Contents


Simple trusses

Method of joints for the analysis plane trusses

Engineering Mechanics 1 ME 10105 2

 Aims and objectives
The main aims and objectives can be summarized as follows:

To provide knowledge on determining the forces In the members of a truss
using the method of joints and the method of sections.

To analyze the forces acting on the members of frames and machines.

Engineering Mechanics 1 ME 10105 3

 Plane Trusses

Truss: is a structure composed of slender members joined together at their end points.

Wooden struts or metal bars are commonly used truss members in construction

Planar trusses lie in a single plane and are used to support roofs and bridges.
An example of a typical roof supporting truss is shown in Figure 1. The roof
load is transmitted to the truss at the joints by means of a series of purlins. This
loading acts in the same plane as the truss in Figure 1 (b), the analysis of the
forces developed in the truss members will be two dimensional.

(a) (b)
Figure 1

Engineering Mechanics 1 ME 10105

 Plane Trusses

The load on the deck of the bridge shown in Figure 2 (a) is transmitted first
to stringers then to floor beam, and then to the joints of the two supporting
side trusses.

Similar to the roof truss, the bridge truss loading is also coplanar (see
Figure 2b)

When bridge or roof trusses extend over large distances. a rocker or roller
is commonly used for supporting one end. as example, joint A in Figures
1(a) and Figure 2(a) This type of support allows freedom for expansion or
contraction of the members due to a change in temperature or application
of loads.
A

(a) (b)
Figure 2

Engineering Mechanics 1 ME 10105

 Assumptions for Design
To design both the members and the connections of a truss.

It is important to determine the force developed in each member when

the truss is subjected a given loading. There are two assumptions here:

All loadings are applied at the joints:
the weight of the members is neglected because the force supported by
each member is usually much higher than its weight. While, if the weight
is to be included in the analysis, it is suitable to apply it as a vertical
force with half of its magnitude applied at each end of the member.

The members are joined together by smooth pins
Joint connections are normally formed by bolting or welding the ends of
the members to a common plate, called gusset plate, as shown in Figure 3
(a) or by simply passing a large bolt or pin through each or the members,
Figure 3 (b). It can assumeed that these connections act as pins provided the
centre lines of the joining members are concurrent as in Figure 3
Engineering Mechanics 1 ME 10105
 Plane Trusses

(a) (b) Figure 4

Figure 3

 Because of the two assumptions, each truss member will act as a two force
member and therefore the force acting al each end of the member will be directed
along the axis of the member. If the force tends to elongate the member, it is
tensile force (T), Figure 4 (a), whereas if it tends to shorten the member, it is
compressive force (C), Figure 4(b). In the actual design of a truss it is important to
investigate whether the force is tensile or compressive. Compression members
must be made thicker than tension members because of the buckling or column
effect that occurs when a members in compression.
Engineering Mechanics 1 ME 10105
 Simple Trusses
 If three members arc pin connected at their ends, they form a triangular
truss that will be rigid (Figure 5). Attaching two more members and
connecting these members to a new joint D forms a larger Truss (Figure 6).
This procedure can be repealed as many times as desired to form an even
larger truss. If a truss can be constructed by expanding the basic triangular
truss, it is called a simple truss.

Figure 5 Figure 6

Engineering Mechanics 1 ME 10105

 Method of joints for the analysis plane trusses

To design or analyze a truss, it is important to determine the force in each of its
members.

There are two commonly used methods for the analysis of trusses:

Method of joints
 Method of sections

Engineering Mechanics 1 ME 10105

 Method of joints

This method is based on the fact that if the entire truss is in equilibrium,
then each of its joints is also in equilibrium. Therefore. if the free body
diagram of each joint is drawn, the force equilibrium equations can then be
used to obtain the member forces acting on each joint. Since the members
of a plane truss are straight two-force members lying in a single plane, each
joint is subjected to a force system that is coplanar and concurrent.

As a result, only = 0 and = 0 need to be satisfied for equilibrium.

Engineering Mechanics 1 ME 10105

 Example
 Assume the pin joint at B of the truss in Figure 7(a). Three forces act on the pin
(the 500 N force and the forces exerted by members BA and BC). The free body
diagram of the pin is shown in Figure 7(b). FBA is pulling on the pin, which
means that member BA is in tension, whereas F BC is pushing on the pin and
consequently member BC is in compression. These effects arc clearly
demonstrated by isolating the joint with small segments of the member connected
to the pin. Figure 7c. The pushing or pulling on these small segments indicates
the effect of the member being either in compression or tension.

(b) (c)

(a) Figure 7

Engineering Mechanics 1 ME 10105

 Solution by using the method of joints

Always start at a joint having at least one known force and at most two
unknown forces, as in Fig. 7(b). In this way, application of = 0 and = 0 yields
two algebraic equations which can be solved for the two unknowns. When
applying these equations, the correct sense of an unknown member force can
be determined using one of two possible methods.

Engineering Mechanics 1 ME 10105

Solution by using the method of joints

Engineering Mechanics 1 ME 10105

Procedure for analysis

Engineering Mechanics 1 ME 10105

Procedure for analysis

Engineering Mechanics 1 ME 10105

 Example
Figure 1

Figure 1(a)

Engineering Mechanics 1 ME 10105

 Solution

Figure 1(b)

Figure 1(b)

Figure 1(c)
Figure 1(c)

Engineering Mechanics 1 ME 10105

 Solution

Figure 1(d)

Figure 1(d)

Fig.1e

Figure 1(e)
Engineering Mechanics 1 ME 10105
 Zero-Force Members
Truss analysis using the method of joints is greatly simplified if we can first
identify those members which support no loading. These zero force
members arc used to increase the stability of the truss during construction
and to provide added support if the loading is changed.

if only two members form a truss joint and no external load or support
reaction is applied to the joint, the two members must be zero-force
members.

Engineering Mechanics 1 ME 10105

 Zero-Force Members

2
2

Figure 2

Engineering Mechanics 1 ME 10105

 Zero-Force Members
Figure 3a
Figure 3b

(Figure 3c)

(Figure 3d)

Figure 3

Engineering Mechanics 1 ME 10105

 Example

(Figure 4a)

(Figure 4a)

Engineering Mechanics 1 ME 10105

 Solution

Figure 4b

Engineering Mechanics 1 ME 10105

 Solution

Figure 4 (Cont..)

Engineering Mechanics 1 ME 10105

 Question

Figure 5

Engineering Mechanics 1 ME 10105

The Method of Sections

Engineering Mechanics 1 ME 10105

 The Method of Sections
The method states that, if the truss is in equilibrium, then any segment of the truss is
also in Equilibrium. The Method can be used to find the force in only a few
members of a truss.
As example , assume a two truss members as shown in
Figure 6. if the force within the members are to be
determined, then in imaginary section, indicated by the
blue line, can be used to cut each member into two
parts and thereby expose each internal forces as
external to the free body diagrams shown on the right.
As shown the equilibrium requires that the members in
tension (T) be subjected to pull, while the member in
compression © is subjected to a push

Figure 6

Engineering Mechanics 1 ME 10105

Engineering Mechanics 1 ME 10105
Engineering Mechanics 1 ME 10105
 Example

Figure 7(a)

Figure 7(a)

Engineering Mechanics 1 ME 10105

 Solution
Figure 7(b)

Figure 7(b)

Engineering Mechanics 1 ME 10105

 Solution

Figure 7(c)

Figure 7(c)

Engineering Mechanics 1 ME 10105

 Solution

Engineering Mechanics 1 ME 10105

End of week 8

Thank you

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