ES 1022y Engineering Statics Structural Analysis – Trusses

Structural Analysis - Trusses

Introduction
A truss is a structure composed of straight slender members connected or joined (pinned,
nailed, riveted, bolted or welded) together at their end points.

Joint connections are typically formed by bolting or welding the end of members to a
gusset plate, or by simply passing a large bolt or pin through each of the members.

Trusses are often used to support roofs and bridges.

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Assumptions for the Design of Trusses

To design the truss or calculate the force in each member we assume that:
1) all loads are applied at the joints, and the weight of each member is negligible when
compared to the loads being applied at the joints.

This assumption allows us to ignore the weights of the members in our calculations.
If we do need to include the weight of the members in our calculations we can do this
by applying a vertical load equal to half the weight of the member to the joint at each
end of the member.

2) the members are joined together by smooth pins (even though they may be welded or
bolted)

Assumptions 1) and 2) imply that each truss member acts as a two-force member. This
means that the forces at the ends of each member are directed along the axis of the
member, so if we know the geometry of the members we know the lines of action of the
forces acting along them.

If the force elongates the member, it is in tension (T) and it is in compression (C) if it
shortens the member.

In actual design or the solution of problems, it is important to state whether the force is in
tension or compression.

Some useful truss definitions

Rigid truss – a truss that does not collapse under loads.

Triangular truss – has three members and three joints (most basic 2-D rigid truss)

Plane truss – 2-D truss; all members and applied forces acting in the same plane.

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Simple truss - a rigid plane truss which can be built from a triangular truss by repeatedly
adding two new members and one new joint at a time, that is each addition of two new
members increases the total number of joints by one.

Analysis of Forces in Truss Members

In this course we will consider two methods for the analysis of the forces in truss
members:
1) the method of joints, and
2) the method of sections

Method of Joints
The method of joints makes use of the fact that if the truss is in equilibrium, then each of
the joints of the truss must also be in equilibrium. We can then write equilibrium
equations for the forces exerted on the pin at each joint of the truss. Since the truss
members are all straight two-force members in the same plane the forces at each pin are
coplanar and concurrent. This means that

is automatically satisfied, and we only need to satisfy

to ensure force equilibrium.

Note that all forces acting at the joint are shown in a FBD of the joint. This includes all
external forces (including support reactions) as well as the forces acting in the members

The method of joints is an efficient way of determining the forces in all members of the
truss.

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Determining the Correct Sense of an Unknown Member Force

Consider the forces acting on the two truss members shown above. In both cases, these
are the forces being exerted on the truss member by the joints to which they are attached.
We are, however, analysing the forces being exerted on the joints by the truss members,
which from Newton’s third law must be equal and opposite. This means that the force
acting on a joint due to a truss member in tension must be acting away from the joint,
while for a truss member in compression the force is acting towards the joint.

The correct sense of an unknown member force can be determined using one of two
possible methods:
1) by assuming the unknown truss member forces are always acting in tension (that is,
away from the joint). The solution will then yield positive scalars for members in
tension and negative scalars for members in compression.
2) the correct sense of direction of an unknown member force can, in many cases, be
determined by inspection.

Remember also that once you have determined the correct sense of the truss force at the
joint at one end of the truss member, it must also be acting in the same sense at the joint
at the other end of the truss member i.e. if it is acting in tension (away from the joint) at
one end of the truss member, it must also be acting away from the joint at the other end of
the truss member, and vice versa if the truss member is acting in compression.

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Procedure for Analysis

To solve for the forces in a truss using the method of joints the following steps are
required:
1) if necessary, draw a FBD of the entire truss and determine the support reactions
(usually necessary if the truss is supported at both sides, but not if the truss is
supported from one side only).

2) draw a FBD of a joint having at least one known force and at most two unknown
forces.
3) establish the direction the unknown forces are acting in.
4) apply the two force equilibrium equations

and solve for the two unknown member forces.

5) move onto the next joint, remembering that a member in compression pushes on the
joint, while a member in tension pulls on the joint.

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Example Problem

Determine the force in each member of the truss and state if the members are in tension
or compression.

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Zero Force Members

Zero force members are truss members that support no loads. They are typically used to
increase truss stability during construction and to provide support if applied loading
changed.

Zero force members can generally be determined by inspection by applying the following
set of rules:
1) if two members form a truss joint where there is no applied external load or support
reactions at the joint, then both are zero force members.
2) if three members form a truss joint for which two of the members are collinear and no
external force or support reaction is applied to the joint, then the third member is a
zero force member.

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Method of Sections
The method of sections is used for determining the loads acting within a body. Once
again it makes use of the principle that if a body is in equilibrium, then any part of the
body must also be in equilibrium.

In using the method of sections, if the force is acting away from the cut made to section
the member into two independent pieces, the truss member is in tension, while if it is
acting towards the cut the truss member is in compression.

To apply the method of sections we start by taking an imaginary section through the body
to cut it into two parts. To find the forces acting in truss members BC, GC, and GF, for
example, we would section the truss along the line aa.

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A FBD is then drawn for one of the parts containing the members of interest and the
equilibrium equations for a rigid body are applied.

The method of sections can be used to "cut" or section several members of an entire truss,
with the equilibrium equations being applied to determine the member forces at each "cut
section". The solution can be facilitated by first determining the support reactions for the
whole truss.

Procedure for Analysis

To solve for the forces in a truss using the method of sections the following procedure
should be used:
1) if necessary, draw a FBD of the entire truss and determine the support reactions (once
again, usually necessary if the truss is supported at both sides, but not if the truss is
supported from one side only).
2) decide how to cut (or section) the truss into two independent sections by cutting
through the truss members where the forces are to be determined, remembering that
since we only have three equilibrium equations we can only cut a maximum of three
truss members with unknown forces (keep an eye out for zero-force members as well,
as you can cut four members if one of them is a zero-force member).
3) draw a FBD of one of the truss sections.
4) establish the direction the unknown forces are acting in.
5) apply the equilibrium equations

to solve for the unknown truss member forces

6) when solving the equilibrium equations, remember to start with moments about a
point that lies at the intersection of the lines of action of two of the unknown truss
member forces which will yield a direct solution for the third unknown truss force.

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Example Problem

The tower truss is subjected to the loads shown. Determine the force in members BC, BF,
and FG, and state if the members are in tension or compression. The left side, ABCD,
stands vertical.

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Example Problem

Determine the force in members GJ, and GC of the truss, and indicate whether the
members are in tension or compression.

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