Trusses Lecture 7

Truss: is a structure composed of slender members

(two-force members) joined together at their end points
to support stationary or moving load.
 Each member of a truss is usually of uniform cross
section along its length.
Calculation are usually based on following assumption:
 The loads and reactions act only at the joint.
 Weight of the individual members can be neglected.
 Members are either under tension or compression.
Joints: are usually formed by bolting or welding the members to a common plate, called a
gusset plate, or simply passing a large bolt through each member.
 Joints are modeled by smooth pin connections.

Member
(Wooden Strut)

Joint-Welded
(Gusset Plate)
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 Analysis of Trusses Lecture 7

Truss Analysis

Internal equilibrium

External equilibrium
To find the force in each member

To find the reaction forces

Method of joints Method of sections
External Equilibrium: to find the
reaction forces, follow the below steps: B 500 N

1. Draw the FBD for the entire truss

2m
system.
2. Determine the reactions. Using the 45o C
A
equations of (2 D) which states:
Ax

F x 0, F y 0, M o 0 Ay 2m Cy
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 Analysis of Trusses Lecture 7

Method of Joints: to find the forces in any member,

choose a joint, to which that member is connected,
and follow the below steps:
1. Draw the FBD for the entire truss system.
2. Determine the reactions. Using the
equations of (2 D) which states:

F x 0, F
y 0, M o 0
3. Choose the joint, and draw FBD of a joint
with at least one known force and at most
two unknown forces.
4. Using the equation of (2 D) which states:

F  0 , F
x y 0
5. The internal forces are determined.
6. Choose another joint.

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 Analysis of Trusses Lecture 7

Method of section (Internal equilibrium): to find

the forces in any member, choose a section, to which
that member is appeared as an internal force, and
follow the below steps:
1. Draw the FBD for the entire truss system.
2. Determine the reactions. Using the
equations of (2 D) which states:

F x 0, F y 0, M o 0
3. Choose the section, and draw FBD of that
section, shows how the forces replace the
sectioned members.
4. Using the equation of (2 D) which states:

F x 0, F y 0, M o 0
5. The internal forces are determined.
6. Choose another section or joint.
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 Analysis of Trusses Lecture 7

Analysis of trusses (Zero-force members):

Analysis of trusses system is simplified if one can identify those members that support no
loads. We call these zero-force members.
Examples to follow:
1. If two members form a truss joint and there is no
external load or support reaction at that joint then
those members are zero-force members.
Joints D and A in the following figure are the joints
with no external load or support reaction, so:
FAF = FAB = FDE = FDC = 0.

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 Analysis of Trusses Lecture 7

Analysis of trusses (Zero-force members):

Examples to follow:
2. If three members form a truss joint and there is no
external load or support reaction at that joint and two
of those members are collinear then the third member
is a zero-force member.
In the following figure, AC and AD are zero-force
members, because Joints D and A in the following figure
are the joints with three members, there is no external load
or support reaction, so:
FCA = FDA = 0

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 Lecture 7
EXAMPLES of Trusses:
Example 1: Determine the support reactions in the joints of
the following truss. Calculate the force in member (BA &
BC.)
Solution
1. Draw FBD of entire truss and solve for support reactions:

2. Draw FBD of a joint with at least one known force and at

most two unknown forces. We choose joint B.
 Assume BC is in compression.

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 Lecture 7
EXAMPLES of Trusses:
Example 2: In the following Bowstring Truss,
find the force in member (CF).
Solution
draw the FBD and find the support reactions which are
shown below
 MA = 0  Fy = 0
RE * 16 – 5 * 8 – 3 * 12 = 0 RE + RA – 5– 3 = 0
RE = 4.75 kN RA = 3.25 kN

G
F 2m

6m

C D E O

4m 4m X

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 Lecture 7
EXAMPLES of Trusses:
Example 3: In the following truss, find the force in
member (EB).
Solution
Notice that no single cut will provide the answer. Hence,
it is best to consider section (a-a and b-b).
 MA = 0
RC * 8 – 1000 * 6 – 1000 * 4 – 3000 * 2 = 0
RC = 2000 N
 Fy = 0
RA + RC – 1000 – 1000 – 3000 - 1000 = 0
RA = 4000 N
Taking the moment about joint (B), to find (FED), as
shown in below figure:
MB = 0
1000 * 4 + 3000 * 2 – 4000 * 4 + FED * sin30o * 4 = 0
FED = 3000 N (compression)
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 Lecture 7
Continue Example 3:
From joint (E) to find (FEB), as shown in below
figure:
 Fx = 0
FEF . cos30o– 3000 cos30o = 0
FEF = 3000 N (compression)

 Fy = 0
FEF . Sin30o + 3000 . sin30o - 1000 - FEB = 0
FEF = 2000 N (Tension)

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