Analysis of Structures

Analysis of structure is the process of determining how the applied

loads are distributed to the members of the structure. Two types of
structures will be treated; they are pin-connected trusses and pin
connected Frames
Trusses
A truss is an assemblage of straight members connected at their ends
by flexible connections to form a rigid configuration. Since they are
light in weight and of high strength they are widely used for supporting
bridges and roof of buildings. Trusses are formed by enlarging
the basic truss element ( triangular truss, three members, three joints)
by adding two additional members for every additional joint.
 frictionless hinges
Additional joint

Additional members
Basic truss
R1 P1 P2 R2

ASSUMPTIONS FOR ANALYSIS OF TRUSSES

1. All members are connected only at their ends by frictionless

hinges
2. All loads and support reactions are applied only at the joints.
3. The centroidal axis of each member coincides with the line
connecting the centers of the adjacent joints. The reason for
making these assumptions is to obtain an ideal truss whose
members are subjected to axial forces(two force member).
Method of Joints

The assumption that the members of the truss are two force members
Indicates that the free body diagram of the force acting any joint is a concurrent
force system.
Identification of Zero Force members
Two common type of arrangements of members that result in zero force
member.
1. If only two non collinear member are connected to a joint that has no
external loads or reactions applied to it, then the force in both members is zero.

F=0 F=0

2. If three members, two of which are collinear, are connected to a joint

that has no external loads or reactions applied to it, then the force in non
collinear member is zero.
F=0

F F
Method of joints: general procedure for analysis

1. Identify if there are zero force members.

2. Draw a free body of the whole truss, showing all external loads and
reactions.

3. Examine the free body diagram of the truss to select a joint that has
no more than two unknown force ( which must not be collinear)
acting on it.

4. Draw the FBD of the selected joint and apply ∑Fx = 0 and ∑Fy =0 to
determine the unknown forces. Forces directed to joint are
compressive (push) and tensile(pull) if directed away from the joint.
Proceed to the next joint with no more than two unknown forces and
apply step 4.

5. Repeat step 4 until all forces in the truss members have been found.
It is customary to start at one end to the middle member then from
the other end to the middle member. Check the equilibrium of the
forces in the unused joint using computed results.
 Problems
1. Determine the force in each member of the roof truss shown.
200 lb
300 B

A 300 C 300
D
3m 3m
200 lb
200sin300
200 lb
M D =0

200Cos300 300 B RA 6 + 200Cos30 0 (3 tan 30 0 ) − 200 Sin30 0 (3) − 200(3) = 0

RA = 100lb 
3tan300
D   Fy = 0
A 300 C 300
3m 3m
RDx R A + RDy − 200 − 200 Sin30 0 = 0
200 lb 100 + RDy − 200 − 100 = 0
RDy = 200lb 
RA RDy   Fx = 0
RDx − 200Cos30 0 = 0
RDx = 173 .2lb 
 Joint A
AB

  Fy = 0
A 300
AC ABSin30 0 − 100 = 0
AB = 200lb(C )

RA=100 →  Fx = 0
AC − ABCos30 0 = 0
AC = 173 .2lb (T )

→  Fx = 0
BC
  Fy = 0
Joint C

C 200 − BC = 0 CD − 173.2 = 0
AC=173.2 CD
BC = 200lb(T ) CD = 173.2lb(T )

200
 Joint D
BD

D
300 RDx=173.2
CD=173.2
200 lb
300 B

+200
  Fy = 0 Rdy=200
A 300 +173.2 +173.2 300
D
C
BDSin30 0 − 200 = 0
BD = 400lb(C )
200
check
→  Fx = 0
BDCos30 0 − 173 .2 − 173 .2 = 0
400Cos30 0 − 2(173 .2) = 0
2. Determine the force in each member of the roof truss shown.

2000 N 2000 N

B C
Note : each triangle is equilateral

A E D

6000 N
 2000 N 2000 N

B C
600 600
600 600 Note : each triangle is equilateral
600
A 600 600 E 600 600 D

6000 N
5000 N 5000 N
Joint A AB
F y =0 F x =0
A 600 ABSin600-5000 =0 ABCos600-AE =0
AE
AB = 5773.5N (C) 5773.5Cos600 - AE = 0
AE =2886.75 N(T)
5000 N By symmetry By symmetry
Joint E CD = 5773.5N (C)
BE CE DE = 2886.75N (T)

600
F y =0
600
AE DE
BESin600+CESin60 -6000 =0 BE =CE
2BESin600 -6000 =0 BE =CE=3464.1 N (T)
6000 N
 F =0
2000
x
Joint B
600 BC BC - 5773.5Cos600 - 3464.1Cos600=0
600

BC =4618.8 N(C)
AB=5773.5 BE=3464.1

2000 N 2000 N

B -4618.8 C

-5773.5 3464.1
3464.1 -5773.5

A 3464.1 E 3464.1 D

6000 N
3. Determine the force in each member of the crane shown.
E D
E D
6 ft
300
6 ft
B 9 ft C
B 9 ft C
300 D 5600 lb
300 5600 lb A x
6 ft
A 1200 θ
B 9 ft C
 CD
x
6 ft
1200 θ
C 0
By Cosine Law
9 ft
BC
23.4 C

x 2 = 6 2 + 9 2 − 2(6)(9)Cos120 0
5600
x = 36 + 81 − 108Cos120 0
x = 13.08 ft   Fy = 0
By sine Law CDSin23.40 − 5600 = 0
x
=
6 CD = 14100 lb (T )
Sin120 0
Sin
13.08 6
→  Fx = 0
=
Sin120 0 Sin BC − CDCos23.4 0 = 0
6 Sin120 0 BC = CDCos23.40
Sin =
13.08
BC = 14100 (Cos 23.40 )
 = 23.4 0
BC = 12940 lb (C )
 y
x
BD

6 ft
30 0 BC=12940
B 9 ft

  Fy = 0
5600 lb
AB

→  Fx = 0 BCSin30 0 − BD = 0
AB − BCCos30 = 0 0 12940 Sin30 0 − BD = 0
AB = BCCos30 0 BD = 6470 lb (C )
BC = 12940 (Cos30 0 )
BC = 11206 lb (C )
Method of Sections

A cutting plane is passed through the entire truss, separating it into two
parts with a maximum number of three unknown members. Each part of
the truss constitute a non concurrent force system in equilibrium under
the action of the known loads and unknown load that each part exert
on the other.

B C D
B BC BC
C D

CH
CH
A H G F E H F
A G E
GH GH

P1 P2 P3
R1 R2 R1 P1 P2 P3 R
2
Each segment of the truss is held in equilibrium by forces equal
to the forces in the cut members
ANALYSIS OF PLANE TRUSSES BY METHOD OF SECTIONS

General Procedure

1. Select a section that passes through as many members as possible

whose forces are desired, but not more than three members with unknown
forces. The section should cut the truss into two parts.
2. Examine the free body diagram of the portion of the truss selected,
showing all external loads and reactions applied to it.
3. Determine the unknown forces by applying the three equations of equilibrium.
To avoid solving simultaneous equations, try to apply the equilibrium equation
that involves only one unknown.
Problem
Determine the force in members
CD,CF and GF of the Howe
truss shown.
 160 kN 240 kN +
∑MA = 0 160(4) + 400(8) + 240(12)- 16RE = 0
B C D RE = 420 kN
3m
A H G F E

400 kN
4 Panels @ 4 m = 16 m
240 kN
RE =420
C CD
+
3m CF ∑MF = 0 CD(3) - 420(4)= 0 CD =560 kN (C)
3 5
+
4 F ∑MC = 0 GF(3) + 240(4) – 420(8) = 0
GF
4m 4m GF =800 kN (T)
+ ∑Fy = 0
420 – 240 – CF(3)/5 = 0
RE =420
CF = 300 kN (C)
Problem
Determine the forces in members CD,AD and DE of the nacelle truss
shown in the figure.
800 N 1400 N 1400 N 1400 N
2m 2m 4m 2m

C E
1.6 m
B D F
3.2 m

A G
 800 N 1400 N 1400 N 1400 N
2m 2m 4m 2m

C E
1.6 m
B D F
3.2 m

A G

RA RG
+
∑MA =0 1400(6)+1400(8) - 800(2) – 6RG= 0 RG =3000 N

+ ∑Fy = 0 RA + RG – 3(1400) – 800 = 0

RA +3000 – 5000 = 0 RA = 2000 N
 1400 N 1400 N
4m 2m

CE E
4.31
1.6
4.0 F
DE 4.8

RG=3000
+ ∑Fy = 0 3000 – 2(1400) – DE(1.6/4.31) = 0 DE =538.75 N (T)

+
∑MG = 0 CE(4.8)+ DE(4/4.31)(4.8) – 1400(2) = 0
CE(4.8) + 538.75(4/4.31)(4.8) – 2800 = 0
CE = 83.33 N (T)
 800 N 1400 N
2m 2m 4m 2m

C CE = 83.33
1.6 m 1.6 2.56

B 2 CD
AD
3.2 m 3.77
3.2
A 2

RA=2000
+
∑MA = 0 83.33(4.8) + CD(2/2.56)4.8 - 800(2) = 0
CD = 320 N (T)
+ ∑Fy = 0

2000 +AD(3.2/3.77) - 320(1.6)/2.56- 1400 – 800=0

AD =471.25 N (T)