in same
line.
Hence third force is zero, ∴ FAB = 0

Q.

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 Analysis of Trusses – Unit I

Calculate force in AB?

∑V = 0 @ B
FBC sin45 = W
FBC = W√2 (tension)
FBC cos45 = FAB ⟹ FAB = W(compression)

Q.

Calculate FBC, FBI, FCI, FIH, FAC

NOTE: In the above problem, forces of some selected
members only are to be calculated. If method of joints is
used, we have to proceed from one end of truss which is
time consuming

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Analysis of Trusses – Unit I

METHOD OF SECTIONS:
It is useful for quick solution of forces in any internal
member directly. In method of sections, we choose part
of a truss to one side of the section with the reaction and
the external loads. Hence even if three unknowns act at a
joint, the method is suitable.
NOTE: Part of the truss with the actions and reactions
will behave as the truss as a whole and hence three
equilibrium equations are available,∴ even if unknowns
are three,this method is useful
Sub method 1:
Applying ∑M = 0 concept

FDE=?
Step 1: Calculate reactions
Step 2: Pass a section through the chosen member (DE)
and two other members (BD & BC) so that the other
members will pass through a common joint (say B) so
that the other members will not have any moment along
B.

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 Analysis of Trusses – Unit I

Step 3: Consider FBD of one side of truss as shown

Apply ∑𝑀𝐵 = 0
W
FDE × ×L =0
2
: ∑𝐻
Sub method –2 ve = 0 tension
indicates Calculate CG? for F is wrong
assume
−W DE
⟹ FDE = 2 ( W )
∴ FDE = 2 (compression)

Step 1 : Pass a section through choosen member and

other vertical members,so that these vertical members
cut will not develop any horizontal component.
Step 2 : Consider 1 side of section,Apply ∑H = 0

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Analysis of Trusses – Unit I

𝐹𝐶𝐺 = 𝑃(𝑡𝑒𝑛𝑠𝑖𝑜𝑛)
Sub
NOTE: Uncut members are already balanced
meth
(don’t consider ED)
od 3 :
∑V =
0 concept

FAB=?
Step 1 : Pass a section through the chosen vertical
member and other horizontal members so that horizontal
members cut will not have vertical force components

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Analysis of Trusses – Unit I

Step 2 :

Apply ∑𝑉 = 0 𝑎𝑡 𝐵

𝐹𝐵𝐴 = 𝑊 (𝑡𝑒𝑛𝑠𝑖𝑜𝑛)

Pass a section as shown

By calculating the forces in the
members DE & EF, their vertical
component is the force in the
member CE.

Now for the reaction chosen, the chosen member is DE.

Consider right side of the section
Apply ∑M = 0 at C
2 1 1
tanθ = ×2= ⟹ θ = 30°
√3 √3

Assume force in member DE as compressive.

Resolve the Force FDE in the vertical and horizontal
directions
2 2
FDE cos30 × ( + ) = 10 × 2
√3 √3

FDE = 10t (compression)

Now FEF = 10t (symmetry)

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Analysis of Trusses – Unit I

Apply ∑V = 0 at E
FDE sin30 + FEF sin30 = FCE
FCE=10t (tensile)

Consider section as shown. Consider

upper side of the section
By taking ∑ME =0
20 × 3 = 10 × 6 + FAC × b
FAC = 0

∑MA = 0
3
sinθ = 5

8VC = 3P
4
cosθ = 5
3P
VC = 8

Apply ∑V = 0 at A,
3P
FAE sinθ =
8
3 3P 5P
FAE × = ⟹ FAE =
5 8 8
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Analysis of Trusses – Unit I

3P
Similarly, FBE =
8

NOTE: For the problem shown forces in the member

AB,BE & AE are proportional to distances

08. Pass a section as shown, 1

𝑠𝑖𝑛𝜃 =
2 1
√10
tanθ = =3 3
6
𝑐𝑜𝑠𝜃 =
√10

Resolve the force IH into horizontal and vertical

components. Its vertical component is passing through B
about which ∑M = 0
Apply ∑M = 0 at B,
3W
6HIcosθ = × 6 = 9W
2
3
6 × FHI × = 9W
√10

√10W
FHI = 2
= FHG

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Analysis of Trusses – Unit I

Calculation of force in the member BI:

Apply ∑𝑉 = 0 to the left side of the section
√10 3W
W+ sinθ = + FBI ⟹ FBI = 0
2 2

*Another method to calculate force in the member BI

Apply ∑M =
0 about imaginary point O,
3W
× 12 + FBI × 18 = W × 18
2

⟹ FBI = 0

Calculation of force in the

member BH:
Pass a section as shown.BH is chosen member. Consider
left side of section
Vertical component of BH
Calculation of force BC:
Apply ∑𝑀 = 0 at H for the right part of section
3W
8FBC + W × 6 = × 12
2
3W
FBC = (tensile)
2

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Analysis of Trusses – Unit I

Pass a section as
shown, Consider
left side of section,
∑V = 0,

W = W + FCF sinθ
FCF sinθ = 0 ⟹ FCF = 0
∑H = 0 @B
FBA sinθ + P = FBE sinθ ⟹
FBA = FBE − 2P
FBA FBE
+P=
2 2

∑V = 0 @ B, FBA cosθ +
FBE cosθ = P
√3 √3
(FBE − 2P) + FBE =P
2 2

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