Handout #14

Section 5.4

Learning Objectives
• Explain what a two-force member is and identify one.
• Determine the reaction provided by a two-force member.

Two-Force Members:
• can be any ____________.
• have exactly ___________ (resultant) forces.
• are usually part of a larger structure consisting of two or more members. Structure
examples include: _____________, _______________, and __________________.
• have forces transferred to them by ____________. Pins may be ____________
(connecting it to another member) or _______________ (connecting it to a reaction).
• can be properly identified as being two-force members if they satisfy these two criteria:
1. The member has exactly ______ pins.
2. The member has no _______________ _____________ acting on it (except loads
applied at the pin).
• satisfy equations of __________________ : ______________ and _____________
• do not translate. Therefore, they carry two forces that are along the same ____________
______ __________. These forces must be ____________ in magnitude, opposite in
____________________.
• do not rotate. Therefore, the resultant forces must be _________________ to the
_______________ _________________ connecting the two pins.

Which scenario has the free body diagram of a two-force member?

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 Handout #14
Section 5.4

Ex #1 Find the reactions at C and D.

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