FRAMES AND MACHINES

Today’s Objectives:
Students will be able to:
a) Draw the free-body diagram of
a frame or machine and its
members. In-Class Activities:

b) Determine the forces acting at • Applications

the joints and supports of a • Analysis of a Frame/Machine
frame or machine.
• Group Problem Solving

Mechanics for Engineers: Statics, 13th SI Edition © Pearson Education South Asia Pte Ltd
R. C. Hibbeler and Kai Beng Yap 2013. All rights reserved.
 APPLICATIONS
Frames are commonly used
to support various external
loads.

How is a frame different than a

truss?
To be able to design a frame,
you need to determine the
forces at the joints and
supports.

Mechanics for Engineers: Statics, 13th SI Edition © Pearson Education South Asia Pte Ltd
R. C. Hibbeler and Kai Beng Yap 2013. All rights reserved.
 APPLICATIONS (continued)

“Machines,” like those above, are used in a variety of

applications. How are they different from trusses and
frames?
How can you determine the loads at the joints and supports?
These forces and moments are required when designing the
machine’s members.

Mechanics for Engineers: Statics, 13th SI Edition © Pearson Education South Asia Pte Ltd
R. C. Hibbeler and Kai Beng Yap 2013. All rights reserved.
 FRAMES AND MACHINES: DEFINITIONS

Frame

Machine

Frames and machines are two common types of structures

that have at least one multi-force member. (Recall that
trusses have nothing but two-force members).

Frames are generally stationary and support external loads.

Machines contain moving parts and are designed to alter the

effect of forces.
Mechanics for Engineers: Statics, 13th SI Edition © Pearson Education South Asia Pte Ltd
R. C. Hibbeler and Kai Beng Yap 2013. All rights reserved.
STEPS FOR ANALYZING A FRAME OR MACHINE

1. Draw a FBD of the frame or machine

and its members, as necessary.

Hints:
a) Identify any two-force members,

b) Note that forces on contacting surfaces

(usually between a pin and a member) are
equal and opposite, and

c) For a joint with more than two

members or an external force, it is
FAB advisable to draw a FBD of the pin.

Mechanics for Engineers: Statics, 13th SI Edition © Pearson Education South Asia Pte Ltd
R. C. Hibbeler and Kai Beng Yap 2013. All rights reserved.
STEPS FOR ANALYZING A FRAME OR MACHINE

2. Develop a strategy to apply the

equations of equilibrium to solve
for the unknowns. Look for ways
to form single equations and single
unknowns.

Problems are going to be challenging

since there are usually several
unknowns. A lot of practice is needed
to develop good strategies and ease
FAB of solving these problems.

Mechanics for Engineers: Statics, 13th SI Edition © Pearson Education South Asia Pte Ltd
R. C. Hibbeler and Kai Beng Yap 2013. All rights reserved.
 EXAMPLE
Given: The frame supports an
external load and moment
as shown.
Find: The horizontal and vertical
components of the pin
reactions at C and the
magnitude of reaction at B.
Plan:

a) Draw FBDs of the frame member BC. Why pick this

part of the frame?
b) Apply the equations of equilibrium and solve for the
unknowns at C and B.

Mechanics for Engineers: Statics, 13th SI Edition © Pearson Education South Asia Pte Ltd
R. C. Hibbeler and Kai Beng Yap 2013. All rights reserved.
 EXAMPLE (continued)
800 N.m 400 N
CX

1m CY
1m 2m
B
FBD of member BC
45°
(Note AB is a 2-force member!)
FAB

Please note that member AB is a two-force member.

Equations of Equilibrium: Start with  MC since it yields one unknown.

+  MC = FAB sin45° (1) – FAB cos45° (3) + 800 N. m + 400

(2) = 0
FAB = 1131 N
Mechanics for Engineers: Statics, 13th SI Edition © Pearson Education South Asia Pte Ltd
R. C. Hibbeler and Kai Beng Yap 2013. All rights reserved.
 EXAMPLE (continued)
800 N.m 400 N
CX

1m CY
1m 2m
B
45° FBD of member BC
FAB

 +  FX = – CX + 1131 sin 45° = 0

CX = 800 N

 +  FY = – CY + 1131 cos 45° – 400 = 0

CY = 400 N
Mechanics for Engineers: Statics, 13th SI Edition © Pearson Education South Asia Pte Ltd
R. C. Hibbeler and Kai Beng Yap 2013. All rights reserved.
 GROUP PROBLEM SOLVING

Given: A frame supports a 50-kN

load as shown.
Find: The reactions exerted
by the pins on the frame
members at B and C.
Plan:

a) Draw a FBD of member BC and another one for AC.

b) Apply the equations of equilibrium to each FBD to solve
for the four unknowns. Think about a strategy to easily
solve for the unknowns.

Mechanics for Engineers: Statics, 13th SI Edition © Pearson Education South Asia Pte Ltd
R. C. Hibbeler and Kai Beng Yap 2013. All rights reserved.
 GROUP PROBLEM SOLVING (continued)
FBDs of members BC and AC CY
CX
50 kN

3.5 m
6m

AX 8m

AY
Applying E-of-E to member AC:

+  MA = – CY (8) + CX (6) + 50 (3.5) = 0 (1)

+  FX = CX – AX = 0
+  FY = 50 – AY – CY = 0

Mechanics for Engineers: Statics, 13th SI Edition © Pearson Education South Asia Pte Ltd
R. C. Hibbeler and Kai Beng Yap 2013. All rights reserved.
 GROUP PROBLEM SOLVING (continued)
FBDs of members BC and AC CY
CX
50 kN

3.5 m
6m

AX 8m

Applying E-of-E to member BC: AY

+  MB = – 50 (2) – 50 (3.5) + CY (8) = 0 ; CY = 34.38 = 34.4 kN

From Eq (1), CX can be determined; CX = 16.67 = 16.7 kN

+  FX = 16.67 + 50 – BX = 0 ; BX = 66.7 kN
+  FY = BY – 50 + 34.38 = 0 ; BY = 15.6 kN
Mechanics for Engineers: Statics, 13th SI Edition © Pearson Education South Asia Pte Ltd
R. C. Hibbeler and Kai Beng Yap 2013. All rights reserved.
Mechanics for Engineers: Statics, 13th SI Edition © Pearson Education South Asia Pte Ltd
R. C. Hibbeler and Kai Beng Yap 2013. All rights reserved.