Engineering Mechanics-I:

Statics
By: Engr. Ahmed Zaheer

Mechanical Engineering Department

University of Engineering & Technology, Taxila, Pakistan
 Lecture-6:

Truss Analysis
Contents
Covered in this Lecture
• Planar Trusses

• Method of Joints
• Zero Force Methods

• Method of Sections

• 3D Trusses
Planar Trusses
Any connected system of members built to support or transfer forces
and to safely withstand the loads applied to it is called as structure

Structures Trusses

Machines Frames

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Structures
Trusses
Rigid Framework composed of members joined at their ends
Examples
Bridges
Roof supports
Derricks
Members are composed of either
I-beams
Channels
or Angles bars, etc
Members are fastened at ends by either
Welding
Riveted connections
Bolts
or pins, etc 7
Simple Trusses

• A truss is a structure composed of slender members joined together

at their end points.
• The members commonly used in construction consist of wooden
struts or metal bars.
• Planar trusses---Support roofs and bridges

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Simple Truss

If a truss can be constructed by expanding the basic triangular truss in

this way, it is called a simple truss.

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Structures

Trusses

10
Trusses: Bridges
Structures

Trusses

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Trusses: Roof
Trusses: Cranes
Trusses: Structures
Structures

Plane Truss
Members lie in a single plane
Basic element is a triangle

Add
Members
to form A
Truss

Rigid and non-collapsible

Deformation of members due to induced internal strains is
negligible
Structures
Plane Truss

Basic Structure of a Truss

Member
Definition of a Truss
• A truss consists of straight members connected at
joints. No member is continuous through a joint.

• Most structures are made of several trusses joined

together to form a space framework. Each truss
carries those loads which act in its plane and may
be treated as a two-dimensional structure.

• Bolted or welded connections are assumed to be

pinned together. Forces acting at the member ends
reduce to a single force and no couple. Only two-
force members are considered.

• When forces tend to pull the member apart, it is in

tension. When the forces tend to compress the
member, it is in compression.
Definition of a Truss

Members of a truss are slender and not capable of

supporting large lateral loads. Loads must be applied at
the joints.

IMPORTANT: Load is carried on Joints of Trusses.

Structures
Plane Truss

Basic Structure of a Truss

Members in Compression

Members in Tension

Member

Member
Bolt or Pin Joint Riveted Joint
Gusset Plate
Trusses: Assumptions for Design
• All loadings are applied at the joints
• The members are joined together by smooth pins.

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Truss: Assumption
Each truss member will act as a two-force member.

The force acting at each end of the member will be directed along the axis of the member.

In the actual design of a truss, it is important to state

whether the nature of the force is tensile or compressive.

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Method of Joints
 The method of joints
If the entire truss is in equilibrium, then each of its joints is also in equilibrium

The force equilibrium equations can then be used to obtain the member forces acting on each
joint (from FBD)

Due to coplanar and concurrent forces, only equations of equilibrium are enough to solve the problem

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Method of Joints
• Joint B
Method of Joints
• Joint C
Method of Joints
• Joint A
Method of Joints
Structures
Plane Truss
Example
Compute the force in each member of the loaded cantilever truss by
the method of joints.

Answer
AB = 34.6 KN (T)
AC = 17.32 KN (C)
BD = 34.6 KN (T)
CD = 57.7 KN (T)
CE = 63.5 KN (C)
DE = 11.55 KN (C)
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Structures
Plane Truss

Example
Determine the force in each member
of the loaded truss. All triangles are
isosceles

Answer
AB= 6.61 KN (T)
AE= 21 KN (T)
BC=2.0 KN (T)
CE=12.62 KN (T)
CD=12.62 KN (C)
DE=7 KN (T)
Zero Force Methods
Zero-Force Members

• Truss analysis using the method of joints is greatly simplified if we can

first identify those members which support no loading.

• Zero-force members are used to increase the stability of the truss

during construction and to provide added support if the loading is
changed.

• The zero-force members of a truss can generally be found by

inspection of each of the joints.

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Structures
Plane Truss
Zero Force Members

A member added only for structural stability but not for

transmitting load

Generally found by inspection of joints

If only two members form a truss joint and no external load or
support reaction is applied to the joint, the two members must
be zero force members

Truss with Zero Force Truss without Zero Force

Members Members
Structures
Plane Truss
Zero Force Members
Generally found by inspection of joints (continued)
If three members form a truss joint for which two of the
members are collinear, the third member is a zero-force member
provided no external force or support reaction is applied to the
joint

Truss with Zero Force Truss without Zero Force

Members Members
Method of Sections
 The Method of Sections

Method of sections: To find the force in only a few members of a truss.

Principle: If the truss is in equilibrium, any segment of the truss is also in equilibrium.

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 The Method of Sections
The method of sections can also be used to “cut” or section the members of an entire truss.

Find the forces in members BC, GC, and GF?

How to compute forces

using the moment
equation?

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Analysis of Trusses by the Method of Sections
• When the force in only one member or the
forces in a very few members are desired, the
method of sections works well.

• To determine the force in member BD, pass a

section through the truss as shown and create
a free body diagram for the left side.
• With only three members cut by the section,
the equations for static equilibrium may be
applied to determine the unknown member
forces, including FBD.

6 - 38
Structures
Plane Truss
Method of Sections for Truss Analysis
In adjacent figure, an imaginary section,
indicated by the dashed line, is passed
through the truss, cutting it into two parts
to determine force in BE
The separated segments are as shown
in bottom figure
Left section is in equilibrium under
Applied load, L
The end reaction, R1
Three forces of cut members
Right section in equilibrium under
The end reaction, R2
Three forces of cut members
Calculate force in member BE by
applying equilibrium equations to the left
segment
Structures
Plane Truss
Example
Calculate the forces induced in members KL, CL, and CB by the 20-
ton load on the cantilever truss

Answers
KL=65 Tons (T)
CL=5.76 Tons (C)
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CB=57.1 Tons (C)
Structures
Plane Truss
Example
Determine the forces in members FG, CG, BC, and EF for the loaded
crane truss.

Answer
Space Trusses (3D)
Introduction Force System Equilibrium Structures

Space Trusses
 A space truss is the three-dimensional counterpart of the
plane truss
 The idealized space truss consists of rigid links connected at
their ends by ball-and-socket joints
 Whereas a triangle of pin-connected bars forms the basic non-
collapsible unit for the plane truss, a space truss, on the other
hand, requires six bars joined at their ends to form the edges
of a tetrahedron as the basic non-collapsible unit
Introduction Force System Equilibrium Structures

Space Trusses

 Two bars AD and BD joined at D

require a third support CD to keep
the triangle ADB from rotating about
AB

 The supporting base is replaced by

three more bars AB, BC, and AC to
form a tetrahedron not dependent on
the foundation for its own rigidity
Example
• Determine the forces acting in the members of the space truss shown
in the figure. Indicate whether the members are in tension or
compression.
Introduction Force System Equilibrium Structures

Example

The base of an automobile

jack stand forms an
equilateral triangle of side
length 10 in. and is centered
under the collar A. Model the
structure as one with a ball
and socket at each joint and
determine the forces in
members BC, BD, and CD.
Neglect any horizontal
reaction components under
the feet B, C, and D.

Answer
Conclusion

• The End

• Thank You!

• Any Questions?