Truss Theory and Design of Structures I Truss

What is a truss? It is a structural system built from bars taking axial tension or compression. What is a plane truss? It is a 2-dimensional truss with all members lying within one plane.

Truss
Assumptions: The members are connected at their ends by frictionless hinges. The members and applied loads all lie within the same plane. The loads are applied at the joints only. Hence, the members of an ideal truss take up axial forces only (tension or compression)!

Method of Joints

Method of Joints
This method is based upon the conditions of equilibrium of the forces acting on each joint. The two equilibrium equations are: Fx = 0 Fy = 0 This method works when there are up to 2 unknown forces present at each joint considered.

Method of Joints
Example 1 Determine the member forces
A B

4m

60kN 3m 3m

3m

Truss under a point load

Method of Joints
Member forces
A B

Method of Joints
1. Considering the entire structure as a free body, determine all external reactions at the supports. Taking moment about F,
A B

4m

60kN RC 3m 3m

9 Rc + 60 6 = 0
C D E F

3m

RF

Truss under a point load

Rc = 40kN ( upward )

RC

Resolving vertically,

60kN Forces acting on the truss

RF

Rc + RF = 60
RF = 20kN ( upward )

Method of Joints
A B

Method of Joints
3. Applying equilibrium equations at joint A
4m
A B

2. Applying equilibrium equations at the desired joint, i.e. support C

4m

=0

4 40 + FAC = 0 5
FAC = 50kN (compression )

40kN 3m

60kN 3m

20kN 3m

Truss under a point load

Fy = 0 (4/5)50 - FAD = 0 FAD = 40 kN (tension) Fx = 0 (3/5)50 + FAB = 0 FAB = -30 kN (compression)

40kN 3m

60kN 3m

20kN 3m

Truss under a point load

=0

FCD +

3 FAC = 0 5

FCD = 30kN ( tension )

Method of Joints
4. Applying equilibrium equations at joint D
4m
A

Method of Joints

5.

Applying equilibrium equations at joint E

4m

Fy = 0 40 - 60 + (4/5) FDB = 0 FDB = 25 kN (tension) Fx = 0 -30 + (1/5)25 + FDE = 0 FDE = 15 kN (tension)

60kN 3m 3m
E

40kN

20kN 3m

Fy = 0 FEB = 0 Fx = 0 FEF = 15 kN (tension)

3m

60kN 3m
E

40kN

20kN 3m

Truss under a point load

Truss under a point load

Method of Joints
6. Applying equilibrium equations at support F
4m
A

Method of Joints

7.

Applying equilibrium equations at joint B for checking

4m

Fy = 0 20 + (4/5) FFB = 0 FFB = -25 kN (compression)

3m

60kN 3m
E

20kN 3m

40kN

Truss under a point load

Fy = 0 - (4/5)25 + 0 + (4/5)25 = 0 OK! Fx = 0 - (-30) - (3/5)25 + (3/5)(-25) = 0 OK!

3m

60kN 3m
E

40kN

20kN 3m

Truss under a point load

Method of Sections
A section is cut through the truss and the equilibrium of free body on one side is considered.

Method of Sections

Three equilibrium equations are involved Fx = 0 Fy = 0 M = 0

This method is applicable when there are up to 3 unknown forces present.

Method of Sections
Example 2 Determine the member force BD, BE and CE
80kN
D

Method of Sections
1. Consider the entire structure as a free body and determine all support reactions. To find reaction at A, take moment about H. VA 16 = 120 12 + 160 8 + 120 4 VA = 200 kN
80kN
D

80kN
B

80kN
F

2m

4m
A H C E G

80kN
B

80kN
F

2m

4m
A H C E G

40kN

80kN 4 @ 4m Truss under point loads

40kN

VA

40kN

80kN 4 @ 4m Truss under point loads

40kN

VH

Method of Sections
2. Apply a cut through the chosen members BD, BE, CE and consider the free body ABC to the left of the cut
80kN
D K D

Method of Sections
3. To find FBD, take moment of the free body ABC about E, i.e. 200 8 - 120 4 + FBD LE = 0 where LE is the perpendicular distance of BD from E. LE can be obtained from LE DE
JE = JD

80kN
B

80kN
F

80kN
B

2m

4m
A H C E G J A C

LE = 12
E

6 12 + 6
2 2

12 5

40kN

80kN 4 @ 4m Truss under point loads

40kN

200kN

40kN

A free body for method of section

FBD =

1120 280 5 = = 208.7 kN 3 12 5

Method of Sections
4. To find FBE, take moment of the free body ABC FBE JK + 120 8 200 4 = 0 about J,
JK =
FBE

Method of Sections
5. To find FCE, take moment about B
FCE 4 200 4 = 0 FCE = 200kN

12

2 160 = = 18.9kN JK

Method of Sections
To find FDB, cut through AB, DB and DE. Then consider the vertical equilibrium of one free body.
A B

Simple Truss
What is a simple plane truss?
simplest form of truss mainly built from a triangular pattern

4m

60kN 3m 3m

Hence, a relation exists between total number of bars b and total number of joints j, i.e. b+3= 2j

3m

Truss under a point load

Simple Truss
Initially b0 = 3 ; j0 = 3 Additional no. of bars = b 3 Additional no. of joints = j 3 Each additional joint requires 2 bars b 3 = 2 ( j 3) b+3=2j

Compound Truss
Formed by interconnecting two or more simple trusses in a way that: 1. there are 3 elements of connection neither parallel nor concurrent; or 2. the trusses are connected by one common joint and one link.

Compound Truss
Features Cannot be completely analyzed by method of joints alone The rule b+3 = 2j still holds Thus, for the analysis of compound trusses, the combined use of both methods of joints and sections are required.
A B

Compound Trusses
Apply a cut here
C m d b a c a b m f g E c e F

Examples of compound trusses

Compound Truss

Compound Truss
Taking moment about d allows Fbf to be solved

The internal forces can be solved from the free body diagram. Notice that the internal forces in all connecting members are all zero!

Fbf

Complex Truss
A statically determinate truss that cannot be classified as either simple or compound. It cannot be solved by the method of joints or method of section.
P An example of complex truss

The End