CHAPTER 4

Analysis of Structures

MECH 100
Engineering Mechanics I

REYNOLD M. CAOILI, PhD

Mariano Marcos State University
College of Engineering
Department of Agricultural and
Biosystems Engineering
OUTLINE
A. Introduction
B. Construction of simple truss
C. Method of joints
D. Method of sections
E. Redundant members; counter diagonals
F. Definition and characteristics of three-force
members
G. Method of members applied to frames containing
three-force members
A. Introduction

• The analysis of structure is the process by which

we determine how loads applied to a structure are
distributed throughout the structure

• Pin-connected types – those that consist of

assemblage of bars fastened together by smooth
bolts.

• Purpose: to determine the forces acting in the bars

and upon the pins or hinges of the structures
A. Introduction

• Two types of structure:

 Pin-connected trusses
 Pin-connected frames

• Difference:
 In trusses, the internal force in a bar is
directed along the axis of the bar
 In frames, the members are subjected to
bending action
• A structures is composed of members some of
which are subjected to axial forces while others are
subjected to bending actions; these are called
frames
B. Construction of simple trusses

• A truss is a structure composed of members

fastened together in such a way as to resist change
in shape. It is a rigid structure.
 Rigids is used in the sense of having no
deformation. Actual members are, of course,
subject to elastic deformation which can be
neglected if small compared with the
dimensions of the truss

• The purpose of a truss is to support a larger load of

span a greater distance than any individual
member from which the truss may be built.
B. Construction of simple trusses

• To make a structure rigid, its members must be

fastened together in such a way as to prevent any
movement between them. A pin-connected
structures meeting this condition as shown in Fig. 4-1.

• This structure is composed of three bars.

B. Construction of simple trusses

• A pin-connected structure composed of four bars

arranged as shown in Fig. 4-2 is not inherently rigid.
• It will collapse as indicated under the action of the
applied forces
B. Construction of simple trusses

• In the construction of trusses, the basic design is three bars

arranged to form a triangle.
• To this base triangle, ABC in Fig. 4-3, two or more bars may be
added to locate a joint D which is rigid relative to other joints.
• Since A and D are now fixed relative to each other, two more
bars may be added at these joints to fasten together at E, after
which two additional bars determine F.
• Thus by continuing to add bars at joints rigid to one another,
additional joints can be determined and a truss consisting of
many members may constructed.
• Trusses built up in this
manner are known as
SIMPLE TRUSSES.
B. Construction of simple trusses

• Trusses are usually supported by anchoring one joint to the

foundation by means of a fixed hinged as at F.
• Since the truss could rotate about this hinge, additional
support is necessary. This is supplied by mounting another
joint, say A, on rollers in such a way as to prevent that rotation.
• Then the truss is completely constrained against any
movement.
B. Construction of simple trusses

• Members which are stretched are said to be in tension

• Those that shortened are said to be in compression.
• In a typical truss, Fig. 4-5a, if the member CE were in tension,
isolating it from the truss would give the free-body diagram
shown in part (b), and
• Its effect on the joints of the truss would appear as forces T
which pull away from these joints.
B. Construction of simple trusses

• Another member, BD, assumed to be in compression would be

isolated as shown in the free-body diagram of part (c) which
push toward the joints.
• Rule: A member in tension causes forces which pull away
from its end joints whereas a member in compression causes
forces which push toward its end joints.
C. Method of Joints

• The assumptions that all members of a truss are two-force

members carrying axial loads means that the free-body
diagram of any joint is a concurrent force systems in
equilibrium
 Two-force members – when members held in
equilibrium by only two forces
STEPS:
1. Choose a pin (i.e., joint) on which no more than two members
act. When the force in each member has been determined, it
is indicated on the truss diagram by arrows at each end of the
member. These arrows act in the direction appropriate to the
force, i.e., toward the pin for compression and away from it
for tension. When the force in a member is determined and
appropriate arrows are marked on the original truss diagram,
the member is called a MARKED MEMBER.
C. Method of Joints

STEPS:
2. Draw the free-body diagram of the pin having only two
unmarked members, assuming the forces in the unmarked
members to be either tension or compression. Solve the
resulting equilibrium problem of concurrent forces for the
unknown forces. If a negative value is obtained for any force,
the result will be correct in magnitude, but opposite in action
to that assumed.

3. After determining the forces at a pin, mark the original truss

diagram with appropriate arrows at each end of the members
whose force you have found. Remember that the arrows act
away from the pins for tension and toward them for
compression.
C. Method of Joints

STEPS:
4. From the original truss diagram, select the next pin at which
there are only two unmarked members. Draw a new free-body
diagram and determine the forces. Continue this procedure
until you have marked all the members, thereby indicating
that the internal forces in all members have been found.

5. In many cases it is preferable to work from one end of the

truss to the middle member, and then from the other end of
the truss back toward the same mid-member. A check on the
accuracy of the calculations is obtained if the forces in the
mid-member agree as determined with these two
independent methods of analysis.
D. Method of Sections

Recall: The method of joints consists of analyzing trusses by

applying the principles of equilibrium to the concurrent
force systems acting at each joint.

• The principles of equilibrium of non-concurrent force system

may also be applied to truss analysis; the procedure is known
as the method of sections.
• Its use permits us to determine directly the force in almost any
members instead of proceeding to that member by a joint-to-
joint analysis.
• In the method of sections, a cutting plane is passed through
the entire truss, separating it into two parts without cutting
more than three members.
• It is necessary that the cutting plane passes through the
member whose force is desired.
D. Method of Sections

Steps

1. Determine the reactions

2. Mark the members to be investigated then draw a cutting line
(a-a)
3. Consider the side of the cutting line (a-a) that contain lesser
number of forces to deal with. Draw the FBD
4. From the non-concurrent force systems, locate a point for
moment is such a way that only one unknown is left.
5. To simplify the calculations, if possible, use a condition of
equilibrium that determines each unknown force
independently of the other unknowns. Usually a moment
summation is best, the center of moments being chosen at the
intersection of the unknown forces to be eliminated from the
moment summation.
419. Use the method of sections to determine the forces in members BD, CD, and
CE of the Warren truss described in Problem 408 and Fig. P-408 on page 91.

FBD 1
 D B

E C

FBD 1
FBD 2
FBD 1 FBD 2
D D

C C
D

E
 D

C
H

K
E. Redundant Members; Counter Diagonals
• In trusses subjected to moving loads, such as railroad bridges,
the diagonal members may undergo a reversal stress; that is, a
diagonal normally in tension may become subject to a
compressive load.
• If the diagonal is composed of eyebars or is otherwise so
slender compared with its length that it will buckle under
compressive loads, an additional diagonal sloping in the
opposite direction must be provided in the truss panel to
prevent collapse of the structure.
• Additional diagonals of this type might be called redundant.
• Counter diagonals – the additional diagonals or more briefly
counters. They are generally represented by dashed lines on a
truss.
• In considering the action of counters, it is convenient to regard
them as wires which can support tension but will buckle
instantly if subjected to compression.
E. Redundant Members; Counter Diagonals

NOTE
• In the analysis of counter diagonals, study the members one at
a time.
• Remember that counter diagonals can support tension only.
• Determine which diagonal is acting with the present loadings.
The member or diagonal that is in tension is the one acting
with respect to the present loadings.
B B

C C

FBD 1 FBD 2
 D
D

E
E
 D
D

E
E
B
B

E G
F. Definition and Characteristics of Three-Force Members

• A three-force member is one subjected to three or more forces

applied at different positions.
• It is essentially subjected to bending loads; any beam is a three-
force member
G. Method of Members Applied to Frames Containing
Three-force Members

• If some or all the members of a pin-connected structure are

subjected to bending action, the structure is called a frame.
• Since it is not feasible to pass a section through the members of
such structures, they are analyzed by considering the separate
free-body diagrams of each three-force member; the procedure
is called the method of members.
• The essential principle involved in drawing the free-body
diagrams of the several members of a frame is that of action and
reaction.
• When separating the members for analysis, the force (usually
represented by their components) exerted by the connecting
pins must be consistently represented in opposite directions on
the separated members.
G. Method of Members Applied to Frames Containing
Three-force Members

• If either component of a force is incorrectly assumed in direction,

the solution will still give its correct magnitude but with a
negative sign.
• This would mean that the component of the force on both
separated members acts in the opposite direction to that
originally assumed.
FBD 2 FBD 1
FBD 1

FBD 2
FBD 1

FBD 2
FBD 2 FBD 1 FBD 3
 B

FBD 3
(Cutting a-a)

FBD 1 FBD 2
 A
B

FBD 1 FBD 2

A B

FBD 3