ME2560 Statics Fall 2014

ME 2560 STATICS
Chapter VII.
Structural
Analysis

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Chapter VII. Structural Analysis
ME2560 Statics Fall 2014

1. Simple Trusses
A truss is a structure composed of slender members joined together at
their end points.
The members commonly used in construction consist of wooden struts
or metal bars.
The joint connections are usually formed by bolting or welding the ends
of the members to a common plate, called a gusset plate.

Trusses commonly used in construction.

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Chapter VII. Structural Analysis
ME2560 Statics Fall 2014
Planar Trusses
Planar trusses lie in a single plane and are often used to support roofs
and bridges.
The truss ABCDE, presented below, is an example of a typical roof-
supporting truss. The roof load is transmitted to the truss at the joints by
means of a series of purlins, such as DD. Since the imposed loading acts
in the same plane as the truss, the analysis of the forces developed in the
truss members is two-dimensional.

Planar trusses are commonly used to support bridges and roofs. 3

Chapter VII. Structural Analysis
ME2560 Statics Fall 2014
In the case of a bridge, the load on the deck is first transmitted to
stringers, then to floor beams, and finally to the joints B, C, and D of the
two supporting side trusses. Like the roof truss, the bridge truss loading
is also coplanar. When bridge or roof trusses extend over large distances,
a rocker or roller is commonly used for supporting one end. Thus
allowing freedom for expansion or contraction of the members due to
temperature or application of loads.

In several applications the forces involved in trusses are coplanar. 4

Chapter VII. Structural Analysis
ME2560 Statics Fall 2014
Assumptions for Design

To design the members and the connections of a truss, the force

developed in each member under working conditions must be calculated.
Two important assumptions are made:

1. All loadings are applied at the joints. In most situations, such as for
bridge and roof trusses, this assumption is true. Frequently in the force
analysis the weight of the members is neglected since the forces
supported by the members are usually large in comparison with their
weight.
If the members weight is to be included in the analysis, it is generally
satisfactory to apply it as a vertical force, with half of its magnitude
applied at each end of the member.

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Chapter VII. Structural Analysis
ME2560 Statics Fall 2014

2. The members are joined together by smooth pins. In cases where

bolted or welded joint connections are used, this assumption is
satisfactory provided the center lines of the joining members are
concurrent.
Thus, each truss member acts as a two-force member, and the forces at
the ends of the member must be directed along the axis of the member.

If the force tends to elongate the member, it is a tensile force (T)

If the force tends to shorten the member, it is a compressive force (C).

The members of a truss act as two force members. 6

Chapter VII. Structural Analysis
ME2560 Statics Fall 2014

2. The Method of Joints

The analysis or design of a truss requires the calculation of the force in
each of its members.

If a freebody diagram of the entire truss is sketched, the forces in the

members are internal forces and cannot be obtained from an equilibrium
analysis.

Considering the equilibrium of a joint of the truss then a member force

becomes an external force on the joints free-body diagram, and the
equations of equilibrium can be applied to obtain its magnitude.

This forms the basis for the method of joints.

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Chapter VII. Structural Analysis
ME2560 Statics Fall 2014

Since the 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 joint
(or pin),
Thus equilibrium is ensured if Fx = 0 and Fy = 0.

The main steps to follow when using the method of joints are:
Draw a FBD of the structure to be analyzed
Determine the forces (reactions) produced by the supports on the
structure. This is achieved applying the equilibrium equations.
Draw the FBD of the joint to be analyzed. Recall that the line of action
of a force has the same direction as the corresponding member.
Determine the forces on each of the members on the joint by applying
the equilibrium conditions on the joint.
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Chapter VII. Structural Analysis
ME2560 Statics Fall 2014

In the analysis of a joint we must start at a point that has at least one
known force and at most two unknown forces.

Process for analysis of a truss.

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Chapter VII. Structural Analysis
ME2560 Statics Fall 2014

Sense of an Unknown Member Force

The correct sense of an unknown member force can be determined using
one of two possible methods:
1. Always assume the unknown member forces acting on the joints free-
body diagram to be in tension, i.e., pulling on the pin. If this is done,
then numerical solution of the equilibrium equations will yield positive
scalars for members in tension and negative scalars for members in
compression. Once an unknown member force is found, use its correct
magnitude and sense (T or C) on subsequent joint free-body diagrams.

2. The correct sense of direction of an unknown member force

sometimes can be determined by inspection. In complicated cases,
assume the sense of an unknown member force. After applying the
equilibrium equations, a positive force indicates that the sense is correct,
a negative force indicates that the sense shown on the free-body diagram
must be reversed.
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Chapter VII. Structural Analysis
ME2560 Statics Fall 2014

3. Zero Force Members

Simplification on the analysis of a truss is achieved by first identifying
the zero force members (support no loading).
Zero-force members 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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Chapter VII. Structural Analysis
ME2560 Statics Fall 2014

Zero-force members of a truss can generally be found by inspection of

each of its joints.
As a general rule:
If only two members form a truss joint and no external load or support
reaction is applied to the joint, the members must be zero-force members.

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Chapter VII. Structural Analysis
ME2560 Statics Fall 2014

If three members form a truss joint for which two of the members are
collinear, the third member is a zero-force member provided no external
force or support reaction is applied to the joint.

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Chapter VII. Structural Analysis
ME2560 Statics Fall 2014

4. The Method of Sections

If it is necessary to find the force in only a few members of a truss, the
method of sections is a more adequate process of analysis.
This method is based on the principle that if a body is in equilibrium then
any part of the body is also in equilibrium.

Principle of the method of sections for calculating

the force exerted to specific members of a truss. 14
Chapter VII. Structural Analysis
ME2560 Statics Fall 2014

Method of Sections Applied to a Structure

Based on the concept that if a structure is in equilibrium, every element
of the structure must be in equilibrium, the method of sections can also
be used to analyze a section the members of an entire truss.

If the section passes through the truss and the free-body diagram of
either of its two parts is drawn, then the equations of equilibrium can be
applied to that part to determine the member forces at the cut section.

Since only three independent equilibrium equations (Fx = 0, Fy = 0,

MO = 0) can be applied to the isolated part of the truss.

Try to select a section that, in general, passes through not more than
three members in which the forces are unknown.

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Chapter VII. Structural Analysis
ME2560 Statics Fall 2014

Consider the truss shown next. To determine FGC a cut through aa is

appropriate.

Note that the line of action of each member force is specified from the
geometry of the truss, since the force in a member passes along its axis.
The member forces acting on one part of the truss are equal but opposite
to those acting on the other partNewtons third law.

The members assumed to be in tension (BC and GC) are subjected to a

pull, whereas the member in compression (GF) is subjected to a
push.

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Chapter VII. Structural Analysis
ME2560 Statics Fall 2014

The three unknown

member forces FBC,
FGC, and FGF can be
obtained by applying
the three equilibrium
equations to the FBD
of the sectioned figure.

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Chapter VII. Structural Analysis
ME2560 Statics Fall 2014

5. Frames
Frames and machines are two common types of structures which are
often composed of pin-connected multi-force members, i.e., members
that are subjected to more than two forces.

Frames are generally stationary and are used to support loads.

Machines contain moving parts and are designed to transmit and alter
the effect of forces.

If a frame or machine is properly constrained and contains only the

necessary supports or members to prevent collapse, the forces acting at
the joints and supports can be determined by applying the equations of
equilibrium to each member

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Chapter VII. Structural Analysis
ME2560 Statics Fall 2014

FreeBody Diagrams

To determine the forces acting at the joints and supports of a frame or

machine, the structure must be disassembled and the free-body diagrams
of its parts must be drawn. The following points must be observed:

Isolate each part by drawing its outlined shape. Then show all the forces
and/or couple moments that act on the part.

Identify all the two-force members in the structure and represent their
free-body diagrams as having two equal but opposite collinear forces
acting at their points of application. Finding two force members will
avoid solving extra equations.

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Chapter VII. Structural Analysis
ME2560 Statics Fall 2014
Forces common to any two contacting members act with equal
magnitudes but opposite sense on the respective members. If the two
members are treated as a system of connected members, then these
forces are internal and are not shown on the free-body diagram of the
system; however, if the free-body diagram of each member is drawn, the
forces are external and must be shown on each of the free-body
diagrams.

Equations of Equilibrium

If the frame or machine is properly supported and contains only the

supports or members that are necessary to prevent its collapse, then the
unknown forces at the supports and connections can be determined from
the equations of equilibrium. If the structure lies in the xy plane, then
for each free-body diagram drawn the loading must satisfy
Fx = 0, Fy = 0, and MO = 0.
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Chapter VII. Structural Analysis