TOPICS:

Analysis of Structures
•Method of Joints
•Method of Sections
Friction
 Problem Set No. 1
ANALYSIS OF STRUCTURES
(Method of Joints)

QUESTION:

The truss, used to support a balcony,

is subjected to the loading shown.
Approximate each joint as a pin and
determine the force in each member.
State whether the members are in
tension or compression.
Set P1 = 600lb and P2 = 400lb.

SOLUTIONS & ANSWERS:

Joint A: 600lb
FADsin45° – 600 = 0
FAD= 848.528 = 849 lb (C) FAB

FAB – 848.528 cos45° = 0 45°

FAD
FAB = 600 lb (T)
Joint B: 400lb
FBD – 400 = 0
600lb FBC
FBD = 400 lb (C)
FBC – 600 = 0
FBC = 600 lb (T) F BD 400lb
848.528lb FDC
Joint D:
F DC sin45° - 400 - 848.528 sin45° = 0 45° 45°

FDC = 1414.214 lb = 1.41 kip (T) FDE

848.528 cos45° + 1414.214 cos45° - F DE = 0

F DE = 1600 lb = 1.60 kip (C)
 Problem Set No. 2
ANALYSIS OF STRUCTURES
(Method of Sections)

QUESTION:
Show that the method of joints cannot be determine the forces in all bars of the
Fan Fink truss shown in the figure. Then use the method of sections to compute
the force in bars FH, GH, & EK.

SOLUTIONS & ANSWERS:

tan 30° = a / 30
a = 17.32
6
8.6
tan 60° = 17.32 / b
c 6
8.6 b =10

6 cos 30° = 30 / c
8.6 a c = 34.64

6
8.6
30 X1 X2 X3
30° 34.64 = 8.66 = 17.32 = 25.98

30’ X1 = 7.5’ ; X2 = 15’ ; X3 = 22.5’

X1 b

X2
X3
 Problem Set No. 2 Continuation
ANALYSIS OF STRUCTURES
(Method of Sections)

SOLUTIONS & ANSWERS:

Considering the whole figure,
200lb
RAV = ROV
2RAV = 1600
200lb FH
RAV = 800lb = ROV

200lb F
30 = AE + b ; b = 10’ GH
AE = 30 – 10 = 20’
100lb D
G

B 2
D 3
2 1
1

AD DE A 3

C E EK
30°
A E /////////////////////
AB

RAV
DE Sigma ME = 0
sin 30° = AE
DE = 20 (sin30°) RAV (20) + 200 (22.5 – 20) = FH (10) + 100 (20)
+ 200 (20 – 7.5) + 200 (20 – 15)
DE = 10’
H 800 (20) + 200 (2.5) – 100 (20) – 200 (12.5) + 200 (5)
FH =
10

FH = 1100 lb (C)
A 20’ Sigma MA = 0
E
60° 200 (7.5) + 200 (15) + 200 (22.5) = GH (AE’)
17.32 200 (7.5) + 200 (15) + 200 (22.5)
GH =
E’ 17.32

Sigma MH = 0 GH = 519.63 ≈ 520 lb (T)

RAV (30) = EK (17.32) + 100 (30) + 200 (30 – 7.5) + 200 (30 – 15) + 200 (30 – 22.5)

EK = 692.94 ≈ 693 lb (T)

 Problem Set No. 3
FRICTION

QUESTION:
The 300 lb block shown in the figure is in contact with a 45° incline. The coefficient
of friction is 0.25. Compute the value of the horizontal force P necessary to
a.) Just start the block up the incline.
b.) Just prevent motion down the incline.
c.) If P = 400 lb, what is the amount and direction of the friction force?

SOLUTIONS & ANSWERS:

A.) W

F P = 500 lb
P 59.04° R sin59.04° sin30.96°
R 500
O 30.96° P = 833.5 lb
I

45°
45° N P

I
|
B.) U = 0.25 ; O = 14.04°
I

F
P 30.96° P 500 lb
O = 14.04°
R sin30.96° = sin59.04°
I

45° N 300 59.04°

P = 300 lb
R
P
C.)
W
Fx = 0
F
P = 400lb 400 (cos 45°) + F – (500)(cos 45°) = 0

F = 70.71 lb
45° 45° N