Truss

What is a truss?
Structural Analysis • It is a structural system built from bars taking
axial tension or compression.

Truss What is a plane truss?

• It is a 2-dimensional truss with all members lying
within one plane.

Two-force members
Truss
Assumptions:
• The members are connected at their ends by

㢝
frictionless hinges.
• The members and applied loads all lie within the
same plane.
• The loads are applied at the joints only.

Hence, the members of an ideal truss take up axial

forces only (tension or compression)!
 Method of Joints
• This method is based upon the conditions of
equilibrium of the forces acting on each joint.

Method of Joints • The two equilibrium equations are:

Fx = 0
Fy = 0

This method works when there are up to 2 unknown

forces present at each joint considered.

Method of Joints Method of Joints

Example 1 Member forces
Determine the member forces A B
A B

4m

C F
D E
C F
60kN D E

3m 3m 3m
RC 60kN RF
Truss under a point load
Forces acting on the truss joints
 Method of Joints Method of Joints
1. Considering the entire A B A B

structure as a free body, 2. Applying equilibrium

determine all external 4m
equations at the desired 4m
reactions at the supports. joint, i.e. support C
C
D E
F Fy 0 C
D E
F
60kN 60kN
Taking moments about F, RC RF 4 40kN 20kN
3m 3m 3m
40 FAC 0 3m 3m 3m
9 Rc 60 6 0 5
Truss under a point load Truss under a point load

Rc 40kN ( upward ) FAC 50kN (compression )

Resolving vertically, Fx 0
Rc RF 60 3
FCD FAC 0 FCD 30kN ( tension )
RF 20kN (upward) 5

Method of Joints Method of Joints

3. Applying equilibrium A B
4. Applying equilibrium A B

equations at joint A equations at joint D

4m 4m

C F C F
Fy = 0 D E Fy = 0 D E
60kN 60kN
40kN 20kN 40kN 20kN
(4/5) 50 - FAD = 0 3m 3m
40 - 60 + (4/5) FDB = 0 3m 3m
3m 3m
FAD = 40 kN (tension) FDB = 25 kN (tension)
Truss under a point load Truss under a point load

Fx = 0 Fx = 0
(3/5) 50 + FAB = 0 -30 + (1/5) 25 + FDE = 0
FAB = -30 kN (compression) FDE = 15 kN (tension)
 Method of Joints Method of Joints
4. Applying equilibrium A B
5. Applying equilibrium A B

equations at joint D equations at joint E

4m 4m

C F C F
Alternatively, if we just need D E Fy = 0 D E
60kN 60kN
FDE, taking moment about B, 40kN 20kN
FEB = 0 40kN 20kN
3m 3m 3m 3m 3m 3m

Truss under a point load Truss under a point load

4FCD + 3FAD = 3 60 + 4FDE Fx = 0
4 30 + 3 40 – 180 = 4FDE FEF = 15 kN (tension)
FDE = 15 kN (tension)

Method of Joints Method of Joints

6. Applying equilibrium A B
7. Applying equilibrium A B

equations at support F equations at joint B for

4m checking 4m

C F C F
Fy = 0 D E Fy = 0 D E
60kN 60kN
40kN 20kN 40kN 20kN
20 + (4/5) FFB = 0 3m 3m
- (4/5) 25 + 0 + (4/5) 25 = 0 3m 3m
3m 3m
FFB = -25 kN (compression) OK!
Truss under a point load Truss under a point load

Fx = 0
- (-30) - (3/5) 25 + (3/5) (-25) = 0
OK!
 Method of Sections
• A section is cut through the truss and the
equilibrium of free body on one side is considered.

Method of Sections • Three equilibrium equations are involved

Fx = 0
Fy = 0
M=0

This method is applicable when there are up

to 3 unknown forces present.

Method of Sections Method of Sections

Example 2 1. Consider the entire structure as a free body and
• Determine the member forces BD, BE and CE determine all support reactions.
80kN To find reaction at A, take moments about H.
D VA 16 = 120 12 + 160 8 + 120 4
80kN 80kN

B F
2m
VA = 200 kN
80kN

D
80kN 80kN
4m 2m
B F

H
A
C E G 4m

40kN 80kN 40kN A

H
4 @ 4m C E G

VA 40kN 80kN 40kN VH

Truss under point loads
4 @ 4m
Truss under point loads
 Method of Sections Method of Sections
2. Apply a cut through the chosen members BD, BE, CE and 3. To find FBD, take moments of the free body ABC
consider the free body ABC to the left of the cut about E, i.e. 200 8 - 120 4 + FBD LE = 0
80kN where LE is the perpendicular distance of BD from
80kN
D
80kN
K
80kN L
D
E. LE can be obtained from LE DE
2m
B F B JE JD
4m 6 12
K
LE 12
5
A
H
2 2
A
C E G J C E 12 6
200kN 40kN
40kN 80kN

( 罐袋 唰
40kN
A free body for method of section
4 @ 4m
1120 280 5
Truss under point loads
FBD 208.7 kN
12 3
J E
5

Nummeuta 6
可
Yīīshnpinb,兩條
Method of Sections mnu 狂 Method of Sections
5. To find FCE, take moments about B
4. To find FBE, take moments of the free body ABC
FCE 4 200 4 0 FCE 200kN
about J, FBE JK 120 8 200 4 0
12
JK
K 2 K

160
FBE 18.9kN
JK

J E J E
 Method of Sections Simple Truss
To find FDB, cut through AB, DB and DE. Then consider the • What is a simple plane truss?
vertical equilibrium of one free body.

i
– simplest form of truss
A B – mainly built from a triangular pattern

4m • Hence, a relation exists between total number

of bars ‘b’ and total number of joints ‘j’, i.e.
b 3 2j

巚
C F
D E
60kN

3m 3m 3m

Truss under a point load

⼒

Simple Truss Compound Truss

• Initially b0 = 3 ; j0 = 3 • Formed by interconnecting two or more simple
• Additional no. of bars = b – 3 trusses in a way that:
• Additional no. of joints = j – 3 1. there are 3 elements of connection neither
• Each additional joint requires 2 bars parallel nor concurrent; or
• b – 3 = 2 ( j – 3) 2. the trusses are connected by one common joint
and one link.
• b+3=2j
 Compound Truss Compound Trusses

.io
Features
• Cannot be completely analyzed by method of B Apply a cut here m
joints alone
• The rule b+3 = 2j still holds d
C E
b
a
C B F
Thus, for the analysis of compound trusses, the c e
c
combined use of both methods of joints and b f
a
sections are required. m
g

A
Examples of compound trusses

Compound Truss Compound Truss

臉
Taking moments about d
allows Fbf to be solved

The internal forces can be solved from Fbf

the free body diagram. Notice that the
internal forces in all connecting
members are all zero in this case!
 rstdiidyhm
K-Truss
a. 盧 B A以
fhnaxìal
B A
Complex Truss
Use the Method of Substitute
Member (Henneberg’s
method).
• Choose a suitable bar and
replace its action by its
internal forces (so that it
becomes a simple truss).
• To ensure stability, add an
imaginary substitute bar
(dash line) that should be a
zero-force member.
Complex Truss
et
倒
• A statically determinate
truss that cannot be
classified as either simple or
compound.
• It cannot be solved by the
method of joints or method
of section.
P
能 An example of complex truss
Complex Truss
Step 1: Analysis of modified
truss under external loads
X • Determine the forces {Fi'}
in all members due to F x' = 0
Y external loads using the
F y'
method of joints.
F x' = 0
X • At the removed bar, Fx' = 0.
P
• At the substitute bar, the P
internal force is Fy'.
An example of complex truss An example of complex truss
 Complex Truss
Step 2: Analysis of internal
forces of modified truss
without external load
• Omit the external loading
and apply equal but
opposite collinear unit loads
to the joints of removed bar.
• Determine the forces {fi} in
all members using the
method of joints.
• At the substitute bar, the
internal force is fy.
The End
Complex Truss
Step 3: Combination
• {Fi} = {Fi'} + X{fi}
• Determine X based on the X
fx = 1
zero-force condition of the
substitute bar: Y
fy
• Fy = Fy' + X fy = 0
fx = 1
• Then calculate the other bar X
forces accordingly. P
An example of complex truss An example of complex truss