1. Determine the Zero-Force Members in the plane truss.

1
2. Determine the forces in members FG, CG, BC, and EF for the loaded crane truss.
Use the Method of Joints.
3. Determine the forces in members CG and GH of the symmetrically loaded truss.
Indicate whether the members work in tension or compression.

3
4. Determine the forces in members BC and FG.

4
 Zero-Force Members:
EK, EF

Cut (Upper Side)

1200 N
FCJ FFJ
Cut
FBC FFG
800 N C

FCJ FFJ

FBC FFG

+
M C  0  FFG 4  12002  0  FFG  600 N C 

Fy  0   FBC  FFG  0  FBC  600 N T 


 600
5
5. Calculate the forces in members DE, GJ and DG of the simple truss. State
whether they are in tension or compression.

6
 6. The truss shown consists of 45° triangles. The cross members in the two center panels that
do not touch each other are slender bars which are incapable of carrying compressive loads.
Determine the forces in members GM and FL.

Reactions at the supports

From equilibrium of whole truss;

Ax=80 kN

Ay=60 kN By=40 kN 7
I. Cut (Left Side) I. Cut

GF

GM

FL
LM

Ax=80 kN
Ay=60 kN
8
7. Determine the forces acting in members DE, DI, KJ, AJ.

4m 4m 4m

B C D E F

3m
M I G
3m
L 37o
K J H
20 kN
6m

9
 4m 4m 4m
Zero-Force Members:
EF, FG B T C D E F

3m
M I
G
3m
L
K J H 37o

20 kN
6m

Ax A

Ay
Reactions at the supports

From equilibrium of whole truss; Fy  0 Ay  20 sin 37  0  Ay  12 kN

+
M A  0  T (12)  20 cos 37(6)  20 sin 37(12)  0  T  20 kN

Fx  0  T  Ax  20 cos 37  0  Ax  4 kN 10
 4m 4m 4m
Joint A:
BT C D E F
AL AJ 3m
Ax=4 kN M I
G
3m
L
Ay=12 kN K J H 37o
Fx  0
20 kN
8
Ax  AJ 0 1st Cut 6m
6 2  82
Ax
AJ  5 kN C 
A

Ay

E 1st Cut (Right side)

DE +
EI M J  0
 DE 6   20 sin 374   0  DE  8 kN T 
IJ
KJ
J 37o
AJ 20 kN
11
 4m 4m 4m
2nd Cut (Right side)
T C D E F
DE E
3m
DI M I
G
I 3m
KI
L
K J 37o
KJ H

K J 37o 20 kN
6m
20 kN
AJ 2nd Cut
Ax A

+ Ay
M I  0
DE 3  KJ 3  
 AJ cos 373  20 cos 373  20 sin 374  0  KJ  12 kN T 
8 5

+
M K  0
DE 6  
 AJ sin 374  20 sin 378  DI cos 373  DI sin 374  0  DI  7.5 kN T 
8 5
12
8. Determine the force acting in member JI.

20 kN

4 kN D 3 kN
3m
3 kN F G H 5 kN
E C
3m
L K J I

B 3m
A
M N P
5 kN 10 kN
4m 4m 4m 4m
Reactions at the supports: From equilibrium of whole truss;
Fx  0 Ax  5  3  0  Ax  8 kN
+
M A  0   B y (16)  36  54  68  1012  316  56  0  B y  18.75 kN
Fy  0 Ay  B y  4  20  3  5  10  0  Ay  23.25 kN

I. Cut
20 kN

4 kN D 3 kN
3m
3 kN F G H 5 kN
E C 2. Cut
3m
L K J I

A B 3m
Ax
M N P
5 kN 10 kN
Ay By
4m 4m 4m 4m
Joint D 20 kN Fx  0  DE  DC
DC  28.48 kN C 
3
D Fy  0 2 DC  20  0
a 3 
2
8 2
DE a DC 
 
8.54

BC  13 kN C 
3
Joint C Fy  0 3  BC  
DC 0
 28.48 8.54

DC 3 kN 8
Fx  0 5  CH  
DC 0 CH  21.68 kN (T )
 28.48 8.54
a C 5 kN
20 kN
CH
BC
4 kN D 3 kN
3m
3 kN F G H 5 kN
E C
3m
L K J I

B 3m
A
M N P
5 kN 10 kN
4m 4m 4m 4m
 I. Cut (Right Side) D DC 3 kN

GH H 5 kN
a
+ G C
M H  0 3m
 3  J I
3(4)  18.75(4)  
DC  (4)  PN (6)  0
 28.48 8.54 
JN
3m
PN  3.83 kN T  B
N PN P
10 kN 18.75 kN=By
20 kN 4m 4m

4 kN D 3 kN
3m
3 kN F G H 5 kN
E C
3m
L K J I

B 3m
A
M N P
5 kN 10 kN
4m 4m 4m 4m
 + 2. Cut (Right Side)
M J  0

HI  0.904 kN C 
3
 18.75(6)  
BC (6)  10(2)  
PN (3)  HI (4)  0
13 3.83 2 3
2 2

Fy  0

JP  6.01 kN T 
3 3
BC  18.75  
 HI  JP  10  0
13  0.904 2 3
2 2
2 3
2 2

2 2
Fx  0 
PN  JI  
HI 
JP 0
3.83  0.904 2 3
2 2
6.01 2 3
2 2

JI  6.665 kN C  HI
20 kN J JI I
4 kN D BC
3 kN 3m JP 3m
3 kN F G H 5 kN
E C
3m PN P B
L K J I
10 kN 18.75 kN=By
A B 3m 4m
M N P
5 kN 10 kN
4m 4m 4m 4m
9. The hinged frames ACE and DFB are connected by two hinged bars, AB and CD,
which cross without being connected. Compute the force in AB.

2m
a
B
3.5 m
2
tana 
3.5
a  29.74 o

18
 I. Cut (Left Side) I. Cut (Right Side)
A
a AB a

2m
a B CD
CD 3.5 m AB
2
tana 
3.5
a  29.74 o
Ex

Ey

I. Cut (Left Side)

+
M E  0  AB cos a6  AB sin a1.5  CD cos a4  CD sin a3  0
CD  3 AB
I. Cut (Right Side)
+
M F  0  106  AB cos a4  AB sin a3  CD cos a6  CD sin a1.5  0
60  5.95CD  1.98 AB  0  AB  3.78 kN C  19
10. If it is known that the center pin A supports one-half of the vertical loading
shown, determine the force in member BF.

20
 Gy Hy
Ax

Ay
Reactions at the supports

From equilibrium of whole truss; Fx  0  Ax  0

48  210
Center pin A supports one-half of the vertical loading. Ay   26 kN
2

Because of symmetry, G y  H y  13 kN

21
 I. Cut

DE

DF
BF

AF
Gy
Hy=13 kN

Ay
DE I. Cut (Right side)
DF There are four unknowns.
BF

AF

Hy=13 kN 22
 Joint A
AB AF

45o 45o
A

Ay=26 kN

Fx  0   AB cos 45  AF cos 45  0  AB  AF

Fy  0  AB sin 45  AF sin 45  26  0  AB  AF  18.38 kN C 
DE
D
I. Cut (Right side)  DF
BF
45o
+ AF

M D  0 Hy=13 kN
10(12)  8(24)  8(36)  13(48)  BF (16)  
AF cos 45(16)  
AF sin 45(12)  0
18.38 18.38

BF  24.24 kN T  23
11. Determine the forces in members DE, EI, FI, and HI of the arched roof truss.

24
Zero-Force Members:
BK, HF

Reactions at the supports

From equilibrium of whole truss;

Fx  0  Gx  0

Because of symmetry of the truss:

Ay  G y  150 kN

Gx
Ay Gy
+
M A  0  G y (40)  25(4)  75(10)  100(20)  75(30)  25(36)  0  G y  150 kN 
 
Fy  0  G y  Ay  225  275  100  0  Ay  150 kN 
25
1st Cut (Right side)

EF 25 kN
I FI F

HI
H

G 1st Cut

Gy=150 kN
Ay=150 kN Gy=150 kN
+
M I  0   EF
4
12  2512  15016  0  EF  315.48 kN C 
4 6
2 2

 HI  75.93 kN T 
4 14
Fy  0  EF
  HI  150  25  0
315.48 4 6
2 2
14  16
2 2

 FI  205.356 kN T 
6 16
Fx  0  
EF  FI  
HI 0 26
315.48 4 62 2
75.93 14  16
2 2
2nd Cut (Right side)
75 kN
DE
E 25 kN
EI
IF
I F

IH

2nd Cut
G

+ Gy=150 kN
Ay=150 kN Gy=150 kN
M I  0

 DE
3
6  DE 10
4  2512  756  15016  0  DE  297.008 kN C 
3  10
2 2
3  10
2 2

4 3 14
Fy  0   EI  
DE 
HI  75  25  150  0
4 62 2
 297.008 3  10
2 2
75.93 14  16
2 2

 EI  26.4 kN T 
27
12. Determine the forces in members ON, NL and DL.
Ax

Ay Iy

From equilibrium of whole truss;

Fx  0  Ax  6 kN
M A  0  Ay (18)  6(2)  2(15 )  4(9)  2(6)  2(3)  0  Ay  4 kN
Fy  0  Ay  I y  10  0  I y  6 kN
I.cut
M C  0  A (6)  6(2)  2(3)  FON
y
4
2  FON 6
(3)  0
4 kN 4 6
2 2
4 6
2 2

 FON  9.014 kN (Compression)

I.cut

FON

FOC

FBC
 Joint M
4 kN

FMN FML

6 6
Fx  0   FMN  FML 0  FMN  FML
42  62 42  62
4
F y  0  4  2 FMN 0  FMN  FML  3.605 kN (C )
4 6
2 2
II.cut

M D  0  A (9)  2(6)  6(2)  FMN

y 
4
3  F
MN
6
4  FNL (4)  0
4 kN 3.605 4 6
2 2
3.605 4 6
2 2

 FNL  4.5 kN (C )
4 4
Fy  0  Ay  2  FMN  FDL  0 FDL  0 ( Zero  force member )
4 6
2 2 5

II.cut

FMN

FNL

FDL

FDE
13. Determine the forces in members HG and IG.

20 kN
II.cut
I.cut

20 kN 20 kN
20 kN
20 kN

20 kN

20 kN
20 kN
 II.cut
I.cut

FCD FCD

FHG
FHG 20 kN 20 kN
FGI
FHI FGJ 20 kN
FBA 20 kN

20 kN

20 kN
20 kN
I.cut MG=0 FCD=54.14 kN (T)

II.cut MA=0 FHG=81.21 kN (C)

I.cut Fx=0 FGI=18.29 kN (T)
14. Determine the forces in members EF, NK and LK.

2 kN 2 kN 2 kN 5 kN
3
C D E F G
4
1 kN

4m

N O
B H
M

4m

A I
L K J

2 kN 2 kN 2 kN
3m 3m 3m 3m