SIMPLE TRUSSES, ZERO-FORCE MEMBERS and
THE METHOD OF SECTIONS
Today’s Objectives:
Students will be able to:
a) Identify zero-force members
b) Determine the forces in members of a • Reading Quiz
simple truss.
In-Class Activities:
• Check Homework, if any
• Applications
• Simple Trusses
• Zero-Force Members
• Method of Sections
• Concept Quiz
• Group Problem Solving
• Attention Quiz
ZERO-FORCE MEMBERS
(Section 6.3)
If a joint has only two non-collinear
members and there is no external
load or support reaction at that joint,
then those two members are zero-
force members. In this example
members DE, DC, AF, and AB are
zero force members.
You can easily prove these results by
applying the equations of
equilibrium to joints D and A.
Zero-force members can be
removed (as shown in the
figure) when analyzing the
truss.
ZERO – FORCE MEMBERS (continued)
If three members form a truss joint for
which two of the members are collinear
and there is no external load or reaction at
that joint, then the third non-collinear
member is a zero force member.
Again, this can easily be proven. One can
also remove the zero-force member, as
shown, on the left, for analyzing the truss
further.
Please note that zero-force members
are used to increase stability and
rigidity of the truss, and to provide
support for various different loading
conditions.
 EXAMPLE

Given: Loads as shown on the truss

Find: The forces in each member
of the truss.

Plan:

1. Check if there are any zero-force members.

2. First analyze pin D and then pin A
3. Note that member BD is zero-force member. FBD = 0
4. Why, for this problem, do you not have to find the external
reactions before solving the problem?
 EXAMPLE (continued)
D 450 lb
45 º
45 º
FAD FCD
FBD of pin D

+   FX = – 450 + FCD cos 45° – FAD cos 45° = 0

+   FY = – FCD sin 45° – FAD sin 45° = 0
FCD = 318 lb (Tension) or (T)
and FAD = – 318 lb (Compression) or (C)
 EXAMPLE (continued)
Analyzing pin A:
FAD
45 º
A
FAB
AY
FBD of pin A

+   FX = FAB + (– 318) cos 45° = 0; FAB = 225 lb (T)

Could you have analyzed Joint C instead of A?

 CONCEPT QUIZ
1. Truss ABC is changed by decreasing its P
height from H to 0.9 H. Width W and load
A
P are kept the same. Which one of the
following statements is true for the revised H
B
truss as compared to the original truss? C

A) Force in all its members have decreased. W

B) Force in all its members have increased.
C) Force in all its members have remained
the same.
D) None of the above.
 CONCEPT QUIZ
(continued)
F F
F

2. For this truss, determine the number of zero-force

members.
A) 0 B) 1 C) 2
D) 3 E) 4
 GROUP PROBLEM SOLVING
Given: Loads as shown on the
truss
Find: Determine the force in
all the truss members
(do not forget to
mention whether they
are in T or C).
Plan:

a) Check if there are any zero-force members.

b) Draw FBDs of pins D and E, and then apply EE at those pins to
solve for the unknowns.
c) Note that Member CE is zero-force member so FEC = 0.
GROUP PROBLEM SOLVING (continued)
FBD of pin D
From geometry, tan-1(1/2)=26.57
Y

600N D
X

26.57
FDE FCD
Analyzing pin D:
→ + FX = 600 – FCD sin 26.57 = 0
FCD = 1341 N = 1.34 kN (C) (Note that FCD = FBC!)

+  FY = 1341 cos 26.57 – FDE = 0

FDE = 1200 N = 1.2 kN (T)
GROUP PROBLEM SOLVING (continued)
FBD of pin E
Y
FDE
900 N E
X
45
FEB
FEA
Analyzing pin E:
→ + FX = 900 – FEB sin 45 = 0
FEB = 1273 N = 1.27 kN (C)

+  FY = 1200 + 1273 cos 45 – FEA = 0

FEA = 2100 N = 2.1 kN (T)
 ATTENTION QUIZ
1. Using this FBD, you find that FBC = – 500 N. FBC
Member BC must be in __________.
A) Tension B FBD
B) Compression
C) Cannot be determined BY

2. For the same magnitude of force to be

carried, truss members in compression
are generally made _______ as compared
to members in tension.
A) Thicker
B) Thinner
C) The same size
Engineering Mechanics: Statics, Twelfth Edition
Russell C. Hibbeler
Engineering Mechanics: Statics, Twelfth Edition
Russell C. Hibbeler
 THE METHOD OF SECTIONS
Today’s Objectives:
Students will be able to determine:
1. Forces in truss members using the
method of sections. In-Class Activities:
• Check Homework, if any
• Reading Quiz
• Applications
• Method of Sections
• Concept Quiz
• Group Problem Solving
• Attention Quiz
 READING QUIZ

1. In the method of sections, generally a “cut” passes through no

more than _____ members in which the forces are unknown.
A) 1 B) 2
C) 3 D) 4

2. If a simple truss member carries a tensile force of T along its

length, then the internal force in the member is ______ .
A) Tensile with magnitude of T/2
B) Compressive with magnitude of T/2
C) Compressive with magnitude of T
D) Tensile with magnitude of T
 APPLICATIONS

Long trusses are often used to construct large cranes and

large electrical transmission towers.
The method of joints requires that many joints be analyzed before
we can determine the forces in the middle part of a large truss.
So we need another method to determine such forces.
 THE METHOD OF SECTIONS

In the method of sections, a truss is divided into two parts by

taking an imaginary “cut” (shown here as a-a) through the truss.

Since truss members are subjected to only tensile or compressive

forces along their length, the internal forces at the cut members
will also be either tensile or compressive with the same magnitude.
This result is based on the equilibrium principle and Newton’s
third law.
 STEPS FOR ANALYSIS

1. Decide how you need to “cut” the truss. This is based on:
a) where you need to determine forces, and, b) where the total
number of unknowns does not exceed three (in general).
2. Decide which side of the cut truss will be easier to work
with (minimize the number of reactions you have to find).

3. If required, determine any necessary support reactions by

drawing the FBD of the entire truss and applying the E-of-E.
 STEPS FOR ANALYSIS (continued)

4. Draw the FBD of the selected part of the cut truss. We need to
indicate the unknown forces at the cut members. Initially we
may assume all the members are in tension, as we did when
using the method of joints. Upon solving, if the answer is
positive, the member is in tension as per our assumption. If the
answer is negative, the member must be in compression. (Please
note that you can also assume forces to be either tension or
compression by inspection as was done in the figures above.)
 STEPS FOR ANALYSIS (continued)

5. Apply the scalar equations of equilibrium (E-of-E) to the

selected cut section of the truss to solve for the unknown
member forces. Please note, in most cases it is possible to write
one equation to solve for one unknown directly. So look for it
and take advantage of such a shortcut!
 EXAMPLE
Given: Loads as shown on the
truss.
Find: The force in members
KJ, KD, and CD.
Plan:

a) Take a cut through the members KJ, KD, and CD.

b) Work with the left part of the cut section.
c) Determine the support reactions at A. What are they?
d) Apply the EofE to find the forces in KJ, KD, and CD.
 EXAMPLE (continued)

Analyzing the entire truss for the reactions a A, we get

 FX = AX = 0. Then do a moment equation about G to find AY.
∑MG = AY (18) – 20 (15) – 30 (12) – 40 (9) = 0; AY = 45.6 kN

Now take moments about point D. Why do this?

+ MD = – 45.6 (9) + 20 (6) + 30 (3) – FKJ (4) = 0
FKJ = − 50.1 kN or 50.1 kN ( C )
 EXAMPLE (continued)

Now use the two force equations of equilibrium.

↑ +  FY = 45.6 – 20 – 30 – (4/5) FKD = 0;
FKD = − 5.5 kN , or 5.5 kN (C)
→ +  FX = (– 50.1) + (3/5) ( –5.5 ) + FCD = 0;
FCD = 53.4 kN (T)
 CONCEPT QUIZ

1. Can you determine the force in

member ED by making the cut
at section a-a? Explain your
answer.
A) No, there are 4 unknown
B) Yes, using  MD = 0
C) Yes, using  ME = 0
D) Yes, using  MB = 0.
 CONCEPT QUIZ

2. If you know FED, how will you determine FEB ?

A) By taking section b-b and using  ME = 0
B) By taking section b-b, and using  FX = 0 and  FY = 0.
C) By taking section a-a and using  MB = 0
D) By taking section a-a and using  MD = 0
 GROUP PROBLEM SOLVING

Given: The internal drag truss

for the wing of a airplane
is subjected to the forces
shown.
Find: The force in members IH,
BH, and BC.
Plan:
a) Take a cut through the members IH, BH, and BC.
b) Analyze the right section (no support reactions!).
c) Draw the FBD of the right section.
d) Apply the equations of equilibrium (if possible try to do it
so that every equation yields an answer to one unknown.
 SOLUTION

+ ↑ FY = 80 + 60 + 40 – FBH sin 45º = 0;

FBH = 255 lb (T)
+  MH = – FBC (2) + 60 (2) + 40 (3.5) = 0;
FBC = 130 lb (T)

+ → FX = FIH – 130– 255 cos 45º = 0; FIH = 310 lb (T)

 ATTENTION QUIZ

1. As shown, a cut is made

through members GH, BG
and BC to determine the
forces in them. Which section
will you choose for analysis
and why?
A) Right, fewer calculations.
B) Left, fewer calculations.
C) Either right or left, same
amount of work.
D) None of the above, too
many unknowns.
 ATTENTION QUIZ

2. When determining the force in

member HG in the previous
question, which one equation of
equilibrium is best to use?
A)  MH = 0
B)  MG = 0
C)  MB = 0
D)  MC = 0
Engineering Mechanics: Statics, Twelfth Edition
Russell C. Hibbeler
Engineering Mechanics: Statics, Twelfth Edition
Russell C. Hibbeler