CIVL 1100 Discovering Civil and Environmental Engineering

7.2 Trusses and Three-pinned

Arch Structures
 Learning Objectives
1. Trusses and Truss Members

2. The Method of Joints

3. The Method of Sections

4. Static Determinacy of Plane Trusses

5. Three-Pinned Arch Analysis

2
1. Trusses and Truss Members

3
 1. Trusses and Truss Members
¾ What is a Truss Structure?
o A truss is a structure comprising one or more
triangular units constructed with straight members
whose ends are pinned, which are called joints or
nodes.
• We only consider planar truss, where all the
members and joints lie within a 2-D plane.

F F F

Unstable!
Stable!

Ref: Engineering Mechanics Statics, 5th Edn, Bedford and Fowler 4

 Trusses and Truss Members (cont’d)

¾ Two assumptions for trusses

1. External forces and
support reactions are
considered to act only at
joints.

2. The weights of the truss

members are negligible
in comparison to the
applied loads.

Ref: Engineering Mechanics Statics, 3rd Edn, D.J. McGill and W.W. King 5
 Trusses and Truss Members (cont’d)

¾ Truss Members
o They are two-force members.
The forces at the ends MUST
be
• Equal in magnitude
• Opposite in direction
• On the same line of action
(member axis)
o One can easily prove the above results with static
equilibrium principles!
o The axial force in a member is either tension (T) or
compression (C).
o Typically, we assign tension as positive, and compression
as negative.
Ref: Engineering Mechanics Statics, 5th Edn, Bedford and Fowler 6
 Trusses and Truss Members (cont’d)
¾ Truss Members
o Experimentally, the member force can be measured by stress-
strain relationship.
o A truss member subjected to tension is like a spring being
stretched.
F F
cross-sectional F
area, A
0 x

o Hooke’s Law: F = k x, where k is the stiffness of the member

• Define stress and strain as Stiffness of a member
σ = F/A [unit: N/m2, or Pascal, Pa] =
= x/ [no unit, or m/m]
• Hooke’s Law in stress-strain form: σ = E , where E is the Young’s modulus
(a material elastic property)
• Member force can thus be measured from strain: F = EA
7
 Trusses and Truss Members (cont’d)
¾ Truss analysis: to determine member forces and support
reactions under a specific loading condition
¾ Solve for support reactions first by considering the free-body
diagram of the entire truss.

BUT! How about the

internal member forces?

¾ Two common methods for truss analysis:

1. The Method of Joints (suitable for determining all the
member forces)
2. The Method of Sections (suitable for determining some
particular member forces)
Ref: Engineering Mechanics Statics, 5th Edn, Bedford and Fowler 8
2. Truss Analysis:

The Method of Joints

 2. The Method of Joints
o By considering the equilibrium of joints
o It involves drawing free-body diagrams of all the joints one
by one, to determine the axial forces in the members.
¾ Example: a 7-member truss
Pin support

240 mm
45°
240 mm 240 mm

Roller support

100 N
• To find out all the member forces, the support reactions
should be solved first.
10
 The Method of Joints (cont’d)

Step 1: Label all the joints and members, and draw the
A support reactions (free-body diagram)
y
Ax A 4 D
y
5 joints (A – E) and
3 7
x 1 5 7 members (1 – 7)
Bx 2 6 45°
B C E

F = 100 N
Step 2: Calculate the support reactions
Take moment about point A, ∑ = − 100 480 + 240 = 0
Î = 200 N (2F)
∑ =0Î = 100 N (F)
∑ =0Î = −200 N (-2F)
11
 Ay = −2F
The Method of Joints (cont’d) =F
Ax A 4 D = 2F
Step 3: Pick a joint that has 2 or
3 7
fewer unknowns (why 2?) 1 5
Example: Joint E Bx 2 6 45°
F7 B C E
45°
∑ F = 0 → – F6 – F7 cos 45° = 0
F6 E F = 2F F = 100 N
Î
∑ F = 0 → – F + F7 sin 45°= 0 F = −F
F
Special skills:
1. Always assign the force direction pointing outwards from the
joint.
2. In order words, always assume the member is in tension first.
3. Keep the numerical values and carry forward.
4. After the calculation, if the result is positive, the member is in
tension; if it is negative, the member is in compression.
12
 Ay = −2F
The Method of Joints (cont’d) =F
Ax A 4 D = 2F
Step 4: Repeat Step 3, until all
3 7
member forces are solved 1 5 F = 2F
Example: Joint D (why can’t Joint C?) Bx 2 6 45°
D B C F = −F E
F4
F7 ∑ F = 0 → – F4 + F7 sin 45° = 0 F =F
45° Î F = 100 N
∑ F = 0 → – F5 – F7 cos 45°= 0 F = −F
F5

Then Joint C
F5
F3 ∑ F = 0 → – F2 – F3 cos 45° + F6 = 0
Î
F = 2F
F2
C ∑ F = 0 → F5 + F3 sin 45°= 0 F = −2F
45° F6

13
 Ay = −2F
The Method of Joints (cont’d) =F
Ax A 4 D
F = 2F = 2F
Then Joint A F = −F
F =F 3 7
Only 1 unknown left! 1 5
F = −F
Ay F = 2F Bx 6 45°
2
A F = −2F C E
Ax F4 B
45°
∑ F = 0 → F4 + F3 cos 45° + Ax = 0 (for checking) F = 100 N
F3
F1
∑ F = 0 → Ay – F1 – F3 sin 45°= 0 Î F = 0 !!
Member 1 is called a
Check Joint B also
zero-force member.
F1
∑ F = 0 → Bx + F2 = 0 (for checking)

B ∑ F = 0 → F1 = 0 (for checking)
Bx F2

14
 The Method of Joints (cont’d)
= −2F
Ay
F = 2F =F
Ax A 4 = 2F
F = −F D
F =F
F = −F 1
3
5
7

F = 2F
Bx
F = −2F 2 6 45°
= B C E

¾ Post Analysis F = 100 N

o Each joint can provide 2 independent equilibrium equations. A total
of 10 independent equations from the 5 joints can be obtained.
o There are 3 unknown support reactions and 7 member forces;
hence a total of 10 unknowns can be obtained.
o Thus, the Method of Joints can solve the truss even without
considering the global structure equilibrium!
15
The Method of Joints (cont’d)
¾ Post Analysis
Q: “The Method of Joints can solve the truss even without
considering the global structure equilibrium!” WHY is that?
A: After considering ALL the sub-structures (joints) equilibrium,
global structure equilibrium should be automatically satisfied.

All parts of a structure are STATIC, the whole structure

must also be STATIC!

o You can always use the ‘extra’ conditions for checking.

o Although the calculation steps of the Method of Joints
may be tedious, you have ‘extra’ equations for you to
spot the errors.
16
 The Method of Joints (cont’d)
¾ Zero-force members
• If a joint consists of three members,
• If a joint consists of two non-
collinear members and no
external load is applied to the
joint
¾ There is no axial force in
either member.
two of which are collinear, and no
external load is applied to the joint
¾ The axial forces in the collinear
members are equal,
¾ The axial force in the third
member is zero.
17
The Method of Joints (cont’d)
¾ Zero-force members
Q: Can you find out all the zero-force members in the
following trusses?
F

F
F F

F
18
3. Truss Analysis:

The Method of Sections

 3. The Method of Sections
Q: Please find the internal forces of Member A and B.
1 kN 2 kN 1 kN
2 kN
3 kN

pin roller
3 kN 2 kN 1 kN 3 kN
Member A Member B
A: Cut the members to obtain an FBD of a section of the truss.
Use global equilibrium conditions to solve the unknowns.

The whole 2 kN
1 kN
FB 3 kN
structure is
FA STATIC, any
parts of it must
3 kN also be STATIC! 3 kN
20
4. Static Determinacy
of Plane Trusses
 4. Static Determinacy of Plane Trusses
o A truss is statically determinate if the forces in all its
members, as well as all the external reactions, can be
determined by using the equations of equilibrium only.
o A truss is statically indeterminate when the static
equilibrium equations are insufficient for determining the
internal forces and reactions on that structure.
Conditions for static determinacy
A general plane truss containing m members and j joints,
supported by r external reactions
m + r < 2j statically unstable truss
m + r = 2j statically determinate truss
m + r > 2j statically indeterminate truss
!! Not really general rules, but as screening rules for the first step.
Ref: Structural Analysis, 3rd Edn, A. Kassimali 22
 Static Determinacy of Plane Trusses (cont’d)
Ay = −2F
¾Examples: Ax =F
4
Q. Since Member 1 is a zero- A D = 2F
force member, if it is taken
away from the truss, there = 3 7
1 5
should not be any problems.
True or not? Bx
2 6 45°
B C E
A. After removing Member 1, Ay
the truss becomes Ax 4 F = 100 N
A D
unstable for a different
loading condition. 7
3
5
m + r < 2j
Bx
2 6 45°
6 + 3 < 10
B Unstable! C E

23
F = 100 N
Static Determinacy of Plane Trusses (cont’d)
¾Examples:
Pin support Pin support

45° 45°

Roller support Roller support

Statically Determinate Statically Indeterminate

m + r = 2j m + r > 2j
7 + 3 = 10 8 + 3 > 10
The extra member is called
a redundant member.
24
5. Three-Pinned Arch
Analysis
 5. Three-Pinned Arch Analysis
Idealised Model W: A point load at
variable position x
W C Pin / Hinge
x
r
Pin Pin
A B
L

Free-body diagram Q: How can we solve for the 4

W unknown reactions from 3
C
x equilibrium equations?
Ax Bx
A B A: Pin C can give ONE more
L condition!
Ay By

26
 Three-Pinned Arch Analysis (cont’d) Recap: We can only solve
W C for at most 3 unknown
forces and moments from
Ax Bx ONE 2D free-body diagram!
A B
Pin C condition:
Ay By Internal moment at C,
Mc = 0
Cy
W C C • 6 Unknowns:
Cx
Ax, Ay , Bx , By , Cx , Cy
Cx
Ax Cy Bx
A B • 6 Equations:
Two free-body diagrams
Ay By
• Essentially, by making a cut at C, 2 more unknowns are yielded,
but 3 more equations can be obtained.
27
 Summary of this Lecture

1. The Method of Joints of truss analysis is by considering the force

equilibrium of joints. Following the special skills (in Slide 12) of the
Method of Joints can help you solve the problem systematically.
2. Truss members are two-force members (or sometimes zero-force
members), either in axial tension or compression.
3. The member force can be measured experimentally by measuring the
strain of the member and then F = EA .
4. A pre-analysis on picking out all the zero-force members is usually
beneficial and effective in truss analysis.
5. Whether a truss has zero-force members or not depends on loading
conditions.
6. The pin / hinge at the mid-span of a three-pinned arch can give one
more condition, so a three-pinned arch is indeed a statically
determinate structure.

28
 Answers for Slide 18 Zero-force members are shown in red

¾ Zero-force members
Q: Can you find out all the zero-force members in the following
trusses?
F

F
F F

F
29