İSTANBUL AYDIN ÜNİVERSİTESİ

STATICS
Lecture Notes (5)
İSTANBUL AYDIN ÜNİVERSİTESİ

Prof. Dr. Tuncer TOPRAK

 Prof. Dr. Tuncer TOPRAK

STRUCTURES

 Trusses

 Frames and Machines

 Cables
 Prof. Dr. Tuncer TOPRAK

STRUCTURES
Trusses

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

their end points. The slender members commonly used in construction or
industry with wooden struts or metal bars.

In particular, 2 dimensional (2D) Planar trusses lie in a single plane and

are often used to support roofs and bridges. As an example, part of roof
truss is shown on the figure. External forces act only on the joints of the
truss. This example is a 2D truss.
 Prof. Dr. Tuncer TOPRAK

Another example shown on the figure below is bridge truss. On the first
picture, there is 3 dimensional truss. But part of this bridge (second
picture) is a 2D truss.
 Prof. Dr. Tuncer TOPRAK

External forces can act only at the joints. As a result of this, each member of the
truss (bars) will be effected only axial force Tension or compression.
 Prof. Dr. Tuncer TOPRAK

In order to analyze a truss, it is necessary to determine the force in each of its

members. There are two most common used method to analyze trusses;

 Method of Joints
 Method of Sections

Method of Joints

This method is based on the fact that if the truss is in equilibrium, then each of
its joints is also in equilibrium. Steps of solution will be as follows;

 Draw free body diagram of the whole truss and calculate unknown
reactions by using equlibrium equations.
 Isolate one selected joint by cutting members and adding unknown force
on each member. For the first joint to be selected, it is important to have
only two unknown force.
 Unknown force for each member will be directed on the axis of the bar.
But the sense of each force will be selected by assumtions (Tension or
Compression).
 Prof. Dr. Tuncer TOPRAK

 Apply two eqoilibrium equations (All forces intersect at a point) to solve two
unknown forces.
 If the calculated forces are positive, it means that selected sense is correct,
otherwise, we correct the sense of the force.
 Then select to isolate another joint which has only two unknown forces and
apply two equilibrium equations and solve the unknown force similarly.
 Continue solving unknown forces for each joint.
 Sometimes it will not be necessary to start to calculate the reactions at the
beginning. Following case is an example for this
 Prof. Dr. Tuncer TOPRAK

Example
Determine the force in each member of the truss
shown. Indicate whether the members are in
tension or compression.

Solution
On this problem, it is not necessary to start with
calculation of the reactions at the beginning.
These reactions will be calculated by applying
the method for each Joint.
We will begin the solution with joint B and draw free body diagram of this joint,
then apply two equilibrium equations.

On this free body diagram, member BA is selectec as

tension while member BC is compression.
 Prof. Dr. Tuncer TOPRAK
Continue
Since the force in member BC has been calculated, we can proceed to analyze
joint C to determine the force in member CA and reaction force on roller support.

Then we can pass to the free body diagram of joint A.

On this joint we can calculate the reactions at pinned
supprt at A. As it is mentioned before, we could
calculate the reactions as a first step by using the free
body diagram of the whole truss.
 Prof. Dr. Tuncer TOPRAK

Continue

The summary of the solution is shown on

the figure to see whether each member is
in tension or compression.

Zero Force Members

Truss analysis using Method of Joint is greatly simplified if we can first identify
those members which support no force. These members are called Zero Force
Members and these members generally be found by inpection of each joint.

At the free body diagram of joint A for the following example is drawn, it is seen
that the members AB and AF are zero force members.
 Prof. Dr. Tuncer TOPRAK

Zero Force Members

Example

Determine the force in each member of the

truss and state if the members are in
tension or compression.
Set P1 = 30 kN, P2 = 15 kN.
 Prof. Dr. Tuncer TOPRAK

Solution
If we draw the free body diagram
of the whole structure and apply 3
equilibrium equations, we can find
the anknown reactios at A and C.
At joint A, there pin type support
which will have 2 components of
reaction while at point C there is a
roller type support which will have
only one unknown reaction which
is on vertical direction. 3 unkowns
can be solved by 3 equilibrium
equations.
 Prof. Dr. Tuncer TOPRAK

Continue
By inspecting joints D and F, we notice that members DE, DC and FA are zero
force members. Thus

FDE = FDC = FFA = 0

From joint C,

From joint D,
 Prof. Dr. Tuncer TOPRAK

Continue
From the free body diagram of joint A,

Just for checking, from joint F,

 Prof. Dr. Tuncer TOPRAK

Method of Sections
When we need to find the forces in only a few critical members of a truss, we do
not need to calculate forces at all members by using Method of Joint. In this
case, we use Method of Sections.
It is based on the principle that if the truss is in equilibrium then any segment of
the truss is also in equilibrium. For example for a member in tension or
compression is cut and seperated, both parts will be in equilibrium as shown
below.
 Prof. Dr. Tuncer TOPRAK

The Method of Sections can also be

used to cut the truss and seperate in
two parts. We can apply equilibrium
equations on the free body diagram
of one of these two parts. Since
there are 3 equilibrium equations for
two dimensional case, the number of
the cut members must be maximum
three.
For an example, we can apply the method to the truss shown. If we cut the truss
members as shown on the figure. Free body diagram for each part will be as
shown on the figures below.
 Prof. Dr. Tuncer TOPRAK

If we summarize how to apply the method of section on a truss step by step;

 Make a decision on how to cut the truss through the members where
forces are to be determined.
 Before isolating the suitble section, it may first be necessary to
determine the truss’s support reactions. If it is done then three
equilibrium equations will be available to solve for member forces at the
section.
 Draw the free body diagram of that segment of the sectioned truss which
has the least number of forces acting on it.
 Use one of the two methods for establishing the sense of the unknown
member forces.
 Prof. Dr. Tuncer TOPRAK
Example
Determine he force in members GE, GC
and BC of the truss shown. Indicate whether
the members are in tension or compression.

Solution
Section a-a has been chosen since it cuts
through the three members whose forces
are to be determined.
Before applying the method of section, we calculate reactions at points A and D.

Free body diagram of the wole truss

 Prof. Dr. Tuncer TOPRAK

If we draw the free body diagram of one of the

section after cutting and apply three equilibrium
equations on it we calculate the unknown forces
which have to be determined.
 Prof. Dr. Tuncer TOPRAK
Example
Determine the force in members DC,
HC, and HI of the truss, and state if the
members are in tension or compression.
Solution
First we draw free body diagram of the
truss and apply equilibrium equations to
calculate the reactios at points A and F.
 Prof. Dr. Tuncer TOPRAK

We cut the three members as shown with

red curve on the figure above and divide
the truss in two parts. We draw free body
diagram for one of the section as shown
on figure right hand side.

Now we can apply equilibrium equations

on this free body diagram and calculate
the unknowns as;
 Prof. Dr. Tuncer TOPRAK

Frames and Machines

Frames and machines are two types of structures which are often composed of
pin-connected multiforce members.Frames are used to support loads, machines
contain moving parts and are designed to transmit of forces.

Free Body Diagrams

In order to determine the forces acting at joints and supports of a frame or
machine, the structure must be disassabmled and free body diagrams of parts
must be drawn.

 Isolate each part by drawing its outlined shape. Then draw all the forces
and moments that act on the part. The equations of equilibrium are
easier to apply if the forces are represented by rectangular componts.
The senses of forces and moments will be assumed at the beginning.

 Forces common to any two contacting members act with equal

magnitudes but opposite sense If the two members are connected, then
these forces are internal and not shown on the free body diagram.
 Prof. Dr. Tuncer TOPRAK
Example
For the frame shown,
draw free body diagram of ;
a-) Each part
b-) Pin at B,
c-) Two members connected together.

Solution
a-)

b-)
 Prof. Dr. Tuncer TOPRAK

Continue

c-)
 Prof. Dr. Tuncer TOPRAK
Example
Determine the horizantal and vertical components of
force which the pin at C exerts on member BC of the
frame.
Solution
If we seperate two parts, it can be seen that there is
no external force acting to the member AB, thus
reactions at A an B will be on the direction of the
member AB. Thus the free body diagrams can be
drawn as follows.

Writing 3 equilibrium
equations for the free body
diagram of part BC, we can
calculate unknown forces.
 Prof. Dr. Tuncer TOPRAK
Example
Determine the horizantal and vertical
components of reactions at A and B of the frame.
Solution
The frame will be seperated into members BC
and AC.
The solution will be very much simplified if one
recognizes that member AC is a two force
member. The free body diagram of member BC
and pin A are shown below.
 Prof. Dr. Tuncer TOPRAK

If we write the equilibrium equations for the member BC, we obtain,

Then from the equilibrium of pin A, we find the rest of the unkown reaction
components.
 Prof. Dr. Tuncer TOPRAK

Example
Determine the horizontal and vertical components
of force at pins A and D.
Solution
Free Body Dşiagram : The assembly will be
dismembered into member AC, BD and
pulley E. The solution will be very much simplified
if one recognizes that member BD is a two force
member. The free body diagram of pulley E and
member AC are shown.
 Prof. Dr. Tuncer TOPRAK
Continue
From the equilibrium of pulley F,

Then, from the equilibrium of member AC gives,

 Prof. Dr. Tuncer TOPRAK
Example
Determine the force required to hold the 150-kg crate
in equilibrium.

Solution
Equations of Equilibrium: Applying the force
equation of equilibrium along the
y axis of pulley A on the free - body diagram,

Using this result and writing the force equation of

equilibrium along the y’ axis of pulley C from the free
body diagram,
 Prof. Dr. Tuncer TOPRAK
Continue

Free body diagrams pulley A and C.

 Prof. Dr. Tuncer TOPRAK

END