Introduction

Welcome to the hand calculation feature for truss structures. The method implemented here is the well known

"Method of Joints".

Reaction forces will first be attempted by analysing the free body diagram (FBD) of the overall structure. Joints

(aka nodes) are then analysed via FBD's to determine any axial forces (or previously unsolved reaction forces).

This process continues across the joints until all axial forces have been solved. The following assumptions are

made:

All members are connected by pins.

All members are two force members and thus only support axial loads. This implies that only point loads that

are applied to the nodes are allowed.

In addition, it should be noted that:

Statically indeterminate structures cannot be fully solved by the "Method of Joints" however, the hand

calculations will still attempt as many solutions as possible for reactions and axial forces.

All axial forces will be assumed to be in tension. This means that all positive results will confirm tension,

negative results will determine compression, and zero results will determine 0 force members.

In some cases, the "Method of Joints" is unable to provide a solution, and this is a limitation on the method.

In these instances, the "Method of Sections" may be more appropriate.

Evaluation

Some issues were found in your file:

Failed the test for internal stability. The condition m >= 2j - 3 must be satisfied.

Hand calculations will still attempt to solve your truss.

SkyCiv Truss Method of Joints Hand Calculations

Page 1 of 8
 Reactions
All forces in kN. All lengths in m.

+
→ ∑ Fx = 0

(R1,x ) + (R2,x ) + (0.6) + (−0.8) = 0

+↑ ∑ Fy = 0

(R1,y ) + (R2,y ) + (0.8) + (−0.6) = 0

+↺ ∑ M = 0  about Support 1 located at Node 1

(8)(R2,y ) + (−1)(4)(0.6) + (5)(0.8) = 0

(8)(R2,y ) + (−2.4) + (4) = 0

∴ R2,y = −0.2 kN

New values can be substitued into force equation Fy

(R1,y ) + (−0.2) + (0.8) + (−0.6) = 0

∴ R1,y = 0 kN

+↺ ∑ M = 0  about Support 2 located at Node 6

(−1)(8)(R1,y ) + (−1)(4)(0.6) + (−1)(3)(0.8) + (8)(0.6) = 0

(−8)(R1,y ) + (−2.4) + (−2.4) + (4.8) = 0

∴ R1,y = 0 kN

All reactions could not be solved at this time. Proceed to the joints.

SkyCiv Truss Method of Joints Hand Calculations

Page 2 of 8
 Joint 2
All forces in kN. All lengths in m.

Known Reactions:  R1,y = 0, R2,y = −0.2,

Known Axial Forces: 

Joint 2 F2

F1

 –  o  +  ←  ↓  ↑  → 

+
→ ∑ Fx = 0

(F2 ) = 0

∴ F2 = 0 kN

0 Force Member

+↑ ∑ Fy = 0

(−1)(F1 ) = 0

∴ F1 = 0 kN

0 Force Member

SkyCiv Truss Method of Joints Hand Calculations

Page 3 of 8
 Joint 3
All forces in kN. All lengths in m.

Known Reactions:  R1,y = 0, R2,y = −0.2,

Known Axial Forces:  F1 = 0, F2 = 0,

F2 = 0 kN Joint 3 F4

F3

 –  o  +  ←  ↓  ↑  → 

→ ∑ Fx = 0

(−1)(F2 ) + (−1)(F3 )(cos63.435) + (F4 ) = 0

(−1)(F2 ) + (−0.447)(F3 ) + (F4 ) = 0

Substituting the previously found member (axial) forces,

(0)(−1) + (−0.447)(F3 ) + (F4 ) = 0

+↑ ∑ Fy = 0

(−1)(F3 )(sin63.435) = 0

(−0.894)(F3 ) = 0

∴ F3 = 0 kN

0 Force Member

New values can be substitued into force equation Fx

(0)(−1) + (0)(−0.447) + (F4 ) = 0

(0) + (0) + (F4 ) = 0

∴ F4 = 0 kN

0 Force Member

SkyCiv Truss Method of Joints Hand Calculations

Page 4 of 8
 Joint 5
All forces in kN. All lengths in m.

Known Reactions:  R1,y = 0, R2,y = −0.2,

Known Axial Forces:  F1 = 0, F2 = 0, F3 = 0, F4 = 0,

F6 Joint 5

F7

 –  o  +  ←  ↓  ↑  → 

→ ∑ Fx = 0

(−1)(F6 ) = 0

∴ F6 = 0 kN

0 Force Member

+↑ ∑ Fy = 0

(−1)(F7 ) = 0

∴ F7 = 0 kN

0 Force Member

SkyCiv Truss Method of Joints Hand Calculations

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 Joint 6
All forces in kN. All lengths in m.

Known Reactions:  R1,y = 0, R2,y = −0.2,

Known Axial Forces:  F1 = 0, F2 = 0, F3 = 0, F4 = 0, F6 = 0, F7 = 0,

F7 = 0 kN
F8

R2,x = 0.2 kN Joint 6

R2,y = -0.2 kN

 –  o  +  ←  ↓  ↑  → 

→ ∑ Fx = 0

(R2,x ) + (−1)(F8 )(cos53.13) = 0

(R2,x ) + (−0.6)(F8 ) = 0

+↑ ∑ Fy = 0

(R2,y ) + (F7 ) + (F8 )(sin53.13) = 0

(R2,y ) + (F7 ) + (0.8)(F8 ) = 0

Substituting the previously found reaction forces,

(−0.2) + (F7 ) + (0.8)(F8 ) = 0

Substituting the previously found member (axial) forces,

(−0.2) + (0) + (0.8)(F8 ) = 0

∴ F8 = 0.25 kN

In Tension

New values can be substitued into force equation Fx

(R2,x ) + (0.25)(−0.6) = 0

(R2,x ) + (−0.15) = 0

∴ R2,x = 0.15 kN

SkyCiv Truss Method of Joints Hand Calculations

Page 6 of 8
 Joint 1
All forces in kN. All lengths in m.

Known Reactions:  R1,y = 0, R2,x = 0.15, R2,y = −0.2,

Known Axial Forces:  F1 = 0, F2 = 0, F3 = 0, F4 = 0, F6 = 0, F7 = 0, F8 = 0.25,

F1 = 0 kN
F3 = 0 kN

0.6 kN F5

R1,x = 0.1 kN Joint 1 0.8 kN

R1,y = 0 kN

 –  o  +  ←  ↓  ↑  → 

→ ∑ Fx = 0

(−0.8) + (R1,x ) + (F3 )(cos63.435) + (F5 )(cos38.66) = 0

(−0.8) + (R1,x ) + (0.447)(F3 ) + (0.781)(F5 ) = 0

Substituting the previously found member (axial) forces,

(−0.8) + (R1,x ) + (0)(0.447) + (0.781)(F5 ) = 0

+↑ ∑ Fy = 0

(−0.6) + (R1,y ) + (F1 ) + (F3 )(sin63.435) + (F5 )(sin38.66) = 0

(−0.6) + (R1,y ) + (F1 ) + (0.894)(F3 ) + (0.625)(F5 ) = 0

Substituting the previously found reaction forces,

(−0.6) + (0) + (F1 ) + (0.894)(F3 ) + (0.625)(F5 ) = 0

Substituting the previously found member (axial) forces,

(−0.6) + (0) + (0) + (0)(0.894) + (0.625)(F5 ) = 0

∴ F5 = 0.96 kN

In Tension

New values can be substitued into force equation Fx

(−0.8) + (R1,x ) + (0)(0.447) + (0.96)(0.781) = 0

(−0.8) + (R1,x ) + (0) + (0.75) = 0

∴ R1,x = 0.05 kN

SkyCiv Truss Method of Joints Hand Calculations

Page 7 of 8
 Summary of Axial Forces
All axial forces have been solved*. They are:

F1 = 0 kN

F2 = 0 kN

F3 = 0 kN

F4 = 0 kN

F5 = 0.96 kN

F6 = 0 kN

F7 = 0 kN

F8 = 0.25 kN

*Note that:

∙ positive numbers represent tension

∙ negative numbers represent compression

∙ zero represents a zero force member

All reaction forces have been solved. They are:

R1,x = 0.05 kN

R1,y = 0 kN

R2,x = 0.15 kN

R2,y = −0.2 kN

SkyCiv Truss Method of Joints Hand Calculations

Page 8 of 8