DEFINITION

TRUSS
- is an assemblage of straight
members connected at their ends
by flexible connections to form a
rigid configuration. Because of
their light weight and high
strength, trusses are widely used,
and their applications range from
supporting bridges and roofs of
buildings
 ASSUMPTIONS: ANALYSIS OF PLANE
TRUSS
1. The forces acting on the truss are
concentrated and are applied at the
joints only.
2. The weights of the members are TRUSS ANALYSIS by:
neglected since the forces
supported by the members are 1. METHOD OF JOINTS
usually large in comparison with 2. METHOD OF SECTIONS
their weights.
3. The members are joined together at
the joints by frictionless pins.
 TRUSS

It is important to understand that a tensile

member axial force is always indicated on
the joint by an arrow pulling away on the
joint, and a compressive member axial
force is always indicated by an arrow
pushing toward the joint.
1. If only 2 members form a truss
joint and no external load or support ZERO FORCE MEMBER
reaction is applied to that joint, the
members must be a zero force
members.
To simplify the work in truss analysis, the analyst
must be able to identify those truss members
that are not subjected to internal forces. These
members are referred to as zero force members.

The zero force members can be easily be

determined by inspection of each truss joint
using the following guide:
2. If 3 members form a truss joint of
which two are collinear, the third
member is a zero force member
provided that no external load or
support reaction is applied at the
joint.
ZERO FORCE MEMBER
To simplify the work in truss analysis, the analyst
must be able to identify those truss members
that are not subjected to internal forces. These
members are referred to as zero force members.
The zero force members can be easily be
determined by inspection of each truss joint
using the following guide:
1. METHOD OF JOINTS

It is based on the
principle of equilibrium
of any or all joints of a
truss.
METHOD OF JOINTS

EXAMPLE
Determine the force in each
member of the truss shown.
EXAMPLE METHOD OF JOINTS

Determine the
force in each
member of the
truss shown.
METHOD OF JOINTS

EXAMPLE
Determine the force in
each member of the
truss shown.
2. METHOD OF SECTIONS

In this method, it is also assumed that if the

truss is in equilibrium, then any part of the
truss taken as a free body in equilibrium.
2. METHOD OF SECTIONS
METHOD OF SECTIONS

EXAMPLE

Compute the forces at members BD,CD

and CE of the truss shown.