Silent in the stress,

zero-force members rest,

hidden, yet confessed.

This lecture is a written adaptation of the video lecture on zero-force members in trusses
featured in our online Structural Analysis I course.

©2024 Educative Technologies, LLC. All rights reserved.

Structural Analysis I Lecture Notes

Lecture 3.2: Zero-force Members

in Trusses
In our previous lecture, we explored the Method of Joints for analyzing statically deter-
minate trusses, focusing on how these members carry only axial forces—either tensile or
compressive.

In typical truss structures, some members might not carry any force depending on their
geometry and load placement. These members are known as zero-force members. For
instance, in the truss depicted in Figure 3.19, member CD becomes a zero-force member
when the sole load is applied at joint C.

Figure 3.19: A simple truss with a zero-force member.

Some trusses, like those found in bridges, are designed to support moving loads. These
structures require an analysis of each load position to accurately determine their critical
member forces.

Take the truss bridge in Figure 3.20 as an example. Member AB experiences an axial force
when the load is near joint A, but this force becomes zero as the load moves away from
joint A along the bridge.

Figure 3.20: A truss bridge subjected to a moving load.

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Structural Analysis I Lecture Notes

Zero-force members in trusses also serve another purpose. Under large compressive forc-
es, long, slender truss members are prone to premature failure from buckling. To prevent
this, additional members must be added to brace these compression members, effectively
reducing their buckling length (refer to Figure 3.21). These secondary members often carry
no significant axial force and are typically considered zero-force members.

Figure 3.21: A bridge truss with long compression members and zero-force member bracings.
A straightforward shortcut can be used to identify zero-force members in a truss without
analyzing the entire structure. Let's demonstrate this technique using the truss depicted in
Figure 3.22.

For the structure to remain in static equilibrium, the total forces at each joint must sum to
zero. Consider joint F. We can place the origin of a Cartesian coordinate system at this joint
and illustrate the forces acting on it, labeled P and Q in Figure 3.23.

Figure 3.22: A simple truss with five Figure 3.23: Member forces acting at joint F.
zero-force members.
A straightforward shortcut can be used to identify zero-force members in a truss without
analyzing the entire structure. Let's demonstrate this technique using the truss depicted in
Figure 3.22. For the structure to remain in static equilibrium, the total forces at each joint
must sum to zero. Consider joint F. We can place the origin of a Cartesian coordinate sys-
tem at this joint and illustrate the forces acting on it, labeled P and Q in Figure 3.23.
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Structural Analysis I Lecture Notes

Figure 3.24: A coordinate system rotation at joint F.

Since equilibrium conditions do not depend on the orientation of the coordinate system,
we can rotate it so that either the x- or y-axis aligns with one of the forces. The sum of the
forces in each direction must still equal zero. Figure 3.24 illustrates the coordinate system
after it has been rotated to align the x-axis with force Q.

Now, only force P has a component along the y-axis. Since the sum of the forces in the y-di-
rection must be zero, force P must also be zero. Consequently, as the sum of the forces in
the x-direction needs to be zero, force Q must be zero as well. Thus, neither member carries
any force.

Figure 3.25: A truss with two Figure 3.26: Member forces acting at joint
zero-force members removed. E.
We can simplify the diagram by removing the two zero-force members, EF and CF, from
the truss, as illustrated in Figure 3.25. Furthermore, consider joint E. We can position the
coordinate system at this joint and show the member forces at joint E, as depicted in Figure
3.26.

Since the member forces P and Q at joint E already align with the x- and y-axes, there is no
need to rotate the coordinate system. As the only force along the x-axis, force Q must be
equal to zero. Similarly, force P, being the sole force along the y-axis, is also zero. Thus, DE
and CE are zero-force members. We can remove these members from the truss, as shown
in Figure 3.27.

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Structural Analysis I Lecture Notes

Figure 3.27: The truss with four Figure 3.28: Member forces acting at
zero-force members removed. joint B.
Next, we examine joint B. Three forces are present at this joint. Two of them act in the x-di-
rection, and one force acts in the y-direction (see Figure 3.28). Since the sum of the forces in
the y-direction must be zero, force Q is zero.

In the x-direction, we know that the sum of forces P and R must be zero. However, that
does not mean each of these forces is zero—they just need to add up to zero. Therefore, the
only conclusion that we can draw is that force Q equals zero. Therefore, BD is a zero-force
member. Removing member BD from the structure results in the simplified truss shown in
Figure 3.29.

Figure 3.29: The truss with five ze- Figure 3.30: An applied load and two
ro-force members removed. member forces acting at joint D.

Next, let's consider joint D, as shown in Figure 3.30. This joint has three forces, each with at
least two components in both directions. Therefore, we cannot conclude that any member
at this joint carries a zero force.

The same holds true for joint C, as seen in Figure 3.31. Three forces act at this joint, with at
least two forces in each direction, indicating that none of the members connected to joint C
are zero-force members.

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Structural Analysis I Lecture Notes

Figure 3.31: A support reaction and two member forces acting at joint C.
Lastly, as illustrated in Figure 3.32, four forces act at joint A, with multiple components
along each axis. Consequently, we cannot conclude that any of the member forces at this
joint are zero.

Figure 3.32: Two support reactions and two member forces acting at joint A.
As demonstrated, we can easily identify zero-force members in a truss through qualitative
analysis. This process involves a straightforward principle:
If only one force acts along the x- or y-axis when we position and rotate the coordinate system at
a joint, that force must be zero, making the associated member a zero-force member.

By repeatedly applying this principle to the joints of a statically determinate truss, we can
effectively pinpoint its zero-force members.

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Structural Analysis I Lecture Notes

Consider the statically determinate truss shown in Figure 3.33. We wish to identify its ze-
ro-force members.

Figure 3.33: A statically determinate truss with eight zero-force members.

Note that there is one reaction force at the roller support at joint K and two reaction forces
at the pin support at joint A. These forces are shown in Figure 3.34.

We begin our qualitative analysis by focusing on a truss joint with no more than three un-
known forces. Joint C, which connects three members and has no external load, is subject-
ed to only three forces, as illustrated in Figure 3.34.

Figure 3.34: The member forces acting at joint C. Figure 3.35: The rotated coordinate system
at the truss joint.
Let’s rotate the coordinate system at joint C to align either the x- or y-axis with the two
collinear forces, as shown in Figure 3.35.

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Structural Analysis I Lecture Notes

This adjustment reveals that the only force in the y-direction is from member CE. Since the
sum of forces in that direction must be zero, CE is determined to be a zero-force member.
After identifying CE as a zero-force member, we remove it, resulting in the simplified truss
shown in Figure 3.36.

Figure 3.36: The truss with one zero-force member Figure 3.37: The rotated coordinate system at
removed. joint E.

Three forces act on joint E of the simplified truss. By placing and rotating the coordinate
system at this joint as illustrated in Figure 3.37, we can determine that the force in member
BE is zero.

Removing member BE from the structure results in the simplified truss shown in Figure
3.38.

Figure 3.38: The truss with two zero-force members removed.

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Structural Analysis I Lecture Notes

Next, position the coordinate system at joint B and orient the x- and y-axes as depicted in
Figure 3.39. Since the force in member BF is the only force in the y-direction, BF is con-
firmed to be a zero-force member. Removing member BF from the structure results in the
following simplified truss.

Figure 3.39: The rotated coordi- Figure 3.40: The truss with three zero-force
nate system at joint B. members removed.
As illustrated in Figure 3.40, joint F connects three members. Applying the same reasoning
as before, we determine that DF is a zero-force member. Removing this member results in
the following simplified truss (see Figure 3.41).

Figure 3.41: The truss with four zero-force members removed.

Similarly, we can analyze the members on the right side of the truss. At joint I, we identify
HI as a zero-force member. The simplified truss is displayed in Figure 3.42.

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Structural Analysis I Lecture Notes

Figure 3.42: The truss with five zero-force members removed.

From joint H, we deduce that HJ is a zero-force member. After removing member HJ, we
find that JG is also a zero-force member. The resulting simplified truss is shown in Figure
3.43.

Figure 3.43: The truss with seven zero-force mem- Figure 3.44: The truss with all its zero-force
bers removed. members removed.
Finally, we identify GD as a zero-force member and remove it from the structure, resulting
in the simplified truss shown in Figure 3.44.

The truss shown in Figure 3.44 cannot be simplified further. This simple truss can be ana-
lyzed to determine the support reactions and the remaining member forces.

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Structural Analysis I Lecture Notes

Let's determine the zero-force members in the truss depicted in Figure 3.45. Note that
with the structure resting on two pin supports, there are four support reactions, which are
shown in the figure.

Figure 3.45: A truss with six zero-force members. Figure 3.46: The coordinate system
placed at joint B.
We begin by identifying a joint with only two or three forces. Joint B is a suitable candidate.
Positioning the coordinate system at this joint and mapping the member forces reveals that
the force in member BD is the only force in the x-direction, as shown in Figure 3.46. Conse-
quently, BD is a zero-force member.

We can remove member BD from the structure, resulting in the simplified truss shown in
Figure 3.47.

Figure 3.47: The truss with one zero-force member removed (at joint B).
Next, consider joint E (see Figure 3.47). Since the sum of the forces in the y-direction at the
joint must be zero, DE is a zero-force member. Removing member DE from the structure
yields the following simplified truss.
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Structural Analysis I Lecture Notes

Figure 3.48: The truss with two zero-force members removed.

Next, examine joint D (Figure 3.48). Aligning the x-axis with the two collinear members
leaves only one force in the y-direction: the y-component of the force in member CD. Since
this component must be zero for the forces in the y-direction to balance, the force in mem-
ber CD is zero, making CD a zero-force member. The resulting simplified truss is shown in
Figure 3.49.

Figure 3.49: The truss with three zero-force mem- Figure 3.50: The truss with five zero-force mem-
bers removed. bers removed.
Next, position the origin of the coordinate system at joint C, as seen in Figure 3.49. With
only one force acting in the x-direction at this joint, its magnitude must be zero. The same
applies to the sole force in the y-direction. Therefore, both AC and CF are zero-force mem-
bers. Removing these members simplifies the truss as shown in Figure 3.50.

Next, examine joint A. There are two reaction forces and one member force acting at
the joint. Figure 3.51 shows these forces. Regardless of the orientation of the coordinate
system, these three forces result in two force components along the x-axis and two force
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Structural Analysis I Lecture Notes

components along the y-axis. Therefore, none of these forces are equal to zero.

At joint F, as depicted in Figure 3.52, the three existing forces result in two components
along each axis. Therefore, none of the forces at this joint are equal to zero.

Figure 3.51: The coordinate system Figure 3.52: The coordinate system placed
placed at joint A. at joint F.
Joint H, depicted in Figure 3.53, is subjected to four forces, with two forces in each of the x-
and y-directions. Consequently, none of the members are carrying a zero force.

Although only three forces are acting on joint K, as shown in Figure 3.54, they result in two
force components in each direction. Thus, none of the members at this joint carry a zero
force.

Figure 3.53: The coordinate sys- Figure 3.54: The coordinate system
tem placed at joint H. placed at joint K.
Joint J is similar to joint H. As illustrated in Figure 3.55, four forces are acting at joint J, indi-
cating that none of the members connected to this joint carry a zero force.

Joint G is subjected to five forces, as shown in Figure 3.56. Therefore, none of these mem-
bers are carrying a zero force.

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Structural Analysis I Lecture Notes

Figure 3.55: The coordinate system Figure 3.56: Member forces

placed at joint J. acting at joint G.
Four forces are present at joint I, as depicted in Figure 3.57. Consequently, neither the two
member forces nor the support reactions can be zero.

Figure 3.57: Support reactions and member forces acting at joint I.

The truss, simplified by removing the zero-force members, is shown in Figure 3.58.

Figure 3.58: Simplified truss with all zero-force members removed.

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Structural Analysis I Lecture Notes

Exercise Problems: Identify the zero-force members in the following trusses.

(1)

(2)

(3)

(4)

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Structural Analysis I Lecture Notes