Far Eastern University May 2021

Institute of Architecture and Fine Arts

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LECTURE READING 14: METHOD OF JOINTS

There are many kinds of structure. This section will limit to those that are pin-connected. One type of pin-
connected structures will be covered here which is pin-connected trusses. In the actual structure, the joints may be
welded, riveted, or bolted to a gusset plate at the joint. However as long as the center-line of the member coincide
at the joint, the assumption of a pinned joint maybe used.

Analysis of Simple Trusses

An ideal truss is a structure which is composed completely of axial members that are assumed to be
weightless. Members are connected by pinned joints, forming triangular substructures within the main structure
and with the external loads applied only at the joints.

In real trusses, the members have weight, but it is often much less than the applied load and may be
neglected with little error. Sometimes, the weight maybe included by dividing the weight in half and allowing half
the weight to act at each end of the member.

Our primary interest is to know the forces acting in the bars and upon the pins of the structure. Each
member of the truss is either in tension or compression. A member in tension causes forces which pull away from
its end joints whereas a member in compression causes forces which push towards the end joints.

Formulas used in this topic are:

[ƩFv = 0] á+

[ƩFH = 0] à+
 Far Eastern University May 2021
Institute of Architecture and Fine Arts
___________________________________________________________________________

PROBLEM 1.

The cantilever truss in the figure below is hinged at D and E. Find the force in each member.
 Far Eastern University May 2021
Institute of Architecture and Fine Arts
___________________________________________________________________________

SUMMARY OF THE ANSWERS

FAB = 2000 N – T
FAC = 1732.05 N – C
FBC = 866.02 N – C
FBD = 2500 N - T
FCD = 2020.72 N - T
FCE = 3175.42 N - C
 Far Eastern University May 2021
Institute of Architecture and Fine Arts
___________________________________________________________________________

PROBLEM 2.

Compute the force in each member of the truss shown in the figure below.

Consider the free body diagram to solve the reaction

[ƩMA = 0] P+

0 = - RF (15) + 200 (3) + 200 (9) + 400 (3) + 800 (9)

RF = 720 kN á

[ƩFv = 0] á+

0 = RA + 720 - 200 - 200 - 400 - 800

RA = 880 kN á
 Far Eastern University May 2021
Institute of Architecture and Fine Arts
___________________________________________________________________________
 Far Eastern University May 2021
Institute of Architecture and Fine Arts
___________________________________________________________________________
 Far Eastern University May 2021
Institute of Architecture and Fine Arts
___________________________________________________________________________

SUMMARY OF ANSWERS