Analysis of Statically Determinate Structures 2.1 Idealized Structure In the real sense an exaet analysis of a structure can never he carried out, since estimates always have to be made of the loadings and the strength of the materials composing the structure, Furthermore, points of application for the loadings must also be estimated. It is important, therefore, that the structural engineer develop the ability 10 model or idealize a structure so that he or she can perform a practical force analysis of the members. In this section we will develop the basic techniques necessary to do this.Support Connections, Structural members ate joined together in vari- ‘ous ways depending on the intent of the designer. The three types of joints most often specified ate the pin connection, roller support, and the fixed joint. A pin-connected joint and roller support allow some freedom for slight rotation, whereas the fixed joint allows no relative rotation between the connected members and is consequently more expensive to fabricate. Exam- ples of these joints, fashioned in metal and concrete, are shown in Figs. 2-1 and 2—2, respectively. For most timber structures, the members are assumed to be pin connected, since bolting or nailing them will not sui restrain them from rotating with respect to each other. iciently ie ‘pia "p-sappm canton met) ‘yl sep" onto eth Fig. 2-1 Fie,Idealized models used in structural analysis that represent pinned and fixed supports and pin-connected and fixed-connected joints are shown in Figs. 2-3a and 2-36. In reality, however, “all connections exhibit some stiffness toward joint rotations, owing to #iCtion and material pchavior, In this case a more appropriate model for a support or joint might*be that shown in Fig, 2-3c. If the torsional spring constant k = 0, the joint is a pin, and if k > %, the joint is fixed. a [ t— f[- pis support in conned join fixed support fixed-connoeted joint w o spring support torsional spring joint Hig. 2-3,