ECS 448 – Determinate structures

CHAPTER 2 - PLANE TRUSS

Week 2

Learning Outcomes:
At the end of this week, students should be able to:

1) Calculate internal forces of plane truss by using Method of

Joint.
2) Calculate internal forces of plane truss by using Method of
Section.

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ECS 448 – Determinate structures

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ECS 448 – Determinate structures

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ECS 448 – Determinate structures

Truss member subjected to forces

Tension (+)

Compression (+)

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ECS 448 – Determinate structures

Copyright © July 2008 by LEE SIONG WEE

ECS 448 – Determinate structures

Copyright © July 2008 by LEE SIONG WEE

ECS 448 – Determinate structures

Copyright © July 2008 by LEE SIONG WEE

ECS 448 – Determinate structures

Copyright © July 2008 by LEE SIONG WEE

ECS 448 – Determinate structures

Copyright © July 2008 by LEE SIONG WEE

ECS 448 – Determinate structures

Copyright © July 2008 by LEE SIONG WEE

ECS 448 – Determinate structures

Copyright © July 2008 by LEE SIONG WEE

ECS 448 – Determinate structures

500N 500N

2m

2m

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Determine the support reactions

N
B
MA = 0, +ve

2m 500(2)- Cy(2)=0
Cy = 500 N
A C
2m
Fy = 0,
Ay+Cy=0
Ay+500=0
Ay = -500 N

Fx = 0,
Ax+500=0
Ax = -500 N
 Using equations of equilibrium, find the member forces

Start @ A, Fy = 0, FAB = 500 N Tension

FAB (Assume Tension)
Fx = 0, FAC = 500 N Tension

500N FAC(Assume Tension)

Ax A

TIPS
500N
Ay
@ C,
FBC(Assume Tension) Tension Arrow in member
Fy = 0,
FBCsin45 + 500 = 0
45°
500N C FAB = -707.2 N Compression
FAC

*Noted we need 2 joints sufficient to solve all the

500N member forces (not necessary use all the joints)
Cy
ECS 448 – Determinate structures

After all the member forces are found, they can be can
be summarized as

500 N

707.2 N
(C)
500 N
(T)

500 N
500 N
(T)

500 N 500 N

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ECS 448 – Determinate structures

More Example
100 kN

B C D

4m
50 kN

20kN A E
F

4m 4m 4m

Find the axial forces for all members for this truss.

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ECS 448 – Determinate structures

Method of Section
▪ If the forces in only a few members of a truss are to be
found, the method of sections generally provide the most
direct means of obtaining these forces.
▪ This method consists of passing an imaginary section
through the truss, thus cutting it into 2 parts.
▪ Provided the entire truss is in equilibrium, each of the 2
parts must also be in equilibrium
▪The 3 eqns of equilibrium may be applied to either one
of these 2 parts to determine the member forces at the
“cut section”.
▪ A decision must be made as to how to “cut” the truss.
▪ In general, the section should pass through not more
than 3 members in which the forces are unknown.

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ECS 448 – Determinate structures

Consider the truss in Fig 3.25(a)

If the force in GC is to be
determined, section aa will be
appropriate.
The free-body diagram of the 2
parts are shown in Fig 3.25(b)
and (c).
Also, the member forces acting on
one part of the truss are equal but
opposite.
The 3 unknown
member forces,
FBC, FGC & FGF
can be obtained
by applying the
3 equilibrium
eqns to Fig 3.25(b)
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ECS 448 – Determinate structures

Example (Method of section)

Determine the internal force for member FE, FC and BC.

F E
400 kN

3m

A D
B C

1200 kN

4m 4m 4m

Forces in member FE, FC and BC can be found by cutting

section a-a to the truss.

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ECS 448 – Determinate structures

a
F E
400 kN

3m

A D
Ax=400kN
B C
a
1200 kN
Ay=300kN Dy = 900 kN
4m 4m 4m

Solution:
+ ∑MA = 0, -Dy (12) + 1200 (8) + 400 (3) = 0,
Dy = 900 kN

+ ∑Fy = 0, Ay + 900 -1200 = 0,

Ay = 300 kN

+ ∑Fx = 0, -Ax + 400 = 0,

Ax = 400 kN
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ECS 448 – Determinate structures

4
F
FFE θ 3
θ 5
3m
FFC Sinθ = 3/5
A
Ax=400kN FBC
B C
Ay=300kN

4m 4m

Take moment at C, FFC and FBC can be eliminated

+ ∑MC = 0, FFE(3) + 300 (8) = 0
+ ∑Fy = 0, 300 – FFCSinθ = 0
FFE = - 800 kN (C)
300 – FFC(3/5) = 0
Take moment at F, FBC can be found FFC = 500kN (T)
+ ∑MF = 0, -FBC(3) + 300 (4) + 400 (3) = 0
FBC = 800 kN (T)

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ECS 448 – Determinate structures

F
800 kN (C)

500 kN (T)
A
Ax=400kN 800 kN (T)
B

Ay=300kN

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