ANALYSIS OF STRUCTURE

(METHOD OF SECTIONS)
 Method of Sections
Problem # 1. Determine the force
in members GE , GC , and BC of
the truss shown in the Figure.
Indicate whether the members are
in tension or compression.

SOLUTION:

= +

400N (3m) −D (12m) + 1200N (8m) = 0

1200 N m −D (12m) + 9600N m = 0

𝐃𝐘 = 𝟗𝟎𝟎 𝐍

ΣFx = 0 +
ΣFy = 0 +
−A +400 N =0
A + 900 N −1200 N = 0
𝐀𝐗 = 𝟒𝟎𝟎 𝐍 𝐀𝐘 = 𝟑𝟎𝟎 𝐍
 ΣFy = 0 +
3m
300 N − F =0
5m

𝐅𝐆𝐂 = 𝟓𝟎𝟎 𝐍 (T)

= +

−F (3m) + 300N (4m) + 400N (3m) = 0

−F (3m) + 2400N = 0

𝐅𝐁𝐂 = 𝟖𝟎𝟎 𝐍 (T)

= +

−F (3m) + 300N (8m) = 0

−F (3m) + 2400N = 0

𝐅𝐆𝐄 = 𝟖𝟎𝟎 𝐍 (C)

 Problem # 2. Determine the force in members KJ , F
KD , and CD of the Pratt truss. State if the members 𝐊
are in tension or compression.
F

𝐂
F

𝐑 𝐀𝐱 𝐑 𝐆 =33.33 kN

𝐑 𝐀𝐲 𝐑𝐆
= +

40kN(2m) −33.33kN(8m) + F (3m) = 0

−186.64kN m + F (3m) = 0
𝐒𝐨𝐥𝐮𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧: 𝐅𝐂𝐃 = 𝟔𝟐. 𝟐𝟏 𝐤𝐍 (T)
3m = +
tan ø =
2m = +
20kN (2m) +30kN(4m) +40kN(6m)
3m
ø = tan ( ) − R (12m) = 0 −33.33kN(6m) + F (3m) = 0
2m
𝐑 𝐆 = 𝟑𝟑. 𝟑𝟑 𝐤𝐍 −199.98kN m + F (3m) = 0
ø = 𝟓𝟔. 𝟑𝟏°
𝐅𝐊𝐉 = 𝟔𝟔. 𝟔𝟔 𝐤𝐍 (C)
 Problem # 2. Determine the force in members KJ , F
KD , and CD of the Pratt truss. State if the members 𝐊
are in tension or compression.
F

𝐂
F

𝐑 𝐀𝐱 𝐑 𝐆 =33.33 kN

𝐑 𝐀𝐲 𝐑𝐆

ø = 𝟓𝟔. 𝟑𝟏°

ΣFy = 0 +

−40kN + 33.33kN + F (sin 56.31) = 0

𝐅𝐊𝐃 = 𝟖. 𝟎𝟐𝐤𝐍 (T)

Thank you!