CHAPTER 4

PART 3
 ANALYSIS OF
PLANE TRUSSES
DESCRIPTION OF A TRUSS
A truss is a structure that is made of straight, slender bars that are joined
together to form a pattern of triangles. Trusses are usually designed to
transmit forces over relatively long spans; common examples are bridge
trusses and roof trusses.
ASSUMPTIONS IN ANALYSIS
THE ANALYSIS OF TRUSSES IS BASED ON THE FOLLOWING THREE
ASSUMPTIONS:

1. The weights of the members are negligible;

2. All joints are pins;
3. The applied forces act at the joints.

Using the assumptions, the free-body diagram for any member of a truss
will contain only two forces—the forces exerted on the member by the pin
at each end. Therefore, each member of a truss is a two-force body
When dealing with the
internal force in a two-force
body, engineers commonly
distinguish between tension
and compression
P

Forces act along the longitudinal axis of the member,

they are often called axial forces
P

P
P TENSION

P
P

P
P
TENSION
P
P

P
P
TENSION
P
P
P
P

P
P
TENSION
P
P

P P
P
P

COMPRESSION P
 P
P
P
P
P
P
P
Internal forces always occur as equal
and opposite pairs on the two faces
of an internal cross section.
P
 ORIGINAL

P P
TENSILE FORCE
STRETCHES (ELONGATE)

P P
COMPRESSION FORCE
COMPRESSES (SHORTEN)
METHOD OF JOINTS
When using the method of joints to calculate the forces in the
members of a truss, the equilibrium equations are applied to
individual joints (or pins) of the truss. Because the members are
two-force bodies, the forces in the FBD of a joint are concurrent.
Consequently, two independent equilibrium equations are available
for each joint.
 40000 N 15000 N
y
B C D

2.5m

A E
H G F

2m 2m 2m 2m
SUPPORT REACTIONS
40000 N 15000 N
y
B C D

2.5m

A E
Ax
H G F

Ay NE = Ey
2m 2m 2m 2m
Show computations of reactions on board
EQUILIBRIUM ANALYSIS OF JOINTS
40000 N 15000 N
y
B C D

2.5m

A E
Ax
H G F

Ay NE = Ey
2m 2m 2m 2m
EQUILIBRIUM ANALYSIS OF JOINTS
40000 N
y
B
PBC

x
PAB
3 PAB
PBH
4

A
Ax = 0 PAH

Ay = 37500 N
EQUILIBRIUM ANALYSIS OF JOINTS

3
40000 N
PAB
4 B
3 PBC
A 4
Ax = 0 PAH
PAB
Ay = 37500 N
PBH
FBD OF JOINT A FBD OF JOINT B
EQUILIBRIUM ANALYSIS OF pins

PAB
40000 N
3
4 B PBC
3
A
Ax = 0 PAH 4

PAB PBH
Ay = 37500 N

FBD OF JOINT A FBD OF JOINT B

ZERO FORCE MEMBERS
PGC
PGC

PGH PGF PGH PGF

G G
FBD OF JOINT G

Because no external loads are applied at G, the joint equilibrium equations

�� = 0 and �� = 0 yield PGH = PGF and PGC = 0. Because member GC
does not carry a force, it is called a zero-force member. It is easily verified
that the results remain unchanged if member GC is inclined to GH and GF.
SAMPLE PROBLEM
Using the method of joints,
d ete r m i n e t h e fo rc e i n
each member of the truss
shown. Indicate whether
the members are in tension
or compression.
SAMPLE PROBLEM
Determine the force in
each member of the
truss and state if the
members are in tension
or compression.
END