1 Using equation (2)

2 r(10) > 3n(3x3),statically indeterminate

3 Degree of indeterminacy = 10 – 9 = 1

(c)
A B
Free body diagram
n1

rA=2 rB=2

4
5 Using equation (2),
6 r(4)>3n(3x1), statically indeterminate
7 Degree of indeterminacy = 4 – 3 = 1

8 For rigid frame where members are connected by rigid joints (transferred of
9 moment take place) such as multi-bays frame and multi-storey building, the
10 techniques of determining the value of r is by using the method of section through
11 the frame. The part or loop that has been cut will release the internal forces to
12 become three (3) external forces namely moment, shear and axial force.

13

11
 1

n2
n1
C

rC=3
D

rD=3

Cutting
the loop rB=2
rA=3

2
3 Total r = 11, total n = 2
4 Using equation (2),
5 11>3(2), statically indeterminate. Degree of indeterminacy = 11 – 6 = 5
6
7

8
9
10 Using equation (2),

12
 1 15 >3(3), statically indeterminate. Degree of indeterminacy = 15 – 9 = 6

2 1.6.3 Stability and Determinacy of Trusses

3
4 A truss is essentially a triangulated system of (usually) straight interconnected
5 structural elements. The individual elements are connected at nodes; the
6 connections are often assumed to be nominally pinned. The external forces applied
7 to the system and the reactions at the supports are generally applied at the nodes.
8 When all the members and applied forces are in a same plane, the system is a plane
9 or 2D truss. The principal force in each element in a truss is axial tension or
10 compression.
11
12 A truss is considered statically determinate if all of its support reactions and
13 member forces can be calculated using only the equations of static equilibrium. On
14 the hand, if the member forces and reactions cannot be solved using static
15 equilibrium equations that the truss is called indeterminate truss or redundant
16 truss.
17
18 Mathematically, there are simple rules to determine whether a truss is statically
19 determinate or indeterminate or unstable as shown below.

20 m + r < 2j (Unstable truss) ...........................................................................(4)

21 m + r = 2j (Statically determinate truss assuming it is stable) ......................(5)

22 m + r > 2j (Statically Indeterminate truss) ....................................................(6)

23 where m = number of elements

24 r = number of external reactions
25 j = number of joints
26
27 Unstable truss or when the expression m + r < 2j, is encountered when the truss has
28 not enough element or reaction. The joints of an unstable truss can be displaced
29 and can cause the structure to collapse as shown in Figure 1.14.

13
 1

2 Figure 1.14: Unstable Truss

3
4 Trusses may externally or internally unstable. External instability occurs when all of
5 its reactions are concurrent or parallel as shown in Figure 1.15.
6

7 unstable concurrent reactions unstable parallel reactions

8 Figure 1.15: External instability

9
10 Internal instability of a simple truss can occurs when element to form triangulation
11 is not present in any part of the truss as shown is Figure 1.16. It can be seen that no
12 restraint or fixity is provided between joints C and F or B and E, and so the truss will
13 become unstable internally under load.

14

15 Figure 1.16: Internal instability

16 If a truss is unstable, it does not matter whether it is statically determinate or

17 indeterminate. Obviously, the use of an unstable truss is to be avoided in practice.
18
19 Since a statically determinate truss cannot have more members than the number
20 required for stability, it is not a fail-safe structure. This means that if one member of
21 the truss were to fail, then the truss will collapse. This is a major reason for

14
 1 introducing redundant members in truss structures, especially when public safety is
2 of primary concern.
3
4

7
8 Solution:
9 m = 15, j = 9, r = 4
10 m + r = 19, 2j = 2 x 9 = 18
11 Using equation 6, m + r > 2j for indeterminate truss.
12 The truss is stable, indeterminate and the degree of indeterminacy is 1, where (19 -
13 18).
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21

22

23

24
25 m = 12, j = 8, r = 3
26 m + r = 15, 2j = 16
27 Using equation (4), m + r < 2j (unstable truss)
28 The truss is internally unstable. (A member is needed to complete the triangle
29 internally so that it become stable).
30
31 Problems
32

15
1 1. Classify each of the structures as statically determinate, statically
2 indeterminate, or unstable. If indeterminate, specify the degree of
3 indeterminacy.
A. B.

C. D.

E. F.

G. H.

I. J.

16
 K. L.

M. N.

17
 1
2
3 ANALYSIS OF STATICALLY DETERMINATE TRUSSES

4 Learning outcomes
5 At the end of this topic, student should be able to:
6 1. Classify the type of plane truss. (PLO1, C1)
7 2. Calculate internal force of members using the method of joints. (PLO1, C3)
8 3. Identify zero-force members in a truss. (PLO1, C2)
9 4. Calculate internal force of members using the method of sections (PLO1, C3)
10 5. Calculate internal force using inspection method. (PLO1, C3)

11 Introduction

12 A truss by definition is an assembly of straight members connected at their ends by

13 flexible connections to form a rigid triangular configurations. Modern trusses are
14 constructed by connecting members, which usually consists of structural steel or
15 aluminum shapes or wood struts, to gusset plates by bolted or welded connections
16 as shown in Figure 2-1. If all members of a truss and the applied loads lie in a single
17 plane, the truss is called a plane truss.

gusset plate

18 Figure 2-1: Gusset plate

19 Types of Truss

18
1 Some common configurations of bridge and roof trusses, been named after their
2 original designers as shown in Figure 2-2andFigure 2-3.

3 Figure 2-2: Common Bridge Truss

4
5
6

19
1 Figure 2-3: Common Roof Truss

2 Classification of Plane Truss

3 Simple Truss
4 The simplest form of rigid and stable truss is a triangle. By adding two elements and
5 a joint/ node to the basic triangle as shown in Figure 2-4 will form trusses of various
6 configuration. Trusses constructed using this procedure is called simple truss.

7 Figure 2-4: Simple truss

20
 1 Compound Truss
2 A compound truss is formed by connecting two or more simple trusses as shown in
3 Figure 2-5 where two simple trusses are connected by a common joint C and a
4 member BE.

5 Figure 2-5: Compound truss

6
7 In Figure 2-6 two simple trusses ABC and DEF is connected by members CD, BF
8 and BD to form a compound truss.
9

10
11 Figure 2-6: Connecting three members to two simple trusses

12 Complex Truss
13 A complex truss uses a general layout of members different from that used in simple
14 and compound trusses. It often incorporates overlapping members as shown
15 inFigure 2-7. Complex truss due to its complexity will not be covered in this module.

16
17 Figure 2-7: Complex truss

21
 1 Analysis of Statically Determinate Truss

2 Basically, the force that acts on a member in a simple truss is either axial
3 compression or tension as shown inFigure 2-8. The sign convention adopted to
4 indicate ties (i.e. tension members) and struts (i.e. compression members) in trusses
5 is a shown inFigure 2-9.

6
7 Figure 2-8: Axial Force on member as axial tension and axial compression
8

9
10 Figure 2-9: Sign convention
11
12 Before any given truss is analysed, the truss has to be classified first whether it is
13 statically determinate or indeterminate as mentioned in Topic 1. If it is a statically
14 determinate truss, the following methods can be employed to solve the internal
15 forces of the truss.

16 Assumptions for Analysis of Trusses

17 The analysis of trusses is usually based on following assumptions:
18 (a) All members are connected only at their ends by frictionless
19 hinges in plane trusses.
20 (b) All loads and support reactions are applied only at the joints.
21 (c) The centroidal axis of each member coincides with the line
22 connecting the centers of the adjacent joints.

22
 1 The Method of Joints
2 Method of joints is usually used when we are interested in finding the internal force
3 in every single member of the truss. As its name implies, it relies on the application
4 of equilibrium condition at each joint to solve for the member forces.
5 This method uses the free-body-diagram of joints in the structure to determine the
6 forces in each member. For example, the truss in Figure 2-10have 5 joints each
7 having a free body diagram as shown in Figure 2-11

F1
B C
F2

A
E D

F3
8 Figure 2-10: Joints in a structure

10 Figure 2-11: Free- Body-Diagram

11
12 If a truss is stable, then each of its joints must be equilibrium. The method of joints
13 consists of satisfying the equilibrium conditions, Fx = 0 and Fy = 0 for the forces
14 exerted on the pin at each joint of the truss. When drawing the free body diagram,
15 assume all the internal forces are in tension. If during calculation the force has
16 negative value, than the member is in compression.
17 The analysis of the truss by the method of joints is started by finding the reaction of
18 the truss supports. Then a joint is selected with a condition that it has two or less

23
 1 unknown forces acting on it. Sketch the force diagram for the joint assuming all
2 members are in tension. By using Fx = 0 and Fy = 0, solve the unknown forces
3 acting on the joint. Once the forces in a joint are solved, the results can be used to
4 solved the forces acting on other joints of the truss. This process is repeated on other
5 joints until all internal forces are solved.
6 Example 2.1
7 Determine by the method of joints the forces in the members of the truss as
8 shownbelow (Remember: Pinned support has 2 reaction, and roller support has 1
9 reaction)
10

Ax

11
Ay Cy
12
13
14 Solution:
15 Step 1: Evaluate the support reactions.
16 Summing all moment about A equal zero, clock-wise direction as positive:
17 + =0
18 (15 ×4 )+( ×3 ) (6 ) = 0
19 Cy = 12.5 kN
20 + =0
21 Ay + Cy – 15 = 0
22 Ay = 15 – 12.5 = 2.5 kN
23 + =0
24 Ax + 15 = 0
25 Ax = -15 kN (meaning the right direction for Ax is to the left)
26
27 Step 2: Choose the joint with two unknown forces. (In this case all the joints has 2
28 unknown forces). Say we choose joint A. Draw the forces that acted on the member
29 and the external forces calculated.
30

24
 FABsin

FABcos

1
2 Step 3: Solve using Fx= 0 and Fy=0
3 Fy=0 FAB sin + 2.5 = 0
4 (If you start with Fx= 0, there will be 2 unknown and therefore cannot be solved)
5 From the diagram, Sin = 3/5 and cos = 4/5
6 FAB x 3/5 + 2.5 = 0
7 FAB = - 4.18 kN (-ve means the member AB is in compression)
8
9 Fx = 0 FAB cos – 15 + FAC = 0
10 (-4.18) X 4/5 -15 + FAC = 0
11 FAC = + 18.34 kN (+ve means the member AC is in tension)
12 Now we have solve the force in member AB and AC and next we have to solve the
13 force in BC.
14
15 Step 4: To solve the force in BC we can select either joint B or C. Say we choose joint
16 C. Sketch the forces that are acting on the members at joint C.
17

18
19 Fy = 0 FBC sin + 12.5 = 0

25
 1 From Figure 3.0, sin = 3/ 13
2 FBC = -12.5 x 13/3 = - 15 kN (Compression)
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
25
26
27
28
29
30
31 Example 2.2
32 (i) Check whether the truss is statically determinate.
33 (ii) Determine the force in each member of the loaded truss.
34
35
36
37
By

26
 1

Bx

Ax

2
3 Solution:
4 (i) Check whether the truss is statically determinate.
5 m = 5, r = 3, j = 4
6 m + r = 8, 2j = 8
7 therefore, m + r = 2j stable and statically determinate truss.
8
9 (ii) Determine the force in each member of the loaded truss.
10 Step 1: Determine the reactions
11 B 3000 x 4 – Ax x 2 = 0
12 Ax = 6000 N
13 Fx=0 Ax - Bx = 0
14 Bx = 6000 N
15 Fy=0 By – 3000 = 0
16 By = 3000 N
17
18
19 Step 2: Choose the joint with two unknown forces. (It can be either joint B or D)
20 Say we start with joint D. Draw the free body diagram of joint D.

21
22

27