Chapter 6:
Structural Analysis
Engineering Mechanics: Statics
Copyright © 2010 Pearson Education
South Asia Pte Ltd
Chapter Objectives
1. To show how to determine the forces in the
members of a truss using the method of joints and
the method of sections.
2. To analyze the forces acting on the members of
frames and machines composed of pin-connected
members.
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Chapter Outline
1. Simple Trusses
2. The Method of Joints
3. Zero-Force Members
4. The Method of Sections
5. Space Trusses
6. Frames and Machines
Copyright © 2010 Pearson Education South Asia Pte Ltd
6.1 Simple Trusses
¨ A truss is a structure composed of slender members joined
together at their end points
¨ Joint connections are formed by bolting or welding the ends of
the members to a common plate, called a gusset plate, or by
simply passing a large bolt or pin through each of the
members
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6.1 Simple Trusses
Planar Trusses
¨ Planar trusses lie on a single plane and are used to
support roofs and bridges
¨ The analysis of the forces developed in the truss
members is 2D
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Copyright © 2010 Pearson Education South Asia Pte Ltd
6.1 Simple Trusses
Assumptions for Design
1. “All loadings are applied at the joint”
¨ Assumption true for most applications of bridge and
roof trusses
¨ Weight of the members neglected since forces
supported by the members are large in comparison
¨ If member’s weight is considered, apply it as a
vertical force, half of the magnitude applied at each
end of the member
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6.1 Simple Trusses
Assumptions for Design
2. “The members are joined together by smooth
pins”
¨ Assumption true when bolted or welded joints
are used, provided the center lines of the
joining members are concurrent
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6.1 Simple Trusses
Assumptions for Design
¨ Each truss member acts as a two
force member, therefore the forces
at the ends must be directed along
the axis of the member
¨ If the force tends to elongate the
member, it is a tensile force
¨ If the force tends to shorten the
member, it is a compressive force
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6.1 Simple Trusses
Simple Truss
¨ The simplest form that is rigid or stable is a triangle
¨ A simple truss is constructed starting with a basic
triangular element such as ABC and connecting two
members (AD and BD) to form an additional
element
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Constraint of plane truss
¨ m + 3 = 2j
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6.2 The Method of Joints
¨ Considering the equilibrium of a joint of the truss, a
member force becomes an external force on the joint’s
FBD and equations of equilibrium can be applied
¨ Truss members are all straight two force members lying in
the same plane
¨ The force system acting at each joint is coplanar and
concurrent
¨ Rotational or moment equilibrium is automatically satisfied
at the pin
¨ ∑Fx = 0 and ∑Fy = 0 must be satisfied for equilibrium
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6.2 The Method of Joints
Procedure for Analysis
1. Draw the FBD of a joint having at least one known force and at most
two unknown forces
2. If this joint is at one of the supports, determine the external reactions
at the truss support
3. Assume the (correct) sense of the member (to be in tension)
4. Orient the x and y axes so that the forces on the FBD can be easily
resolved into x and y components
5. Apply ∑Fx = 0 and ∑Fy = 0
6. Solve for unknown members forces and verify their correct sense
7. Continue to analyze each of the other joints
8. Once the force in a member is found from the analysis of the joint at
one of its end, the result is used to analyze the forces acting on the
other end
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6.2 The Method of Joints
Example 6.1
Determine the force in each member of the
truss and indicate whether the members are
in tension or compression.
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6.2 The Method of Joints
Solution
¨ Two unknown member forces at joint B
¨ One unknown reaction force at joint C
¨ Two unknown member forces and two unknown reaction forces
at point A
Copyright © 2010 Pearson Education South Asia Pte Ltd
Copyright © 2010 Pearson Education South Asia Pte Ltd
Copyright © 2010 Pearson Education South Asia Pte Ltd
6.2 The Method of Joints
Example 6.2
Determine the forces acting in all the members of the
truss.
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6.2 The Method of Joints
Solution
¨ Two unknowns at each joint
¨ Support reactions on the truss must be determined
Copyright © 2010 Pearson Education South Asia Pte Ltd
Copyright © 2010 Pearson Education South Asia Pte Ltd
6.2 The Method of Joints
Example 6.3
Determine the force in each member of the
truss. Indicate whether the members are in
tension or compression.
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Copyright © 2010 Pearson Education South Asia Pte Ltd
6.2 The Method of Joints
Solution
FBD
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6.3 Zero-Force Members
¨ Method of joints is simplified when the members
which support no loading are determined
¨ Zero-force members (support no loading )
are used to increase the stability of the
truss during construction
and to provide support
if the applied loading is
changed
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6.3 Zero-Force Members
A member that joins two other collinear
members will be a zero force member. Also,
two non-collinear members will be zero force
members.
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6.3 Zero-Force Members
Example 6.4
Using the method of joints, determine all the
zero-force members of the Fink roof truss.
Assume all joints are pin connected.
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6.3 Zero-Force Members
Solution
Joint G
+ å Fy = 0; FGC = 0
GC is a zero-force member
meaning the 5kN load at C
must be supported by CB, CH, CF and CD
Joint D
å Fx = 0; FDF = 0
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South Asia Pte Ltd
6.3 Zero-Force Members
Solution
Joint F
+ å Fy = 0; FFC cos q = 0
q ¹ 90 , FFC = 0
Joint B
å Fx = 0;2kN - FBH = 0
FBH = 2kN (C )
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South Asia Pte Ltd
6.3 Zero-Force Members
Solution
FHC satisfy ∑Fy = 0 and therefore HC is not a
zero-force member
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6.4 The Method of Sections
¨ It can be seen that equilibrium requires the
member in tension (T) be subjected to a pull
and the member in compression (C) be
subjected to a push
¨ Method of section can be used to cut or
section members of an entire truss
¨ Apply equations of equilibrium on that part
to determine the members
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6.4 The Method of Sections
¨ Consider the truss shown
¨ To determine the force in the member GC, section
aa would be considered
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6.4 The Method of Sections
Procedure for Analysis
Free-Body Diagram
¨ Decide how to cut or session the truss through the members
where forces are to be determined
¤ Draw the FBD of that part of the sectioned truss which has the
least number of forces acting on it
¨ Before isolating the appropriate section, determine the truss’s
external reactions
¨ Use the equilibrium equations to solve for member forces at the
cut session
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6.4 The Method of Sections
Procedure for Analysis
Equations of Equilibrium
¨ Moments are summed about a point that lies at the intersection
of lines of action of the two unknown forces
¨ The third unknown force is determined directly from moment
equation
¨ If two of the unknown forces are parallel, forces may be
summed perpendicular to the direction of these unknowns to
determine directly the third unknown force
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6.4 The Method of Sections
Example 6.5
Determine the force in members GE, GC, and BC of
the truss. Indicate whether the members are in
tension or compression.
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FBD of the entire truss
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FBD of the sectioned truss
6.4 The Method of Sections
Example 6.6
Determine the force in member CF of the bridge truss.
Indicate whether the member are in tension or
compression. Assume each member is pin connected.
Copyright © 2010 Pearson Education South Asia Pte Ltd
Copyright © 2010 Pearson Education South Asia Pte Ltd
6.4 The Method of Sections
Example 6.7
Determine the force in member EB of the roof
truss. Indicate whether the member are in
tension or compression.
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6.4 The Method of Sections
Solution
¨ Force system is concurrent
¨ Sectioned FBD is same as the FBD for the pin at E
(method of joints)
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6.4 The Method of Sections
Solution
å M B = 0;
1000 N (4m) - 3000 N (2m) - 4000 N (4m) + FED sin 30 (4m) = 0
FED = 3000 N (C )
+ ® å Fx = 0;
FEF cos - 3000 cos 30 N = 0
FEF = 3000 N (C )
+ å Fy = 0;
2(3000 sin 30 N ) - 1000 N - FEB = 0
FEB = 2000 N (T ) Copyright © 2010 Pearson Education
South Asia Pte Ltd
6.5 Space Trusses
¨ A space truss consists of members joined together at
their ends to form a stable 3D structure
¨ The simplest space truss is a tetrahedron, formed by
joined 6 members as shown
¨ Any additional members
added would be redundant
in supporting force P
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6.5 Space Trusses
Example 6.8
Determine the forces acting in the members
of the space truss. Indicate
whether the members are
in tension or compression.
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Copyright © 2010 Pearson Education South Asia Pte Ltd
6.6 Frames and Machines
¨ Composed of pin-connected multi-force members
(subjected to more than two forces)
¨ Frames are stationary and are used to support the
loads while machines contain moving parts,
designated to transmit and alter the effects of
forces
¨ Apply equations of equilibrium to each member to
determine the unknown forces
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6.6 Frames and Machines
Example 6.9
For the frame, draw the free-body diagram of
(a) each member,
(b) the pin at B and
(c) the two members
connected together.
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Copyright © 2010 Pearson Education South Asia Pte Ltd
6.6 Frames and Machines
Example 6.10
A constant tension in the conveyor belt is
maintained by using the device. Draw the
FBD of the frame and
the cylinder which
supports the belt.
The suspended black
has a weight of W.
Copyright © 2010 Pearson Education South Asia Pte Ltd
Copyright © 2010 Pearson Education South Asia Pte Ltd
6.6 Frames and Machines
Example 6.11
Draw the free-body diagrams of each part of
the smooth piston and link mechanism used
to crush recycled cans.
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Copyright © 2010 Pearson Education South Asia Pte Ltd
6.6 Frames and Machines
Example 6.12
For the frame, draw the free-body diagrams of (a)
the entire frame including the pulleys and cords, (b)
the frame without the pulleys and cords, and (c)
each of the pulley.
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Copyright © 2010 Pearson Education South Asia Pte Ltd
6.6 Frames and Machines
Example 6.13
Draw the free-body
diagrams of the bucket and
the vertical boom of the back
hoe. The bucket and its
content has a weight W.
Neglect the weight of the
members.
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Copyright © 2010 Pearson Education South Asia Pte Ltd
6.6 Frames and Machines
Example 6.14
Determine the horizontal and vertical
components of the force which the pin C
exerts on member CB
of the frame.
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Copyright © 2010 Pearson Education South Asia Pte Ltd
6.6 Frames and Machines
Example 6.16
Determine the horizontal and vertical
components of the force which the pin at C
exerts on member ABCD of
the frame.
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Copyright © 2010 Pearson Education South Asia Pte Ltd
6.6 Frames and Machines
Example 6.20
The hand exerts a force of 35N on the grip of the
spring compressor. Determine the force in the
spring needed to maintain equilibrium of the
mechanism.
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6.6 Frames and Machines
Solution
¨ FBD for parts DC and ABG
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Chapter Review
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Chapter Review
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Chapter Review
Copyright © 2010 Pearson Education South Asia Pte Ltd
Chapter Review
Copyright © 2010 Pearson Education South Asia Pte Ltd
Chapter Review
Copyright © 2010 Pearson Education South Asia Pte Ltd
